Superman #80

Superman #80 (1953)
by Ed Hamilton & Al Plastino

There’s something familiar about this guy.

And in the teaser page, which also happens to be the first page of the comic.
It’s not often that you open the cover to see exactly the same image.

Little known fact, in the early 50s there were an average of 3 rockets landing on Earth every day.

There’s a guy inside the rocket…

…as well as a letter that Jor-El conveniently wrote in English.

As well as the proof that the guy is another son of Jor-El.
It’s too early for the Kryptonian names to follow the familiar structure, but it’s weird that he’s called Halk Kar when Superman’s name had already been established as Kal-El.

The guy has no memory of Krypton, as well as a red costume with a blue cape and blue underwear.

If that sounds and looks familiar, it’s because in 1961 the same premise will be used for Superboy #89. Which makes Halk Kar a precursor to Mon-El.

There are A LOT of similarities between the two stories, but also some differences that make one of the two the superior version.
For example, the letter is in Kryptonese in the Superboy version.
Halk Kar: 0
Mon-El: 1

Both versions have Jor-El mention both the new character and his son, with Superman/Superboy assume he’s talking about his older brother.
And both use the amnesia as an excuse for a quick recap of Superman’s origins.

It’s obviously the same recap, but the original has a far more intense feeling about it.
Halk Kar: 1
Mon-El: 1

This story completely ignores the age difference: Superman left Krypton as a baby, so why does his brother looks like he’s AT LEAST in his 30s? Are we supposed to believe Jor-El (who himself looks young) had two sons 30 years apart!?
The explanation given in the Mon-El story doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but it IS an explanation at least.
Halk Kar: 1
Mon-El: 2

There is no mention of any problems with Mon-El’s powers, while Halk Kar immediately has trouble demonstrating he has Kryptonian powers.
That makes it harder to accept Superman never questioning his story, considering he’s already met Kryptonians who received full powers instantly.
Halk Kar: 1
Mon-El: 3

Once the two heroes operate in public together, Halk Kar just makes Superman’s life harder because he has to cover for him AND coddle his insecurities. Mon-El just helps.
Halk Kar: 1
Mon-El:4

The Kents are dead in Superman’s adulthood, so he can’t bring his brother to meet them like he does with Mon-El.
But also, the Mon-El story doesn’t have his brother hit on his love interest AND it doesn’t have this nonsense about Superman being “too young to be thinking of girls”.
Which would already have been ridiculous for Superboy, let alone Superman!!!
Halk Kar: 1
Mon-El: 6

In general, the Mon-El story works VERY well in making you glad Superboy has a brother.
By contrast, Halk Kar just drags down every scene he’s in, even those where he doesn’t speak.
Halk Kar: 1
Mon-El: 7

I’m being harsh on Halk Kar, but I’m giving his story a point for not even trying to force him into a secret identity… it’s kind of refreshing for the 50s.
But on the other hand, Mon-El gets a point for his name: while the “Mon for Monday” is still silly, it still fits better than Halk Kar considering we already had Kal-El.
Halk Kar: 2
Mon-El: 8

While we’re at it, Mon-El never makes this stupid face.
Halk Kar: 2
Mon-El: 9

From this point on, the two stories diverge significantly: Halk Kar has a bunch of scenes with his powers constantly failing, and needing to be secretly helped by Superman.

The Mon-El story has Superboy travel through time to watch a girl bathe in order to discover the origins of the Cinderella story.
Halk Kar: 2
Mon-El: 10
Superboy: -1

On the other hand, the original doesn’t have Lana Lang being so dumb she doesn’t notice she’s being lifted by a mini-tornado.
Halk Kar: 3
Mon-El: 10
Brain damage: 1

I’ve already given Mon-El the point for this earlier, but: when he DOES hit on Lana, he wasn’t told by Superboy that he likes her. Halk Kar hit on Lois specifically AFTER he was told by Superman that she’s “his girl”.
Although… he never really treats either as a girlfriend, so they both lose a point.
Halk Kar: 2
Mon-El: 9
Feminism: -1

Halk Kar’s weakness reaches its lowest point when he’s captured and tied up but some regular criminals.
Mon-El’s first moment of weakness is not his fault and it happens when he’s trying to be a hero.
Not only this keeps Mon-El as a likeable character, but it’s also not rehashing the same stuff the entire time since Halk Kar has done nothing but waste everyone’s time.
Halk Kar: 2
Mon-El: 10

In Mon-El’s case, this is part of a subplot about Superboy being a dick because Mon-El hit on a girl he’s never truly shown interest in.
Halk Kar: 2
Mon-El: 10
Superboy: -2

The catalyst to reveal Halk Kar’s true identity is him risking electrocution in order to allow Superman to continue his career…

…while Mon-El is poisoned by his brother. Point for Halk Kar here.
Halk Kar: 3
Mon-El: 10
Superboy: -3

In both stories, the “brother” met Jor-El briefly before the destruction of Krypton.
Notice that THIS time, Krypton is explicitly in a different solar system from Earth.

Turns out Mon-El wasn’t even hitting on Lana, so I’m giving him back his point.
Also this means Superboy ruined his life for no reason.
Halk Kar: 3
Mon-El: 11
Superboy: -4

The explanation for Halk Kar’s powers being weaker than Superman’s is just that his planet is smaller, while still larger than Earth. Remember that we’re years before the relationship between Superman’s powers and sunlight is codified.

And finally, the biggest difference of them all: Halk Kar is given a happy ending, while Mon-El will have to suffer a thousand years in the Phantom Zone.

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Historical significance: 1/10
Halk Kar never shows up again in Superman stories; he’s notable only as a precursor to Mon-El.
At least that was the case until 2019, when Grant Morrison writes a Green Lantern series that picks up several superpowered aliens from old stories.

Morrison is in his cryptic phase here. I looked through this series researching for this review and I have no idea WTF is happening in 99% of the scenes.

Silver Age-ness: 5/10
Kind of average for the times.

Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
As I hope I’ve made clear, this version absolutely pales in comparison to the Mon-El story.
Even leaving aside his eventual character development, they’re one key difference: it’s actually pleasant to have Mon-El around and he feels like he COULD be integrated into Superboy’s world, to the point you’re sorry when his tragedy strikes.
I just couldn’t bring myself to care for Halk Kar in the slightest.

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What else was in Superman #81 ?

“Big Noise”, a guy who uses sound as a weapon.

It does have some creative panels for the era.

Then there’s the story where Superman has to fight the Fire Men.

Turns out that they’re not evil: they escaped from the Earth’s core and are just scared children, until Superman brings them home.