DC COMICS PRESENTS #29 ART by JIM STARLIN - SUPERMAN and THE SPECTRE

A riveting and deeply introspective saga entitled, "Where No Superman Has Gone Before!" written with profound insight and panache by seasoned scribe Len Wein. A timeless tale of pain, passion and pride.

Original artwork for DC Comics Presents #29 page 9 (DC, 1981) by fan favorite artist Jim Starlin (pencils) and Romeo Tanghal (inks). Superman, in desperate earnest, tries to rescue his unconscious Kyrptonian cousin Kara, A.K.A. Supergirl, who has been hurling through outer space at such a breakneck speed that both have broken through the very boundary of Infinity. And now, just before he reaches his cousin and unintentionally busts open Heaven's Gates, the awesome Spectre is summoned by the LORD to stop him just shy of the heavenly realm of which no living mortal is permitted to look upon. Superman is incensed and vehemently disputes with the Spectre about his mission to save his cousin. When the Son of Krypton's great strength does not prevail against the Astral Avenger, he tries flight. And it is at this pivotal point in the story that this page reflects the drama.

Superman says that he can certainly outrun the stoic Ghostly Guardian by claiming, "But I can sure as heck outrun you! Only the Flash can possibly match my super--speed? To this the Spectre simply responds, "Please be reasonable!" But Superman will not relent and becomes even more belligerent, lashing out at the Spectre once again. Seeing that Superman must learn his lesson the hard way, the Spectre personally shows Superman REAL POWER. Who the REAL BOSS actually is by instructing his stubborn student, "Now let this senseless squabbling cease!" And, enlarging his astral form to gargantuan size, he continues "I know of many things, Kryptonian...Pain...Passion...Pride...I know the unspoken secrets of your immortal soul! You are one of the most powerful beings in all of creation -- and yet, in so many ways, you are little more than a child! There is so much you have to yet to learn...perhaps it is time your education began in earnest!" Wisdom that we all would benefit from heeding.

The finest and most profound stories are the ones that reflect and uncover both truth as well as falsehood in our own private lives. We are drawn to characters that we identify with and it is through their interactions and experiences, both triumphal and tragic that we can learn and apply those lessons in our own daily walk. This is what GREAT ART is all about and one of the principle reasons I love comic books so much.