Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

EPISODE 128: Superman's Metropolis

Connor-El is joined by Robert from Swamp Things and Still Watching the Skies to discuss the Elseworld placing Superman in the 1927 film Metropolis. 

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SHOW NOTES:

• Superman's Metropolis
• Batman: Nosferatu
• Wonder Woman The Blue Amazon
• Elseworlds Justice League Vol 2
• Swamp Things Podcast
• Still Watching the Skies
• Dr. Mabuse the Gambler
• Sunrise
• Mekanique
• Krypton Report
• Tasmin
• Adam

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 127: Absolute Superman Part Two

Connor-El is joined by Adam from @TalkingSuperman to discuss issues 2-7 of Absolute Superman!

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SHOW NOTES:

• Absolute Superman
• Superman Kryptonite Spectrum
• Adam
• Krypton Report
• Tasmin

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 118: KNEEL BEFORE ZOD

Connor-El is joined by Adam to discuss the first two issues of Kneel Before Zod!

SHOW NOTES:

• Kneel Before Zod
• Coriolanus
• Krypton Report
• Last Son Episode
• Adam
• Tasmin
• Zod shuts off Jor-El

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 35: SUPERMAN ANNUAL #11, 'FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING' (1985)

The Last Sons continue their Super journey with a listener request - it also happens to be a damn classic!

Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's masterpiece, 'For the Man Who Has Everything' is given the spotlight this episode, alongside the usual Kryptonian chat between the House of El (Connor) and the House of Zod (Rey).

Tune in to hear if the Last Sons hold the same opinion of this seminal issue, as you, the Super fan!

SYNOPSIS:

Superman Annual #11 - 'For the Man Who Has Everything' (1985)

(Courtesy of Wiki)

Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman pay Superman a visit at his Fortress of Solitude, with Batman and Wonder Woman bearing gifts for the Man of Steel's birthday. However, upon their initial entry, they see Superman standing rather still with a strange alien plant attached to his chest and wrapping its tendrils around him. They call out to him, but Superman doesn't respond. His mind is entranced by a vision he sees...

As the three heroes try to determine where the plant came from and what it's doing to Superman, a gigantic yellow-skinned muscular humanoid male named Mongul shows up, telling them that the plant is a Black Mercy, which gives its victims the desire of their hearts, trapping them in a dreamworld that they cannot escape from. He challenges the three heroes to take him on one-on-one to find one among the Earth beings worthy enough to kill. Wonder Woman steps up to the challenge, nearly breaking her hand when she gave Mongul a punch. Mongul throws her through a wall, where she enters the weapons room of the Fortress, and uses one of the more powerful energy blasters to take on Mongul. Meanwhile, Batman tries to reach out to Superman to get him to snap out of his dream world as he attempts to unwrap Black Mercy's tendrils from the Man of Steel.

Batman succeeds in pulling Black Mercy off Superman's body, only for it to now latch onto him and give him a fantasy based on the desires of his heart. In Batman's fantasy, he sees that his father, on the night that his parents were murdered by a low-life criminal on the street, succeeds in overpowering the criminal and thus preventing the murder from ever happening. Bruce grows up happily, marries Kathy Kane, and they have a teenaged daughter.

Superman, now freed from the Black Mercy's thrall, attacks Mongul in a rage, angry that he had been pulled from his fantasy of being on a Krypton that was never destroyed and losing everything that was so dear in the process. During this fight, Robin uses the gauntlets that Mongul pulled off his hands and grabs Black Mercy, pulling it off Batman and carrying it to where he would hope to dump it on Mongul.

The fight between Superman and Mongul, with neither side prevailing, carries over into a room where the Kryptonian is distracted by the statue of his parents holding up a globe representing the lost world of Krypton, and Mongul uses it to pummel Superman. However, Mongul is distracted by Robin calling to him and sees him through a hole in the ceiling one floor up. Robin then drops Black Mercy right on Mongul, and instantly it wraps itself around Mongul, giving him a fantasy of his own heart's desire. In that fantasy, he kills Robin as well as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman and then takes over as the leader of a new Warworld. In reality, Mongul simply drops to the ground, with the heroes now relieved that the fight is over.

