Saviour
After months leading up to this moment, the serial killer known as Saviour finally confronts Superman. Despite all the build up, the battle with Saviour was over in one issue and their next battle would be his last. In the rest of the month, we get the first crossover with Aquaman since he lost his hand, the Cyborg reappears for the first time since Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey, and Alpha Centurion and Superman meet again for the first time.
Escaped serial killer Ramsey Murdoch now fully realizes his ability to make anything he imagines real and transforms into a bona fide supervillain. He gives himself extra muscle and strength like a certain big green guy he saw on TV, and he also cuts a Superman "S" into his forehead with a knife. Lastly, he adopts a variation of Superman's costume, with the bloody "S" from the Death of Superman.
Saviour holds Ron Troupe hostage at knife point until the Man of Steel arrives. Saviour seems to be the only person still under the spell of Braniac's illusion from the Dead Again story arc. He proves to be a match for Superman, but Ron Troupe intervenes and, literally speaking truth to power, reverts Saviour to his former weaker self so that Superman can take him to S.T.A.R. Labs for containment.
Also, Ron Troupe has lunch with Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane. Jimmy doesn't hold a grudge for not having his Arclight story published, and Lucy kisses Ron goodbye on the cheek, saying "You're a good friend."
At GBS, Cat Grant worries that her coworkers think she got her promotion because of sex.
Omitting the title logo from this issue was a bold choice at the time, although these days DC does it every month on their variant covers. They would repeat this cover dress in Saviour's next and final confrontation in Action Comics #735.
Giant sea monsters are attacking the coast and in a televised interview, Aquaman blames it on the pollution from the ruins of Engine City. But TV cameras also catch a glimpse of a mysterious figure riding on the creatures, which people suspect may be Aquaman. Rushing to the scene to investigate, Superman is nearly drowned by the monsters but Aquaman rescues him. For the rest of the issue, Superman wears a breathing device with a red hood.
With Aquaman's dolphin companion Porm, they discover an undersea kingdom ruled by Kosnor, a villain resembling the Creature from the Black Lagoon. They stop Kosnor and his sea monsters from attacking Los Angeles. Superman makes sure there is no pollution coming from Engine City, but he fears they haven't seen the last of Kosnor. Actually, Kosnor would make only one more appearance, but not until the year 2000.
A boom tube opens in the skies over Metropolis, bring a fugitive Parademon from Apokolips named Kalibre. He explains to Superman that he's been put in the horrible situation of being ordered to execute his own daughter, so Superman goes with him back to Apokolips to see if there's any way he can save her. He learns this won't be easy because Darkseid's subjects are so oppressed they willingly march to their deaths to die for him.
Darkseid is infuriated by Superman's attempt to thwart his will, but Superman threatens to remain on Apokolips as a symbol of hope if Darkseid doesn't halt the executions. We even get a flashback with a footnote to the Man of Steel's failed revolt in Superman #3. Darksied agrees to spare their lives, but tells Superman they have made a bargain and he will determine the payment later. Before Superman can even argue, Darkseid sends him back to Earth with his Omega Beam. Sadly, Kalibre's daughter still worships Darkseid, never realizing her life was saved by Superman. After Superman is gone, Darkseid releases the Cyborg from his imprisonment and forces him to leave Apokolips under an armed escort of Parademons.
Still unemployed, Jimmy Olsen promises his mother he'll get a job soon, then later he stops at Cat Grant's apartment for a visit.
Cyborg's Parademon escort leads him to a boom tube, but he wants to get his revenge on Superman before reckoning with Darkseid again.
In Metropolis, Superman stops carjackers threatening Lexcorp's new CEO, the mysterious Contessa. Suddenly, a space ship lands in Metropolis, and Marcus Aelius has arrived back on Earth from an alien civilization just like he had during Zero Hour. This Marcus hasn't become Alpha Centurion yet, but he adopts the name after Superman calls him that. Lois wants to interview Marcus, but Superman volunteers to show him around the city instead, mostly to keep him from falling in love with his Lois. Back at her apartment, Lois assures Clark that whatever may have happened in an alternate timeline he has no reason to be jealous now.
