Where were you guys two years ago? Maybe AIDS wasn't popular enough to warrant your attention. Or is it more fun to fight bank robbers and cosmic psychopaths? Or could it be you were scared -- like everyone else? 
- — Doctor Fielding
Action Comics #639 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1989.
Synopsis for Speedy: "Exiles IV"
Speedy raises his arms and dismounts Sean Bauman's motorcycle as the action star points a machine gun at his back. Despite playing the tough guy in many films, Bauman makes the mistake of not keeping his distance from his captive. Tired of listening to Bauman's homophobic prejudice, Speedy swiftly kicks the weapon from Bauman's hands, and has no trouble knocking out the muscle-bound action hero who is only trained for stunt fights. He commandeers the motorcycle and races off to his employer's office.
Kicking in Owen Burley's brand new door, Speedy angrily demands to know why the private detective didn't inform him that Bauman was Donald Lossner's brother all along. Burley tells him it was irrelevant, not to mention Bauman's people wanted the whole investigation handled quietly. Speedy turns his back on his sleazy boss and the job, disillusioned about the whole affair and suspecting Bauman doesn't really want his brother found if he does have AIDS.
The evening brings a glimmer of optimism to Roy, as he dresses for a date with Luana, the victim of the purse snatching, and turns Lian over to the care of Mrs. Estavez. He eagerly meets his date at The Circle Red, and though he feels a little out of place in the Hollywood venue, he can't take his eyes off the beautiful woman he's with. They sit at a table and talk about work, and Roy mentions his daughter. Luana spills her drink in surprise and Roy goes to the bar to replace it. On the overhead television, he notices the news still reporting about the protesters outside the AIDS hospice. He can't believe how ineffective he's been when he recognises Donald Lossner being interviewed. Luana tells Roy they need to talk about him having a child, but he cuts her off and apologises for having to end their date so soon.
Roy calls Burley, instructing him to contact Sean Bauman, and to tell him his brother and his bike will be at 1217 Lincoln, North Hollywood. Changing into his Speedy persona, he rides to the AIDS hospice where the picketing crowd has become increasingly more volatile. He pushes through the rabble and into the hospice where he meets with Doctor Fielding. She informs him it's not a good time, her observation punctuated by a rock being hurled through the window. Speedy tells Fielding he's looking for Donald Lossner, but under the stress of fear driven ignorance outside, Dr. Fielding directs a little hostility of her own towards the costumed hero, demanding to know where the superhero presence was when the AIDS virus first broke out. She accuses the hero community of being just as afraid as the belligerent mob they face now.
Appearing in Speedy: "Exiles IV"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Sean Bauman aka Phillip Lossner
- Owen Burley
- Luana
Other Characters:
- Donald Lossner (On a TV or computer screen)
- Mrs. Estavez
- Lian Harper
- Doctor Fielding
Locations:
- Los Angeles
- Beverly Hills
- Sean Bauman's Mansion
- Hollywood
- The Circle Red
- AIDS Hospice, 1217 Lincoln
- Beverly Hills
Vehicles
- Baumer's Motocycle
Synopsis for The Demon, Part IV: "Witches"
The vision of the witch in the Philosopher's Stone becomes clearer, as Glenda makes out a sign with the words, "Wookey Hole," before it quickly fades away. Randu urges her to focus and regain her insight, but the stone is unresponsive. With the little information they have, Randu decides it best to make for Wookey Hole, seeing as it is on the way to Tintagel Castle. Glenda is anxious to reach Jason, but Randu assures her it can do no harm to investigate.
From his lair in Hell, Asteroth pleasures in watching all his pawns fall into place with only slightest of influence. He gloats to his tortured prisoner, Merlin, removing the hawthorn tendril that renders him mute. Merlin exclaims the Triumvirate of Hades will put and end to his schemes, but is once more gagged by the eldritch thorns, while Asteroth finds a magic tome to prepare for the arrival of his "guests."