Batman and Wonder Woman finally present their birthday gifts to Superman. Wonder Woman shows him a perfect replica of the Bottle City of Kandor made by the Paradise Island Gemsmiths. He quickly goes to hide the replica he already has before taking the one from Wonder Woman and kissing her. The two think about a romantic relationship, but concede it will be too predictable. Batman shows him a new species of a plant blossom called the Krypton -- a blossom that ended up being crushed during the fight. Superman nonetheless is pleased that his friends and allies have even thought of bringing him gifts and then offers them coffee.

SHOW NOTES:

• Superman Annual #11 (can find where its collected at the bottom)
• Action Comics #0
• Daredevil #304
• Superman Peace on Earth
• Swamp Things Podcast
• Signal of Doom
• World of Krypton
• Into the Knight episode with Connor and Rey PRE-LSK

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Proud Member of The Collective

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 34: SUPERMAN #141, RETURN TO KRYPTON (1960)

The Last Sons return to a new year with a bag full of comics to review and news to talk about!

There's a new Superman statue which looks pretty damn sexy; there are a couple of new issues (Action Comics #1018, and Batman / Superman #5) to get all excited about, plus we look at the first part of our coverage which sees Superman return to Krypton (Superman #141) , in this Silver Age classic issue!

It's all right here - so what are you waiting for?...Tune in and enjoy!

SYNOPSIS:

Superman #141 - 'Return to Krypton' (1960)

(Courtesy of Wiki)

While out on patrol, Superman is stopped by Professor Galsworthy at the Metropolis Observatory, who has made an astonishing discovery. Showing Superman his telescope, they find a strange planet out in space, Superman goes to investigate and learns that it's actually a living creature. Upon his approach, the living creature flees, Superman chases after it but goes too fast and ends up flying through the time barrier and into the past. Finding himself in a sector of space before Krypton exploded, he begins to lose his powers due to proximity to the system's red sun. Trapped on Krypton, Superman frets over the fact that now that he is stuck on Krypton, he will be as doomed as everyone else when the planet explodes. To his surprise, he thinks he stumbles upon a space ship, however he soon learns that it's just the set of a science fiction film that a Kryptonian film company is working on. Pretending to be a member of the cast, Superman meets a pretty blond actress while on the set. Later, the director asks Superman to continue wearing his "space uniform" (his Superman costume) all the time as publicity for the film.

Exploring Krypton, Superman hears reports of his parents, Jor-El and Lara, and how they intend to get married that very day. Wanting to see the momentous occasion, Superman is a guest at his parents' wedding. Deciding that he wants to get to know his parents, he orchestrates a meeting with them, and quickly befriends Jor-El and Lara. They hit things off, and soon Superman is hired on as an assistant working with his father, he assists him on his rocket project. Later, Jor-El introduces Superman to Lyla Lerrol, the blond woman he was "working" with on the set of the movie "The Space Explorers." The two end up spending a lot of time together over the coming days and eventually begin to fall in love. Superman struggles with keeping his true identity secret from his parents, wanting so badly to tell them who he is. He and Lyla end up expressing their feelings for one another and share a romantic evening.

Continuing his work with Jor-El, Superman is told about Krypton's intended doom, and how he intends to build a fleet of space ships so that his fellow Kryptonians can leave the planet. He shows Superman that he's been observing the planet Earth, and ironically he's been monitoring the lives of Jonathan and Martha Kent to learn about Earth culture. Revealing to Superman that Jonathan's attempts to courting Martha are co-opted by a crooked banker. Left alone, Superman uses a Kryptonian weapon to expose the man as a criminal, which leads to the timid Jonathan Kent knocking him out in front of Martha, and the two falling in love.