Cat Grant goes to see her old boss Perry White at the Daily Planet for advice on her new position. He recommends that she hire the best, but after she leaves he thinks he'd better give Lois and Clark a raise to keep them on staff.
A figure resembling the Shadow kills some robbers who were breaking into a warehouse, but after removing the scarf from his face he's revealed to be the Joker. Now with 52 issues a year, the Superman books at this point in the 90's are a well-oiled machine, with each creative team continuing a never-ending round-robin story from the previous issue.
Action Comics #714
Saviour holds Ron Troupe hostage at knife point until the Man of Steel arrives. Saviour seems to be the only person still under the spell of Braniac's illusion from the Dead Again story arc. He proves to be a match for Superman, but Ron Troupe intervenes and, literally speaking truth to power, reverts Saviour to his former weaker self so that Superman can take him to S.T.A.R. Labs for containment.
Also, Ron Troupe has lunch with Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane. Jimmy doesn't hold a grudge for not having his Arclight story published, and Lucy kisses Ron goodbye on the cheek, saying "You're a good friend."
At GBS, Cat Grant worries that her coworkers think she got her promotion because of sex.
Omitting the title logo from this issue was a bold choice at the time, although these days DC does it every month on their variant covers. They would repeat this cover dress in Saviour's next and final confrontation in Action Comics #735.
Superman: The Man of Steel #48
With Aquaman's dolphin companion Porm, they discover an undersea kingdom ruled by Kosnor, a villain resembling the Creature from the Black Lagoon. They stop Kosnor and his sea monsters from attacking Los Angeles. Superman makes sure there is no pollution coming from Engine City, but he fears they haven't seen the last of Kosnor. Actually, Kosnor would make only one more appearance, but not until the year 2000.
Superman #104
A boom tube opens in the skies over Metropolis, bring a fugitive Parademon from Apokolips named Kalibre. He explains to Superman that he's been put in the horrible situation of being ordered to execute his own daughter, so Superman goes with him back to Apokolips to see if there's any way he can save her. He learns this won't be easy because Darkseid's subjects are so oppressed they willingly march to their deaths to die for him. Darkseid is infuriated by Superman's attempt to thwart his will, but Superman threatens to remain on Apokolips as a symbol of hope if Darkseid doesn't halt the executions. We even get a flashback with a footnote to the Man of Steel's failed revolt in Superman #3. Darksied agrees to spare their lives, but tells Superman they have made a bargain and he will determine the payment later. Before Superman can even argue, Darkseid sends him back to Earth with his Omega Beam. Sadly, Kalibre's daughter still worships Darkseid, never realizing her life was saved by Superman. After Superman is gone, Darkseid releases the Cyborg from his imprisonment and forces him to leave Apokolips under an armed escort of Parademons.
Still unemployed, Jimmy Olsen promises his mother he'll get a job soon, then later he stops at Cat Grant's apartment for a visit.
Adventures of Superman #527
Cyborg's Parademon escort leads him to a boom tube, but he wants to get his revenge on Superman before reckoning with Darkseid again.In Metropolis, Superman stops carjackers threatening Lexcorp's new CEO, the mysterious Contessa. Suddenly, a space ship lands in Metropolis, and Marcus Aelius has arrived back on Earth from an alien civilization just like he had during Zero Hour. This Marcus hasn't become Alpha Centurion yet, but he adopts the name after Superman calls him that. Lois wants to interview Marcus, but Superman volunteers to show him around the city instead, mostly to keep him from falling in love with his Lois. Back at her apartment, Lois assures Clark that whatever may have happened in an alternate timeline he has no reason to be jealous now.
Cat Grant goes to see her old boss Perry White at the Daily Planet for advice on her new position. He recommends that she hire the best, but after she leaves he thinks he'd better give Lois and Clark a raise to keep them on staff.
A figure resembling the Shadow kills some robbers who were breaking into a warehouse, but after removing the scarf from his face he's revealed to be the Joker. Now with 52 issues a year, the Superman books at this point in the 90's are a well-oiled machine, with each creative team continuing a never-ending round-robin story from the previous issue.
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