European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 25, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 25, 1992 fhe stars and stripes a Page 3 it to a. A  a a. A j i Jar j a to amp i t4fw.v.<3t4r doomsday scenario looms for Superman comic fans fans seeking details of Superman a impending death May have to hurry to assure themselves of a copy. By Mark Kinkade staff writer Superman a Suner death might mean super sales for stars and stripes bookstores but it also could cause super headaches As comic Book fans in Europe prepare to fight Over a smaller than expected shipment of the landmark Magazine. A a in be never seen anything like it a a said Frank Boeder of the stripes Booc Sabre at Ramstein a Germany. A when we get in a new Tom Clancy or Stephen King novel people ask about it but not like  in september. Do comics publisher of the Superman Magazine announced that the costumed hero would be killed off in Superman comics no. 75. Since then customers have flooded stripes bookstores with phone Calls and requests to Reserve issues said Jerry Wigan bookstores merchandising manager. At Ramstein interest is so keen that Roeder. A 12-Vear Bookstore employee put up two signs in the window telling customers the Magazine had not arrived. The comic reached Newsstands in the United states on nov. 18, but a delivery Date to stripes bookstores has not been set. Time Warner publishing distributor of the comic shipped 2,400 copies in october Wigan said and he initially doubled the usual order to nearly 5,000 to meet the anticipated demand. However Warner apparently did not receive the order change he said. The shortfall Means the title Likely will sell out in stripes bookstores quickly Wigen said. In the United states the Issue is the single largest Selling comic in history according to news reports with an initial press run of More than 1 million copies. Wigen said Warner has gone to a second press run to meet demand which should give stars and stripes another allotment of the comic. To meet the demand at Ramstein Roeder said he would need at least 500 copies of the comic Book but he expects Only about 120 copies. He already has turned Down numerous requests to Reserve issues for customers Anil expects to sell out the Day after his shipment arrives. A a it a Seldom we run out of any one item Quot he said. A but the comics definitely wont last the Day. People want to put away 10 copies but we can to do that and be fair to All our  As a result of the increased interest in the character Wigan said sales of Superman comics Are up which might have saved the titles from an earlier demise in the clutches of the accounting department. A we were ready to discontinue Selling Quot the Superman titles he said. A a they had been losing ground. Reader interest was very  the comic will sell for $ 1.25, with a special $2.50 edition featuring a trading card and a Black armband. Wigen said Warner did not offer the special edition outside the United states when the first order was placed. Stars and stripes has placed an order for 10,000 copies if the special edition becomes available in Europe Wigen said. Superman meets his end at the hands of Supe Villam doomsday leaving a grieving Lois Lane behind Ami paving the Way for a miniseries of comics titled funeral Lora Friend in which do characters mourn the loss of then supernal. Clark Kent Salter ego will be Back. Do announced recently but details of the resurrection Are being kept under  chief takes Over in Uncertain times by Kevin Robinson staff writer Frankfurt. Germany a business at merchants National Bank amid a shrinking number of . Customers in Europe is anything but usual for James w. Overbey the Bank a new general manager for Germany the Netherlands and Greece. A a lot of times As you go through this draw Down you arc going to have some fallout people wondering if it s going to Quot affect them Quot said Overbey who follows James o. Smith As general manager. Overbey has worked in the Frankfurt Headquarters since june coordinating the Banks new on line Teller systems. He look Over As vice president and general manager last week. One of his biggest tasks facing him in his new position is soothing concerns raised by the Frankfurt works Council Over an ongoing study to decide the future of banking operations in merchants Headquarters in Frankfurt and in High Wycombe England. The works Council represents the interests of 387 employees and managers who work at merchants Headquarters in Germany. Merchants announced in August that the data Center in its Frankfurt Headquarters will close and move to Indianapolis next March. That decision is expected to affect 53 employees in Germany who according to merchants officials will find other jobs within the Bank be placed in jobs at other Banks or be Given Severance