Description

Elongated Man                                   Comics Lot
Featuring an appearance by Wally West, a.k.a. The Flash… The Fastest Man Alive!
strong>Writer: Gerard Jones
Artist: Mike Parobeck
Inker: Ty Templeton
Colorist: Rick Taylor
Letterer: Bob Pinaha
Editor: Brian Augustyn
All Covers by: Mike Parobeck & Ty Templeton

Elongated Man first came onto the scene way back in 1960’s Flash #112. His real name is Ralph Dibney, a man who had long dreamed of becoming a contortionist. After years of frustration, he tried drinking a brew of “Gingold,” a brand of soda water extracted from a rubber plant. Combined with his unique metabolism, it gave him the ability to stretch and contort himself into any shape he wished. A former member of the Justice League of America, Ralph now travels the world with his wife, the wealthy Sue Dearborn. When there’s mystery in the air, Ralph’s nose twitches, and he’s off to investigate as the Elongated Man. And, as he says at the beginning of this four-issue mini-series, “When a lone wolf assassin starts working with a French super-criminal…I smell a mystery!”

It’s the end of 1991, and Western Europe is on the brink of forming a truly unified Europe, one of the greatest diplomatic feats of the century. But this fragile alliance is about to come apart at the seams as key diplomats are suddenly and mysteriously being murdered! That’s when Ralph Dibny, a.k.a. the Elongated Man, enters the picture! Who better than Justice League Europe’s own Stretchable Sleuth to investigate one of the greatest mysteries of the decade? Elongated Man stars, but many of his JLE companions guest-star as the whole world falls apart around them.

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, ”Concorde to Discord!”, The Elongated Man and Sue Dibny are in Paris, France preparing for the Pan-European Economic Conference. Along the way, Ralph prevents the assassin Copperhead from murdering an important French finance minister. He nearly captures the villain, but suddenly Warp appears and transports Copperhead to safety. That night, Ralph and Sue attend the conference. As they mingle amongst Europe’s most important financial leaders, Sue has a chance encounter with Bito Wladon, the Archduke of Modora. Neither Ralph nor Sue realize that Bito is also the costumed criminal known as Sonar. Sonar flirts with Sue, but angers her by questioning her true feelings towards her husband. Meanwhile, a strange super-powered terrorist named L’Escargot raids the conference and kills the French ambassador. Ralph springs into action, but Sonar stops L’Escargot’s rampage with undulating waves of sonic force. That evening, Ralph and Sue retire to their hotel rooms. Sue is disturbed by some of Bito’s comments concerning her marriage, and Ralph and she get into an argument. They finally make peace with one another, with Ralph asking what will make her feel better. Sue tells him that she wants to go to Sonar’s kingdom Modora.

Next in issue #2, “The Sounds of Science”, Bito Wladon – Archduke of Modora invites the Elongated Man and Sue Dibny on a tour of his country. Not trusting the archduke, Ralph reluctantly agrees – if only to keep an eye on Sue. Bito continues to flirt with Sue, and Ralph’s jealousy and anger continues to grow. He eventually learns that Bito is actually a super-villain known as Sonar. He plans to corner Bito with this knowledge, but before he gets the chance, the Archduke voluntarily tells him that Sonar is another man entirely, though he is a former citizen of Modora. Meanwhile in Rome, a costumed lunatic calling himself Il Calamari begins attacking the Tariff Conference. The Elongated Man learns of the attack on a newsreel and begins packing his bags for Italy. He tries to get Sue to come with him, but she refuses to attend citing that she would prefer to stay in Modora. The two get into another fight and Ralph leaves. In Rome, Ralph meets with members of the Pan-European Economic Conference, and gets into another scuffle with Warp and Copperhead. Il Calamari joins the fight and together they nearly defeat the Elongated Man until the timely arrival of yet another super-powered individual. The combatants look upwards in shock and Ralph screams, “You!”

Next in issue #3, ”From Bad to Wurst!”, The Flash (Wally West) has arrived in Rome to give the Elongated Man a hand. As he assists Ralph in beating down Copperhead, Il Calamari and Warp, he explains that Sue called him from Modora and told him that Ralph might need some backup. Ralph explains his present situation, including his dislike of Archduke Bito Wladon. Flash is almost certain however that Bito is not the true Sonar, claiming that Sonar is currently residing in an American prison. After the fight is finished, Flash tells Ralph that he has to leave and races off back towards the U.S. In Modora, Bito continues to court Sue Dibny, but the frustrated amateur sleuth grows more and more wary of the Archduke’s advances. Suspecting that Sue is learning too much of his true motivations, Bito arranges to keep her secured within his castle. Sue manages to escape confinement however and explores the Mordoran countryside. She discovers that the natives are terrified of saying anything other than the words “Goot Mornink” and learns that Archduke Bito monitors the entire country with advanced sound systems. It is only now that Sue begins to realize that her life may be in danger. Elsewhere, the Elongated Man leaves Rome for Berlin to attend the next leg of the Europe ’92 tour. He finds the same group of delegates that he met in France including Bradford Smolz and the vivacious Trampolina. Suddenly, a squad of German terrorists known as the Wurstwaffe burst into the conference hall. As they attack the guests, the Elongated Man (with his back turned away from the action) wonders if Sue is okay.

Finally in issue #4, “Part 4: Soundly Beaten!”, The leader of the Wurstwaffe smacks the Elongated Man across the back of the head with a large sausage. Believing him unconscious, they prepare to load him into the Wurstwagen, but Ralph surprises them and manages to shape his body into a large sling that sends the corpulent villains flying out into the street. Shortly after the fight is over, Ralph receives a subsonic communiqué from Bito Wladon. Bito confirms that he is in fact Sonar, and that he has his wife Sue Dibny held captive. He further warns him to take no action against the Europe ’92 attacks, or else he will kill Sue. The Elongated Man manages to stow away on the wheel well of a jetliner and sneak into Modoran airspace. Taking the form of a parachute, he leaps from the plane and settles down into a field of sheep. From there, he goes to Sonar’s castle only to find himself facing the Modoran army. Sue Dibny meanwhile, manages to escape from her cell and incapacitates the station guard coordinating the army attacks. She then uses Sonar’s countrywide public service system to inspire the villagers to rise up against their oppressive leader. Miraculously, they heed the call and storm the castle gates. The Elongated Man makes his way to Sonar’s throne room and boasts about discovering the truth behind the villain’s plot to disrupt the Europe ’92 conference. Sonar wanted the peace talks to fail because a unified Europe would greatly disrupt his international weapons trade agreements. As the combatants square off against one another, Sonar notices that his own people are now rising up against him. He realizes that he can no longer control Modora and concedes victory to the Elongated Man. Rising up on a column of pure sound, Sonar takes his leave. Reunited in spirit and in body, Ralph and Sue make up with one another and ponder Modora’s future. Ralph fantasizes that he might soon become the country’s national hero.

Comics lot contains: Elongated Man (1992) Issues #1-4.  DC Comics

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: 1992
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.5″
UPC: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics 1,2,3,4 are in Very Fine to Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Elongated Man collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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