Believing that perhaps he can prevent his family from perishing when Krypton is destroyed, he learns that fellow Kryptonian Ken-Dal has a new fuel that may assist in Jor-El's plan to save everyone. Seeking out Ken-Dal with Lyla Lerrol, they just barely avoid capture when Brainiac arrives on Krypton and steals the city of Kandor -- where Ken-Dal lives -- ruining any hope that Superman could use him to save everyone on Krypton. Later, Lara learns that she is pregnant, and with Jor-El's approval, they agree to name their son Kal-El, after their friend Superman. Later, Jor-El and Superman go to an active volcano to learn more about Krypton's impending doom, and just barely manage to escape with their lives.

Being called back to the set of the movie, Superman films the final scenes of the film with Lyla, and they all have a wrap-up celebration. During the festivities, a fire-breathing beast gets loose, both it and Superman are in the mock-up space ship when the creatures fire breath causes the ship to fly off into space, Superman's sudden exit devastates Lyla. Being taken into the proximity of a yellow sun, Superman's powers are restored and he uses them to travel back through the time barrier back to the present, deciding that protecting the Earth in the present is more important than his romance. Back in the present, Superman narrowly dodges some Green Kryptonite meteors before returning to Earth where he reflects on his adventure in the past, but is glad to be home.

SHOW NOTES:

• Action Comics #1018
• Batman / Superman #5 (2019)
• Superman #141 - 'Return to Krypton' (1960)
• Superman - Celebrating 75 Years
• Superman - 'Call to Action' Statue by Sideshow
• Signal of Doom Emperor Joker episode
• Macfarlane figures
• Superman Greatest Stories ever told
• Capes and Lunatics
• Signal of Doom

SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK OR THOUGHTS ON -

• email : lskpodcast@gmail.com
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Proud Member of The Collective

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 33: SUPERMAN'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE

The Last Sons bring the holiday cheer with a Christmas special to end the year!

*DISCLAIMER* If you are a big fan of Crisis be warned!! We don't go easy on it!

Connor and Rey look at a Golden Age Christmas based comic as their main review, but also chat about the latest Bendis offering, Superman #18, plus their thoughts on the CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths!

SYNOPSIS:

(Courtesy of Wiki)

After being assigned to write a Christmas story for the Daily Planet, Clark Kent and Lois Lane purvey Metropolis' department stores. They meet young Billy Connelly, a poor young boy who is unable to afford anything for Christmas, and take pity on him. Lois and Clark return to Perry White's office, and suggest a Daily Planet-sponsored Toy Drive to help out needy children. Clark also sees a rich boy, James Daniels, who has many toys but is spoilt and tired of them all, throwing a tantrum when he receives childish playthings, demanding greater gifts instead. That night, as Superman, Clark takes young James on a tour of the city showing him less fortunate children, and James realizes how much he has, and how little others do, having a Christmas revelation.

At the North Pole, two elderly men who hate Christmas, Doctor Grouch and Mister Meaney attempt to convince Santa Claus to end his philanthropy, and instead join them in a business venture. Although the Elves kick them out, Grouch and Meaney decide to take their campaign elsewhere, starting with shutting down the Toy Drive at the Daily Planet. They knock the employees out with gas, and then set the presents on fire. Luckily, immediately after they leave, Clark Kent changes into Superman and puts the fires out.

Grouch and Meaney go back to Santa's workshop, and begin destroying all of the toys with axes. When they find Lois Lane sneaking around, they tie her to a rocket and light it, intending to shoot her to the heavens. In the workshop they are rebuffed again by a swarm of Toy Soldiers Santa uses as a security system. Superman rescues Lois. Meaney and Grouch instead decide to kidnap Santa's Reindeer.

Santa calls on Superman to help him rescue the Reindeer, and although he is successful, at the last second Meaney jumps out and gasses the Reindeer too, making them unable to work on Christmas. Superman is forced to fly Santa's sleigh around himself!

At the end of the night, Superman and Santa go to Mr. Grouch's house, where Grouch once more has Lois Lane captive again. Despite their evil that night, Santa decides to forgive the two, and gives them both presents anyway. Grouch and Meaney have a complete change of heart, and gain great respect for Santa, deciding to like Christmas after all.

On the way home, Superman witnesses James Daniels carrying loads of presents with his Butler, intending to give them to all of the unfortunate children of Metropolis. Superman wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

SHOW NOTES:

• Superman's Christmas Adventure (1940)
• Superman #18
• Red Son Trailer
• Chris Reeve Superman Cape Auction
• Byrne Omnibus cancelled
• Powerless Superman/Jimmy issue

SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK OR THOUGHTS ON -

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Proud Member of The Collective

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 32: KINGDOM COME, CHAPTERS III & IV

The Last Sons conclude their epic discussion and review on arguably one of Superman's - and DC's - crowning achievements...

Connor-El drifts in like The Spectre, to an unsuspecting Rey-Zod - and the chat is something Connor-El can't even recall! 

Tune in (along with Connor) - to find out what we chat about! :P

SYNOPSIS:

(Courtesy of Wiki)

CHAPTER III

Norman McCay sees yet another vision, this time of Captain Marvel calling down lightning upon himself. These visions he is seeing are what he believes are "dreams of Armageddon". He and the Spectre are now taken to an ominous-looking dome that now stands upon the Kansas wastelands: this dome is Superman's reformation center for superhumans, called the "Gulag". Due to its vast size, it was intended to house prisoners for months to come, but within two weeks of its construction it filled beyond capacity, though due to its architect and warden it was able to contain its numbers. Kryptonian battlesuit robots stand guard watching over the residents in the "Gulag's" beautiful environment. Dissenters among them mock at the Superman holograms trying to educate them of the proper use of their powers and abilities, with Captain Comet dealing with the hard-case types like Von Bach. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor uses White's "eye" to spy on the simmering stew of unrest within the "Gulag". Norman McCay and the Spectre also notice the Quintessence looking down upon Billy Batson being with Luthor, with Shazam pleading with his fellows for understanding regarding Batson. As the Spectre engages with the Quintessence in conversation, McCay speaks with Deadman, who at this point is now a spirit in skeletal form wearing rotted circus acrobat clothes.

Outside the Green Lantern's satellite which is being used as the Justice League headquarters, Superman and Wonder Woman have a peaceful discussion as they fling rocks around some asteroids, with Wonder Woman telling Superman that she had been ousted from Paradise Island for failing in her mission as the Amazons' ambassador for peace.

In the heart of an underground lab, Lex Luthor subjects Billy Batson to torture by making him watch gruesome images of him and his friends being slaughtered by superhumans and causing worms to crawl in and out of Batson's ears, keeping him from saying Shazam's name. Luthor later joins with Bruce Wayne in a special war room where Wayne reveals his team of superhumans who are ready to lend their support to the cause of the Mankind Liberation Front. Secretly, though, Wayne speaks with John Jones, formerly the Martian Manhunter but now crippled in his abilities, in the hopes of finding out what his friend had sensed.

As Superman looks down upon the Earth with his telescopic vision checking for superhuman activity, Red Robin speaks with his former Teen Titans members about his growing concerns that Superman's plans would eventually fail. Norman McCay finds himself suddenly pulled from the spirit realm into reality to face a Superman who's wondering why he's here. McCay's only answer comes from Scripture: "...and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up...and the sun and the air were darkened...fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come." While Superman is confused over the cryptic message, Red Robin notices that a riot has broken out in the "Gulag". As McCay vanishes with the Spectre, Wonder Woman sends Flash, Green Lantern, and Power Woman to deal with the situation while she and Superman speak to the Secretary-General of the United Nations about their growing concerns of the "Gulag".

