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Obscure Characters../index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Sunburst

The death of Japanese super-hero Sunburst during the Crisis was a great blow to the country that he'd defended, doubly so when it was revealed that he had also been film star Takeo Sato. (CRISIS #12) The powers that Sato had exhibited on screen — flight, bursts of flame and bright light from his hands, the ability to generate small volcanoes — had not been special effects. Years earlier, Sato had given his own account of how this had come to be:

"It started the day of my birth — or so I am told. You see, I was born in a tiny village, within sight of an active volcano. On the day of my birth, the volcano was belching fumes prior to an eruption. Fumes, I imagine, that I INHALED with my first breath.

"I never knew of any effect they had on me, and I grew up normally. Then, as anadult, I decided to become an actor. I won the role of a costumed super-hero in a low-budget production, and I had to learn to 'fly' on wires. It was nearly my LAST day as well, for the wires holding me in the air SNAPPED. I screamed in terror — and next I knew, I was in FLIGHT! The studio decided to keep my powers a secret, preferring to release my super-stunts as state-of-the-art special effects" (1983's NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #47, by Paul Kupperberg, Alex Saviuk and Kurt Schaffenberger).

Sunburst's natural powers eventually came to the attention of criminals, who abducted Takeo's parents and blackmailed him into going on a crime spree as Sunburst. The string of robberies soon drew the attention of Superboy, who found that there was "more to (the marauder's) arsenal than mere sun-power and flight — such as superhuman speed and agility — an incredible hardness of body and mighty strength."

After a series of skirmishes with the Boy of Steel, Sunburst seized on a moment of concealment to reveal the extortion plot and enlist Superboy in a plan to capture the kidnappers. After his parents were rescued, Takeo related his origin to Superboy and cursed the day he'd learned of his powers.

"Maybe I can help you with that, Takeo — since it seems the secret to your power lies in knowing how to USE it. But if I place a strong hypnotic block on that knowledge, your powers SHOULD slip back into dormancy." The plan was a success and the short career of Sunburst was brought to a close (NAOS #45-47).

Within a few years, Earth — and the universe itself — found itself imperilled by the threat of the Anti-Monitor. Heroes from all over the globe were mobilized, including Japan's Doctor Light, the Rising Sun ... and Sunburst. Through circumstances unknown, Takeo's knowledge of using his powers had returned and he gallantly joined the defense efforts. Sunburst was killed in the skies over Tokyo, struck down by a Shadow-Demon (1985's CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Jerry Ordway).

The post-CRISIS version of Sunburst's origin, according to WHO'S WHO '86 #22, involved Japan's native hero, the Rising Sun. Rather than the now non-existent Superboy, he was said to have fought the Japanese hero Rising Sun. But the events of the encounter haven't been changed. Also, his death in the Crisis may have since been reversed. A Sunburst made an appearance in a Dr. Light solo story in SHOWCASE '96 #9. It could have been his successor from DOOM PATROL (see below).

Flash forward a dozen or so years to Iran, where a wealthy oil baron named Omar had finally discovered the origin of a jeweled globe that had been in his family for centuries. "The eternal secret of total energy" was implanted in the sphere "by a man whose name has been lost to antiquity." It was given to Omar's ancestor for safe-keeping as the forces of Alexander the Great conquered Persia in 334 B.C.

After eight years of searching, Omar learned that the globe possessed "power enough to convert the sun's solar energy into a field of force — transforming a man into a human sunburst, and giving (him) strength enough to recreate the Persian Empire." In a burst of energy, Omar adopted an armored uniform, his exposed flesh turned blood red and his hair became a mane of fire.

En route to the United Nations to deliver an ultimatum, the flying Sunburst had a chance encounter with a distraught Aquaman, only hours after the murder of his son. The Sea King was swiftly defeated by the villain, who left him for dead in the desert. Unable to use his aquatic powers, Aquaman found a small basin of water that he rationed as he walked through the desert night. Spotting a plane on the horizon, he used a metal can to make a glare and catch the pilot's attention. "There's a certain irony here: sunlight was used to trap this man, and now, appropriately, sunlight is used to free him."

Arriving in Bakushi, Iran, Aquaman found Sunburst making new threats at an embassy. Dodging the villain's heat-vision, the Sea King declared that "my desert experience taught me a man has OTHER powers than those based in his body — and THOSE powers — his wit and cunning — are the greatest powers of all!" Pulling out a mirror, Aquaman reflected Sunburst's powers back at him, burning out the solar tyrant's might (1977's DC SPECIAL SERIES #1 — a.k.a. "Five Star Super-Hero Spectacular" — by Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Jack Abel).

Within months, the Sunburst name had been appropriated by a third person. Timothy Walton had designed golden body armor, complete with glider wings, that was powered by solar energy. Its defensive capabilities included bursts of force and solar energy channelled through his hands. Unfortunately for the would-be criminal mastermind, he attracted the attention of the Teen Titans almost immediately and was ultimately blasted from the sky by Starfire's own solar energy bolts.

The story might have ended there had the entire conflict not been observed by the Wildebeest. The villain stole Walton's armor, used it to kill a business rival and created a situation in which it appeared that Starfire had accidentally slain the man herself. Thanks to Nightwing's detective skills, the plot was exposed (1987's NEW TEEN TITANS #36-37, by Wolfman, Eduardo Barreto and Romeo Tanghal). Sunburst's armor, however, was never recovered and presumably was adapted into the Wildebeest's catalog of weapons.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the legend of Sunburst was being continued by a media savvy successor, whose every action was televised on "The Adventures of the New Sunburst," described as "the country's most popular television show." Clad in a costume loosely modelled after Takeo's, the new Sunburst could channel solar energy through his hands but the full extent of his powers is unknown.

He was attacked by a strange woman for no apparent reason. ("she calmed down after I broke her arms and legs.") Speaking with a doctor at the hospital she was placed in, Sunburst found out that she has every power you haven't thought of.

As the doc put it, "The only way to strip her of her abilities is to think of all the super-powers you can. As you think of them, she loses them." She is also averse to dirt.

The two entered her padded cell, despite her protest that they're letting in dirt. Then, two villains, Sleepwalk and the Fog, approached the cell. Sunburst was bemused by the fact that Sleepwalk, was, well, walking in her sleep, and got punched through a wall. The Fog kidnapped the woman. When Sunburst attempted to stop their escape, he was attacked by the whirlwind of their ally, Frenzy.

Those three, along with the Japanese woman (christened "Quiz") and Mr. Nobody, formed the Brotherhood of Dada.

This was this Sunburst's one and only appearance.

(DOOM PATROL #26, by Grant Morrison, Richard Case and John Nyberg).

The legend of Takeo Sato was also revisited by Paul Kupperberg in 1991's SUPERBOY #18 (art by Jim Mooney and Kim DeMulder), set within the continuity of the live-action TV series. In this version, Takeo was a film student at Shuster University who produced and starred in the amateur production 'sunburst Over Tokyo". Takeo had discovered a talisman in Japan that granted him solar powers but members of the Yakuza tracked him to the U.S. hoping to use the amulet for themselves. Superboy defeated one of the solar-powered thugs and returned the talisman to Takeo, suggesting that the young man use the power altruistically.

Instead, the aspiring filmmaker smashed the jewel, declaring that "I picked my destiny years ago, when I decided to become a Spielberg instead of a Superboy." As the Boy of Steel began to argue that someone else could have used the talisman for good, Takeo pointed out that it could just as easily fall into evil hands.

By the earlier 21st Century, groups of freedom fighters known as Team Titans were being organized to combat the threat posed by Lord Chaos by being sent back in time. One such agent was code-named Sunburst, whose "whole team was killed in the time-transfer." On top of that, Sunburst had arrived three years earlier than intended. "All (he) could do was wait." The solar Titan could encase himself in a fiery force bubble and, like most of predecessors, was capable of generating solar blasts through his hands. In 1993, Sunburst was attacked by a Chaos-drone from the future and, despite an alliance with other factions of the Team Titans, he was ultimately killed when the robotic manhunter fired a blast into his chest (TEAM TITANS #11-12, by Marv Wolfman & Tom Peyer, Gordon Purcell & Frank Turner and Dave Simons).

A final Sunburst didn't appear until the 30th Century. In 2969, the Legion of Super-Heroes faced a man in a red suit (with black vest and boots) who held them at bay during a robbery at the Metropolis Mint. The costume was lined with super-scientific devices that enabled Sunburst to 'surround him(self) with an electro-magnetic force-field," generate bursts of blinding light and fire the requisite bursts of solar radiation. The villain was finally apprehended when he was blinded by Shadow Lass.

Unknown to the Legion, Shadow Lass was being impersonated by Uli Algor, who was working in tandem with Sunburst to convince the team that she was for real as a prelude to stealing the secrets of the LSH. Shady's boy friend, Mon-El, discovered the switch and brought the mimic to justice (1969's ACTION COMICS #379, by E. Nelson Bridwell, Win Mortimer and Murphy Anderson).

Summing up, we've discussed:

Sunburst I (Takeo Sato): NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #45
Sunburst II (Omar ?): DC SPECIAL SERIES #1
Sunburst III (Timothy Walton): NEW TEEN TITANS (second series) #36
Sunburst IV: DOOM PATROL #26
Sunburst V: TEAM TITANS #11
Sunburst VI: ACTION COMICS #379

Super A Books

The Superboy of Earth-116

Profile by John Censullo

First appearance: Superboy [first series] #116 (October 1964)
"The Ordeal of Chief Parker!"

One day, at police headquarters in Smallville, Chief Parker holds a press conference. The police have captured Phil the Faker, the famous counterfeiter, but must still find the phony $20 plate if Phil is to be convicted. Superboy flies into the room, telling Chief Parker not to bother. Using his x-ray vision, Superboy locates the missing plate under a floorboard in the police station itself, where Phil had hidden it! The reporters laugh, saying the Police Chief goofed. After they leave, Chief Parker tells Superboy he wishes he'd have told him about his discovery in private, instead of embarrassing him in front of the reporters. The Chief is surprised to see that Superboy is amused.

The next morning, Superboy spots Chief Parker driving to work. The Boy of Steel states that he will now take the next step in his master plan to smash the old coot's career. Superboy secretly flies up behind the Chief's car and begins pushing it faster and faster. He then quickly flies ahead of the car, stopping it so that he can charge Chief Parker with driving over 60 mph in a 30 mph zone. Superboy says he feels it's his duty to take the Chief to traffic court to be punished. Superboy silently laughs as the judge scolds Chief Parker and fines him $50. That evening, when Superboy returns home, Pa Kent pulls out the newspaper and asks Superboy why he dragged his old friend to court. Superboy says he cannot cover for someone who does wrong, even if it is a friend. He then tells his father to drop the subject.

