By Kimota1977 — If you are a comic person you will inevitably be asked one question by every other comic person you meet – “What’s your favorite story?” Most people see my online handle and assume it is that most glorious of superhero deconstruction tales written and illustrated by god-tier creators – Miracleman. 

However – these folks are wrong. I have a very different favorite comic, and today I’m going to tell you all about it — Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow by Alan Moore and Curt Swan. But before we get deep into that book and why I love it so much, some background to set the stage.

Crisis on Infinite Earths

In April of 1985 the universe-changing DC mega event Crisis on Infinite Earths began in earnest. This 12-issue maxi series (plus dozens of crossovers) event changed the nearly 50 years of DC Comics history that came before it and has had a long lasting affect on the 34 years of DC Comics that has come since. 

In my opinion no single character was more greatly affected by this than the first and original superhero – Superman. As the character that truly kicked off the craze that lead to so many capes and tights heroes, his history was long, winding, and at many times extremely contradictory. 

But that’s comics, right? At least – it was before Crisis. 

Crisis on Infinite Earths changed DC history drastically, leading to the character that inspired generations of superheroes since his first appearance in 1938 to be changed so much that he was practically a new hero, albeit one that used a basic existing template. Gone were the days where Superman was powerful enough to see planets across the universe. No more greater Superman family like Krypto, Supergirl, or Kandor. No more funny stories with Jimmy Olsen getting a different set of superpowers every other issue. 

Kal-El was reimagined as a newly appeared hero still learning how to be the Superman we would all later come to know. His supporting cast did not know him. His family was all gone, wiped out by Crisis’ universe-wide reset. For the first time in decades “the last son of Krypton” was truly alone in the universe. 

But before they allowed the pre-Crisis (Silver Age) Superman to disappear from the shelves of comic shops forever, DC editorial gave this version of the Man of Steel a fabulous farewell. And it’s that story that ranks as my all-time favorite, which is why today I want to talk about the story, how it came to be, and the place it holds in the pantheon of great comics.

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow

Legendary Superman editor Julius Schwartz knew that Superman was changing not just on the stands, but also behind the scenes with an all-new creative team and direction. He struggled to decide how to handle his final two issues of editorial direction on this version of Superman before the character went through such a dramatic altering. Finally settling on telling an imaginary tale because in his mind this was the end of the Superman he had known so long, Schwartz decided the last two issues should be handled as “the end of the series.”

He immediately knew who had to write this story. The man who had been there at the beginning and written the first story – Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. Of course Jerry leapt at the chance, but sadly due to the many legal issues that affected the Shuster & Siegel relationship with DC, Jerry was unable to write the story. 

Sometimes, however, a loss can turn into a gain. Schwartz was eating breakfast the very next morning with my personal all-time favorite comics writer, Alan Moore. Upon discussing the issues with having Jerry write the last story; Alan rose from his chair and (according to Schwartz himself) put both of his hands on Schwartz’s neck saying “If you let anybody but me write that story, I’ll kill you.” 

And so Schwartz had his writer. 

There was no question as to the artist. Curt Swan had defined the look of Superman for 30 years. His Superman was the quintessential Silver Age Superman. There was no one else who could have done pencils for this project, and he was fully on board.

New Teen Titans creator George Perez was tapped to provide inks on the first part while longtime Superman Family artist Kurt Schaffenberger would provide inks on part two. As neither artist had any previous opportunity to ink over Curt’s Superman Julius Schwartz decided he really wanted them to get at least one chance to do so. This team of incredible artists and writer were ready to give us a story of the greatest send off to a character that any comic had ever delivered.

Boy, did they deliver. 

The Story

Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow – a two part story taking place in Superman #423 and Action Comics #538 — answered every question about the Silver Age Superman. Did Lois ever find out who Superman was? What happened to Jimmy, Lana, and Perry? What about the villainous rogue gallery that kept Superman so very busy all the time?

Beginning in Superman #423, we start out slightly in the future of 1997 (although it is ultimately a much more futuristic 1997 than the one we lived through, at least if the gadgets and gizmos are any indication), and we see a reporter from the new Daily Planet arrive at the house of the woman who was once Lois Lane (now married and named Lois Elliot). He has come to interview Lois about the hero that disappeared years ago and has not been seen since — “Silver Age” Superman. 