In the main office of the Mankind Liberation Front, Lex Luthor is pleased to report about the riot going on at the "Gulag" and now is ready to send Billy Batson into action to do his bidding. Bruce Wayne keeps Batson from calling upon Shazam, telling him he now knows what Luthor has done to him and his mind. With Luthor now feeling betrayed, Wayne tells his assembled team of superhumans to strike, instantly stopping most of Luthor's team, while Luthor attempts to escape, only to be confronted by an army of activated Batknights. Wayne now tries to reason with Batson as he himself flees, only to accidentally cause a flask of worms to break and cover him with worms. Scared at the sight, Batson calls upon Shazam and soon vanishes.

At the Green Lantern satellite, Wonder Woman dresses herself in golden eagle armor and girds her magical sword to her waist as Superman tries to reason with her on how to deal with the rioters. Then suddenly news comes from Green Lantern: the prisoners are now starting to breach the walls, and they have killed Captain Comet. Angered at the loss, Wonder Woman leads a team to go to the "Gulag" and force the prisoners to surrender or else. Seeing that she cannot get Superman to see that her way of dealing with the superhumans may be the right way, Wonder Woman gives him a farewell kiss before she departs.

At that, Superman races to Bruce Wayne's Batcave in a last-ditch effort to have his friend and former ally join him in his cause. All Wayne can tell Superman is that Captain Marvel has been brainwashed and is now heading for the "Gulag" to burst it wide open.

Superman races as fast as possible to reach the "Gulag" before Captain Marvel gets there, but it is too late. Lightning strikes the dome, allowing its residents to spill out to engage the Justice League team in an all-out battle. Superman himself is knocked out of the sky as Captain Marvel now engages him in a one-on-one confrontation.

Norman McCay sees that Armageddon has arrived.

CHAPTER IV

As Norman McCay and the Spectre watch, Armageddon has begun. The Justice League is locked in a battle with the rogue superhumans who have escaped the "Gulag" and are now out to wage war with them. Superman is fighting a hopeless battle with his equal Captain Marvel, who has been brainwashed by Lex Luthor. McCay pleads with the Spectre to make it stop, but the Spectre says he cannot take action yet, that there must be "a reckoning". All he can tell McCay is, "fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come."

Meanwhile, at the United Nations general assembly, the Secretary-General decides to take action to deal with the rogue superhuman problem once and for all: nuclear devices that are capable of destroying all metahuman life except for Superman. He sends forth the Blackhawk pilots to do the unthinkable job of delivering this destructive payload, and as he returns to his office and watches the planes take off, he slumps in his seat and hangs his head.

Back at the "Gulag", the Justice League seems hopelessly outnumbered and outmatched when Batman's team of superhumans shows up for assistance. Batman personally confronts Wonder Woman as she kills Von Bach before he crushes Zatara to death, suggesting that the real reason she was stripped of her duties and heritage on Paradise Island was that she was not strident enough with her mission. Angered, Wonder Woman turns on Batman and takes him up into the sky to personally deal with him when they both see the Blackhawk planes arriving with the bombs. Batman helps Wonder Woman see what her regaining her Amazon honor will cost her and others if she lets the bombs drop, and so she helps him take out the planes, though one of them manages to drop its payload down toward the warring crowd.

Back on Earth, Captain Marvel continually pelts Superman with his Shazam lightning bolts as he darts out of the way, until Superman finally grabs Captain Marvel as he calls upon Shazam's name, letting the lightning bolt turn Captain Marvel back into Billy Batson. He grabs Batson's mouth and clamps it shut while he tries to reason with Batson, making him see the urgency of a bomb being dropped that will destroy all superhumans except for Superman. He lets Batson make the decision of what's more important to him as he flies off to intercept the bomb. Batson speaks Shazam's name again and transforms into Captain Marvel, flinging Superman to the ground as he outraces the Man of Steel and intercepts the bomb first. He calls upon Shazam's name three times, and the lightning bolt ignites the bomb, consuming all superhumans in a mushroom cloud except for Superman and whoever was protected by the Green Lanterns' power rings.

