Tag Archives: Superman

90s Comics, 90s DC, Uncategorized

Character Eradication (part 1 of 3)

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And you thought Spider-Man went through some radical changes over in Marvel! But in the case of Spidey, it’s usually only his costume that’s altered. With the Eradicator, he has been completely revamped so many times, even a superfan like me can hardly keep track. (That’s saying alot. I’ve been obsessed with this character since 1993!) He’s been: A small computer-like device, a deadly vigilante with Superman’s DNA, been possessed by a human mind, and even transformed into a titanic armored form of the Fortress of Solitude itself! See what I mean? DC has absolutely no idea which direction they want to go with this character! Anyway, I thought it was high time that someone wrote an article dedicated to the only Eradicator comic series where he’s the star. To finally give him the respect that he deserves. Enjoy my look back at “Eradicator” #1 of 3, Unspokenites!

Energy crackled from the Eradicator’s eyes as power blasted from his clenched fists. The strange city lies in ruins. The buildings were smoking husks. He heard a deafening voice commanding him in his head. It wanted him to annihilate the beings close to him that were different. It wanted him to kill! As a human-looking crowd urged him onwards, he denied these mental commands with a roar! He wouldn’t hurt these creatures! Peering again at the aliens’ frightened faces, they suddenly transformed into the faces of his human side’s wife and children! He then felt himself restrained by powerful arms. He was commanded by a strong voice to stop all of this! Opening his eyes, the Eradicator saw Superman holding him down! They were in a crater in the middle of a large street in the city of Metropolis! Had he done all of this? Was he alone responsible for this destruction? (Superman has to have one of those parent-like voices that, when he yells at you, you instantly feel guilty. Even if you didn’t do anything really terrible. If it was my brother and I, we would have definitely warranted the stern “daddy voice” Yup. We were bad boys. Hehehehe!)

The Eradicator admitted to Superman that he’d been having realistic visions that were confusing him and forcing him to act out violently. Superman replied that with his power, something had to be done. It was time they sought outside help. Soon, the Eradicator rested inside of a large tube as a scientist looked over readings from her computer. He and Superman had gone to the scientific research facility known as ST.A.R. Labs. As the female scientist studied the readouts, the Eradicator grew agitated. The mind that now possessed this powerful body had been a human scientist that worked here in life after all. She looked to the Man of Steel and replied to his concerned look that though the Eradicator was way more advanced tha she was used to studying, she could see a type of flaw in his sophisticated DNA. But before she could continue, Superman was suddenly called away to help with an emergency in New Jersey. (Isn’t that the way? Something’s wrong with you and the doctor talks to everyone in the room but you. Rude much? Of course, I’m a hypochondriac and they’re probably sick of explaining to me how my splinter isn’t going to poison my blood.)

As the Eradicator awaited further tests upon his being, he thought back. He was once a scientist named David Connor. After the Eradicator had been seemingly fatally wounded in the battle against the Cyborg Superman, his complex body was delivered to him for further examination. Connor became obsessed with discovering just how the Kryptonian killing machine ticked. After all, throwing himself into his work took his mind off of his failing marriage and the cancer slowly killing him. That was before the accident. A power surge caused a large explosion in the lab and David’s mind was somehow combined with the powerful body of the Eradicator! His sickly corpse was left behind, forcing others to assume that David Connor was dead. As the new Eradicator, he became an anti-hero. Heroic, but lethal all at the same time. He finally felt right. Like this was his fate. But now it seemed as if something was wrong with his new body as well. (Are we all caught up now, kiddies? Good. Don’t feel too bad about Doctor Connor. He had two sons that he let believe he was dead so he could be a superhero with no attachments. Yep. A total ass…..Damn, he was cool!)

