Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Dial E For Eternity--With Great Power...

As we join Kid Eterrnity's third adventure, we find him and Mr. Keeper in much the same state we will in every story...

Apparently, dying 75 years early and being revived doesn't mean you have to do anything productive with your new life. Just loll around until something interesting wanders your way.

Granted, Kid is still a...well, kid.

But then again, Billy Batson and Freddie Freeman were kids, and they got jobs--which also helped them keep abreast of trouble in their town (and the world). But the Kid seems content to wallow in indolence. We'll keep an eye on this throughout his history...

Meanwhile, something wanders their way:



Well, Kid, whose purpose is supposedly to fight evil, is inspired!


Damn loopholes!!

And so...

WHAT?!?!?

This seems so far outside of Kid's bailiwick. I mean turning invisible, summoning heroes of the past, replaying the last hours of a dead man's life...those are one thing. Completely transmogrifying people?!?! Are there any limits to the wishes that Keeper can grant for Kid?!?

Of course, things never go as planned. And in 1943, just being fit isn't enough to woo the ladies:

So they sign up! But...

Yeah, yeah, not very glorious...but did you guys really want to shipped off to one of the fronts?

Ah, but their fitness doesn't last long!

What the..?



So we have the first major constraint on Kid's power (aside from the obvious gagging him so he can't say "Eternity!"). He doesn't have any powers inherent to himself. It all flows through Mr. Keeper. So when Keeper wishes to teach him a lesson, or is lost somehow, the Eternity spigot is turned off.

That's probably a good thing, as this tale shows that maybe Kid is lacking a bit of the maturity needed to wield such powers wisely by himself. If only someone could come up with a line to summarize that...

Ah, but a group of low level thieves have witnessed the transmogrification, and decide to find out how:

Apparently, they think there's a super-soldier serum involved or something!!

But the way, that's Her Highness--the only name she'll ever have---and her chief henchperson, Silk!


Pretty and tough!!

As they go off to kidnapped the dimwitted duo, a now powerless Kid stumbles upon their hideout:

Good to remember--without Keeper, he's as helpless as you or me!!

Anyway, Kid finds the grunts being grilled...

...gets captured himself...

But fortunately, Keeper chooses that moment to relent.

Eternity time!!




Oh, dear...

Everyone is captured, but Her Highness isn't worried.

That's true. We'll be seeing a lot of Her Highness and Silk in the near future.

As for Kid, well, there are two loose ends to tie up!



McGraw and McKay later died in the Battle of The Bulge...just kidding!! They doubtless stayed stateside and had many gal-related adventures!!

After 3 stories, our summoning count stands at:

Achilles 1
Blackhawk 1
Nobody 1
Robin Hood 1
Samson 1

Next time, villains return, and the dead don't always cooperate.

From Hit Comics #27 (1943)

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