Superman #127

Superman #127 (1959)
by Otto Binder & Wayne Boring
cover by Curt Swan

I could have sworn that I already reviewed the first Titano story, but apparently not.

We begin with Superman squeezing cold into diamonds, something that he doesn’t do as often as you’d imagine.

Why would you OPEN your show with that, instead of keeping it for the finale?
Now who’s going to be excited about a chimp that can do math?

Lois Lane, apparently.

It’s a busy week for the ape, since Toto is going to be sent into space the next day.

This is obviously inspired by the real life first primate astronauts; by context, the first attempt was made in 1948 (although the ape did not survive) and the first to survive re-entry was in May 1959, a few months before the publishing date of this comic.

I think it’s fair to say that the space program of the DC Universe developed faster than in real life, considering Superman was around in case your rocket failed.

The satellite is going to stay in orbit for a week. Which sounds absurd, but it’s not the longest time a ape has been in space in our universe!

To give you an idea of just how much Kryptonite is just flying around, the satellite JUST HAPPENS to be nearby a collision between a Kryptonite and a uranium meteorite.
The latter is also incredibly unlikely, considering that only TRACES of uranium have ever been identified in meteors or asteroids.

I don’t have to explain to you why the radiation from those two makes the chimp grow to giant size.
It’s just basic science.

Great choice about your potential last words, Lois.

Superman shows up to help, but for SOME reason Titano has Kryptonite vision.

Lois is not in any danger though, because Titano just brings her to a coal-yard.
Which I guess is right next to the launchpad of a rocket?

In the 50s and especially the 60s, DC Comics was just OBSESSED with the “monkey see, monkey do” idea of having an ape in your story. They just can’t help themselves!

Well of course the ape turned by a space collision of radioactive rocks into a gigantic beast that emits radiation from its eyes can’t just turn coal into diamonds.
That would just be silly.

Also remember that he doesn’t have super-strength.
Sounds legit.

Look I get that apes are pretty strong compared to their size, but this is just ridiculous if he’s not supposed to have superprimate strength!

At least he’s not strong enough to get through these giant steel bars. Making me wonder how cheap were those chains.

The military isn’t playing around: they’re ready to electrocute Titano!!!

However Lois takes pity on the poor animal, tricking it into wearing Kryptonite-proof glasses.

And with that, Superman is able to throw him into the past.

I can’t pass on the opportunity to highlight that one of my sources, dc.fandom.com, marks this issue as cameo of that random dinosaur.

What kind of crazy person goes through hundreds of decades old comics to keep track of completely useless information?
Wait…

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Historical significance: 2/10
Titano has a handful of appearances. Despite being a quintessentially Silver Age character, his last pre-Crisis appearance is in 1978.

Even more surprisingly, he shows up in later eras. I think the reason why Titano can still work while Beppo the Super-Monkey doesn’t is that Titano still acts like an animal and we never read his thoughts.

Silver Age-ness: 10/10
That being said, this is peak Silver Age.

Does it stand the test of time? 3/10
The story being sympathetic towards Titano, as well as the idea that he’s too dangerous to be left alone even if he’s innocent, holds up nicely.
What little story there is beyond that, however, is just the whole “monkey see, monkey do” bit.

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What else was in Superman #127 ?

We have a Jerry Coleman & Curt Swan story where Clark Kent dies.

I swear Perry White is the most random newspaper editor EVER.

Seeing how Clark’s death affects everyone around him…

…he only thinks about how this can benefit HIM.
Just. The. Worst.

You deserve having Jimmy Olsen as a roommate, Superman.

Who would have thought that this would prove to be a terrible idea?
Other than, you know, EVERYBODY.

Dude, this is not the reason why you need a secret identity, this is the reason why you don’t need to advertise your address!!!

Coleman also writes the last story, with Wany Boring artwork, about a make-believe Superman.
As opposed to the one who definitely exists.

There’s like five people in the bottle city of Kandor that look exactly like Superman, but that’s not even all that unique: over the years we’ve had like half a dozen HUMAN lookalikes.

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Interesting letters: well that clears up everything.