The scientist that had been examining him told Connor that they had somewhat isolated his problem within the core of his body. With a few months of research, she was confident that her and her colleagues could cure him. This angered David. Months?! He expressed his outrage verbally, but was stopped short when another attack hit his mind! He was in chains. A man stood over him, yelling at him about the purity of Krypton and how he and these other alien beings deserved their fate! The man then fired a device at the creatures, disintegrating them completely! David cried out in outrage, and energy flowed through his body! As he powered up on this alien world, he was in actuality doing so in the lab on Earth! The scientists fled for their very lives! But the Eradicator saw none of this. To him, he was facing a sadistic killer in front of him! (Oh yeah. Me thinks the Eradicator needs some of the fantastic pills that I take for delusions. At least he’d be too sleepy to freak out and accidentally hurt people. I know it helps me when I feel the need to power up with godlike energy in anger. Hmmm. Maybe I should up my dosage…..)

The man spoke about how the Eradicator had forced his hand in executing these beings! He went on about the purity of Krypton, and how alien filth must be eradicated from their world! So said Kem-L! Where did David hear that name before? Where? And then he awoke from this vision. The rubble of the once state-of-the-art facility was everywhere! Through a steel door, he could hear frightened humans whisper as they hid from his rampage. The Eradicator tore it from its hinges. He asked if they were unharmed. Terrified, they emerged and brushed themselves off. The female scientist from earlier spoke of this only being a setback. She’d still help him. With a faraway look in his crimson eyes, he denied her. He knew where he’d get the help he needed. Blasting a hole in the ceiling, he flew off. (Whew! I’d have to change my shorts after that encounter! What? Accidents happen to the best of us. God, I feel old beyond my years.)

As he rocketed through the air, Connor pondered just how he would go about destroying himself. He weighed his very limited options. Perhaps he could merely leave this world behind. Yes. That was the answer. But first, there were those he’d like to say his goodbyes to. Onward he flew, with renewed purpose. He touched down in Kansas. Smallville to be more specific. The Eradicator approached an old tree that he remembered. In the bark, initials were carved inside of a heart: “CK + LL”. That seemed right. His first love, Lana Lang. The light from a flashlight from behind broke his concentration. It was her. Lana. But she seemed confused when he turned and she saw his face. There was no recognition in her eyes. He spoke to her of his love for her and how much he missed her. But she only grew more confused. Wait. This was wrong. He quickly apologized to her and flew away. Lana stood in the cold air, fear in her eyes. (What’s with Superman and the initials: “LL”? What’s his fascination with that letter in general? Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor. Wait! That’s who the Eradicator went there to see! His first love was Lex Luthor! I’m a genius!)

The Eradicator flew through the air at unbelievable speed! He let loose with a blood-curdling cry as he flew through a mountain that was in his path! As this was going on, someone far away stood, looking at this scene on a screen with a smile. Meanwhile, in the Bronx, David Connor’s two boys watched a violent television show while their mother scolded them. There was a sudden knock on the door. The boys ran to the visitor after their mother opened the door. They exclaimed in joy to see this man as he handed them a bag of fried foods to snack on. (I’d instantly love this guy too if he handed me over a bag of fried snacks! So, I’m cheap. Sue me.) The mother, Maria, looked on with a pleased smile. But at that moment, another person looked upon this scene from across the rooftops. He looked on in jealous rage! How dare they look to this other man in such a manner? How dare they show him such affection?! The Eradicator narrowed his red eyes and moved with lightning speed. He burst through the wall to his children and soon-to-be ex-wife’s new home! Hovering with his arms crossed, he stared at all of them with contempt as they cowered there in the rubble!

The man then does the unthinkable. He actually moves to attack the Eradicator! But as he does so, he yells in outrage about how this monster before him murdered David and he won’t let him hurt his sister and nephews! The Eradicator is stunned. This man is Maria’s brother? David doesn’t remember him at all. Shouldn’t he? Before he can think about his actions, he fires his heat vision to protect himself. He doesn’t hurt anyone, but Maria immediately moves in to protect her children. Connor speaks then about their failed marriage in anger. This not only confuses the woman, but angers her enough to slap the Eradicator! He’s not David! David is dead! The smallest of the two boys runs to him then, clutching his leg. Is he really his father? David begins to answer that yes he is, but he stops himself. Instead he doubles over, clutching his head! (Someone call a Kryptonian exorcist! We’ve gotta live one here!) An inner voice pushes him to kill! He denies it with every fiber of his being! The voice then whispers for him to come home. David whispers one word in response, yes.

