Issue(s): Sleepwalker Holiday Special #1
Cover Date: Jan 93
Title: "Tricks of the trade / Insomnia"
Credits:
Tom Brevoort & Mike Kanterovich - Writer
Bruce Zick / Joe Phillips and company - Penciler
Armando Gil / Joe Phillips and company - Inker
Don Daley - Editor

Review/plot:
I don't know why Sleepwalker can't just get an annual like everyone else, but instead he's got this Holiday Special.

The first story has someone finding a credit card that basically summons an evil genie named Mr. Jin.

Mr. Jin is happy to see that Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, and Quasar are not around to bother him, but his spell alerts him to the fact that the goofy teenager tightening a sink pipe might be a problem.

That is, of course, Rick Sheridan, and it's not so much that he can bother Mr. Jin, but when he takes a nap, Sleepwalker comes out. And Sleepwalker does bother Mr. Jin.

Notice that Mr. Jin says that the Brethren will be very cross when they learn that Sleepwalker is trespassing in this dimension.

Anyway, Sleepwalker convinces the guy that found the credit card to recant his wishes.

A second story occurs while Rick has a bad bout of gas, so he keeps waking up while Sleepwalker is in the middle of fighting crime.

We're not actually shown it (thank god) but i assume at some point Rick has a nice long sitdown on the toilet and is eventually able to get to sleep long enough for Sleepwalker to take care of his own business (the story actually makes repeated references to "bromo", aka Bromo-Seltzer). Although Rick is still not feeling great the next day.

Tom Brevoort has said on several occasions that his brief foray into writing didn't work out too well. I wouldn't really hold a Holiday Special against him in any event, but i certainly can't use this issue to deny that he was right.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Alyssa is described as Rick's "former girlfriend". The MCP place this issue during Sleepwalker #17, but per Michael's comment there, the considerations seem to be that Dr. Strange is referred to as Sorcerer Supreme and Quasar has his Quantum Bands. I'd be tempted to just write those off. From Mr. Jin's perspective, Dr. Strange is probably still Sorcerer Supreme to him regardless of his official status, and the Quasar image could just be conceptual (and the whole point is that these characters aren't around). But in any event, if those are the only considerations it seems like this could be pushed back a little further so that it goes between Sleepwalker #16-17 instead of having to put it during #17. This would only have to take place after Rick and Alyssa are broken up, and between #16 and #17 works for that. I also think it's debatable whether or not to include Strange, Ghost Rider, and Quasar as characters appearing, but i'm following the MCP and doing so.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A