Superman: The Man of Steel #120 is an issue of the series Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2002. It was published on November 21, 2001.
Synopsis for "What Lies Beneath"
Superman tears apart a LexCorp facility somewhere under Central Asia. He realizes that he is having far too much fun in doing this, but enjoys the process anyway, fed up with LexCorp and its premises, and especially Lex Luthor.
Previously, at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent really can't help but overhear from the female coworkers talking about potentially hitting on Clark, now that Lois has taken a leave of absence. They cite a probable marriage dissolution. Calvin Carson interrupts his listening and insists upon seeing him.
Calvin explains his past with the Forgotten Heroes, a subterranean group that worked against Vandal Savage's conspiracy of world domination. He tells Clark that the group ran out of money, and he ran from creditors towards the center of the Earth. One day he encountered Talia Head, who set him into position as an oil professional. Calvin pointed her to a large oil reserve, one larger than any previously discovered. After the oil was harnessed in the name of LexCorp, he found sulfate respiring fungi inside of it, fungi that could control the oil. Calvin urges Clark not to involve superheroes, and to write an article so that the public can deal with LexCorp, protesting and using legal channels to stop the situation.
At Steelworks, Natasha and John Henry note that Steelworks is now profitable again. Professor Emil Hamilton asks to speak with Steel. He explains to John that his inability to cope with frustrations that Steel is taking his place in Superman's life has lead him to many wrong decisions, like not realizing the full danger of the LexCorp Tower. He apologizes. Hamilton notes that Steel can go out there, in his suit, and he cannot. Hamilton also suggests that this makes him feel inferior. He asks John about his time on the high frontier. John states that he doesn't remember what happened out there, save that he died. John also says that he never had any great desire to be a superhero. Natasha listens in.
Clark writes a letter of frustration to Lois with regard to the Calvin situation. He tells her he misses her and fears he will fail as Clark with taking LexCorp down, and takes off as Superman to take care of the threat.
At the present time where Superman is tearing the facility apart. After destroying the facility, Superman then examines the oil microscopically.
Much later, Superman is flying in front of the window, staring at Talia Head, who makes her aides leave and opens the security window. He accuses Talia of controlling the oil, but she points out that he has destroyed his evidence. Superman, without any means to do anything, leaves. Talia, frustrated, laments that her ploy to take down LexCorp, using the oil and Carson, has failed. Clark meanwhile laments that he wasn't good enough to solve this problem as a reporter.
Appearing in "What Lies Beneath"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- President Luthor (Mentioned only)
- Vandal Savage (Mentioned only)
- Lois Lane (Mentioned only)
- Brainiac 13 (Mentioned only)
- Mr. Fortuga
- Calvin Carson (Flashback and main story)
- Forgotten Heroes (Flashback only)
- Animal Man (Flashback only)
- Immortal Man (Flashback only)
- Rip Hunter (Flashback only)
- Vigilante (Pat Trayce) (Flashback only) (Final appearance)
- The Ray (Flashback only)
- Fetish (Flashback only)
- Ballistic (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Asia
- White House (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis
Items:
- Entropy Aegis
- Superman's diary
Events
- Our Worlds at War (Mentioned only)
Concepts
Vehicles:
Notes
- Superman navigation number 2002/3
See Also
Links and References
| Previous Adventures of Superman #598: 2002/6 |
Superman 2002 Navigation |
Next Action Comics #785: 2002/4 |