Superman has no shortage of memorable villains in his rogues gallery, and with names like Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Parasite, Mongul, and Toyman among them, it can be difficult to stand out. One villain, however, has no issues standing out from the pack, and that’s because the distorted powerhouse known as Bizarro is unlike anyone else in Superman’s world. That’s also why Superman #202 stands out as one of the more unique comics in Superman’s decades-long run, making it a perfect fit for just about any collection revolving around DC’s iconic Man of Steel.
Superman #202 was a special 80-page giant issue published in 1967, and it includes eight wild stories that all involve Bizarro and his bonkers family. Not only do fans get to see the family dynamic between Bizarro, Bizarro Lois, and Bizarro Jr., but they also see the creation and debut of Bizarro Krypto and Stupor-Woman, who is Bizarro Lois after she is given superpowers by Bizarro Mxyzptlk. Yes, that actually happens, and it’s one of the many reasons why Superman #202 deserves a space on your shelf.
While all of the stories are charming and insane in their own way, one of the most delightful stories is Bizarro’s Amazing Buddies, which has Bizarro heading to Earth to find heroes who are wholesome after parents protest against Bizarro World TV. This is Bizarro though, so when we say wholesome, Bizarro really means finding characters like the Abominable Snowman, Frankenstein, and the Devil, and though he eventually finds Titano, he still ends up being admonished when he returns, only to get called a hero and get a parade as a result.
Only in Bizarro world would any of that happen, and the same is true of the time that Bizarro sees a commercial for Frankenstein’s Monster and then heads to Earth to settle who the greatest monster of all really is. What Bizarro doesn’t know is that Frankenstein’s monster isn’t real, but he doesn’t let that stop him, as he attacks an actor playing the role. This brings him into conflict with Superman, but instead of throwing punches, Superman finds a much more creative way to send Bizarro packing.
There’s even a Bizarro and Superman team-up, though not in the traditional format. Superman decides to help Bizarro after Bizarro Lois Lane is taken hostage, especially after seeing what Bizarro is doing in order to find her, and these adventures are just a few of what the issue has in store for fans.
There’s a charm and lightheartedness to Bizarro adventures, especially in this era of superhero storytelling. No Superman collection is complete without a little Bizarro in it, and Superman #202 is Bizarro at his finest.
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