Enraged by the massive loss of life by this extreme act, Superman flies off in a rage toward the United Nations and seals the doors shut, terrifying all the people within as he threatens to pull down the whole building on top of them. The Spectre takes Norman McCay to the United Nations building to try talking some sense into Superman, to make him see the humanity that he's ignored all those years believing that he was a god. Superman eventually relents, and joined with Batman, Wonder Woman, and the survivors of the battle, he forges a new relationship with the people to not solve their problems for them, but to solve their problems alongside them, not imposing their power among men but working to earn their trust. As the gathered heroes remove their masks and helmets as a symbol of good faith toward that end, Superman hangs the cape of Captain Marvel on a flagpole as a memorial.

At the conclusion of the tale, Batman turns his ruined Wayne Manor into a hospital, using Lex Luthor and most of the members of his Mankind Liberation Front as part of his "staff". Wonder Woman is restored to her rightful place as the princess of Paradise Island and now begins her role as a teacher of superhumans. Superman begins his work restoring the Kansas wasteland into a productive and fertile land for farming. And the Spectre, after showing Norman McCay his once human side as Jim Corrigan, returns the pastor to his church, where he now preaches a message of hope to his congregation.

Superman and Wonder Woman meet with Batman in their civilian identities at the Planet Krypton restaurant, where they share news with each other about what's been going on in their lives over the past year. However, the real reason for this meeting is the news that Diana and Clark wanted to share with Bruce, which he easily figures out: she is pregnant with Clark's child. What catches Bruce off guard, though, is that Diana wants him to be the godparent, despite Bruce's record as a parent with his former wards. Both Clark and Diana see that Bruce can teach their child things they themselves cannot teach: lessons about mortality and morality from a man they both trust. As Clark and Bruce make their peace and then leave together with Diana to discuss what a future they will have with the child, Norman McCay is seen with Jim Corrigan talking about "the Spectre Platter".

SHOW NOTES:

• Action Comics 1017
• Kingdom Come - Chapter III
• Kingdom Come - Chapter IV
• Swamp Thing Podcast

SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK OR THOUGHTS ON -

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Proud Member of The Collective

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 31: KINGDOM COME, CHAPTERS I & II

The Last Sons meet with a Titan of the Superman canon - that of Kingdom Come!

It's been a long time coming, so both Connor-El and Rey-Zod take their time with this one...the intricate plot of Mark Waid and the sheer artistry of Alex Ross are analysed, cauterized and thoroughly digested...

Be sure to catch the first half of this mammoth review!

SYNOPSIS:

(Courtesy of Wiki)

CHAPTER I

The story begins with Wesley Dodds speaking with his pastor, Norman McCay, as he is reading from the book of Revelation in the Bible. Dodds has begun seeing visions related to that book and is trying to tell Norman about them. However, he dies before he can explain them.

While walking sometime after the funeral, Norman reflects on Dodds' life. Doods had once been the Sandman. During his later life, Dodds had been worried about the world's current superheroes, who lack the morals of their predecessors. As Norman reflects on this, a fight between some of the modern heroes fight and Norman hopes that mankind can out last these heroes.

These thoughts leaked into Norman's next sermon subconsciously. After the sermon, Spectre appear to Norman. Spectre was supposed to use Dodds for his host as he witnessed the events of the coming Armageddon, but has to use Norman because he is now having the visions.

They are first transported to a farm in Kansas (which turns out to be a holographic environment created in the Fortress of Solitude) where an aged Superman lives. Wonder Woman comes and tries to convince Superman that he needs to come out of retirement to help the world. Inside the house, they watch footage of a battle between a team of new heroes lead by Magog battling Parasite. Parasite pulled apart Captain Atom, causing a nuclear explosion that completely destroyed Kansas.

The Spectre than shows Norman that some of the old heroes still remain. The Flash still patrols Keystone City, Hawkman protects the forests of the Pacific Northwest, and the Green Lantern watches Earth from an emerald city in orbit. Others, such as Aquaman, the Amazons, and the Legion of Super-Heroes abandoned the world to its fate. When asked about Batman, the Spectre shows that he's now using robots to patrol Gotham City.