The next morning, Superboy arrives at police headquarters, where he finds many FBI agents and reporters. One reporter explains that a bunch of top gangsters have been rounded up, and Chief Parker will personally grill "Big Gus" Diller, the crime syndicate boss. The Chief enters the room and, as he approaches the line-up, states that he must put on his glasses before he can begin. Superboy uses his heat vision to slightly melt the lenses, causing Chief Parker's vision to become distorted. The Chief decides he must go through with the interrogation, but he ends up confronting the wrong man, again embarrassing himself. Superboy suggests that maybe Chief Parker is too old for the job and should resign. Once outside, the reporters mock the Chief themselves, agreeing with Superboy's assessment. Lana Lang tells them to stop, that Chief Parker deserves respect for all his years of service. Superboy responds by saying the Chief deserved his job once, but old age has made him inefficient and incompetent. Superboy continues badgering the Chief to quit.

Later, Chief Parker sits alone in his office, writing a letter of resignation. Suddenly, Superboy and Krypto fly into the room. Superboy says that if Parker signs the paper, he will be making a terrible mistake. In the next moment, a second Superboy flies into the room! He proclaims that they may have stopped the Police Chief from resigning, but they can't protect the Chief from him. The two Superboys begin to fight, but then suddenly the duplicate Superboy stops and remarks that his body is tingling. He now realizes what has happened.

He explains that, a few days earlier, a missile from outer space carrying a hyper-atomic warhead was heading toward Earth. If it were to strike the planet, it would destroy it, so he obliterated it in space. However, the missile contained a red kryptonite rock, probably placed there by a space-foe as a booby trap. For 48 hours, the red k forced him to ruin a good friend. However, he was unaware that the explosion had hurled him into a parallel universe, so he ended up trying to torment this world's Chief Parker. The effect finally wears off, and the duplicate Superboy fades back into his own universe.

Chief Parker is happy that Superboy arrived in time to help him, but Superboy says he has Krypto to thank. Superboy was on a special mission in a distant solar system. Krypto found him and led him back. When asked how Krypto knew that he was being menaced by a Superboy from a parallel universe, Superboy only smiles. Shortly, Superboy and Krypto return to the Kent home. Superboy couldn't tell the Chief that it was Pa Kent who had sent Krypto to bring back his master. Pa Kent was fooled briefly, but he soon caught on. He noticed something that no one else did. The colors of the alternate Superboy's emblem were reversed, a yellow "S" on a red background!

The Superboy of Earth-117

Profile by John Censullo

First appearance: Superboy [first series] #117 (December 1964)
"Superboy and the 5 Legion Traitors!"

In a distant galaxy, Superboy races against time. He must place an inhabited world safely in orbit around a nearby sun before their own sun goes nova. After Superboy completes his mission, he can't resist returning for a close-up of the blast. However, he is caught in the massive explosion, which sends him hurtling backward.

Later, Superboy returns to Earth and changes back into Clark Kent. He soon discovers that the residents of his hometown are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 30th century. They have even raised the Legion flag in their honor. Minutes later, the Legion's time-globe appears and Ultra Boy, Invisible Kid, Chameleon Boy, Brainiac 5, and Element Lad disembark, thanking everyone for the kind reception. Clark notes that his fellow Legionnaires are being careful not to recognize him openly in his secret identity. Suddenly, three armed robbers run out of the nearby Research Lab carrying the lab's stolen payroll. The Legionnaires easily defeat the thieves. Police Chief Parker offers to show the heroes the town, but they say they'd rather roam around on their own. Later, Clark spots the Legionnaires flying overhead, and observes that they are smiling strangely.

The next morning, Clark reports to school. The Legionnaires are already there, visiting his classroom. They tell the class a little bit about their powers and exploits. When the teacher asks Ultra Boy for a demonstration of his powers, the super-teen surprises everyone by using his penetra-vision to reveal that Clark is secretly Superboy! Thinking fast, Clark tries to find a way out of his dilemma. Using his x-ray vision, he notices that a sign outside is misspelled, saying "Smallvile High vs. Metropolus High". His photographic memory then recalls that the lab sign he saw the previous day also said "Smallvile". He quickly verifies that the city's name is misspelled everywhere in town. Also, recalling the Legion flag causes him to realize that these 30th century lads are villains, not heroes! He concludes that the terrific concussion caused by the exploding star hurled him into a parallel universe, just as a similar accident recently sent another Superboy into his world (see THE SUPERBOY OF EARTH-116).

Clark realizes that the villains must have come to this era to expose the secret identity of this universe's Superboy. They had captured the robbers to keep him off guard until they could betray his secret before his classmates. He figures that this world's Superboy must have been away on a mission all this while. Using his super-vision, he verifies that Superboy is now returning from overseas. He knows he must act fast. He'll need his duplicate's aid in order to help protect his duplicate's secret identity. At lightning speed, Clark devises a method of contacting his other self. He etches a message explaining the situation on a medal that he is carrying and tosses it out of an open window, aimed directly at the approaching Superboy.

Clark's thoughts and actions have only taken a few seconds. Ultra Boy proclaims that Clark Kent is Superboy. Suddenly, this world's Superboy flies in the window. He uses an anti-gravity paralysis-disc to disable the super-villains, then flies off with his captives. Clark's classmates have a good laugh at Ultra Boy's "mistake". Later, Clark changes to Superboy and meets with his twin. This world's Superboy asks how he knew that the youths from the future weren't really Legionnaires. The Earth-One Superboy explains that he recalled that when the villains first arrived, they didn't salute the Legion flag, even though the Legion's constitution requires them to salute it at all times. He realized that they didn't salute the flag because they hated it, probably because they were thrown out of the club for conduct unbecoming Legion members. Despising their former super-friends, they traveled back in time to spoil things for Superboy.

Soon, the Earth-One Superboy flies the paralyzed villains through the time-barrier to imprisonment in their own era. He then heads back across the dimensional maze, and then through the time-barrier, to his own world and time.

Post-Script: The following month, in ACTION COMICS #320 (Jan 1965) "The Three Super-Enemies!", Superman makes reference to the events of SUPERBOY #117.

Super-Chief

Introduced in the twilight of DC's original run in the Western genre, Super-Chief was the creation of writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino, featured in a mere three issues of ALL-STAR WESTERN in 1960-1961 (117-119) before that title was cancelled.

"In the years before white man set foot on this continent, he was the greatest warrior and mightiest hunter of the Wolf Clan of the Nations. His name, Flying Stag, was honored and revered by his people." When the Royaneh (Supreme Chief) of the Nations died, Flying Stag was dispatched to take part in a contest to name his successor.

With the young Indian's victory a certainty, several of his rivals conspired to trap him in a pit. Unable to escape, Flying Stag prayed to Father Manitou — the Great Spirit — to help him. His selfless plea on his tribe's behalf and his promise to sacrifice his predestined role as Royaneh by not competing in the contest did not go unnoticed.

The voice of the Manitou declared that Flying Stag would serve him. "Your strength shall be a thousand times that of the bear — your speed greater than the swiftest deer — your leaping prowess beyond that of the wolf! ... From this moment on you shall be called Saganowahna — Super-Chief! A chief above all others, even above Royanehs. And yet, so that you may aid your people, you must go to the Council House and enter the contest for Royaneh of the Nations. Yet because you have sacrificed personal glory, you shall not compete as Flying Stag — but as Super-Chief."

At Manitou's command, Super-Chief flew from the pit, found a chunk of a meteor and fashioned an amulet that he wore around his neck. Each time the rock glowed, the hero would be granted his great powers for approximately one hour. "You will soon come to a black buffalo felled by lightning. From its hide, you shall fashion leggings moccasins, and horned mask. This shall be your garb as Super-Chief."

Inevitably, Super-Chief won the contest and saved the tribes from the vengeful trio of clan chiefs that had imprisoned him earlier. Returning to his village, Flying Stag learned that his betrothed, White Fawn, had been forbidden by her father to marry him because of his failure to participate in the tournament. "Instead," she continued, "Father says he is determined that I marry Super-Chief!"

In the final two episodes, the Native American Superman also got his own version of Jimmy Olsen, White Fawn's "bratty brother Lightfoot." During a temporal crisis, Saganowahna was pulled hundreds of years forward to July of 1985. The sight of a flying Indian and his tribesman rushing towards the space shuttle in Florida was enough to draw similarly time-displaced 1940s heroine Firebrand into action. After an extended battle, Firebrand learned that the true object of Super-Chief's attack was the being inside the shuttle — the Ultra-Humanite (ALL-STAR SQUADRON #54-55). With Ultra's defeat and the cessation of the time disruption, Saganowahna returned to his own time period.

Long-term exposure to the meteorite gave Super-Chief a degree of immortality, allowing him to survive more than three hundred years. When last seen, Super-Chief had succumbed to dementia and was in the custody of Bat Lash. Though no longer capable of rational speech or thoughts, Saganowahna still possessed his full complement of powers for sixty minutes of each day and used that strength to smash a crystalline menace in 1872 (1989's SWAMP THING #85).

More than a century later, the legend of Super-Chief was revisited once more. In 1997, a young Indian came into possession of the meteorite amulet and agreed to force the residents from the town of Dry Gulch to make way for a gambling resort. Superman eventually brought the new Saganowahna to justice but the circumstances behind his acquistion of the amulet and the fate of his successor remained unrevealed (ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN ANNUAL #9).

The first Super-Chief story was reprinted in 1971's SUPERMAN #245 and his WHO'S WHO entry appeared in WW '86 #22.

Comments

Famed passenger train of the Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe Railroad. The name is spoofed in a shot in the Bugs Bunny cartoon "Hare Trigger" (Freleng, 1945), with a logo on a train engine showing an Indian in a Superman uniform, and again in "The Big Snooze" (Clampett, 1946), with Bugs and a raft of little Bugses making like a train over a recumbent Elmer Fudd. Injun Joe from "Wagon Heels" (Clampett, 1945) is referred to as The Super Chief ("whoo-whooo!")

The front is labeled 'super Chief" and has a logo of a muscular Indian wearing a big headdress, cape, and on his chest a Superman symbol (or Superman-like symbol).

