- But the real question here is not could I grant your request and save the lives of the Misses Lane and Lang -- but would I? It should not surprise you, old foe... that in the realm of polite conversation, my answer would be unrepeatable to say the least! In one word, Superman, a richly satisfying, heartfelt... No! No!
Superman #363 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1981.
Synopsis for "The Dying Day of Lois & Lana!"
While attending a function at the Metropolis Museum, Clark, Lana and Lois are all exposed to a virulent alien virus that originated from one of Lewis Lang's artifacts. Clark's super-antibodies naturally make him immune to the virus, but Lana and Lois fall deathly ill. Analyzing the microbes with telescopic vision, Superman recognizes the virus as the same one that ultimately killed his adoptive parents, the Kents.
Superman rushes Lana and Lois to the Fortress of Solitude, but he is unable to find a cure. He contemplates sending them into the Phantom Zone for to forestall the effects of the virus, but the Phantom Zone criminals, ever observing Superman's activities, concentrate their will into a burst of psychic energy that destroys the Phantom Zone Projector. Though they cannot escape the Phantom Zone, they are satisfied that they have prevented Superman the means of saving Lana and Lois. Desperate, Superman even goes to the Metropolis State Penitentiary and tries to enlist the scientific expertise of Lex Luthor, but Luthor refuses to aid him.
Superman then travels to the 88th century in the hopes of finding a cure from the advanced scientific minds of Earth's future. These beings refuse to corrupt the timestream, but assure Superman that someone from his era will in fact find a cure.
Returning to the present, Superman realizes that since he was infected by the microbes as well, then his super-immune system might be able to save Lana and Lois. He gives them an immediate blood transfusion and they quickly recover.
Appearing in "The Dying Day of Lois & Lana!"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (Flashback and main story) (also as Superboy) (from Superman #161)
Supporting Characters:
- Josh Coyle
- Lana Lang (Flashback and main story)
- Professor Lewis Lang
- Lois Lane (Flashback and main story)
- Chief Douglas Parker (Unnamed) (Flashback only)
- Perry White (Mentioned only)
- Morgan Edge (Mentioned only)
- Kent Family
- Jonathan Kent (Dies in flashback) (from Superman #161)
- Martha Kent (Dies in flashback) (from Superman #161)
Antagonists:
- Lex Luthor
- Phantom Zoners
- Faora Hu-Ul (Unnamed)
- General Zod (Unnamed)
- Jax-Ur (Unnamed)
- Metropolis State Prisoners
- Mick (Single appearance)
- Prisoner (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- WGBS employees (Unnamed)
- Pegleg Morgan (Dies in flashback)
- Mrs. Nelson (Lana Lang's neighbor) (Single appearance)
- Cats
- Tabitha (Lana Lang's cat) (Mentioned only)
- Warden (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Three Scientists from the 88th Century (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Earth-One
- 88th Century
- Space
- Floating Metropolis
- Grand Council Chamber
- Floating Metropolis
- Space
- 1981
- Phantom Zone
- Earth
- United States of America
- Metropolis
- Galaxy Communications Building
- WGBS Control Room
- Metropolis Museum
- Lana Lang's Apartment
- Lois Lane's Apartment
- Metropolis State Penitentiary
- Lex Luthor's Cell
- Metropolis Courthouse (Mentioned only)
- Galaxy Communications Building
- Smallville (Flashback only) (from Superman #161)
- 321 Maple Street
- Kents' Residence
- Jonathan and Martha's Bedroom
- Kents' Residence
- Smallville Cemetary (Unnamed) (Flashback only)
- Jonathan and Martha Kent's Tombstones
- 321 Maple Street
- North Pole
- Metropolis
- United States of America
- 1717
- 1950
- Caribbean (Flashback only) (from Superman #161)
- Island (Unnamed) (Flashback only)
- Caribbean (Flashback only) (from Superman #161)
- Europe
- 17th Century (Mentioned only)
- 1890s
- France
- Paris
- Seine River
- Champs Elysees
- Eiffel Tower
- Paris
- France
- 88th Century
Items:
- Rare Tropical Fever Plague (Flashback and main story) (from Superman #161)
- Pegleg Morgan's Chest (Flashback only) (from Superman #161)
- Matter-Dissolver
- Micro-Viewing Device
- Phantom Zone Projector
- Fortress of Solitude Key
- Prosmo-Drone
Vehicles:
- WGBS News Vans
Concepts:
Synopsis for "A Night in the Life of Bruce (Superman) Wayne!"
Bruce Wayne marries Barbara Gordon. On their wedding night, Bruce reveals that he is also secretly Superman. Barbara doesn't want Bruce working as Superman any more, and prefers that he devotes his super-brain to science. Bruce agrees and retires as Superman.
A short time later, Lew Moxon murders Barbara's father, Commissioner James Gordon. Upon hearing the news, she regrets convincing Bruce to abandon his career as Superman. Superman attempts to travel backwards in time to prevent the shooting, but fails. Driven towards vengeance, Barbara Gordon-Wayne fashions a costume for herself and becomes the Batwoman. She tracks down Lew Moxon who attempts to flee, but is struck by an oncoming vehicle.
Appearing in "A Night in the Life of Bruce (Superman) Wayne!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Batwoman (Barbara Gordon Wayne) (First appearance as Batwoman)
- Jim Gordon (Final appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Lew Moxon (Final appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Minister (Unnamed) (On a TV or computer screen) (Single appearance)
- Gotham City Police Department (Mentioned only)
- Clancy O'Hara (Phone call only)
Locations:
Items:
- Batrope
- Gotham Gazette Newspaper
Vehicles:
Concept:
Notes
- The last .50 cent issue.
- The cause of Jonathan and Martha Kent's deaths is revealed in this issue.
- Superman attempts to entice Lex Luthor into devising a cure for the tropical fever with the potential of a presidential pardon, then notes that Luthor returned to prison a convict in spite of having already been granted one such pardon. Although no editorial note cites the issue number, Superman is likely referring to the events depicted in Action Comics #510–512, though it should be noted that Luthor had been extended and squandered a presidential pardon at least once prior to that, in Superman Family #172.
- A Night in the Life of Bruce (Superman) Wayne was originally published as an imaginary story, a story outside of regular continuity. In Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Compendium, it was retconned as having happened on another Earth, (Earth-353).
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Superman Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Action Comics (Volume 2)
- Adventures of Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 3)
- Superman (Volume 4)
- Superman (Volume 5)
- Superman (Volume 6)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- Superman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Superman: Son of Kal-El (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Tomorrow (Volume 1)
- Superman/Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)