Reign of the Supermen #77: Hyperion

Source: Starting with Avengers #85-86 (1971)
Type: AnalogIf it's not immediately apparent that Hyperion is a Superman analog (though his haircut above makes it plainer), once you see him with the rest of the Supreme Squadron, there can be no mistake. Nighthawk, Power Princess, Amphibian, Doctor Spectrum, Skrullian Skymaster, Whizzer, Blue Eagle, Golden Archer, Lady Lark, Arcanna... The names alone scream Justice League of America analog. So Hyperion has to be the Superman in that equation.
In the Squadron Supreme's universe (Earth-712), Hyperion is the last living Eternal (kinda puts the lie to THAT word), which certainly makes him the last son of SOMEwhere, and his powers, though "atomic"-based, are pretty much like those of Superman.

Marvel had found a way of interacting with the DC Universe without having to go down the street for meetings. (Note: The Squadron is one of two Marvel teams analogous to the DCU's, and Hyperion one of at least three Superman analogs... we'll get to the others in due time.) Coincidentally, on the same year and same month as Avengers #85, in JLofA #87, DC ran their own alternate-universe version of the Avengers with the Champions of Angor.
Weird. Though to be fair, an evil version of the Squadron (the Squadron Sinister) had appeared a year and a half before in Avengers #69. So Marvel started it.

Comments

googum said…
Did poor Silver Sorceress ever get a silver costume? Ever? (I liked her in JLE a lot, as she seemed to be good-naturedly putting up with things, then she died.)
Siskoid said…
I don't think I've ever seen him in anything but gold.
Anonymous said…
I guess we'll be seeing Gladiator sooner or later.
Siskoid said…
Yes, although probably in the midst of a Superboy week event.
Anonymous said…
I seem to remember reading once that the appearances of Squadron Supreme and the Champions of Angor in the same month and year was coordinated by the then-writers of Avengers and JLofA. The Wikipedia article about the Champions says as much, but [citation needed].
Siskoid said…
A fun bit of cross-company business! Although marvel still drew first blood with the Squadron Sinister, which appeared before and were an "evil JLA". (I guess they're Crime Syndicate analogs!)