Smashing through the small apartment wall, he flies like a man possessed. He flies away from all of his confusion, all of his pain. His youngest child asks his mother if that really was his father. She doesn’t answer. He finally come crashing down in what appears to be the arctic. The voice continues to push him onward. He will find peace soon. This was never his world. Reject it. Come home. The Eradicator accepts the voice at last. And as he does so, a door of light opens near him. The voice beckons to him. As he steps in, the pain leaves him. He looks up to a new, female voice. A woman stands there with strange beasts as her companions. She smiles as she welcomes him home…..home to Krypton!

To be continued…..

Dedicated to my brother, Eric James Miller. Although we’ve been through some hard times, you’ll always be my first best friend. I love you.

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

A Superman Will Rise (part 2 of 2)

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Happy Holidays, Unspokenites! And welcome back to my look back at the Elseworlds epic from “Superman: The Man of Steel” Annual #3! I know it’s been awhile since part one dropped, but rest assured, your loyal Symbifan never forgot about you. So, that said, I present my gift to you all. Let us return to the conclusion of our story…..

Gotham City. The only place on Earth free of the Kryptonian ultranet and therefore free of the invaders’ supervision. But that didn’t stop them from trying. Presently, an ultranet command outpost had secretly been erected on the outskirts of this old, war-torn city. This had come to the attention of the Human Resistance. Now, armored humans from this secretive sect raised their devastating weapons and fired at the before-mentioned structure. Bazooka shells exploded upon impact at the building’s support beams, causing considerable damage. That is until the lead Resistance fighter is hit in the back by a strange, foam-like substance! The others turn to see Lex Luthor’s high-tech goons hovering close by! (Speaking of bazookas, who remembers when Bazooka Gum had actual comic strips in them? What about what now constitutes as a “prize” in a Cracker Jack box? This now concludes my rant about how I hate the internet. Now, back to my online blog…..)

That’s when a large, metal cable suddenly surrounds Luthor’s men! It then pulls taught and they’re all yanked off of their hovercrafts and into the air by a flying man garbed in red, blue, and gold, the colors of the Human Resistance! It was Kal-El! But he now went by the name that was stitched into the uniform that Batman had gifted him, Superman! (My name’s stitched into my undies. It’s so I don’t forget they’re mine and just how cool I am. Studly.) Superman sets his captives aside and unleashes his heat vision upon the various satellites atop the building! He then utilizes his superior strength to finish off the supports, toppling the entire structure! Swooping to the ground, he lands to check on the band of “renegade” humans’ leader. He is not exactly greeted with open arms.

The captain removes their helmet revealing a woman underneath. She not only doesn’t thank Superman, but states how his Kryptonian aid is not needed. Human beings will win their own planet back. And they’ll do it without the help of one of their oppressors. Her name is Lois Lane. She orders the others to retun to base. As they leave, Superman suddenly takes her into his powerful arms and rockets into the sky! Once they’re alone, her tone of voice changes drastically . She tells him how much she has grown to care for him since he saved her life a mere couple of months ago. Superman hold her tighter as he descends into an apartment building window. They kiss passionately as he carries her towards her bed. (The next part of this scene is rated “R” for graphic, off-panel sexual situations.)

