Superman & Batman in "Skeeter!"

In the post-Crisis continuity, Superman didn't meet Batman until Man of Steel #3 (1986) and they weren't exactly the best of friends. I feel they had some respect for each other but since their fighting styles were so different, neither quite trusted each other. That would later change as the stories continued.

I've always been a fan of comic book annuals and specials because they can tell a longer story and not really have to fit within the current continuity. Even if I'm not reading the regular monthly titles, I may pick up an annual or special here or there. You can read my old look at the Superman Special from 1992 here.

In 1986, John Byrne rebooted Superman. There were three annuals for that year, one for each of the ongoing Superman titles. Superman Annual #1 by John Byrne, Ron Frenz, and Brett Breeding featuring Titano; The Adventures of Superman Annual #1 by Jim Starlin, Dan Jurgens, and Steve Montano that introduced Hfuhruhurr; and Action Comics Annual #1 by John Byrne, Arthur Adams, and Dick Giordano which has Batman and Superman taking on a small town overrun with a vampire. I've always been interested in this story but had never read it. The idea of child vampires has always intrigued me even though most stories about vampires, to me, are all poorly written. Anyway, thanks to Superman: The Man of Steel Volume 6 which reprints the three 1987 annuals, I am finally able to read it. Skeeter is a young girl who is a vampire. She lives in a small town who are finally fed up with her family. Skeeter then decides to embrace her vampiric ways which bring Batman and Superman into it.

A young girl, Skeeter, is being chased through a swamp by a bunch of townspeople with torches and pitchforks. We don't know her deal yet, but it can't be good if torches and pitchforks are involved. I've never understood the oversexualized take on Skeeter when I see images from this issue, because she never uses it, but whatever. I've also never understood the Mr. Peanut shirt--and it's the only thing she wears!

Skeeter is able to ditch the townspeople and returns to her dilapidated home where she laments leaving for the big city. Apparently when she returned, her mother and father were dead and she blames the townsfolk for it.

Three days later, a stranger rides into town. Well, two strangers--a Ms. Carson and a man who gets a bite to eat and a hotel room. Turns out, it's Batman in disguise. What's he doing here?

He notices that the locals are walking in pairs or in groups and wonder what is going on when the quiet is broken by a woman's scream. Batman rushes to an alley and sees Ms. Carson lying in the trash with her throat ripped out and blood drained. Just like in Gotham. A bunch of townspeople surround him in the alley and Batman has to use a smoke grenade to escape. Batman flashes back to Gotham where Batman witnessed the same thing and taps into the town's phone line to get a message to Superman.

As Batman comes down from the telephone pole, Skeeter approaches him. Skeeter is glad to see him and even hugs him. Batman is, as he should be, very confused.

Superman arrives in town and discovers that people are still awake, walking the streets, even children, despite it being four in the morning. Superman decides to make his first stop at the sheriff's office. The sheriff is very happy to see Superman. Meanwhile, Skeeter is leading Batman through the swamp, back to her house. Skeeter introduces Batman to her dead parents and is glad he can help them. Batman exclaims "Good Lord!" and Skeeter becomes afraid of him and his exclamation of "Lord".

Elsewhere, the sheriff takes Superman to the hospital to show Superman what has been going on in their town. The sheriff leads Superman to a wing that is padlocked and boarded up with armed guards. He opens the door for Superman and he is stunned by what he see.

Back with Skeeter, since Batman isn't who she thought he was, she begins to do something to him. Fearing being around Skeeter much longer, Batman crashes through the window and sinks into the quicksand outside the house. Since no one is going to help her, Skeeter decides to help on her own.

Back at the hospital, a loud noise comes from the secure hospital wing and everyone has broken out. Superman rushes off to do what he can while the sheriff calls the National Guard. The escapees are causing general terror around town but not hurting anyone. Superman uses his super speed to try to capture the escapees and contain them. With the vampiric townspeople no longer a problem, Skeeter makes her presence known, ready for a battle with Superman.

Skeeter, real name Elly Mae Skaggs as we learn, attacks Superman and slashes his chest, because she's supernatural and Superman is vulnerable to supernatural things. Clearly Skeeter is trying to hypnotize Superman to join her. She is just about to sink her teeth into Superman's neck when a wooden stake comes piercing through her chest from behind. Batman is back, having survived the quicksand, and Skeeter shrivels into dust and dies. Superman thanks Batman and I guess all the townspeople return to normal?

Back in Gotham City, they are exhuming the people killed by Skeeter. Batman explains to Commissioner Gordon that Skeeter was born back in 1865 and that she and her parents became vampires over a hundred years ago. But it's not over yet, Batman still has to pound wooden stakes into the hearts of the deceased before night falls.

Who turned Skeeter and her parents into vampires? Should we be concerned about him? How did Skeeter's parents die? It's alluded that the townspeople did something, but it's not clear. Expose them to sunlight?

Oddly, vampires would become kind of a regular villain for Superman during this period. Superman and Robin would team up in the summer of 1992 to battle vampires. Superman and Jimmy will also come into contact with vampires in early 1995. I guess because vampires are an actual threat to Superman.