The End of Matrix (For Now)
Matrix has gone from being Supergirl, to a brain-damaged house guest of the Kents, to a Clark Kent imposter. It almost seems like the writers didn't really know what to do with her at the time.
The villain Skyhook returns (last seen in Superman #15) to reclaim the children who Superman rescued from him last time, including Maggie Sawyer's daughter, Jamie. Most of the children had been stuck in a mutated winged form except for Jamie, who scientists were hoping would help them find a cure for the mutation. Skyhook is hellbent on getting Jamie her wings, but her parents succeed in tricking the villain into impaling himself on a statue. The children revert back to normal and Skyhook is seemingly killed, although he would appear a handful of times more in the 90's.
Meanwhile, Superman doesn't know what to do with Matrix, who is now living at his apartment and seems to think he actually is Clark Kent after his contact with the Eradicator.
Leaving Maggie Sawyer, Superman flies home to his Metropolitan apartment. Now back at the Kent farm in Smallville, Matrix not only seems to think he's Clark, but also seems to living out the same actions and completing his sentences. The real Clark Kent takes Lois Lane to a charity banquet (although sponsored by her foundation, Wonder Woman sadly does not appear). After believing Clark was dead, Lois gives him flowers as a peace offering and we finally start to see the beginning of the romantic relationship that would define the post-Crisis era. While they dance, however, Matrix creepily mirrors all of Clark's steps miles away after breaking and entering a closed restaurant. In Metropolis, a team of Intergang assassins targets Lois and Clark. Superman fights the assassins while Matrix copies his same movements while fighting a security guard. Most of the pages in this fight are side-by-side panels of the same action in two different scenes, although in the original issue two pages that would have worked better opposite each other are separated by an ad. Matrix nearly kills the guard until Lana Lang arrives on the scene and pleads with him to stop.
Superman hurries back to Smallville to check on Lana Lang and finds only a demolished restaurant. Superman goes to the Kent farmhouse, but seeing the original Superman there triggers Matrix to go even more insane. Thinking he's protecting them, Matrix abducts Lana and the Kents to an abandoned rock quarry and turns into a grey-clothed Superman doppleganger.
Meanwhile in Metropolis, a new Starman tries to get Kitty Faulkner at S.T.A.R. Labs to help him contact the Man of Steel, setting up a crossover for next month.
Matrix fights Superman so violently that he nearly crushes Lana and the Kents under rocks. Now recognizing the damage he caused, Matrix comes to his senses and decides he's too dangerous to remain on Earth. Matrix flies away into space, going into a voluntary exile similar to what Superman had just returned from, for nearly the same reasons. The narrator closes the saga with the words "we may never see him again."
For a character who was originally introduced as a new post-Crisis Supergirl, this conclusion is a little unsatisfying. Matrix would return several years later in Panic in the Sky, by then fully realizing the character's potential as Supergirl.
Superman #34
Meanwhile, Superman doesn't know what to do with Matrix, who is now living at his apartment and seems to think he actually is Clark Kent after his contact with the Eradicator.
Adventures of Superman #457
Action Comics #644
Meanwhile in Metropolis, a new Starman tries to get Kitty Faulkner at S.T.A.R. Labs to help him contact the Man of Steel, setting up a crossover for next month.
Matrix fights Superman so violently that he nearly crushes Lana and the Kents under rocks. Now recognizing the damage he caused, Matrix comes to his senses and decides he's too dangerous to remain on Earth. Matrix flies away into space, going into a voluntary exile similar to what Superman had just returned from, for nearly the same reasons. The narrator closes the saga with the words "we may never see him again."
For a character who was originally introduced as a new post-Crisis Supergirl, this conclusion is a little unsatisfying. Matrix would return several years later in Panic in the Sky, by then fully realizing the character's potential as Supergirl.
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