pay. A in be been through this before and the most important thing Vou have to think about is people. They Are the most important commodity we have Quot Overbey said. A just because we close up the shop and move the data Center somewhere else our obligation to them does no to Stop at that Point Quot he said. A the Bank a research into future scaled Down operations in Germany England and Hawaii is spearheaded by committees called organizational review teams said Bank Overbey spokesman Frank Chun Durlik. The Frankfurt committee met recently with its High Wycombe counterpart and formed a plan for the future of the Headquarters in Germany Chunderlik said. However he added that this proposal awaits approval by merchants officials in Indianapolis. If the recommendation is approved Chunderlik said merchants will present it to military component command officials dec. 2 at Ramstein a Germany. After the Ramstein meeting a we will work with the works Council Here to further develop the plan Quot Chunderlik said. The Bank a is no to ready to announce its proposal because officials Haven to settled on the plans final form or How it will be implemented he added. Merchants also has Luul to weather the fluctuating fortunes of the Dollar. After a record fall to 1.35 Marks sept. 3. The Dollar is rising to near 1.60 German Marks at military Bank ing facilities. This is Welcome news to americans in Germany including Overbey. When the Dollar took its historic dive in fiscal in it >2, it affected the Bank because a majority of its expenses Are in local currency Overbey said. A we had to pick up and get Back to the Bottom line that would be acceptable to Dod and the contract a he said. A we Are feeling better As the Exchange rate goes up but we still have a ways to  merchants trading experts Are projecting a Peak Exchange rate of 1.70 Marks during 1903. Uncertainties Over the Mark and Over what Sci chants has planned for its Frankfurt Headquarters Are making Overbey a first Days As the general manager anything but Boring. A there is so much trauma that comes out of the anxiety of wondering whether you have a Job or not a he said adding that rumours before any proposal is approved Only heighten that anxiety. A the works Council understands that but they have their obligations to their people a a Overbey said. A we represent the company and the Dod. They Rcpt Escot the people. Obviously we have to work tog thei a merchants . Adds charge to Pound accounts by Meridith Winder l a. Bureau merchants National Bank in the United kingdom is charging a 1 Pound monthly Quot service fee for customers whose Sterling Bank accounts drop below a set balance. A since the Earls 1980s. We have been offering this service tree of charge said Richard Maxwell chief of banking administration Tor merchants in the United kingdom. A but because of falling interest Rales we can no longer cover the costs of maintaining these accounts. We can to exempt Sterling accounts at the expense of other accounts Quot t he fee which amounts to $1.56 at today a Exchange rate took effect monday. It was approved by the department of defense and will be charged to personal Sterling accounts that fall below 300 pounds $468 at any time during the month. People whose accounts remain above 300 pounds the entire month will see no charge. The Bank previously covered the costs of the accounts by investing on the overnight Sterling Market Maxwell said. Higher interest at that time made it feasible. A but since the rates have gone Down we re not Able to earn enough Money to defray  he said. A but people should understand we re not trying to make Money. We re just trying to keep costs at a minimum and save the taxpayers  Maxwell said Many people think that they get a better Exchange rate by banking off base and that they earn More Money because of the higher interest rates British Banks Are offering. Merchants does no to offer interest on its Ster Ling accounts. Quot Many people maintain Small Sterling accounts at the Community Banks while others prefer to do their Sterling banking off  Maxwell said. A we tried to do things to encourage people to Bank on base and keep higher balances so the at count would pay for  Maxwell considers the i Pound tee a Small Price. A Udod and the Bank air living to make sure everything is done As fairly As possible a a he said. A it he fees we charge Are reviewed periodically this Small charge was fair considering what other Banks in the states charge for a similar service and what we offer in conjunction with the Sterling  Maxwell said customers still gel free Sterling checks free standing orders meaning direct debits to pay certain Bills free Check guarantee cards which Means the Bank guarantees coverage of checks written for up to 50 pounds $78 and a free Money machine card