But not all were pleased with this union. Jor-El looked on with the elders of the ill-fated Krypton with looks of revulsion and horror. Superman’s birth father then switched off his overhead monitor. He’d seen enough from the secret viewing device that was planted within Lois’ bedroom. (He watched his own son get busy?! Talk about sick! Not only that, but the old farts from the council watched too?! I think I’m gonna need therapy just from reading this!) The Council of Elders waste little time in proclaiming their verdict. As Kal-El was Jor-El’s son, this was his problem to resolve alone. After the Elders disappeared from view, Jor-El wasted no time in contacting Luthor. He demanded that the human resolve this issue immediately. Lex merely responded that Jor-El possessed the same exact powers as his son. Why not get his own hands dirty for once?

Kal-El awoke and dressed himself. He found Lois at her coffe table, pouring over numerous documents and blueprints. She remarked about the building that Batman had died trying to gain entrance to. The ultranet files on it were definitely incomplete. What was inside that was so important that Bruce would give his life for it? They decided to find out. Lois had heard of the infamous Batcave, so she gave Kal directions as they flew. Soon, they were inside the secret, technological marvel that was Bruce Wayne’s hidden sanctuary. They approached a large computer system and tried to gain access to the files they needed. Sadly, this was to no avail. Password required. Both were then surprised by the voice of a young man that seemed to materialize behind them. (Bruce left an orphan out. He really should take better care of his sidekicks.)

They questioned the youth, but the boy wouldn’t even give his name. All he would say is that he and Bruce had worked together in the past. He did admit that even he didn’t know Bruce’s password. Kal was then struck with inspiration. Wasn’t it rumored that Batman once had a trusted butler? Lois gave Kal a more human name to go by for this next step. She named him after the cigarette brand she used to smoke, Clark. (I smoke Aunt May’s personally. Remember kids, with the act of smoking comes great responsibility.) He added the last name of his beloved foster parents to that and Clark Kent was born. The couple then dresses accordingly and makes their way to a nearby retirement home. It didn’t take long into the conversation to come to the realization that this old man, Alfred, was hopelessly senile. But presented with the name to the building in question, he said one word that struck Clark Kent like a fist, “plague.”

Superman set Lois gently down on her feet in her apartment upon their return. He looked shaken. When questioned, he told her of a genetic flaw that plagued his people. A flaw that was a leftover from Krypton’s Clone Wars. (I wonder if that villainous Emperor Palpatine was up to his old tricks against the Jedi? Yeah. I know. You all saw a Star Wars joke coming. Have I become that predictable? Sigh…..) It was almost as if their very planet wanted them all dead. Being born here, Kal-El was immune. And now that Clark knew what that building contained, he knew what he must do. Come morning, he would break into this complex and release this plague upon the world. It wouldn’t take long before he was the last remaining Kryptonian on Earth. Lois tried to comfort him throughout the night. But when she awakens the next the morning, Clark is gone.

Panicked, Lois grabs for her phone. Surprisingly, the man that answers on the other end is none other than Lex Luthor! Lois begins by telling Lex that the plan has gone awry. Luthor replies that if anything has gone awry with their plan, it’s that she’s letting her feelings for this alien cloud her judgement. Ignoring this, she reports that Kal-El is gone. Before Lois can continue, Jor-El bursts in through her front door! Terrified, Lois goes for her gun, but using his heat vision, he melts the weapon! Grabbing her up by the throat, he demands to know his son’s whereabouts. Lex answers through a planted spy device that he’s pleased to see Jor-El finally lifting a finger himself. What’s his next move? Jor-El looks to the device’s screen with obvious rage and replies that he’s bringing his son home, no matter the cost! The screen goes dead, leaving Lex Luthor to ponder if he has just overplayed his hand. (This place has more bugs than a roach motel! Am I right, folks?)

Clark sat at the Kents’ dinner table in Kansas. After his adoptive father returned from tending to the fields, Clark rose to his feet and asked both of the people that had raised and cared for him if he could keep the Kent name. Of course they were overjoyed. He then asked for their advice. If he were to release this plague, Earth would be free. But he would have committed mass-genocide upon his own people. What should he do? Before much could be said, a voice from the doorway spoke. It was Lex! He was sorry to interrupt, but there was a situation….. (Is it me, or is Luthor in almost every scene, working every single angle in this issue? I don’t know how he keeps track of which side he’s on at the moment! No wonder he was elected President of the United States in later storylines!)