Lois begins to tell the tragic tale of the last days of Superman. Apparently at some point Superman got to enjoy a couple of years where most of the villains had either destroyed themselves or were laying low. Most of his missions for some time were primarily missions of mercy and deep space assignments from NASA. He returns to Earth to find Bizarro destroying large swaths of Metropolis. His normally bizarre, but non-malevolent behavior had changed and he was causing wholesale death and destruction before Superman arrived. 

Very quickly over the course of the first issue Superman’s life as Clark Kent is turned completely upside down. Starting with some of his less malevolent foes who re-emerge one by one as much more evil versions. Willing to cause death and destruction they would never have engaged in previously. Beginning with the Toyman and the Prankster devising a plan to finally learn who Superman really was by kidnapping and torturing their way through his closest friends. Their very first target is Pete Ross; one of Superman’s oldest friends. Unable to handle the torture he reveals Superman’s secret identity and the formerly comedic duo expose Clark Kent as Superman while he is broadcasting live for WGBS (Clark was a TV newscaster at the time).

Once Superman’s identity was exposed the attacks ramped up quickly until an entire army of Metallo’s attack the Daily Planet to exact revenge against Clark Kent/Superman. Superman leaps into action, but the Daily Planet is completely destroyed. 

By the end of the first part Superman has resigned himself to giving up his life as Clark completely and protecting his friends from the revenge plots of his enemies. He gathers up the remaining non-powered supporting cast including Lana, Lois, Jimmy and Perry and takes them to the Fortress of Solitude where he will be able to protect them better. 

The final few pages give long time Superman fans a sad and somber scene as the Legion of Super Heroes returns to the 20th Century with Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) along for the ride. This was a Supergirl of an earlier time as she had already died at the hands of the Anti-Monitor in “Crisis on Infinite Earths”. The Legion – knowing the future and what had already happened to Supergirl and what was about to happen to Superman wanted to give him a warning that he was about to face his greatest foe as well as one last chance to see his lost cousin. The final page shows a despondent Superman sitting and weeping for his lost cousin. Unable to tell her why she was not there in that time period.

At the beginning of the second and final part Superman is holed up in his Fortress and is quickly surrounded by the most malicious and evil versions of his villains he has ever dealt with. An insane Kryptonite Man, the evil adult Legion of Super Villains and a horrible symbiotic Brainiac and Lex Luthor join forces erecting an impenetrable force field to lock out the heroes sure to come to Superman’s aid. Superman and Krypto are held at bay by the Kryptonite Man. 

In quick succession we see the deaths of many major characters including Lana Lang, Jimmy Olsen, the Kryptonite Man, Krypto, Lex Luthor and even the evil robotic Brainiac. 

Until finally – as all villains are defeated or have fled – Superman is left still trapped inside the force screen that Brainiac/Luthor had erected. It slowly dawns upon him that his greatest foe has not yet appeared and is the only one who could be behind all of this. 

Mr. Mxyzptlk. The mischievous imp from the 5th Dimension has returned. An immortal being who has grown bored with being mischievous and now decided to become evil. Secretly manipulating events behind the scenes. He was ultimately the one behind all of his villains acting so much more malicious than they ever had before. His sole intent to kill the Man of Steel. 

Despite his vulnerability to magic Superman finds a way to defeat him (with a little help from the Legion) leaving Mxy dead as well. Having broken his vow to never take a life he says his farewells to Lois and enters a vault filled with gold kryptonite. Leaving him permanently depowered he walks out of the Fortress into the frozen wastes of the Arctic. 

And that was the last time anyone ever saw Superman again. 

Cut back to the current time (again 1997 looking like 2097) where Lois; feeling exhausted by recounting this emotional story, wraps up her interview with the reporter from the new Daily Planet. As the reporter leaves Lois’ husband walks him to the door and as he slowly closes the door we see the Elliot’s young baby in the background squeezing a lump of coal into a diamond. Giving a fourth wall breaking wink to the reader we realize Lois husband is likely a depowered Superman living a quiet life with the woman he loves. 

This story is without a doubt my favorite comic story. The original two issues are not terribly expensive, and DC did a one shot prestige format reprint on the 10 year anniversary in 1997 (the real 1997). Even absent a deep knowledge of the Silver Age Superman this story is extremely approachable ,and if you choose one Superman story to read during these trying times, I cannot recommend this story enough. 

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