Superman Vol 2 8

From DC Database

"Future Shock"

Gallery

Superman Vol 2 #8
August, 1987

Executive Editor

Jenette Kahn

Cover Artists

John Byrne

Writers

John Byrne

Pencilers

John Byrne

Inkers

Karl Kesel

Colourists

Tom Ziuko

Letterers

John Costanza

Editors

Andrew Helfer, Mike Carlin

Previous Issue

Next Issue

Superman #7

Superman #9

Appearing in "Future Shock"

Featured Characters:

• Superman

Supporting Characters:

• Jonathan Kent
• Lana Lang
• Martha Kent
• Legion of Super-Heroes

• Blok
• Brainiac 5
• Invisible Kid
• Mon-El (In flashback only)
• Sun Boy

Villains:

• Time Trapper (In flashback only)

Other Characters:

• Pete Ross (Pocket Universe) (In flashback only)
• Superboy (Pocket Universe)
• Chief Parker (Pocket Universe) (In flashback only) (First and only known appearance to date)

Locations:

• Kansas

• Small County
• Smallville

• Kent Farm
• Lang Farm
• Simonson Limestone Quarry

Items:

• Legion Flight Ring

Vehicles:

• Legion Time Bubble

Synopsis for "Future Shock"

Clark has volunteered to help Lana Lang put up a fence at her home, and he gets the job done in no time, thanks to super-speed and heat vision. Martha and Jonathan come up with a picnic basket, and the four have lunch together.

Suddenly, Superman perceives a disturbance at the nearby Limestone rock quarry and flies off to investigate. Upon arriving, he finds four super-heroes from the future known as Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Invisible Kid and Blok. Superman's powers go out of control suddenly and he begins firing heat vision at this futuristic Legion of super-heroes. The Legion meanwhile, believes that Superman is actually Superboy, a time traveling hero that has teamed up with them in the 30th century.

Everybody gets into a big fight, but before long cooler heads prevail, and Brainiac 5 attempts to explain his presence in this era. Originally, they tried to use the Time Trapper's time bubble to travel backwards in time to Superboy's native era. However, they wound up in a strange pocket dimension instead. Superboy turned out to be a traitor and tried to kill them. Other members of the Legion of Super-Heroes escaped and tried to return through the time stream, however, they ended up here in this parallel universe. Superman tries to explain to them, that in this reality, he never became Superboy and he has no idea who the Legion of Super-Heroes even are.

At that moment, Superboy appears above them and threatens to end their lives.

Notes

• This story was originally published out of sequence and is intended to take place between pages 22 and 23 of Superman (Volume 2) #7.

• This issue contains a revised retelling of the origin of Superboy's first team-up wih the Legion of Super-Heroes from Adventure Comics #247.

• Superman appeared last in Superman (Volume 2) #7. He appears next in Action Comics #591.

• This is the first time that the Post-Crisis Legion of Super-Heroes have traveled backwards in time to the 20th century.

• There are several flashbacks chronicling Superboy's first meeting with the Legion of Super-Heroes. The continuity of the Time Trapper's pocket dimension is the same as the continuity shown for the Earth-One Superboy and Legion of Super-Heroes. Included in the flashback are Superboy, the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Legion of Super-Villains, the Fatal Five, the Time Trapper, Pete Ross, Lana Lang, Martha Kent and Jonathan Kent (of the pocket universe).

• The Superboy that appears in this issue is actually a chronal variant from the Time Trapper's pocket dimension. He shares nothing in common with either the Pre-Crisis Superboy, or the Superboy of Earth-Prime.

Trivia

• This issue is dedicated to the memory of Edmond Hamilton, a provincial Superman writer during the Golden Age era who passed away on February 1st, 1977.

• Superman utters a paraphrased version of the classic line, "This looks like a job for Superman!"

• This comic book features advertisements for the following products:

—M&M chocolate candy

—MPC toy racing car model kits

—Tang orange-flavored energy drink

—Oxy10 facial cleanser

—Cox Hobbies SB-X stealth bomber snap-together model

—Rain-Blo bubble gum

—DC Comics - Wild Dog comic book limited series

—DC Comics - Silverblade comic book limited series

• The cover is very similar to the cover of Fantastic Four 249.
  
  

Related Articles

• Superman image gallery
• Superman appearances list
• Superman quotes page
• John Byrne cover art gallery
• 30th Century
• Cosmic Boy
• Earth-Prime
• Fatal Five
• Legion of Super-Heroes
• Legion of Super-Villains
• Lightning Lad
• Night Girl
• Saturn Girl
• Ultra Boy

See Also

• Discuss Superman Vol 2 8 on the forums
• Cover gallery for the Superman series

Recommended Reading

Links and References

• Superman #8 entry at the Grand Comics Database
• Superman #8 entry at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe