The Man of Steel Era
Entering the sixth year of the post-Crisis era, the Superman books have reached a pinnacle that will last as long as its newest addition to the publishing schedule, Superman: The Man of Steel. While personally I thought the art on this 4th series was often the weakest, the period when all four titles formed a never-ending, interconnected story line is still my favorite decade in Superman comics. Post-Crisis Superman (until Superman #151) is sometimes referred to as the Man of Steel era because of John Byrne's Man of Steel miniseries, and it's only fitting that one of the ongoing titles of this period should have that name.
An orphan named Keith, whose cat Superman saved from a tree last issue, is saying his bedtime prayers and ends it by thanking Superman. The social worker overhears it and tells the boy that Superman isn't a god. Next to the orphanage, two terrorists working for Cerberus named Rorc and Belcher (don't ask) set up their hideout.
After an adventure in alluded to from Flash #53, Jimmy Olsen applied for a job at NewTime but the only opening they had was in the cafeteria. The job doesn't last long, however, because the building is attacked by Cerberus. The terrorists leave their signature message flaming in the sky warning of another attack by six if they don't get what they want. Superman patrols the city looking for Cerberus while Lexcorp executives frantically try to figure out what it is that Cerberus is demanding. Just as time runs out, Rorc and Belcher get word that Cerberus' demands have been met, but Belcher fires the rockets anyway.
While Superman stops the rockets, Keith's cat wanders into the building next door and he comes face to face with Belcher. He calls out for help, and Superman defeats the two villains and saves Keith and his cat. Keith believes now more than ever that Superman is a guardian angel.
One notable characteristic of Louise Simonson's run on Superman is its focus on African American supporting characters. She would later introduce John Henry Irons, who would spin off into his own successful series, Steel. Man of Steel would also be the only Superman book to tie in to the Milestone universe crossover, Worlds Collide.
Concerned by the volatility surrounding Superman after the return of the recent revenge of the Krypton Man, Cadmus decides to send a new team called the Bloodhounds to bring Superman in so Dubbilex can probe his mind. Tracking the Man of Steel's unique aura, the Bloodhounds break into the Daily Planet. Superman tries to stop them but they succeed in overpowering him and take him back to Cadmus. In the middle of the mind probe, the Hairies break through the walls with their Mountain of Judgment. The perpetually-stuck-in-the-70's Hairies escape with Superman into the Zoomway. Dubbilex reveals to the Guardian and Cadmus director Westfield that he learned about how Superman killed the Phantom Zone villains on another Earth. The Guardian destroys the only computer record of the discovery, Westfield threatens to court martial him for it but Dubbilex reveals he learned a dark secret from Westfield's past too, and the three come to an agreement to keep Superman's secret to themselves. Later in a discreet alley, the Guardian reveals to Superman that he arranged for the Hairies to foil Cadmus' plans.
Jimmy Olsen misses his train on the way to a job interview at NewsTime. He doesn't realize it at the time, however, but the train he missed is attacked by a mysterious purple man in a hat and trench coat who kills everybody on board. Ron Troupe walks in to NewsTime looking for a job and gets Jimmy's interview and also the job.
Superman investigates the train left with nothing but dry skeletons. He tracks the murderer down the subway tunnels, but the villain touches him and steals some of his powers. They fight until cause too much damage to the tunnels and it starts to cave in. Superman has to stop the collapse and let the villain get away. On the last page, of course, we find out that the Parasite has escaped from Belle Reve prison.
Although the books are continued from week to week in different titles, they're at their best when they're also able to tell ongoing stories that continue in the same series. So while there will be 3 issues in between, Superman's next encounter with the Parasite will be in the next issue of this series.
Superman has a nightmare that Lex Luthor is still alive. During the day, Metropolis has been facing unemployment and strikes ever since the death of Luthor. Superman is bothered that so many citizens revered Lex as a benefactor to the city without knowing his true nature. Rumors are circulating that Luthor faked his death, and Superman has had enough. As Clark Kent, he gets Cat Grant to do a story on how Superman helped the authorities identify Luthor's body after the crash.
Still on their cruise, Perry White somehow gets a copy of the latest issue of NewsTime, and discovers that his friend commissioner Jim Gordon in Gotham is in the hospital from a heart attack. Jimmy Olsen is down to his last roll of film and needs to pay rent soon. Meanwhile in Sydney, Australia, Luthor's henchman Happersen has been feeding the press false stories about Luthor, and then he tells Luthor's doctor Gretchen Kelley that it's time for her to meet her son--and Lex Luthor's heir!
Superman: The Man of Steel #2
After an adventure in alluded to from Flash #53, Jimmy Olsen applied for a job at NewTime but the only opening they had was in the cafeteria. The job doesn't last long, however, because the building is attacked by Cerberus. The terrorists leave their signature message flaming in the sky warning of another attack by six if they don't get what they want. Superman patrols the city looking for Cerberus while Lexcorp executives frantically try to figure out what it is that Cerberus is demanding. Just as time runs out, Rorc and Belcher get word that Cerberus' demands have been met, but Belcher fires the rockets anyway.
While Superman stops the rockets, Keith's cat wanders into the building next door and he comes face to face with Belcher. He calls out for help, and Superman defeats the two villains and saves Keith and his cat. Keith believes now more than ever that Superman is a guardian angel.
One notable characteristic of Louise Simonson's run on Superman is its focus on African American supporting characters. She would later introduce John Henry Irons, who would spin off into his own successful series, Steel. Man of Steel would also be the only Superman book to tie in to the Milestone universe crossover, Worlds Collide.
Superman #58
Adventures of Superman #481
Superman investigates the train left with nothing but dry skeletons. He tracks the murderer down the subway tunnels, but the villain touches him and steals some of his powers. They fight until cause too much damage to the tunnels and it starts to cave in. Superman has to stop the collapse and let the villain get away. On the last page, of course, we find out that the Parasite has escaped from Belle Reve prison.
Although the books are continued from week to week in different titles, they're at their best when they're also able to tell ongoing stories that continue in the same series. So while there will be 3 issues in between, Superman's next encounter with the Parasite will be in the next issue of this series.
Action Comics #668
Still on their cruise, Perry White somehow gets a copy of the latest issue of NewsTime, and discovers that his friend commissioner Jim Gordon in Gotham is in the hospital from a heart attack. Jimmy Olsen is down to his last roll of film and needs to pay rent soon. Meanwhile in Sydney, Australia, Luthor's henchman Happersen has been feeding the press false stories about Luthor, and then he tells Luthor's doctor Gretchen Kelley that it's time for her to meet her son--and Lex Luthor's heir!
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