Source: Action Comics #687 (1993)
Type: Replacement
Ayiayiayiayeah, Superman's dead...
Reign of the Supermen is named after the storyline that followed Superman's much-publicized death, featuring four replacements. Which one was the REAL Superman? Well, none of them were. The one that seemed best able to make the claim was the Eradicator, a former Kryptonian artifact made flesh and who took the mantle while the real deal's stolen corpse was healing in a tank under the Fortress of Solitude. He was a cold, even callous, version of Superman, a true Last Son of Krypton.
It was fun how each series' replacement Superman could pretty much hold one of his alternate names. If the Eradicator could be the Last Son of Krypton, the Cyborg-Superman could be the Man of Tomorrow, while Superboy and the Man of Steel both speak for themselves. They'll each get their turns in my version of Reign eventually.
Now for the Big Unanswered Question: Did the goggles put Superman's secret identity in jeopardy? "Gee, Superman with glasses sure does make him look like Clark Kent!" There's a wacky untold Silver Age story in that somewhere...
As for the original Reign of the Supermen, who was YOUR favorite replacement? Maybe I'll do him sooner than later!
Type: Replacement
Ayiayiayiayeah, Superman's dead...Reign of the Supermen is named after the storyline that followed Superman's much-publicized death, featuring four replacements. Which one was the REAL Superman? Well, none of them were. The one that seemed best able to make the claim was the Eradicator, a former Kryptonian artifact made flesh and who took the mantle while the real deal's stolen corpse was healing in a tank under the Fortress of Solitude. He was a cold, even callous, version of Superman, a true Last Son of Krypton.
It was fun how each series' replacement Superman could pretty much hold one of his alternate names. If the Eradicator could be the Last Son of Krypton, the Cyborg-Superman could be the Man of Tomorrow, while Superboy and the Man of Steel both speak for themselves. They'll each get their turns in my version of Reign eventually.
Now for the Big Unanswered Question: Did the goggles put Superman's secret identity in jeopardy? "Gee, Superman with glasses sure does make him look like Clark Kent!" There's a wacky untold Silver Age story in that somewhere...
As for the original Reign of the Supermen, who was YOUR favorite replacement? Maybe I'll do him sooner than later!
Comments
Superman #163, May 1962, "The Secret of the Superman Stamp," story by Ed Hamilton, pencil & inks by Swan and Klein.
Superman saves Burma and the nation decides to honour him with a special stamp. The photographer they send to Metropolis takes a good photo, but Superman then spends the next several days trying to do a spectacular feat that will result in an even better one. He eventually succeeds and reclaims the original photo and negatives.
Clark then muses in his apartment. "This full-face photo was innocent in itself, but as a postage stamp with Rangoon postmarked on it, by the law of averages, hundreds of stamps would have the double-O stamped across my eyes! And Anyone who knew both Clark and Superman would see we're the same!"
And steel. Some dude who made a metal suit.
But as time goes by I dig Steel way more than any of the rest, because he is a true hero inspired by Superman's selfless crusade.
And I did notice the titles business. They should have had a fifth candidate to fill the "Strange Visitor from Another Planet" hole, though...
The Visitor From Another Planet was probably Eradicator, since that's not far off from Last Son of Krypton when it comes down to it.
I also always thought the Cyborg had the best case for being the real Superman, simply from the "he's a repaired Superman!" standpoint.
So basically, I bought what they were selling at the time.