Super Powers # 1 1985 VF/NM

Super Powers #1 (September 1985) is the premiere issue of the second six-issue miniseries published by DC Comics to tie directly into Kenner's wildly popular Super Powers Collection action figure toy line and the Super Friends cartoon series. While the legendary Jack Kirby provided the pencils and iconic cover art, the issue was written by Paul Kupperberg and inked by Greg Theakston.

Plot Overview: "Seeds of Doom!"

The issue picks up closely after the events of Jack Kirby's famous New Gods graphic novel, The Hunger Dogs.

• Darkseid's Escape: Having been overthrown and his tyrannical rule overturned on Apokolips, a desperate Darkseid flees to a hidden base on Earth's moon. He uses his cosmic powers to resurrect animated replicas of his most loyal minions: DeSaad, Kalibak, and Steppenwolf.
• The Alien Pods: To conquer Earth and exact his revenge, Darkseid launches five mysterious, giant alien UFO pods known as the "seeds of doom". These massive structures land across the globe and begin tunneling directly toward the Earth's core.
• The League Mobilizes: Operating from the Hall of Justice, the Justice League spots the global threat and divides into tactical teams to investigate.
• Time-Displaced Trap: In this specific issue, Martian Manhunter and Aquaman travel to England to secure one of the pods. They face off against DeSaad, but the confrontation triggers a temporal anomaly, hurling both heroes backward through time into the age of King Arthur.

Pop Culture Context

• The Toy Line Synthesis: The series was specifically designed to mirror the play-features and character selections of Kenner's Wave 2 action figures. Characters like Firestorm, Red Tornado, and Martian Manhunter were heavily emphasized because their toys were hitting store shelves at the time.
• Kirby's Fourth World Finale: This era marked some of Jack Kirby's final interior comic book work for DC Comics, allowing him one last run drawing his beloved New Gods creations alongside the flagship Justice League characters.