Action 564 – Superman trapped in a new life
Kupperberg and Saviuk are joined by Mike DeCarlo as the Master Jailer pulls off a devious attack in Action 564 (Feb. 85).
The Master Jailer had been introduced in the late 70s, and appeared a few times, but this marks his first time in the pages of Action. Carl Draper usually has a psychological element to his attacks on Superman, as well as the physical side, and this time he traps him in a completely different identity, Mike Barton, with no awareness of being Superman, or even Clark Kent.
The Monitor and Harbinger appear, as Draper got the tech for his attack through them. The Monitor warns Master Jailer that Superman’s memory might return if he sees anything familiar. Draper keeps the costume, and thinks that everything will be fine – but of course we already see the story’s “out.”
But for a while, Superman enjoys the simple, blue collar life of Mike Barton, while Master Jailer runs wild, with the invulnerable costume under his. Must be sooo hot in all that.
The scene eventually comes in which “Mike” has to wear a Superman costume. As soon as its on, he remembers everything, and takes out Master Jailer.
This is the final appearance of the villain. There were a few post-Crisis attempts to revive him, but like Terra-Man, he failed to gain the status he had at this time.