Thanks to E. O. Costello, who wrote the Companion! Costello's entry for Super Chief came from http://www.spumco.com/magazine/eowbcc/eowbcc-s.html

Super-Duper

An artificial being materialized by small-time criminal Joe Parry, who'd gotten hold of an alien machine. S/he was a composite of several JLA members, incorporating Wonder Woman's head, Hawkman's wings, Green Lantern's power ring, and Flash's legs. S/he faded away when the machine was destroyed, only to be revived by T.O. Morrow. S/he was never shown to have any independent existence or consciousness. Created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.

The Super Friends: Their Allies And Enemies

Neither Black Vulcan, Apache Chief, El Dorado, nor Samurai ever appeared in a DC comic.

Why?

Well, while the main characters comprising The Super Friends were obviously licensed by Hanna-Barbera from DC, the aforementioned characters were created by HB for the cartoon, i.e. these are characters owned by Hanna-Barbera. If were to include them in a comic book, they, in turn, would have to license these characters from HB. You dig where I'm goin' with this? Basically, these weren't/aren't DC characters proper....

As for Rima - well, DC did license a character called "Rima the Jungle Girl" for a brief period in the early seventies, but I don't think she had anything to do with the Superfriends. Perhaps you're thinking of the Super Friends villainess Giganta, who, like Black Vulcan, et al., was a creation of Hanna-Barbera studios. And no - she never made a pulp appearance of which I am aware....

Wait a minute!!!! I may be wrong, 'cause didn't Samurai appear in a SUPER POWERS mini-series?

LIMITED COLLECTORS' EDITION

#C-41 (Dec 1975-Jan 1976) : Super Friends framing sequence, Justice League of America reprints. First comic book appearance of the Super Friends (Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman) and the Junior Super Friends (Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog). Guest stars: the Flash, the Atom, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Hawkman, Red Tornado, and the Elongated Man; statues of Martian Manhunter, Snapper Carr, Plastic Man, Metamorpho, Sargon the Sorcerer, Zatanna, Supergirl, Batgirl, Mera, and Hawkgirl.

SUPER FRIENDS

#1 (Nov 1976) : Part one of two. Villains: The Super Foes (Penguin, Poison Ivy, Toyman, Cheetah, and the Human Flying Fish) and the Junior Super Foes (Chick, Honeysuckle, Toyboy, Kitten, and Sardine). First appearance of the Super Foes as a team, first appearance of the Junior Super Foes and its individual members. Note: The letters page establishes the Junior Super Friends as Wendy Harris and Marvin White. Wendy is the niece of Harvey Harris, the detective that trained young Bruce Wayne. It is also suggested that she is possibly the Earth-One version of the Earth-Two Hourman's wife, Wendy Harris-Tyler. Marvin is the son of Daniel White, inventor, and the former Diana Prince. This Diana Prince is the woman who gave up her identity to Diana, the Amazon Princess, so that she could follow her heart.

#2 (Dec 1976) : Part two of two. Villains: The Super Foes and the Junior Super Foes. Guest-stars: The Flash and Krypto; cameo by Queen Hippolyte.

#3 (Feb 1977) : Villains: Spectrum, Anti-Man, Thunderhead, Powerhouse, the Traveler, the Apparition, Turncoat, Ultra-Light, Firelord, Sub-Zero, and Bombshell; Dr. Ihdrom disintegrates them all and re-forms their atoms into one evil being... the World-Beater (first app. of all). Guest-stars: Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Hawkman, the Flash, the Atom, Black Canary, and the Elongated Man; cameo by Queen Hippolyte.

#4 (Apr 1977) : Villains: Skyrocket (first app.) and the Riddler.

#5 (June 1977) : Villain: Greenback (first app.). A number of characters appear behind-the-scenes at the JLA Super-thon, including: Zatanna, Scott Free (Mr. Miracle), Kathy Kane (Batwoman), Carlo di Rienzi (the Secret Six), and more.

#6 (Aug 1977) : Villain: The Menagerie Man (first app.). Wendy and Marvin are told that they have completed their training. Guest-star: The Atom. Note: The origin of the Atom is retold.

#7 (Oct 1977) : Part one of three. Villain: Grax (previous apps. in ACTION COMICS #342 and #417). First comic book appearance of the new Junior Super Friends (Zan, Jayna, and Gleek of Exor). Zan and Jayna are referred to as the Wondertwins. First appearance of the Seraph of Israel, Godiva of England, Impala of South Africa, and Owlwoman of Oklahoma USA. Guest-stars: Green Lantern, Green Arrow, the Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and the Elongated Man; behind-the-scenes are Black Canary, the Atom, and Red Tornado.

#8 (Nov 1977) : Part two of three. Villain: Grax. First appearance of the Rising Sun of Japan, Jack O'Lantern of Ireland, Tuatara of New Zealand, Bushmaster (Bernal Rojas) of Venezuela, and Thunderlord of Taiwan. Guest-stars: The Flash, the Atom, the Elongated Man, Green Lantern, Red Tornado, Black Canary, and Green Arrow. Note: Black Canary mentions the Justice League's recent mission in the 30th century (ref. JLofA #147-148).

#9 (Dec 1977) : Part three of three. Villains: Grax and Colonel Conquest (first app.). First appearance of the Tasmanian Devil (Hugh Dawkins) of Australia, Little Mermaid (alias Ulla Paske) of Denmark, the Olympian (Aristides Demetrios) of Greece, Icemaiden (Sigrid Nansen) of Norway. Guest-stars: Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and the Flash. Wendy and Marvin graduate from the Super-Hero Academy. The Wondertwins, Zan and Jayna, are accepted as their replacements.

#10 (Feb-Mar 1978) : Villain: Char Ymat (first app.). First appearance of the "Justice League" of another world (Green Lantern, Superior Man, Fangclaw, Stretch Man, Subsea Man, Batman, and Batwoman). Professor Carter Nichols becomes the guardian of Zan and Jayna.

#11 (Apr-May 1978) : Villains: Overlord, Underling, and Kingslayer (first app. of all). Guest-stars: Solovar and others.

#12 (Jun-Jul 1978) : Guest-stars: T.N.T. and Dyna-Mite (first app. in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #5). The duo's powers go out of control. Dyna-Mite is brought to Atlantis, T.N.T. is brought to Kandor. First comic book appearance of Doctor Mist (Doctor Mist is a minor character from H. Rider Haggard's novel "Wisdom's Daughter", Chapter XVIII). Note: The origin of T.N.T. and Dyna-Mite is retold; they are established as World War II heroes on Earth-One.

#13 (Aug-Sep 1978) : Guest-star: Doctor Mist. The Super Friends help Doctor Mist stop a creature he has dubbed "the Mindless Immortal". Doctor Mist states that he is approximately 11,000 years old, and has dwelt in exile for nearly 9,000 years.

#14 (Oct-Nov 1978) : Story one/Part one of two. Villains: Overlord and the Elementals (first app.). Overlord had taken elemental spirits and given them possession of four humans; he convinced them that the Super Friends were evil. By the end of part one, the Elementals realize that it is Overlord that is the enemy. The Elementals consist of the Gnome (Grant Arden), the Undine (Crystal Marr), the Sylph (Jeannine Gale), the Salamander (Ginger O'Shea). Story two/The origin of the Wondertwins is revealed. Grax shown in flashback.

#15 (Dec 1978) : Part two of two. Villains: Overlord and Underling. The Elementals don new costumes. When Overlord is defeated, Underling becomes the new Overlord.

#16 (Jan 1979) : Villains: The aliens called the Cvag (first app.).

#17 (Feb 1979) : Part one of two. Villain: The Time Trapper (enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes, first app. in ADVENTURE COMICS #317; Wonder Woman also recognizes him as the Time Master, a foe she fought in WONDER WOMAN v1 #101). Wonder Woman, Batman, and Robin travel back to Krypton on its last day, in order to rescue Jayna; there they meet Lyla Ler-Rol. Superman and Aquaman travel twenty-three years into the future to a water-world orbiting the star-sun Neryla, in order to rescue Zan. Guest-star: Queen Hippolyte.

#18 (Mar 1979) : Part two of two. Villain: The Time Trapper. Superman and Aquaman travel to Atlantis in 59,600 BC, approximately fifty thousand years before it is destined to sink. Wonder Woman and Robin travel to Madrigal, Spain in October 1469, where they aid Princess Isabella of Castile. Batman, Zan, and Jayna travel to Michigan in 1860, where they meet a young Tom Edison. Guest-star: Tuatara.

#19 (Apr 1979) : Villain: The Menagerie Man.

#20 (May 1979) : Villain: Fritz Frazzle (first app.). Guest-star: Merlin the Magician.

#21 (June 1979) : Villains: The Super Fiends (Yeltu and Fegla of Exor) (first app. of both). Yeltu becomes Superiorman, Waterman, and Capeman. Fegla becomes Wonderous Woman, Birdwoman, and Capewoman.

#22 (July 1979) : Villains: The Matador Mob (minor crooks) (first app.) and Chronos.

#23 (Aug 1979) : Villain: The Mirror Master. Guest-star: The Flash. Zan and Jayna are first shown in their secret identities of John and Joanna Fleming.

#24 (Sep 1979) : Villains: Zond and Zhanra of Exor, criminals frozen in time for 12,000 years.

#25 (Oct 1979) : Villain: The Overlord II (formerly Underling). First appearance of a Fúria Verde, a.k.a. the Green Fury, of Brazil. Guest-stars: Nubia the Wonder Woman of Africa (first app. in WONDER WOMAN v1 #204), the Tasmanian Devil, the Seraph, Green Lantern, Mera, and Aqualad.

#26 (Nov 1979) : Villains: Johnny Witts and his gang (previous apps. in DETECTIVE COMICS #344 and BATMAN #201). Guest-stars: Wendy and Marvin.

#27 (Dec 1979) : Villains: Aliens from a water-world (first app.). Guest-stars: Mera and Aqualad.

#28 (Jan 1980) : Villain: Felix Faust. Faust invades a Halloween party and transforms people into the characters whose costumes they wear, such as: Etrigan, Swamp Thing, Man-Bat, Bizarro, Solomon Grundy, and more.

#29 (Feb 1980) : Story one/Villains: Aliens represented by Commander Trovaik (first app.). Story two/Wondertwins tale. Flashback to when the twins donned the identities of John and Joanna Fleming.

#30 (Mar 1980) : Villains: Gorilla Grodd and Giganta. Guest-star: Solovar.

#31 (Apr 1980) : Villain: Lisa Patrick, a Black Orchid imposter (previous apps. in PHANTOM STRANGER v1 #39-41). Guest-star: The real Black Orchid (first app. in ADVENTURE COMICS #428). Lisa Patrick concludes that Black Orchid must be a Kryptonian, but learns she is mistaken. Black Orchid reveals to Superman that she is from Earth.