Superman rocketed through the skies at top speed! When he reached Gotham City, his fears were confirmed. Jor-El had gone mad! He was hovering above the people with a large vehicle raised over his head as a weapon, firing heat vision down at the screaming crowds! He demanded he see his son right now! Superman rams his shoulder into his father’s ribcage with all of his might, sending the crazed Kryptonian flying! He then catches the plummeting vehicle and sets it down on the street carefully. But this action took far too long! Seeing his chance, Jor-El blasts his son off of his feet with a full blast of heat vision! (It’s definitely on now! I don’t see a Father’s Day card in Jor-El’s future! Maybe a tie, but that’s a given.)

The battle then takes to the skies! Back and forth fists are thrown that could topple mountains! But Jor-El simply doesn’t have the fighting experience that his son does. Superman throws him through a nearby water tower. And before he can fully get back to his feet, Clark unleashes the fullest extent of his heat vision! Jor-El falls, unconscious at last! Superman arrived at the building in question in a flash. He punched through the thick steel of the wall and flew in. Lex Luthor sat nonchalantly in a lawn chair on the other side! In his hand was a drink with a little umbrella leaning lazily inside. Superman went for the proper panel to release the plague. Nothing. Luthor had rewritten the circuit board! (Does anyone get what side this guy’s on? I feel like I’m trying to do algebra here!)

Lex explained that the Kryptonian race, though arrogant, didn’t deserve to die. Kal could teach them a better way. Tired of Luthor’s numerous head games, Superman grabbed him up by his armor and smashed him through several floors of the building! He demanded that Lex fix the panel. Luthor’s reply was a blast of green energy from a cavity within the armor’s chest! As he stood up, he grabbed an large iron bar. He explained that Jor-El had equipped him with a weapon powered by a small rock called Kryptonite. He then finished by gleefully striking the hero again and again with the weapon! Kal stirred to rise, but Lex revealed a large chunk of rock within his armor! It seems that Luthor wasn’t content to simply subdue Superman, he was going to kill him! But as he raised the bar for a final strike, he was shot from behind! Lois Lane stood with a smoking energy rifle! (Now she’s on Superman’s side?! Anyone have a scorecard I can look over?)

Luthor lies there demanding to know why. Her only reply as she helped Superman to his feet was that she loved him. Not to be defeated yet, Lex’s armor shot out several blasts of energy! Unfortunately for him, he missed his intended targets. He did however hit the weakened support beams above him! A large chunk of the complex came crashing down upon him. It was over. Superman never did use the deadly Kryptonian plague. Instead, he began work on teaching them a better way. Luthor was right after all. Speaking of Lex Luthor, though badly injured, he managed to survive too. As Superman raised the new flag of humanity atop a large building, he looked down to see a strange black car race by below. Batman sat within with a familiar youngster dressed in a colorful costume. Batman slowed the Batmobile long enough to smile at Superman and say, “Welcome to the party, pal.” (Batman survived too?! I feel like my brain just turned to jelly! This comic had more twists and turns than a “Pirates of the Caribbean” flick! Jack Sparrow 4-Life, y’all!) Superman smiled back and flew onwards. Batman was right. The fight had only just begun.

End.

90s Comics, 90s DC, DC Comics, Uncategorized

No Such Thing As Monsters (Part 3)

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I’m back! Yes, my time is now more my own, so I have returned with the last installment of my look back at DC’s “Superman: Hunter/Prey” slug-fest extravaganza! I come to you now, not as a busy father, but as a man with a migraine and stomachache that could topple the gods of Olympus. (Okay. So maybe I’m exaggerating my condition a tad. All I know, dear fans, is that I feel crappy and thus I must whine.) Anyway, enough talk of my seemingly-fatal condition. On with the finale….