The Spectre takes them to Metropolis, where they see some of the modern heroes having a shoot out on a suspension bridge and a tram full of innocents. The tram's cable was cut, but Superman was able to save it in time. Everyone was thrilled to see Superman save the day once more, but Norman was able to see this was just the beginning of the Armageddon.

CHAPTER II

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God, and another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and the angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the altar...and the seven angels prepared themselves to sound...

Norman McCay is now seeing a vision of "seven angels" bathed in the fire of what appears to be the torch of the Statue of Liberty. He and the Spectre are taken to where the vision leads them: to the Statue of Liberty where the Americommando, a gun-toting fascist, fires upon immigrants approaching Ellis Island with his Minutemen, warning them to leave America or else. He is soon diverted by a trio of robots, Red, White, and Blue, attacking him, but their personal battle is in the middle of innocents who they care very little for. This battle is interrupted by Superman...and he isn't alone: he is joined by seven others from the Justice League who have returned to duty to deal not only with them, but also with two psionics called the Brain Trust who were using this personal battle for their own ends. They were both rendered unconscious by the appearance of Red Robin, a former partner of Batman who has also joined Superman's team.

After the successful confrontation, Superman and his Justice League allies appear at the United Nations to address the press conference gathered there that they will deal with the rogue superhumans on the loose. However, the Secretary-General of the United Nations isn't confident of Superman's means to achieve their goals, and neither is Bruce Wayne, who retired his identity as Batman but not the desire to continue working as a hero, willing to join Superman's reformed Justice League for that purpose. Nonetheless, Superman and the Justice League press forward with their intended goal, negotiating with superhumans who are willing to join the cause and using force on those who oppose them.

Meanwhile, Lex Luthor has assembled a team of retired villains, calling themselves the Mankind Liberation Front, intending to use the battle between Superman's Justice League and the rogue superhumans to their own ends and purposes. Among them, Norman McCay and the Spectre see an adult Billy Batson as a servant to Lex Luthor, pleasantly giving Lex a shave.

At a nightclub where a group of random superhumans cavort, Superman gets their attention to deliver a message: that they should willingly join the League or else they will be dealt with. As Nightstar and Avia consider taking up Superman's offer to join him after he leaves, Oliver Queen shows up to offer them an alternative.

However, Superman is beginning to see more superhumans choosing to turn against the League rather than join them, so after some failed negotiation talks with Arthur Curry (who has surrendered his Aquaman identity to his former protege to take on his role as the king of Atlantis) and with Orion (who has killed his father Darkseid and has taken his place as the fearsome ruler of Apokolips), he turns to Mr. Miracle and his wife Big Barda for the answers.

Soon they find Magog standing on what's left of the Kansas landscape, futilely trying to rebuild, and Superman confronts him for the disaster he's caused. Magog blames Superman for the disaster, saying it all started when the Joker killed the Daily Planet staff, including Superman's wife Lois Lane. As the Joker was being brought into custody, Magog killed him with a blast from his energy staff. Superman brought Magog into court for his actions, but the judge ruled in favor of Magog, considering his actions "justifiable" and acquitting him. Rather than accepting Magog's challenge to fight him, Superman simply took off and was never seen until the present time. It is then Magog knew the real reason Superman took off: it wasn't that he feared Magog, but rather he feared that Magog was the kind of hero people wanted and the kind of future he represented. As Superman mockingly says to Magog, "You must be proud", he angrily blasts Superman with his staff before kneeling down in defeat, wanting Superman to kill him or do anything to take away the voices of a million ghosts haunting him.

While Superman and the Justice League are busy building "a stronghold of justice" using plans given to him by Mr. Miracle, Bruce Wayne is seen making an unseemly alliance with Lex Luthor's team of villains.