#32 (May 1980) : Villain: Scarecrow.

#33 (June 1980) : Villain: Menagerie Man. Guest-star: Hawkman.

#34 (July 1980) : story one/Featuring: A creature from the planet Oram, a world destroyed a million years ago. Story two/The Wondertwins vs. the racketeer Anse Lyon.

#35 (Aug 1980) : Villains: The Barkis Gang (first app.).

#36 (Sep 1980) : Story one/Villain: Warhead (first app.). Guest-star: Plastic Man. Story two/The Wondertwins encounter a saurian alien.

#37 (Oct 1980) : Story one/Villain: The Weather Wizard. Guest-star: Supergirl. Photos of the Flash, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Plastic Man, Jack O'Lantern, and more. Story two/Jack O'Lantern (Daniel Cormac) vs. Balor the giant. Note: The origin of Jack O'Lantern is revealed.

#38 (Nov 1980) : Story one/Villain: Grax. Photos of the Flash and others. Story two/The Seraph (Chaim Lavon) vs. raiders.

#39 (Dec 1980) : Story one/Villains: Overlord II and Futurio (first app.). Story two/The Wondertwins vs. mobsters.

#40 (Jan 1981) : Story one/Villain: The Monocle (first app.). Story two/Jack O'Lantern vs. swindlers.

#41 (Feb 1981) : Story one/Villain: Toyman. Story two/The Seraph vs. spies.

#42 (Mar 1981) : Story one/Villain: Green Thumb (first app.). Guest-star: Green Fury (Beatriz da Costa). Story two/The Wondertwins help Prof. Nichols play Santa Claus.

#43 (Apr 1981) : Story one/Villains: Overlord II and Futurio-XX (first app.). Guest-star: Green Fury. Story two/Plastic Man.

#44 (May 1981) : Story one/Villain: Yarq of Exor (first app.). Guest-star: Green Fury. Story two/Jack O'Lantern vs. a hitman. An Irish banshee appears.

#45 (June 1981) : Story one/Part one of two. Villains: Hector Hammond, Kanjar Ro, Queen Bee, Sinestro, Time Trapper, and the World-Beater; The Conqueror (first app.) uses them all. First appearance of the Wild Huntsman of West Germany. Guest-stars: Doctor Mist, Bushmaster, Godiva, the Rising Sun, the Olympian, and the Little Mermaid. Story two/Plastic Man.

#46 (July 1981) : Story one/Part two of two. Villains: Hector Hammond, Kanjar Ro, Queen Bee, Sinestro, Time Trapper, and the World-Beater; The Conqueror uses them all. Guest-stars: Doctor Mist, the Wild Huntsman, Bushmaster, Godiva, the Rising Sun, the Olympian, and the Little Mermaid. In German, the Wild Huntsman is called Wild Jäger, his horse is Orkan (Hurricane) and his hound is Donnerschlag (Thunderclap). Story two/The Seraph vs. Flavius Silva, a 1900 year old ghost.

#47 (Aug 1981) : Villain: An angry, young shaman. Guest-star: Green Fury. Note: The origin of Green Fury is revealed. The Wondertwins celebrate their birthday.

THE BEST OF DC

#3 (Jan-Feb 1980) : Reprints SUPER FRIENDS #3,4,10. Published between SUPER FRIENDS #27 and #28.

SUPER FRIENDS SPECIAL

#1 (1981) : Reprints SUPER FRIENDS #19,36.

SUPER FRIENDS! [trade paperback]

#nn (2001) : Reprints LIMITED COLLECTORS' EDITION #C-41 and SUPER FRIENDS #1,6-9,14,21,27.

CHECKLIST:

SELECT HEROES:

Bushmaster (Bernal Rojas) of Venezuela (SUPER FRIENDS #8,45,46, more)
Doctor Mist (King Nommo, alias Joab M'staki) of Africa (SUPER FRIENDS #12,13,45,46, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more)
The Elementals, the Gnome (Grant Arden), the Salamander (Ginger O'Shea), the Sylph (Jeannine Gale), the Undine (Crystal Marr) (SUPER FRIENDS #14,15)
Godiva (Dorcas Leigh) of England (SUPER FRIENDS #7,45,46, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more)
The Green Fury, a.k.a. a Fúria Verde (Beatriz da Costa) of Brazil (SUPER FRIENDS #25,42,43,44,47, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more) [Note: Later called Green Flame and Fire]
Icemaiden (Sigrid Nansen) of Norway (SUPER FRIENDS #9, more) [Note: Later replaced by Tora Olafsdotter, Icemaiden II a.k.a. Ice]
Impala (Mbulaze) of South Africa (SUPER FRIENDS #7, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more)
Jack O'Lantern (Daniel Cormac) of Ireland (SUPER FRIENDS #8,37,40,44, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more) [Note: Later replaced by Marvin Noronsa and Liam McHugh]
The "Justice League" of another world, Batman, Batwoman, Fangclaw, Green Lantern, Stretch Man, Subsea Man, and Superior Man (SUPER FRIENDS #10)
The Little Mermaid (unnamed Atlantean, alias Ulla Paske) of Denmark (SUPER FRIENDS #9,45,46, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more)
Nubia, the Wonder Woman of Africa (WONDER WOMAN v1 #204,205,206, SUPERGIRL v1 #9, SUPER FRIENDS #25)
The Olympian (Aristides Demetrios) of Greece (SUPER FRIENDS #9,45,46, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, more)
Owlwoman (Wenonah Littlebird) of Oklahoma, U.S.A. (SUPER FRIENDS #7, more)
The Rising Sun (Izumi Yasunari) of Japan (SUPER FRIENDS #8,45,46, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more)
The Seraph (Chaim Lavon) of Israel (SUPER FRIENDS #7,25,38,41,46, DC COMICS PRESENTS #46, more)
The Tasmanian Devil (Hugh Dawkins) of Australia (SUPER FRIENDS #9,25, more)
Thunderlord (Liang Xih-k'ai) of Taiwan (SUPER FRIENDS #8, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12, more)
Tuatara (Jeremy Wakefield) of New Zealand (SUPER FRIENDS #8,18, more)
The Wild Huntsman, a.k.a. Wild Jäger (Albrecht von Mannheim) of West Germany (SUPER FRIENDS #45,46, more)

SELECT VILLAINS:

Char Ymat (alias Cherry Mott) (SUPER FRIENDS #10)
Colonel Conquest (SUPER FRIENDS #9)
The Conqueror (SUPER FRIENDS #45,46)
Dr. Ihdrom, Anti-Man, the Apparition, Bombshell, Firelord, Powerhouse, Spectrum, Sub-Zero, Thunderhead, the Traveler, Turncoat, Ultra-Light (SUPER FRIENDS #3)
Grax (ACTION COMICS #342, #417, SUPER FRIENDS #7-9,38)
Greenback (SUPER FRIENDS #5)
Green Thumb (Fargo Keyes) (SUPER FRIENDS #42)
Johnny Witts (DETECTIVE COMICS #344, BATMAN #201, SUPER FRIENDS #26)
Kingslayer (SUPER FRIENDS #11)
The Menagerie Man (Wilson Gable) (SUPER FRIENDS #6,19,33)
The Monocle (Danton Graeme) (SUPER FRIENDS #40)
Overlord (Sandor Fane) (SUPER FRIENDS #11,14,15)
Underling (SUPER FRIENDS #11,15)/Overlord II (SUPER FRIENDS #15,25,39,43)
Futurio (clone of Overlord II) (SUPER FRIENDS #39)
Futurio-XX (clone of Overlord II) (SUPER FRIENDS #43)
Skyrocket (SUPER FRIENDS #4)
The Super Fiends, Yeltu (Capeman, Superiorman, Waterman) and Fegla (Birdwoman, Capewoman, Wonderous Woman) of Exor (SUPER FRIENDS #21)
The Super Foes, the Junior Super Foes, Chick, Honeysuckle, Kitten, Sardine, and Toyboy (SUPER FRIENDS #1,2)
Warhead (Rupert C. Nall) (SUPER FRIENDS #36)
The World-Beater (SUPER FRIENDS #3,45,46)
Yarq of Exor (SUPER FRIENDS #44)
Zond and Zhanra of Exor (SUPER FRIENDS #24)

Super-Hip

The subconsicous, uninhibited alter ego of Tadwallader Jutefruce, a strait-laced genius student at Benedict Arnold High School who was the nephew of comedian Bob Hope (in Hope's licensed DC humor title). Super-Hip's origin I'm not familiar with, but it was probably due to one of Tad's experiments; his powers were vague but seemed to amount mostly to transfiguration and mind-over matter. Created by Arnold Drake and Bob Oksner, and not generally considered part of the DC Universe...even though he did attend the Doom Patrol wedding of Rita Farr and Steve Dayton, also written by Drake.

The Superman Dynasty

Superman of late 20th century [pre-Crisis]
Kal-El of Krypton (Earth-One Universe), alias Clark Kent. Debuted in the mid 20th century as Superboy. Cousin of Kara Zor-El, alias Linda Lee Danvers (Supergirl). As Superboy, member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. As Superman, member of the Justice League. The Earth-One Superman first app. in Superman v1 #146.
Superman a.k.a. Superman Prime from late 20th century to 853rd century [post-Crisis]
Kal-El of Krypton, alias Clark Kent. Debuted in the late 20th century. Husband of Lois Lane. Member of the Justice League. Superman Prime, as he became known, was still alive in the 853rd century. The post-Crisis Superman first app. in Booster Gold #6. His origin was first presented in Man Of Steel #1.

Superman II of early 21st century [pre-Crisis]
Jorel Kent. Son of Clark Kent (Superman) and, presumably, Lois Lane. Father of Kalel Kent (Superman III). Debuted at the dawn of the 21st century. Superman II appeared in Superman v1 #354,355,364. Memorial statue in Superman v1 #181.
Superman Secundus of mid? to late 21st century [post-Crisis]
Real identity unrevealed. Took over responsibilities of being Superman completely when Superman Prime left Earth in the late 21st century. Superman Prime was not seen on Earth again for another 68 millennia. Superman Secundus first mentioned in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman III of early 21st century (2020 to 2021 AD and beyond) [pre-Crisis]
Kalel Kent, alias Jon Hudson, alias Lewis Parker, plus other unrevealed identities. Son of Jorel Kent (Superman II). Grandson of Clark Kent (Superman) and, presumably, Lois Lane. Later invented a cure for cancer. Appeared in Superman v1 #354,355,357,361,364,368,372. Memorial statue in Superman v1 #181. Cure for cancer mentioned in Superman v2 #136.
Superman III of late 21st? century (century assumed) [post-Crisis]
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned.

