The Soul-Search story arc begins in Action 656 (Aug. 90), as Stern, McLeod and Breeding send Superman to hell to save the souls of Jimmy Olsen and Jerry White.
The two boys are both in the hospital, near-death, after a shooting at Blaze’s. Perry and Alice are watching over their son. Or rather, the boy Perry believes is his son. Lex Luthor also hears the news, and is upset. Jerry White is really his child.
The Black Racer comes to the hospital to beckon Superman. Part of the New Gods, the Black Racer’s touch means death, but he is a sometimes compassionate character. In this case, the death the boys are facing is not natural or timely, and he informs Superman of this.
The Black Racer takes Superman through a Boom Tube to hell. It’s a bit surprising, but no reason I can think of that the Boom Tube would not be able to link to the atferworld.
Superman finds the souls of the boys, encased and weakening under Blaze’s torture. She looks much less attractive in her demonic guise than her human one. Being a supernatural entity, she is also able to wound, and capture, Superman.
The story continues in next month’s Superman.
Babblings about DC Comics 3 