April Fools
April Fool's stories were a signature of pre-Crisis Superman comics. In these stories, a narrator would usually challenge the reader to guess why things were happening contradictory to the established rules at the time, with the surprise ending being that it was April 1st. Jeph Loeb gave us a modernization of this concept, although the explanation is not so straightforward.
Superman #181
Bizarro wakes up in Superman's body at his Metropolis apartment, while Superman wakes up in Bizarros's body in the Graveyard of Solitude. Bizarro goes to the Daily Planet disguised as Clark Kent. In Bizarro's body, Superman accidentally flies to the JLA Watchtower on the moon, and after a brief fight with his teammates the Martian Manhunter recognizes who they're actually fighting. As Superman tries to remember how he and Bizarro switched bodies, he sees Bizarro's memory of when Mr. Mxyzptlk brought Bizarro and other creations by the Joker into the real world, although Ignition once again makes clear he was not created by the Joker. Superman and Bizarro fight, and Superman sees another of Bizarro's memories where he unmasks General Zod, although Superman still can't see Zod's face. In a bolt of lightning, the two switch back to their own bodies. The Martian Manhunter drops by the Daily Planet disguised as Superman for a photo op with Clark Kent, just so Clark's co-workers won't get suspicious about his secret identity. On the last page, we see Manchester Black was the cause of all the April Fool's chaos.
Adventures of Superman #603
Mirror, Mirror part 1 of 3
A baby is born in a Metropolis hospital to a woman who was told by doctor she would never be able to conceive. Immediately after birth, the baby displays awesome powers and flies into the sky in a burst of light. With this infant's powers threatening the whole city, Superman carries the Fortress of Solitude and puts it in the Daily Planet's holographic planet , then carries the destructive baby inside before it destroys the whole city. Superman tries to use his Kryptonian technology to analyze the baby, but then the anti-matter villain Ultraman suddenly appears in the Fortress. This could've been an April Fool's issue, although there's no mention of the date in the story.Artist Carlos Meglia drew this 3-part story. Although the Loeb-Kelly era was characterized by less serious, "cartoony" art, this would be one of the more extreme and controversial artistic choices. Meglia's art was so exaggerated that it was hard to tell what was going on in places, even on the last page you wouldn't know it was Ultraman if Superman's dialogue didn't tell you. This story would be the first appearance of the post-Crisis Injustice Gang since they were reintroduced in Grant Morrison's JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel.
Superman: The Man of Steel #125
Gangs of Metropolis part 3 of 3The Overmind is revealed to be Superman's former ally, Professor Emil Hamtilon, now possessed by the B13 technology in his prosthetic arm. Superman stops the gang war, prevents Brainiac 13 from returning, and saves Natalia from the Cybermoths, but he's tragically not able to save his friend. Professor Hamilton would disappear for a few years after this, then resurface again as the villain Ruin.
In the first epilogue, it is revealed that Earthquake was working for LexCorp CEO Talia al Ghul all along, as she celebrates a crippling blow to the company she hates running.
In the second epilogue, the Martian Manhunter again disguises as Superman to explain to Lois Lane's mother that they're not having an affair. This issue does get an April Fool's mention as the closing line of dialogue.
Though they had recently celebrated Action Comics #775, there was no fanfare for this 125th issue.
Action Comics #790
Man & Beast part 2 of 2Guy Gardner wants the Man of Steel to sacrifice himself by trading places with him so he can escape the hell of the Gorge. However, it all turns out to be an elaborate plan to trick the sycophant Kancer into taking Superman's sacrificial role instead. Kancer is never seen again after this, but Guy Gardner is returned to life and human form. Although he still has his now-forgotten "Warrior" look, Guy would eventually become a Green Lantern again after Hal Jordan returned a few years later.
General Zod almost tracks down the Gorge before it closes again. We did get to see Zod fight the Pokemon-inspired kaiju Bling, who despite his cute appearance, is revealed to be a demon hellspawn. After Superman flies away, Guy Gardner has a private chat with a mysterious man in a trench coat who apparently helped him out with an undefined gift.
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