Superman IV of 22nd? century (century assumed)
Dave Kent. Identity exposed. Mentioned in Action Comics #338. Memorial statue in Superman v1 #181.

Superman V of 22nd? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Arch-foe is Vyldan. Mentioned in Action Comics #338. Memorial statue in Superman v1 #181.

Superman VI of 23rd? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Occasionally teamed with Batman VI. Mentioned in World's Finest Comics v1 #166. Memorial statue in Superman v1 #181.

Superman VII of 23rd? century (century assumed)
Kanton K-73. Identity exposed by infant son. Mentioned in Action Comics #338.

Superman VIII of 24th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Inventor of world's first dependable artificial eye. Invention of artificial eye mentioned in Superman v2 #136.

Superman IX of late 25th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned. (See Note.)
Note: The Superman and Justice League of the late 25th century fight Solaris. Prior to this, there had not been a Superman on Earth for over a century. It is not possible to determine for sure whether Superman IX is this particular Superman. Mentioned in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000 and Chronos #8.

Superman X of 26th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned.

Superman XI of 26th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned.

Superman XII of 27th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Genes altered in the Pollution War, which included the use of atomic weapons. He and all descendants now vulnerable to contaminated sea water. Atomic war fallout mentioned in Superman v1 #181. Pollution War mentioned in Superman v2 #137.

Superman XIII of 27th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned.

Superman XIV of 28th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned.

Superman XV of 28th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Occasionally teamed with Batman XV. Mentioned in World's Finest Comics v1 #166.

Superman XVI of 29th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned. (See Note.)
Note: The Superman and Justice League of the early 29th century and the time-traveling Legion of Super-Heroes fight Solaris. It is not possible to determine for sure whether Superman XVI is this particular Superman. Mentioned in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman XVII of 29th? century (century assumed)
Real identity unrevealed. Never seen nor mentioned.

Superman XVIII of early 30th century [pre-Crisis]
Real identity unrevealed. Responsible for mutation of Muto. Occasionally teamed with Batman XIX. Mentioned in Action Comics #338.
Superman XVIII of mid 30th century [post-Crisis]
Real identity unrevealed. Responsible for mutation of Muto. Died bringing arch-foe Luthor to justice. Mentioned in Superman v2 #136-138.

Superman XIX of mid 30th century (circa 2965 to 2967 AD) [pre-Crisis]
Klar Ken T5477. Arch-foe is Muto. Occasionally teamed with Batman XX. Appeared in Superman v1 #181, Action Comics #338-339, and World's Finest Comics v1 #166. Note: Incorrectly called Superman of 2465 to 2466 AD when reprinted in Superman v1 #244, 247, and 248.
Superman XIX of late 30th century (circa 2999 AD) [post-Crisis]
Klar Ken 5477. Arch-foe is Muto. Founder of the Justice Alliance. Appeared in Superman v2 #136-138.

Superman XXX of mid 35th century (circa 3446 AD)
Real identity unrevealed. Appeared in Superboy v1 #120.

Superman of 38th century
Real identity unrevealed. Mentioned in Adventures Of Superman #1,000,000, which claimed that Solaris was rehabilitated by the Superman of the 38th century. (See Note.)
Note: It is likely that the writer should have instead referred to the Superman of the 505th century, who had died reprogramming Solaris.

Superman of 67th century
Real identity unrevealed. New powers were added to the Dynasty with the marriage of the 67th century Superman to Queen Gzntplzk of the Fifth Dimension. Mentioned in DC One Million #1 and Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman of 250th century
Real identity unrevealed. Mentioned in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman of 322nd century
Alliance of the descendants of Lex Luthor and the Superman Dynasty in the 322nd century. Mentioned in Action Comics #1,000,000.

Superman of 364th century
Real identity unrevealed. Mentioned in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman of 505th century
Real identity unrevealed. Superman reprograms Solaris at the cost of his life. Mentioned in DC One Million #1, Green Lantern v3 #1,000,000, JLA #1,000,000, and Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.
Note: See also note for Superman of 38th century.

Superman of ? century (century unknown, must be between 505th and 700th century)
Unnamed member of the Justice League of the Atom. First depicted in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman of ? century (century unknown, must be between 505th and 700th century)
Unnamed member of the Pancosmic Justice Jihad. First depicted in Superman: Man Of Tomorrow #1,000,000.

Superman Prime in 70,001 AD
Superman Prime returns to Earth, takes up residence in the Sun until 85,271 AD.

Superman of 853rd century Earth (years leading up to 85,271 AD and beyond)
Real identity unrevealed. Member of Justice Legion A. Cameo in JLA #15, first full app. in JLA #23.

Superman of 853rd century Zrfff (years leading up to 85,271 AD and beyond)
LZYXM LTPKZ of the 5th Dimensional world of Zrfff. First app. in DC One Million #4.

Superman of 854th? century
Real identity unrevealed. Future son of the Superman of 853rd century Earth. First app. in DC One Million 80-Page Giant #1,000,000.

Comments

As always an enjoyable thread.... but one problem.... why didn't you include the Flash and Superman from the LEGENDS OF THE DCU SPECIAL CRISIS EDITION in your dynasties?

I assume you mean the Flash and Superman of Earth-D. Didn't include them for the same reason I didn't include Ultraman of Earth-3 or Superboy of Earth-Prime. The intent was to put together a dynasty of the current DCU only, referencing the pre-Crisis/pre-Zero Hour counterparts only when I thought the data was relevant. I can see how the format was confusing though.

Superman, Junior

In a scene that would become eerily familiar to him, Superman, using his X-Ray vision, notices a small rocket ship landing outside Metropolis. Superman investigates, and a young, blonde haired boy emerges. The young man is Johnny Kirk.

Years ago, when he was Superboy, Superman met Professor Morton Kirk, an astronomer. Prof. Kirk was convinced that Earth would soon be destroyed by a "wandering planet" that was on a collision course for Earth, so he placed his young son in a rocket and aimed it for space.

Unfortunately, Prof. Kirk hadn't counted on Superboy, who changed the course of the planet and therefore saved Earth. Before dying, Prof. Kirk authored a will that named Superman (the grown up Superboy) as legal guardian of his son, if the son was ever found.

Johnny Kirk's rocket passed through a strange cosmic cloud which greatly amplified his natural abilites; he put his powers to good use growing up on a primitive planet.

Years later, Johnny made his way back to Earth, where he met Superman, who, per the arrangemetns made in Prof Kirk's will, adopted him. Johnny Kirk, with his amazing powers, becames Superman, Junior!

Superman relished his role as foster father, even outfitting Johnny in a modified Superboy outfit.

His joy was offset by a strange occurance — it seemed every time he used one of his super powers, he LOST it. He chalked it up to age; and resolved to train Superman, Jr. to take his place. Disguising himself with gray hair and a mustache, Superman and Superman Junior moved to Smallville and began life as father and son. As more and more of his powers began to fade, Superman grew more determined to fully train Superman Junior before his powers completely faded.

Unfortunately, with all of his powers (save for flight) gone, Superman was totally unprepared for what happened next: Superman Junior spotted a glowing Kryptonite meteor hurtling toward Earth, and sped off to stop it. Superman, worried that the meteor may strip Junior of his powers, uses his last ounce of powers to follow him into space. Once there, he discovered it WASN'T kryptonite, but a strange, rare metal which, "as fate would have" was able to leech all of Junior's powers into Superman. Junior was now a normal boy, and Superman was back to his super-self. Superman bid Johnny a fond farewell to resume his previous life, and Johnny began his as a normal Earth boy.

The story originally appeared in ACTION COMICS #232 and was reprinted in BEST OF DC DIGEST #25.

I always wondered what happened to Johnny. I mean, he grew up on another planet with apparently NO guidance and, once he lost his powers, Superman essentially abandoned him. Wouldn't that make for a rather anti-social personality?

Superman of 2020-2021

The Superman of 2020 was introduced in SUPERMAN [first series] #354. Superman I, who appears here to be quiet aged, and Superman II, arrive on a floating city in the sky, New Metropolis, for the unveiling and public debut of Superman III. Down on Earth, in the 21st century city of Megalopolis, Kalel Kent quits his job, then fakes his own death. He has decided that Superman III will be a hero with multiple secret identities! By the end of issue #355, Kalel arrives in New Metropolis and is given his "S" emblem.

In SUPERMAN [first series] #357, we find Kalel in his first secret identity, that of Jon Hudson, a computer traffic-controller. Jon is dying to ask out his supervisor, Melodee Sellers, but he is sure she will turn him down. He finally does get up the nerve to ask her, and she says "yes".

In issue #361, we learn of Kalel's second secret identity, that of Lewis Parker, professional tennis player. Melodee meets Parker, but doesn't realize he is also Jon Hudson.

Issue #364 reveals the secret story of why Superman I looks so old. Thirty years earlier, the original Superman learned that a colossal burst of energy had turned the Sun red, but instead of harmless radiation, the Sun was shooting out lethal red energy. He used two super-explosives to restore the Sun to its natural yellow state, then flew at the dividing line between the red and yellow energies, using his body to repel the deadly red rays into space. Superman tracked down the cause of the trouble, Lex Luthor. Superman stated that he had foiled Luthor's plans, but Luthor responded by saying that his plan all along was to turn the Sun red so he could kill Superman when he lost his powers. By repelling all the red energy, Superman had done Luthor's job for him ... Superman began aging at an accelerated rate! Superman rushed to his Fortress and was able to stop the aging, although it had left him looking twice as old as his 40 years. Now, in 2020, the Sun turns red again. the three Supermen race to the Sun. the original Superman, who is now immune to the aging effect, tackles the red energy band again. Superman III is amazed that even at 70 years of age, he's still the greatest hero in the universe. Later, Superman I surmises that Luthor had originally planted a backup bomb, which had only now gone off.

In SUPERMAN [first series] #368, Superman III prevents a disaster at the dawn of the New Year.

Finally, in issue #372, the Superman of 2021 helps out his "Uncle Jimmy", the elderly James Bartholomew Olsen, retired reporter for the Daily Planet.

Superman of 2956

Action Comics #215 (Apr 1956)

Summarizing an entry from Michael L. Fleisher's Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes vol. 3...

Craig King, a mild-mannered telenews reporter for the Daily Solar System, assumes the role of the 30th century Superman at the behest of a delegation of leadings scientists. They provide him with special super-power gadgetry in the hope that he might be able to bring a halt to the mysterious scientific thefts that have been plaguing Metropolis. the devices include concealed jet units for flight and a concealed degravitator to make heavy things light. These enable him to simulate, to some degree, some of Superman's mighty powers.

