The Trial of Superman
The next big Superman epic kicks off in the double-sized Man of Steel #50. The trend of enhanced covers seems to have declined by this point, we won't see anything like that again until Superman #150 and Man of Steel #100. Though it was difficult for me to keep up with the weekly Superman books when I was a kid in the 90's, this was one of the first complete stories I collected when I started buying up every post-Crisis book.
S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Torval Freeman wakes up from a blackout to discover he's been absorbed by the Parasite, who was freed by Luthor last week. Now more intelligent than before, the Parasite fakes a radiation leak at the lab to lure Superman there to drain his powers. Freeman is determined to get his life back, even if it means taking the life of Superman.
Outside S.T.A.R. Labs, Lois and Jimmy find themselves as rival reporters both trying to cover the same story. Lexcorp's private security force, now re-branded as the Centurions, also shows up see if they can help the SCU stop the Parasite. Luthor himself is still a fugitive on the run, discussing the bargain he recently made with an unrevealed benefactor. This issue isn't an Underworld Unleashed tie-in, but it's interesting to see the Superman books leading into that story for several months now. Throughout the 90's, there was a sense that the entire universe revolved around the Superman books, even DC's big summer crossovers.
The Trial of Superman part 1
The Parasite drains Superman nearly to the point of death and proceeds to start killing the SCU officers. Alpha Centurion arrives on the scene and holds off the Parasite, but at that moment an alien Armada has arrived on Earth. Several aliens teleport onto the scene, but were not expecting to find such a weakened Man of Steel. They take Superman back to the ship with them, leaving Alpha Centurion to finish the fight with the Parasite by himself. He apparently gets the Parasite to separate from Torval Freeman's dead corpse, but after the creature escapes we learn the scientist's mind is still in control of it.
Superman escapes from the space ship and powers up again by flying into the sun. Still fighting off his abductors, he accidentally throws the alien Brute into the sun but saves him from burning up. The Tribunal ship nevertheless chains up Superman in restraints that he can't seem to break even at full power and then they take their prisoner back to their planet. The Tribunal sentences Brute to death anyway by shooting him into the sun, and then the Tribunal accuses Superman of destroying the planet Krypton.
The Trial of Superman part 2
Though Superman pleads not guilty, the Tribunal explains to him that they hold him responsible for Krypton's destruction because Kal El's ancestor Kem-L created the Eradicator and the genetic bond that prevented other Kryptonians from leaving the planet before its explosion. Though Superman disputes this logic, the Tribunal represents a coalition of planets who share their merciless beliefs. Superman is cast into a dungeon where his adversary Massacre is also being held prisoner. Massacre is taken before the Tribunal where he is condemned to death, and Superman watches in horror as the Tribunal allows some his surviving victims to beat Massacre to death.
Back on Earth, Lois works with Alpha Centurion to find out where Superman was taken. Alpha Centurion seems to recognize the aliens who abducted Superman. They contact the Outsiders to find out where the Eradicator is now, only to find out that he's off-world on the planet Nekrome.
The Trial of Superman part 3
In an intergalactic prison, Superman is linked by bracelets like a chain gang to some fellow prisoners all accused of genocide: Leeya, a savage, one-armed animal-like woman; Smitty, an arrogant bug-like creature; and Mope, a weak friend of Brute. Leeya decides they should escape, throwing Smitty through the roof and dragging the others with them. Superman wants to surrender, but the guards won't let them so he reluctantly helps his fellow escapees get to Mope's ship, where they have no choice but to trust Smitty to lead them to a safe haven.
Back on Earth, crime is on the rise, due to the events unfolding in Underworld Unleashed. Jimmy defends Superman on TV against accusations that the Man of Steel fled from the Parasite. Cat Grant's employees start to respect her, which angers Vinnie Edge. Alpha Centurion calls on Superboy, Supergirl, and Steel to help him find the missing Man of Steel, revealing to them that he believes Superman may likely be condemned to death.