As Superman stands upon a crumbling mountaintop, on the planet Apokolips, he clenches his fists at his sides and vows that this is the end. This time, Doomsday will fall. (Is he posing and flexing at a time like this? I guess if you’ve got it, flaunt it.) Darkseid then interrupts by commenting that if the Kryptonian truly means to follow and confront the beast, he will once again face death. Though Waverider hates to admit it, he fears the Dark Lord of Apokolips may be right. As Darkseid and his minion, Desaad, turn to leave, Darkseid picks up a button-sized disc from the ground. He whispers to the other that, though Superman believes that the Cyborg Superman is now no more, he had the foresight to contain the madman’s consciousness onto this very device, should he have use of the villain at a later date! (Man, turns out you can’t even trust an evil tyrant nowadays! What happened to this world? Sheesh)

Warnings aside, the Man of Steel prepares to meet the monster head-on. But, before he can even think, the Mother Box strapped to his arm begins to ring out! Superman is then encased in an orb of blinding light! When he emerges, his wounds are healed and he wears a type of armored version of his traditional costume, complete with sophisticated weaponry! It seems the sentient computer has decided to help! Then, from out of nowhere, the Mother Box opens a portal to the place that Doomsday now is! (Wow! Screw buying a smart phone! Sign me up for a Mother Box! I bet it even gets free WiFi and HBO Max! ) Wasting little time, Superman and Waverider fly in, on a path with what will most likely be certain death!

Meanwhile, Doomsday has been doing what he does best on the distant planet of Calaton, mindless death and destruction! However, his rampage has been recently halted. The creature now finds himself locked in combat with the energy being that handed him his first defeat so very long ago, Radiant! The two titans battle back and forth until Radiant finally decides this fight has gone on long enough. He unleashes the full might of his power in one mighty blast! And though this has worked once, Doomsday is always evolving. The beast stands unharmed! Doomsday then swipes at Radiant with such force and ferocity, that the already weakened hero begins to dissipate! The victory goes to Doomsday this time around! (Damn! Things are looking pretty bad. The comic? Oh. I meant my stomach cramps. Yeah. Superman has his work cut out for him it seems.)

Superman and Waverider enter the atmosphere of Calaton via the Mother Box’s teleportation capabilities. Scanning the planet, smoking ruins and mangled corpses litter the landscape. Suddenly, Superman spies Radiant’s fading form. Waverider joins the Man of Steel as he descends. Before Radiant is no more, he whispers that the creature is headed to the power facility that runs the entire planet. As this facility is powered by the planet’s core, its destruction could mean the end of all life on the planet! Radiant then passes away into nothingness. (I’m not crying! It’s my headache! I swear! Made my eyes tear up. That’s all. Ha! They bought it.) Doomsday slams his powerful fists again and again into the thick walls of the power facility! But he’s halted suddenly by the sound of an angry and familiar voice. Turning, the monster stares face-to-face with the Last Son of Krypton!

It’s then that the creature does something Superman doesn’t expect, looking at the hero with recognition in his cold eyes, it speaks! It utters the word, “Metropolis”! Then, turning as if to show that it doesn’t see the Man of Steel as a threat whatsoever, it continues its rampage! (Man! I don’t know about you guys, but I’d be hurt! Thats when you get back in Doomsday’s face and say, “Hey! I’m not just a piece of meat that you can just discard! I’m a person too, damn it, and I deserve some respect! Now, I demand you pay attention to me and beat me to death like everyone else! Yeah.) Regaining his composure, Superman takes full advantage of the beast’s arrogance and lets loose with the full might of his heat vision! Doomsday is only momentarily stunned! He raises a clawed fist and his knuckle spurs lengthen several feet, piercing Superman’s shoulder and releasing a powerful toxin into the wound!