The truck drops Jason Blood outside Tintagel Castle, and the ruins invoke the memories of the fall of Camelot, when he was long ago bound to Etrigan. He makes his way to the courtyard where the statue of Morgan le Fay stands, and overhears a guide tell a tale of how Merlin is believed to be responsible for her missing hand. Only Jason knows the truth, that it was Glenda and Etrigan who robbed le Fay of her hand, and he wishes it was her head instead.
Armed with a guidebook, Glenda and Randu enter the Wookey Hole, a massive cave system used for centuries by man since neolithic times. Centuries of superstition and rituals the have left an occult fingerprint on the eerie location. Glenda spots the figure she saw in her vision, said to be the last witch to reside there, petrified by a servant of the Lord. Randu suggests she take out the Stone, and it immediately reacts, glowing bright, and physically pulling her towards a fissure.
Meanwhile, at Tintagel, a coven of witches circles the statue of Morgan le Fay under the cover of darkness. Their ritual of fire resurrects their queen, but one look at her missing hand throws le Fay into a furious rage, and she lashes out against her saviours, killing them all with magical bursts. From his lofty vantage, Etrigan watches it all.
Appearing in The Demon, Part IV: "Witches"
Featured Characters:
- Etrigan (Flashback and main story)
- Jason Blood (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Asteroth
- Morgaine le Fay (Flashback and main story)
- Witches (All die)
- The Last Witch of Wookey Hole (In a vision and as a statue)
Other Characters:
- Merlin (Flashback and main story)
- Triumvirate of Hades (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for Hero Hotline: "Keep Her on Ice"
Mr. Muscle and Private Eyes come back and question the plant manager over his story about not seeing Melanie Boulder, when Private Eyes spots a picture of her in the man's pocket with his super-vision. The same super-vision reveals Boulder freezing on the other side of the sealed door. The manager attacks them with a meat cleaver, but after seeing him off with one punch, Muscle easily yanks the sealed door off its hinges. The manager pleads with the heroes not to let Boulder's evil spread, but they ignore him, more preoccupied with their rescue mission and a gash in Private Eyes' arm from the cleaver.
Meanwhile, Voiceover and Microwavabelle stealthily approach the liquor store. They use their powers to make the criminal think he's hearing God confront him over his sins. This works too well, agitating the crook's guilty conscience so much he shoots himself. From a last-minute confession, they think he was the killer of Microwavabelle's husband after all.
A lady comes up out of the subway and catches Stretch and Hotshot on their way back to the office, asking for their help. Someone's threatening to shoot a smoker with a water pistol full of gasoline.
Appearing in Hero Hotline: "Keep Her on Ice"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Martin's Murderer (Unnamed) (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Melanie Boulder
- Martin Jackson (Mentioned only)
- F.B.I. (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Hero Hotline HQ
- Bonestar Meat Packing Plant, 122 Industrial Highway
- Balfor Liquor Store, 12th Street and 4th Avenue
Synopsis for Superman: "An Eye for an Eye"
Appearing in Superman: "An Eye for an Eye"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- George Taylor
Antagonists:
- Marty
- Lou (Unnamed)
Other Characters:
- Quraci Gardens Owner
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet
- Quraci Gardens
- Qurac (Mentioned only)
Synopsis for Phantom Lady: "Belle of the Ball"
Appearing in Phantom Lady: "Belle of the Ball"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Thousand Eyes
- Edwin Guerrehart
- Gronk
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Washington, D.C.
- Dee and Sarah's Apartment
- Guerrehart Mansion
Synopsis for Wild Dog: "Crack Up: Chapter Four: Rung by Rung"
Appearing in Wild Dog: "Crack Up: Chapter Four: Rung by Rung"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Drug Dealers
- Willie Wallace
- The Jamaicans
Other Characters:
- Teenage Girl (Unnamed)
Locations:
- Quad Cities
- Crack House (Destroyed)
- Willie Wallace's Apartment
- Mark Twain Junior High (Mentioned only)
- Chicago (Mentioned only)
Notes
- "An Eye for an Eye" is reprinted in Superman: The Power Within.
See Also
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.