Failing in his attempts to apprehend the criminals, the Superman of 2956 summons the original Superman to 30th century Metropolis to help him. Superman discovers that Vinson Vail, one of the aforementioned scientists, is also the secret leader of the gang. the rash of spectacular scientific thefts were a prelude to the most titanic crime of all time: the theft of the world's power-supply, in the form of the great atomic plant outside Metropolis. It supplies power, by wireless, to every machine, car, and plane on the planet, without which the world would be helpless and ripe for takeover.

Superman exposes Vail as the mastermind and swiftly apprehends him. Once the criminals are captured, a relieved Craig King gladly retires from crime-fighting.

Superman of 2965-2967

Way back in SUPERMAN [first series] #181 (Nov 1965), a new feature was started. Its name ... "Superman of 2965"! This eight-page backup tells the tale of Klar Ken T5477, the 30th century Superman. the year is 2965, and the Superman of that era is about to be deputized by the Federation of Planets as a lawman of all the worlds. Jay Senohl of the Daily Interplanetary News, is one of the reporters covering the important event. In the Hall of Worlds, the capital of the Federation of Planets, Superman is given the power to act as a lawman with unlimited powers by the member worlds, officially beginning a new stage in his career.

Later that afternoon, Superman receives a call from Pluto informing him that a rogue planet is entering the solar system, and may collide with Mars or Earth. While Superman diverts the planetoid, scientific criminals, looking to plunder the wonders acquired by Superman, locate his secret Fortress of Solitude satellite. They deduced the location of the satellite, which has a field of refractive force all around it which makes it invisible until you get close to it, and enter the Fortress. They are unable to penetrate the defense mechanisms, and are soon captured by Superman.

Superman verifies that none of his souvenirs were taken, including a chunk of green kryptonite, which the later Supermen became immune to. Superman recalls how, years ago, he first encountered his one weakness. Although his father had warned him that the ocean could be fatal to him, he figured a quick peek undersea at the city of Atlantis couldn't hurt. He was immediately paralyzed by the chemical residue left in sea water by a past atomic war, which affects only people of Kryptonian descent. Luckily, the mermen of Atlantis arrived and brought him back to dry land.

Superman soon returns to his other identity of Klar Ken T5477, Ultra-News reporter for the Daily Interplanetary News. Jay brings a scoop to the editor, a computer named PW-5598, designed by Per Wye T7357 to honor his ancestor, but the story is rejected. Klar arrives, and PW gives him his assignment ... the criminal Muto has returned, and was photographed robbing a Neptunian treasure-bank. Muto is a human mutant who uses his colossal intellect for crime, and he is one of Superman's greatest foes. As he is about to leave, Klar runs into Lyra 3916. Klar has to cancel their date that night so he can go to Neptune. When he mentions that Superman might show up, she shows her disdain for what she sees as a conceited person. Once alone, Klar changes into Superman and heads to Neptune.

The next appearance of that futuristic Superman, set in 2966 AD, was in a two-parter in ACTION COMICS #338 (June 1966) and #339 (July 1966). In that adventure, we learn of past Supermen: Dave Kent a.k.a. Superman IV and Kanton K-73 a.k.a. Superman VII. Interestingly enough, when this tale was reprinted in SUPERMAN [first series] #247-248, the year was changed to 2466 AD, apparently due to the then-popular Legion of Super-Heroes, whose adventures were also set in the 2960s.

The first part of this tale begins with the future Superman flying over the city of Metropolis in 2966. When he arrives at work as Klar Ken T5477, he meets up with Lyra 3916, who is about to receive a big assignment from the computer editor, PW-5598. the computer explains that a flash tip was received that Muto was seen in Sector Z-44 of space, then he quickly went into hiding. Klar and Lyra run the micro-reels on Muto to prepare for a background story on the criminal. the Tri-D projection is narrated by the current Superman, who explains that Muto is his arch-enemy, just as Lex Luthor was the arch-foe of the first Superman. They skip to Superman V, who battled his arch-foe, Vyldan. the vid then shows a scene where the current Superman defeats Muto in a previous encounter. After she leaves, Klar begins to change into Superman, but Jay L-3388 bursts in. Klar sends Jay away, then recalls how Superman VII had his identity accidentally revealed by his toddler son. Superman streaks off on his manhunt.

Meanwhile, in a hidden base on a world in that space-sector, Muto addresses his three lieutenants. Muto deliberately let himself be seen to draw Superman to him. Yann of the underground people of the planet Waru, Thargo whose race has its own "living radar" sense, and Von-Don from Blax, a world without color, are happy to join with Muto. Although they all hate Superman, Von-Don asks Muto why he hates him more than anyone else. Muto explains that this Superman's father made him the super-brained freak that he is.

It happened years ago when that Superman was on a mission in space. He spotted a comet which would hit an inhabited world, so he smashed the solid nucleus to dust. Superman was unaware that the terrific electrical power released by the comet ripped a hole in space nearby. A space-warp opened and caught a spacecraft in its vortex. the ship would remain trapped in that other-dimensional space until the warp closed again. Muto's mother was on that trapped ship and he was born on it ... born in that alien dimension. Although the baby wasn't normal looking, he was soon displaying terrific mental abilities, such as levitation of small objects, a result of being born in a world of strange forces. Shortly after his birth, the space-warp closed and the ship was hurled back to normal space. Muto is determined to exact vengeance on the entire Superman line.

Superman arrives in the space sector where Muto was sighted. He immediately heads to one particular world ... the Weapons World. When the Planetary Federation outlawed war, all the weapons of the universe were brought there for safe-keeping. He is determined to guard the planet against Muto. Unfortunately he is too late, Superman spots the criminals with his telescopic vision, stealing the weapons. Superman confronts Muto, who uses his ability to shift atoms into new patterns to form a mighty crystal prison around his enemy. Superman bursts out, but finds himself in a maze made of similar substance. He breaks through the top of the prison just in time to see the villains escaping in their rocketship. Superman uses his x-ray vision to discover that the ship is an empty decoy. He heads back to the surface and locates Muto once again. Muto transforms rocks into green kryptonite, which have no effect on Superman. While Superman believes Muto has forgotten that his only weakness is a chemical fallout which settled in the seas of every planet following a past atomic war, Muto is actually keeping knowledge of that vulnerability as a surprise. Muto taunts Superman by telling him that he too has one weakness, that Superman will never know. Superman follows Muto into the weapons citadel, where Muto releases a deadly alien fungus into the air. While Superman deals with the fungus, Muto escapes to another planet in a nearby solar system.

Superman uses his telescopic vision to follow Muto's trail. He arrives to find Muto transforming part of a rock cliff into vapor, which is now allowing the ocean into a small valley. Superman spots small children about to be engulfed by the flood, and has no choice but to face the harmful sea water to save them. Superman reaches the children, only to find that they are lifeless androids planted by Muto. Superman is engulfed by the wave and is paralyzed. Muto and his henchmen gloat on the rock cliff, stating that Superman will soon be dead. Now, with his mental powers and the war machines, Muto will be able to conquer the universe!

The tale continues in the next issue with Superman paralyzed on the ocean floor. the hero thinks fast and uses his heat-vision to change the androids' programming. the android children carry him out of the deadly trap. Later, Superman receives a telepathic message from Earth. the mermen of Atlantis have combined their telepathic power to reach him and warn him that Muto has set up an undersea base on Earth. Superman returns to Earth, and barely avoids one of Muto's traps, with the aid of a flying-jet belt. With the help of the Atlanteans, Superman retrieves the undersea base. Inside he finds Von-Don, who he imprisons.

Superman returns to his Klar Ken identity, and again studies the micro-reel file on Muto. While looking over the circumstances of Muto's birth, Klar believes he has figured out Muto's one vulnerability. Suddenly, Lyra 3916 bursts in to tell Klar that Muto has interrupted all broadcasts with a message. Together with Jay L-3388 and PW-5598, they witness Muto's threat. To convince all worlds to acknowledge his rule and pay him tribute, Muto will bring a special doom on Metropolis! Klar suggests they separate to find Superman.

As Superman, he locates Muto hidden in a cloud, wielding one of the stolen weapons. Superman approaches Muto, who only laughs as he transforms the cloud into sea water, immediately paralyzing Superman. As Superman plummets Earthward inside the falling water, his flying-jet belt kicks in, saving him. However, Superman is too late to stop Muto from turning the weapon on the city. Superman is horrified to find that Muto has used the expander-ray, one of the most diabolical weapons of past wars. the residents of Metropolis all begin to grow at an accelerated rate. Superman rushes to the Museum World and retrieves a relic that was created to counter the effects of the expander-ray, returning the citizens to normal.

Superman soon locates Muto and his two remaining henchmen, racing away in a rocketship, getting ready to launch more weapons at him. They blast Superman with a helium bomb, the most powerful in the universe, but it has no effect on him. the last bomb, however, is filled with compressed water, which sends him hurtling to the sea. Superman's flying-jet belt automatically kicks in, saving him once again. When Superman disables the rocketship, Muto escapes. Superman hurls the incapacitated craft into space, trapping the two other criminals, then goes after Muto.

Superman chases Muto to the icy Antarctic, who he spots hiding in his base under the ice cap. He is sure that Muto will change the ice into tons of sea water, something even his jet belt couldn't save him from. He gets wise and refuses to proceed into the trap. Superman fashions a giant rod which he plants in the ground, then draws storm clouds together with his vacuum breath. A bolt of lightning strikes the rod, prompting Muto to come out of hiding. Muto knows what Superman is up to and is determined to stop him. He is too late, however. the titanic discharge of electrical force opens a space-warp into another dimension, the one that gave Muto his powers. Muto is drawn into the rift, as a nail is drawn to a magnet. the warp closes, trapping Muto on the other side.

The final appearance of this Superman was in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS [first series] #166 (May 1967). It is a year later, 2967. A spaceship streaks toward a mining planet, Kaltarus. Its cargo is a hundred robot heads, worth millions. the crew spot Muto outside the ship without a spacesuit. Muto uses his mental power to turn the craft's door to gas. He levitates the robot heads to his ship, which is hidden behind an asteroid. As Muto continues his theft, another space raider appears. Hidden by the asteroid, the clever crook quietly maneuvers his ship between the robot heads and Muto's ship, causing the cargo to land in his own craft. When the transfer is complete, the raider speeds away, leaving only his calling card behind. Muto discovers that his loot is missing, but finds a playing card instead ... the trademark of the Joker!