Doomsday used his elongated knuckle spikes then whip Superman to the ground with tremendous force! It’s then that the hero becomes very aware of the poison spreading throughout his body! Wasting no time, the Man of Steel leaps to his feet and pulls a strange handgun from a holster that the Mother Box has gifted him! Pulling the trigger, the weapon unleashes a devastating pulse of sonic waves! The creature seems to be hurt! But alas, only momentarily! Flesh grows over his ear canals, protecting him from harm! Superman then rips the claws out of his shoulder and takes flight to get some distance! Waverider uses this opportunity to rush in and touch the monster, entering his mind! He plans to try and understand the creature in order to find its weakness! What he finds shocks even the time-traveler! (Like how I left that paragraph so that the suspense and anticipation builds? I’m actually pulling this writing thing off while on my death bed, yo!)

Waverider staggers away from Doomsday, obviously shaken! Superman demands to know what he has found. Finally, the truth is revealed, Doomsday was created by none other than kryptonians! He’s a product of Superman’s home planet! (Didn’t see that coming, did ya? What? You read this in the 90’s or already read the speech balloons in the picture above? Nobody likes a smarty-pants. Well, I’m cool, but that’s my jam.)

However, the two heroes can argue no more about the subject, because Doomsday has stood idle for way too long for his liking! He springs! Thankfully, Superman is prepared and hits the creature in the face with a thunderous punch! The two combatants then begin to destroy one another in hand-to-hand combat! Superman, soon realizes that the monster is quickly gaining the upper hand once again! Rather than face death once again, the Last Son of Krypton pulls yet another weapon from his armor, a lazer sword! (Uh-oh! Watch out Supes, or Disney will sue! Everyone knows that “The Mouse” owns all rights to any lazer sword-like weaponry. Or worse yet, you could be Disney’s next acquisition! Gulp!)

Superman cuts deep into the creature’s tough hide! And while Doomsday stops to heal, he finishes the maneuver with a full blast of heat vision! But the monster is once again way too fast! He pummels Superman within an inch of his heroic life! Waverider tries to intervene as the creature raises the fallen superhero above his head, but Doomsday uses the Man of Steel’s still form as a projectile and shatters the wall to the planet’s reactor! The explosion is deafening! (Is….is Superman dead again? For good?……sob……I had twenty bucks riding on him…..sob……) The blast dissipates Waverider’s energy form and Superman’s body drops limply to the ground.

Doomsday senses victory. He pulls himself from the rubble and approaches the Kryptonian’s unmoving form. But, just as soon as the beast is about to deliver a finishing blow, Superman moves with blinding speed and strikes the creature under the jaw with a powerful uppercut! But the beating doesn’t end there. No. The hero continues his onslaught with renewed strength and determination! While the monster is momentarily stunned, Superman places Waverider’s time travel device around one of Doomsday’s protruding shoulder spikes and activates it, hoping to remove the creature from this already devastated world! (Damn! Did anyone else hear the “Eye of the Tiger” in their heads while that beat-down was going on? No? Hmph. You all sadden my nerdy heart.)

The pair find themselves floating in a specific point in the timestream, a place that can only be described as a living nightmare. That’s when a newly reconstituted Waverider appears! He takes Superman from this place. Only Superman. He leaves the monster to face his end. You see, this is the end of the universe, and no amount of quick healing can stop the end of all that is. This is truly the end of the living engine of destruction known only as Doomsday! (Until DC decides to use the character once again, rendering this epic ending for the powerful supervillain moot. Don’t you just love comic books?) The two heroes thank one another for their part in ending this seemingly unstoppable menace. Mother Box uses the last of its power to reform Superman’s familiar costume before it is no more. Waverider flies off to parts unknown. As for Superman? He enters the window of a worried Lois Lane and embraces her. There is much to be proud of. Afterall, who truly gets to physically defeat the monster in the darkness that they feared as a child? This superhero did.

End.

This article is dedicated to my son, James Christian Miller. He turned eighteen years old this month and is now thrust into the sometimes frightening unknown world of adulthood. May you conquer all of the monsters that lurk in the darkness of your past and future. But remember, there are always those who love you to help you in your fight. I love you.