The colorist on this series, Glen Whitemore, has adapted to the new technology better than most of the other books at DC at this time. He adds dimension and substance that compliments Stuart Immonen's expressionistic style. Alpha Centurion's and Steel's armor have a metallic shine that really stands out compared to the issues preceding it.
Action Comics #715
Outside S.T.A.R. Labs, Lois and Jimmy find themselves as rival reporters both trying to cover the same story. Lexcorp's private security force, now re-branded as the Centurions, also shows up see if they can help the SCU stop the Parasite. Luthor himself is still a fugitive on the run, discussing the bargain he recently made with an unrevealed benefactor. This issue isn't an Underworld Unleashed tie-in, but it's interesting to see the Superman books leading into that story for several months now. Throughout the 90's, there was a sense that the entire universe revolved around the Superman books, even DC's big summer crossovers.
Superman: The Man of Steel #50
The Parasite drains Superman nearly to the point of death and proceeds to start killing the SCU officers. Alpha Centurion arrives on the scene and holds off the Parasite, but at that moment an alien Armada has arrived on Earth. Several aliens teleport onto the scene, but were not expecting to find such a weakened Man of Steel. They take Superman back to the ship with them, leaving Alpha Centurion to finish the fight with the Parasite by himself. He apparently gets the Parasite to separate from Torval Freeman's dead corpse, but after the creature escapes we learn the scientist's mind is still in control of it.
Superman escapes from the space ship and powers up again by flying into the sun. Still fighting off his abductors, he accidentally throws the alien Brute into the sun but saves him from burning up. The Tribunal ship nevertheless chains up Superman in restraints that he can't seem to break even at full power and then they take their prisoner back to their planet. The Tribunal sentences Brute to death anyway by shooting him into the sun, and then the Tribunal accuses Superman of destroying the planet Krypton.
Superman #106
Though Superman pleads not guilty, the Tribunal explains to him that they hold him responsible for Krypton's destruction because Kal El's ancestor Kem-L created the Eradicator and the genetic bond that prevented other Kryptonians from leaving the planet before its explosion. Though Superman disputes this logic, the Tribunal represents a coalition of planets who share their merciless beliefs. Superman is cast into a dungeon where his adversary Massacre is also being held prisoner. Massacre is taken before the Tribunal where he is condemned to death, and Superman watches in horror as the Tribunal allows some his surviving victims to beat Massacre to death.
Back on Earth, Lois works with Alpha Centurion to find out where Superman was taken. Alpha Centurion seems to recognize the aliens who abducted Superman. They contact the Outsiders to find out where the Eradicator is now, only to find out that he's off-world on the planet Nekrome.
Adventures of Superman #529
In an intergalactic prison, Superman is linked by bracelets like a chain gang to some fellow prisoners all accused of genocide: Leeya, a savage, one-armed animal-like woman; Smitty, an arrogant bug-like creature; and Mope, a weak friend of Brute. Leeya decides they should escape, throwing Smitty through the roof and dragging the others with them. Superman wants to surrender, but the guards won't let them so he reluctantly helps his fellow escapees get to Mope's ship, where they have no choice but to trust Smitty to lead them to a safe haven.
Back on Earth, crime is on the rise, due to the events unfolding in Underworld Unleashed. Jimmy defends Superman on TV against accusations that the Man of Steel fled from the Parasite. Cat Grant's employees start to respect her, which angers Vinnie Edge. Alpha Centurion calls on Superboy, Supergirl, and Steel to help him find the missing Man of Steel, revealing to them that he believes Superman may likely be condemned to death.
The colorist on this series, Glen Whitemore, has adapted to the new technology better than most of the other books at DC at this time. He adds dimension and substance that compliments Stuart Immonen's expressionistic style. Alpha Centurion's and Steel's armor have a metallic shine that really stands out compared to the issues preceding it.
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