Muto uses his hyper-radar to track the Joker. the Joker sees that Muto is catching up to him so he lands on a nearby planetoid. Confident that Muto is helpless outside his ship, the Joker threatens to finish him. Instead, Muto uses his mental powers to blast the Clown Prince of Crime. During their battle, the Joker mentions that he will stop Muto as he once stopped Superman. Realizing they have a common enemy, Muto stops the fighting. the Joker explains that he has fought Superman many times. His ancestors' arch-foes were always the Batman family, but his father killed the last caped crusader years before. Since he began his own criminal career, Superman has been a thorn in his side. Muto suggests that they team up to finish Superman once and for all.

The next day, the Joker attacks the guards at the nuclear fusion plant that supplies Metropolis its power, while Muto steals the core. Superman spots the robbery with his telescopic vision and rushes to the scene. Superman grabs Muto, but the Joker blasts him with sea water. the two villains escape in their craft. Superman heads to his Fortress of Solitude, which he has moved to the center of the Sun, to look for something to use against the deadly duo.

Superman passes through his hall of villains and heroes, stopping to look at the statue of Batman. He remembers how the original Superman and Batman used to team up. That tradition continued from generation to generation. the sixth Superman and Batman defeated a space-giant who invaded Earth. Batman XV joined Superman XV to keep an interplanetary crime syndicate from taking over the solar system. Superman wishes that Batman was alive today to help him. Suddenly, Superman sees a figure ... it is Batman ... alive! Superman exclaims that Batman was killed long ago.

This Batman explains that he is Bron Wayn E7705, the son of Batman XIX. Years ago, that Batman was attending a public ceremony, when the Joker XIX appeared and killed him in an explosion. the blast also killed several spectators, including Bron's mother and the rest of his family. He was only a baby then, and wasn't taken to the cemetery. Thus, when he grew up, there was no one to tell him of his heritage, and the Batman line seemingly ended. Then, one day, he returned to Wayn Manor, on the asteroid Baltorr, the property of the Wayns for two centuries, and stumbled on the secret entrance to the latest Batcave! He investigated, learned of his parents murder, and vowed revenge. Although his parent's killer vanished year ago, he swore he would find him through his son, the present day Joker. He trained strenuously and mastered all the amazing gadgets in the utility belt. With his brain-wave tracer, he followed Superman to his hidden lair. the molecular diffuser built into the Batship enabled him to enter the Sun unharmed. the two form a partnership.

The next day, the villains' craft lands on Ondo, the Carnival World, which has high receipts from Charity Day. the Joker is to keep the police busy, while Muto steals the zarianite core to power his crime machines. As the Joker attempts to rob the receipts, he is shocked when he is attacked by Batman, who he believes was killed by his father. As Muto attempts to draw the zarianite from the ground, Superman bursts from the ground and punches him. Muto thinks fast and sprays Superman with sea water from his ship, paralyzing him. He then uses his mental powers to hold Batman at bay while the Joker climbs aboard the ship. Batman uses his flying-jet belt to follow the escaping craft, and makes his way on board. the villains succeed in dumping Batman out of their ship. Luckily, Superman has recovered and catches him. Batman tells Superman that while he was aboard their ship, he took a mento-graph of their brain-waves. He can track them anywhere they go.

The two heroes climb aboard the Batship and follow the escaping criminals. Superman disables the criminals' ship with a single blow, forcing them to the planetoid called Thorum, a world of constant lightning and thunder. the villains plan on landing and splitting up, the electrical storms shielding their escape. Superman spots Muto, who unsuccessfully tries to drawn lightning to stop his pursuer. Muto then enters a cave which drips with sea water. Superman is unable to follow, so he starts to generate a small earthquake. Fearing that he'll be trapped in the cave, Muto runs out, right into Superman's clutches. Superman quickly puts a specially designed helmet on his foe, which cuts off Muto's super-brain emanations, leaving him helpless. Meanwhile, Batman chases the Joker to an abandoned weather tower. They battle atop the tower, with lightning crashing down all around them. Batman demands that this Joker reveal the location of his father, Joker XIX. the Joker surprises Batman and stuns him. He then grabs a lightning force attractor to smash Batman with. As he holds the device over his head, he is struck by lightning and killed, robbing Batman of his revenge.

Superman of 2999

The Superman of 2999 is merely an updated version of the Superman of 2965. His tale begins in SUPERMAN [second series] #136 (July 1998).

Klar Ken 5477, the latest Superman, debuts in the year 2999 AD. It is stated that he is the son of Superman XVIII, who perished several years earlier bringing his nemesis Luthor to justice. Superman's first public act is to attempt to stop a FedLex transport ship arriving from Andromeda from crashing. He only succeeds in making matters worse. Luckily, a GlobaLex craft arrives and saves the ship with an experimental stasis field device. Superman meets Lena Luthor, daughter of his father's enemy, who colonized the Andromeda system. Lena insists that GlobaLex has been legitimate ever since her father was brought to justice, however Superman has his doubts. After Superman leaves, Lena talks with a mysterious cloaked stranger, telling him they should have anticipated the eventual emergence of a Kryptonian descendant.

Later at Ultra News, Klar meets with his co-workers, Lyra 3916 and Jay L 3812. Lyra says the world now has technology that has made Superman redundant. Their discussion is broken up by their robot editor XL37 a.k.a. Perry. Later at his apartment, Klar talks with his teen-age sister Kara, reminding her that college comes before capes. Then, while Superman tends to a report of hovercar sabotage, Kara is visited by Lena Luthor, who wants to warn reporter Klar Ken of a world-threatening danger.

Superman saves a crashing hovercar, only to discover Lyra inside. Superman suspects that Lyra caused the disaster in order to interview Metropolis' new hero. Suddenly, Superman is blasted to the ground. He learns his attackers are ordinary robots, who are all programmed not to harm any person. Jay arrives to tell Lyra that before he could disable the distress device in her car, the robots running the hovercar system sabotaged it! As Superman continues his fight against the robots, a warp opens. It is the evil Muto, leading a horde of robots under his control!

In this issue, we learn that Superman III invented a cure for cancer and Superman VIII invented the world's first dependable artificial eye. Also, mention is made of a mysterious bat creature in Gotham, the Green Lantern Corps, and Aquaman.

In SUPERMAN [second series] #137 (Aug 1998), Superman has been battling robots for more than 36 hours, destroying over 8,500 of them already. Reports from all over the globe indicate a world-wide invasion, with casualties estimated in the millions! Just then, a figure resembling a bat descends and drops an incendiary bomb on Superman and the robots he is battling, destroying them. Before the inferno can cause much damage to Metropolis, a green energy in the form of a drill digs deep enough to reach sea water, which puts out the blaze. Superman collapses, a victim to the sea water, his one weakness. A green energy claw rescues him from the water. He then meets his saviors ... the Bat from Gotham, Aquaman from the Sydney oceanic community, and the Green Lantern, protector of Space Sector 2814 for the past 312 years. A communiquÈ comes in from the Thanagarian called Hawkman, who warns that he has learned that the robots are targeting the world's greatest cities with nukes. Superman takes the heroes to a safe place to plan, his Fortress of Solitude, hidden in space by a refraction field.

As the heroes assess the state of the world, Kara arrives in a Supergirl costume. Supergirl tells Superman she has sources which have already informed her about Muto, and that he has already conquered the Andromeda system. Suddenly, Muto appears in the Fortress through a warp, having followed the unique energy trail left by Green Lantern. the heroes then realize they are frozen in place, unable to move.

Muto explains his origin and motives. Years ago, when Muto was only an infant, the previous Superman destroyed a comet with strange radioactive properties that was headed toward Earth. the comet's destruction opened a warp door to another dimension. the ship carrying Muto and his parents were drawn into the vortex. Sentient robots performed experiments on the small child, mutating the baby into the creature that would later be known as Muto.

Muto forces Superman to play a modified game of chess, with the heroes as the chess pieces. Lena Luthor appears, blasting Muto with a hand weapon. Supergirl had brought her along and told her to keep out of sight. After a short tussle, Green Lantern captures Muto.

In this issue we learn that Superman XII's genes were altered in the Pollution War, and that sea water is now lethal to all of his descendants. In addition, Klar's teen-age sister Kara becomes this era's Supergirl.

In SUPERMAN [second series] #138 (Sep 1998), the citizens of the Earth celebrate World Victory Day. Superman XIX gathers other heroes from around the galaxy and forms the Justice Alliance. Team members are Superman, Supergirl, Aquaman, Hawkman, Green Lantern, the Bat, and other unnamed heroes (who appear to be a female Robin, Wonder Woman, a green-skinned Captain Marvel, the Flash, Green Arrow, Ms. Miracle, Starman, a giant, and a dwarf). Superman erects an obelisk bearing an "L" symbol, stating that Muto's attack proved the need for all civilized worlds to unite under an umbrella of protection. From now on, an attack on any world bearing one of these spires will be interpreted as an attack on the Justice Alliance!

Lena Luthor arrives and thanks Superman for ridding the Andromeda system of Muto's army. After that, reality begins to change, due to an underlying war between the cosmic being called Kismet and the evil Dominus. the world of Superman 2999 fades.

Solarman

On that note, anyone remember Solarman, from about the same time, when Superman lost his powers, when dressed as Clark due to the machinations of the alien Xvier?

If I recall correctly, he was an unnamed criminal scientist who attempted to give himself powers on a par with Superman's by wearing a vest covered with solar cells. I believe Superman defeated him by overloading his vest with heat vision.

Super Turtle

Super-Turtle made his debut in 1962's ADVENTURE COMICS #304, a momentous event slightly overshadowed by Lightning Lad's death in the same issue.

His origin wasn't revealed until SILVER AGE 80-PAGE GIANT #1 (July 2000). I don't have the issue open in front of me, but I do recall that Super Turtle was really Tur-Tel of the planet Galapagon. He was sent to Earth (possibly Earth-12, the home of the Inferior Five) as a baby and adopted by human parents. His adoptive name was not revealed.

Perhaps someone here has the resources and time to research his actual first appearance. (Surprisingly, the Grand Comic Database doesn't have the information.) I'd say you'd have to go back to at least Jan 1962 and work your way forward to be sure you hadn't missed anything.

