Hero Hotline #2 [1989] (Random Comics Theatre)

 Random Comics Theatre

Hero Hotline #2 [1989]

HERO HOTLINE was a six-issue mini-series published by DC in 1989, created by Bob Rozakis and Stephen DeStefano. That same duo had created the 'MAZING MAN series at DC for a series that lasted twelve issues back in 1986, followed by two specials in 1987 and 1988 (a third and final special would follow in 1989, a few months after HERO HOTLINE finished). Cover inks are by original 'MAZING MAN inker Karl Kesel, while interior inks are by veteran artist Kurt Schaffenberger in one of his last major works in a career that went back to Fawcett in the 1940s.

The premise of this series is that the titular organization, run by an unseen boss called the Coordinator, takes phone calls for people requiring superhero help for problems of a considerably-less-than-Crisis level, then dispatches the appropriate hero from their roster of third-string but lovable misfit heroes. 

Basically a classic workplace sitcom premise set in the fringes of a wider superhero universe. Its a very similar premise to DAMAGE CONTROL, created by Dwayne McDuffie and Ernie Colón over at Marvel, about a group that cleans up after the big superhero battles. In fact, I had to check and saw that it was very much a Swamp Thing / Man-Thing or X-Men / Doom Patrol situation, with the first issue of DAMAGE CONTROL only a few weeks before HERO HOTLINE #1. But both preceded by preview stories in anthology books as well...

(DAMAGE CONTROL wins that race, by the way, with a short story in the 1988 MARVEL AGE ANNUAL, but both books were obviously created without any real knowledge of the other)

Anyway, it's a fun little book, with some great cartooning by DeStefano and sharp scripting by Rozakis. The main story in this issue is a hostage situation on a school bus which involves the children of Microwavabelle. Along the way there are a lot of side-missions which look at the other heroes and sub-plots which build towards some unexpected twists at the end of the mini-series.

I recently finally picked up the last of the issues of the weekly run of ACTION COMICS from 1988 that I needed, which includes a four chapter introduction to the characters, so someday soon I'll have to finally read the whole thing in order.

And, learned while writing this, Rozakis did disclose the identity of the Coordinator in a column a few years back. It's hinted at pretty clearly in the series, but if want to know you can read about it here. And if you don't want to know before reading the series, avoid the Wikipedia or other online database entries for the team.