Action 552 – the Forgotten Heroes gather
Wolfman and Kane begin a two-part story in Action 552 (Feb. 84) which sees the formation of an unusual grouping, the Forgotten Heroes. Much of this issue simply re-introduces the various characters. In case readers had, you know, forgotten them.
Vandal Savage has had Superman infected with a disease that causes him to emit spores of deadly prehistoric plant life. It takes Superman a long time to figure this out.
As he does, we get to meet the members of this new group. Each one has had an encounter with one of a number of mysterious golden pyramids. Cave Carson starts off with his story, followed by Animal Man, making his first appearance since showing up in Wonder Woman a couple of years earlier.
Rick Flagg speaks on behalf of the Suicide Squad, who came across a pyramid while hunting the Yeti. Flagg had not appeared since the early 60s. Dane Dorrance returns, talking about the pyramid the Sea Devils found, and also his encounter with the mysterious Dolphin. This marks Dolphin’s third appearance, following her introduction in Showcase in the late 60s, and a small role in Showcase 100 in the mid 70s.
Congo Bill and Congorilla return to the pages of Action as well, as the ape came across a pyramid in Africa. Both had last been seen a few years earlier in DC Comics Presents.
Rip Hunter is the last to tell his story, of how he and his crew went in the very distant past, and found a pyramid in the time before even the dinosaurs.
Superman finally twigs in that he is creating the killer plant life.
And Immortal Man, not seen since his last story in Strange Adventures in the mid 60s, announces that the only way the Forgotten Heroes can save the world is to kill Superman.
The story concludes in the next issue.