Appearances:
SUPERBOY #103 (Mar 1963), but not #92-95,97-99,101-102
?? ACTION #299 (not sure), but not #282-284,289-298
He also wasn't in SUPERMAN #153-158,160

Superwoman

Real Name: Kristin Wells
Occupation: College Professor/Adventurer
Base of operations: Metropolis in the 1980s and the 2860s.
Powers: Decorporealization, teleportation, super-strength, flight, emotion sensing, limited intuition, "hole poking" (ability to create time/space warps) and invulnerability.
First appearance: "The Last Secret Identity", DC Comics Presents Annual #2 (1983)
Last known appearance: "Welcome to Luthorcon III", DC Comics Presents Annual #4 (1985)

The story of Superwoman actually begins during Elliot S! Maggin's tenure as a Superman writer in the late 1970s when he wrote a story entitled "The Miracle of Thirsty Thursday." It featured a time-traveling college history student named Joanne Jaime and later served as the basis of Maggin's 1981 Superman novel "Miracle Monday."

In the novel, the student's name was changed to Kristin Wells and she traveled from the 29th Century to learn to origins of the "interplanetary holiday" Miracle Monday (celebrated the third Monday in May).

Superman editor Julius Schwartz apparently enjoyed the book, so Maggin pitched a story bringing Wells, now a young professor at Columbia University-Metropolis, into comic book continuity.

DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL #2 (by Maggin, Keith Pollard and Mike DeCarlo) opens in September 2862 and shows Wells, an attractive, freckle-faced red-head, teaching class (you know it's the future because she wears a leotard and knee boots to class). She and her students are discussing Superwoman, "quite possibly the greatest heroine of the 20th Century" and the only super-hero whose secret identity has never been unearthed.

Students offer suggestions about how Superwoman performed her feats and a handy chart is displayed showing her powers and the 29th Century tech that could duplicate them. One proposes Wells travel back to the day Superwoman first appeared and learn her identity.

Back in 1983, Wells takes a job as a typist working on Lois Lane's new book (she took the liberty of typing it before she left the future) and gets hit on by Jimmy Olsen.

She discovers Superwoman's costume in a closet. It is red and blue with the familiar S-shield, blue gloves and boots, a blue cap and a blue hood. Wells first suspects Lois, then Lana Lang of being Superwoman, then learns the outfit is for Clark Kent's cousin, Linda (Supergirl) Danvers to wear to Morgan Edge's costume party. Wells decides Linda will become Superwoman.

Meanwhile, King Kosmos, a time and space-faring tyrant from an alternative future, arrives and threats to conquer Earth. Knowing that Superwoman is supposed to aid Superman against Kosmos, Wells tries and fails to enlist the aid of her candidates (Linda, in an effort to see how the other half lives, is flying to Metropolis from Chicago via jet and is unreachable). Kosmos blasts Superman back to the 6th Century, then withdraws to make new plans. Superman flies back to the present under his own power in time for the party.

At the party, Wells is shocked that Linda chose to wear something that did not conceal her face instead of the Superwoman garb. Kosmos attacks again, incapacitating Superman and the Justice League and leaving Wells no choice but to don the Superwoman costume herself.

Joined by a recovering Superman, Superwoman takes her battle against Kosmos to present-day Dallas, then to Washington, D.C., April 14, 1865, and finally to the timestream. There, Superwoman blasts Kosmos" navigational controller from his hand and when he tries to evade Superman, he tumbles "out of control, in and out of the folds in time and space." He will return, however, Superwoman warns.

Her task completed, Wells returns to the future to reveal that she was Superwoman. First, however, she discourages Jimmy once and for all by kissing Clark. After all, it wouldn"t do for him to fall for the great-great- granddaughter of Jimmy Olsen IV.

In DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL #4, three years have passed in the 29th Century. Wells has gained a beau in fellow professor Barry Elkin and a second career as a beloved interplanetary super-hero. Again her civvies remind us that this is the future; she dresses like an extra from a Billy Idol video.

In this story, by Maggin, Barreto and Ordway, Wells attempts to travel back to 1985, but is caught in a "chrono-synclastic infundibulum" which means her body makes it back to the past, but most of her memories are stuck in the time vortex, only slowly trickling back to her. During the course of the tale, she remembers only her name, that she is Superwoman and that she is from some time in the future.

Confused, Wells is accosted by a boy handing out flyers for Luthorcon III, "a celebration of villainy and the absurd." His irresistible pitch: "Hey, lady, you look flaky... weird. You should be going to Luthorcon" is all it takes. She dons her Superwoman costume and heads to the convention center.

Meanwhile, Superman rescues actor Gregory Reed from a car accident. Reed suffers a mild concussion, meaning he can"t appear as Superman at Luthorcon. Superman decides to take his place. Of course, Lex Luthor has prepared for this and is on hand disguised as a food vendor. He substitutes a chunk of green Kryptonite for the prop the organizers plan to use in a scene with Reed.

When the time comes to play his part, Superman is overcome by the green K, but no one realizes he isn"t acting. Spotting Superwoman and recognizing her as the real McCoy, he telepathically (?) begs for help. Remembering she is a hero, Superwoman saves Superman, only to learn that Luthor isn"t finished yet.

The bald baddie orders Superman to voluntarily expose himself to Kryptonite or he will teleport Metropolis to "a hostile dimension." However, when Luthor throws the switch, Superwoman shifts the dimensional door so that instead of swallowing the city, it pulls in only Luthor and his hideout.

After that, we learn that Superwoman would spend several years in the 20th Century, fighting next to Superman and the Green Lantern Corps and earning a medal from President Reagan. Finally, she remembers how to get home and returns there, years after her departure, to find Elkin still waiting.

To date, none of the amazing adventures Superwoman was to have seen print - and it seems unlikely they ever will. Even as Kristin Wells was establishing herself in the modern DC Universe, that universe was being forever altered by the Crisis. Curiously, "the greatest heroine of the 20th Century" took no part in battling the greatest threat to the universe, unless Perez slipped her into the background somewhere.

Perhaps Kristin could have filled the void left by the death of Supergirl, but instead, she was cast aside into discontinuity with Streaky and Beppo when Superman was rebooted in 1986. Superwoman didn"t even merit a listing in WHO'S WHO that year.

Superwoman also appeared in an imaginary story: the two-part "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?" storyline from SUPERMAN #423 (Sep 1986) and ACTION COMICS #583 (Sep 1986).

Swashbuckler

Michael Carter, a vigilante active in the Houston area, that appeared in DETECTIVE COMICS #493 (Aug 80). He worked with Batman to capture the Riddler. The Swasbuckler is in fact the nephew of the original Vigilante, the "cowboy" crimefighter from the 1940s. Swashbuckler is a superb hand-to-hand combatant, uses a fighting stick and rides a motorcycle. He, too, has only appeared once to my knowledge. Geoff Johns said that he wanted to do something with him in STARS & S.T.R.I.P.E., but since that title was cancelled, thos plans are probably gone for the foreseeable future. (His one adventure was written by Cary Burket, with art by Don Newton and Dan Adkins.)

'swashbuckler" was also a one-time alias for Oliver Queen in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (1st series) #173, as one of the faked identities used by the Justice League when they put Black Lightning to an inducting test. (Black Lightning passed his exam, but turned down the membership offer.)

Swing with Scooter

A teen title somewhat in the Archie mold, distinguished mainly by the fact that the hero was a British teen rock star who enrolled in an American small-town high school. Most of the main characters were a pretty direct parallel to the Archie characters (Scooter, Penny, Cookie, Sylvester, and Kenny corresponded almost exactly to Archie, Veronica, Betty, Jughead, and Reggie), and along with Cynthia (Scooter's sister), Malibu (Kenny's trenchcoated chum) and Penny's cross-eyed cat, that was just about the entire cast...

Scooter appeared in SWING WITH SCOOTER #1-35. Reprints can be found in BEST OF DC #39, 45 and 53. Grant Morrison wrote him into an ANIMAL MAN script (with Scooter as a drug dealer) that (fortunately) never saw print.

It just struck me that the supporting cast of SWING WITH SCOOTER seems to be synonymous with the friends of Binky (which is probably why Ghost Who Walks thought they were one and the same). But LEAVE IT TO BINKY debuted in 1948 so most of its supporting cast predates SWING WITH SCOOTER by about 18 years.

The Swordfish and the Barracuda

They appeared briefly in the 1984 run of WORLD'S FINEST in a very protracted story arc involving pirates, Cubans, and aliens. So pay close attention because things are going to get confusing.

Centuries ago, a group of alien explorers visit the Caribbean. One of them, an ambitious first mate called X'ult decides to stay behind and make himself king. His race has the power to "congeal time" into some ice or gel-like substance so he probably thinks it will be a walkover. As the spaceship blasts off, X'ult has an "environmental adaptor" ejected, for his own use. But it burns up in re-entry and turns into a molten rock with some strange markings on its side.

Meanwhile, an English beauty, Abigail Kent has fallen in with some pirates and in order to survive, she becomes one of them. The pirates later capture an unnamed European swordsman who they hold for ransom. But Abigail decides to rescue him and they flee in a boat to a small island.

There, they find the natives worshipping the old rock with the strange markings. The natives force Abigail and the swordsman to put their palms on the mark, branding it on their hands. When the two touch their "tattoos", they are amazingly transformed. Abigail becomes the Barracuda, with whale-like strength and aquatic powers while the guy becomes Swordfish, with the power of flight and mean-looking cutlass.

They fight the pirates of the region but soon are forced to confront X'ult — now calling himself, the Master Pirate. In one encounter, X'ult tries to stop the two from touching their tattoos (and activating their powers) by freezing time. Only he gets caught in the congealed time as well. The frozen trio sink to the bottom of the sea and are lost for ages.

Until Batman and Superman come along. Bats and Supes are on the trail of two gentlemen bandits called Null and Void who got their powers in a similar manner to Swordfish and Barracuda. (Null could nullify a person's senses, Void could teleport objects)

The frozen trio of X'ult, Abigail and the Swordsman have been recovered from the deep and the Worlds Finest team, as well as Null and Void, are interested. As the frozen figures are discovered near Cuba, the Russians and their Cuban friends are also in the game. In the course of the story, X'ult, Swordfish and the Barracuda are all revived. Null and Void have a falling out and X'ult, (who has become entranced with Abigail) takes Void and a hypnotized Barracuda along with him on a giant ship of congealed time in order to conquer the world.

Superman, Batman, Null and Swordfish give chase and battle the baddies (and the hypnotized Barracuda.) Superman uses his superspeed to unravel the "congealed time", causing X'ult, Swordfish and Barracuda to return to their own era. Just before they fade away, Barracuda comes to her senses and recognizes Swordfish, her beloved.

We never find out if Swordish and Barracuda were able to defeat the Master Pirate in their own time. Maybe their likely creator, David Anthony Kraft, had plans for them but it is they are now all probably retconned out of existance.

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