SHOW NOTES:

• Kingdom Come - Chapter I
• Kingdom Come - Chapter II
• Cavill interview
• Batman/Superman 4
• Superman 17
• Not the exact Revelations/Kingdom come article but close, a bunch of good analysis of Kingdom Come floating around online
• https://www.cbr.com/crisis-kingdom-come-joker-gas-attack-canon/
• Legends Event
• Alan Moore's Twilight of the Superheroes
• Michael casting Lucifer into Hell (see bat/eagle in kingdom come)
• Kingdom Come in Batman v Superman
• Deadman

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The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 30: SUPERMAN YEAR ONE, FINAL CHAPTER

The Last Sons reunite to review the final chapter to the 3-part saga that is Superman Year One.

Things take a slight turn towards the end - for the better, or for the worst? You'll have to tune in to find out!

Connor-El and Rey-Zod also chat about the current Superman news of the week, and again get caught up with their thoughts on the latest iteration of Superman for the small screen.

We wrap it all up in a big, red, cape, right here!

SYNOPSIS:

(Written by Connor-El)

Lois Lane is searching for Superman underwater in a sub when territorial atlanteans fire on her craft which begins to take on water which quickly envelopes her. Superman comes to the rescue and carries Lois to the shore, where he carefully administers CPR. He then leaves her in a tree as NAVY seals are also tracking him, they attempt to capture him but he knocks them out with ease. A second team comes in and tries to use electricity on him, but that actually seems to empower him and he again disables them with ease. He goes back to Lois who has gone into Shock and finds her ID, Lois Lane of the Daily Planet and takes her to a hospital.

Time passes and Clark enrols in Kansas State University and graduates, with solid grades, nothing too perfect so he doesn't stand out. He is referred to Perry White of the Daily Planet so he heads to Metropolis. As soon as he arrives he rescues a child about to be hit by a truck much to the relief and amazement of everyone, then heads to the planet where he reads the paper and finds out there is a huge amount of crime in the city.

Clark is hired and sees Lois in the bullpen and realizes she knows his face as Superman so he goes to get a disguise for Clark Kent and finds an old fashioned hat and large glasses.

Clark constantly hears sirens, crime never stops so he proceeds to start fighting it. He stops a bank robbery, a drug operation, an abusive husband, a car-jacking operation and much more. Superman becomes the talk of the town.

At the Daily Planet Lois muses on Clark's similarity to Superman when a Hostage crisis arises at Lexcorp and Clark dons his Superman garb and flies off to deal assess the situation. He overhears Lois calling Clark useless which cuts him every time she ever says it.

The men behind the crisis put a gun to a little girls head and demand they be released with 1 billion and transport, but Superman intervenes and saves the girl (who barfs on him) and leaves her tucked in his cape on a roof and calls the police to come get her, then heads off and deals with the rest of the criminals. As he is doing so he realizes he is getting stronger every day.

As all this is happening Lois ties a line around herself and jumps down onto the building, snapping pictures of Superman taking out the bad guys. As the hostages flee Lex himself comes up, noting they are fleeing just on time, to go talk to Superman who he wants to control. Superman doesn't like or trust Lex and suspects him of setting this whole thing up, but Lex convinces him to come inside and take a look at something. Lex shows Superman a photo of the Batman who he says is a terrorist and an agent of chaos. Lex says Batman is rough, Superman is skeptical so Lex shows Superman some photos of Batman's victims.

(Written by Rey-Zod)

Aboard a ship in Gotham Harbour, Batman intervenes a black market arms shipment, which catches the eye of Lex Luthor.

Using the aggressive nature in which the Dark Knight metes out justice, Luthor turns the public against Batman, and cunningly thrusts the Man of Steel in the limelight as the one who can bring tranquility back to the city, and who can oppose the Dark Knight.

In doing so, Luthor hopes to manipulate and defeat his foes simultaneously, and it appears there’s not much Superman can do about it.

Later, Batman catches wind of a meeting between Luthor and his own nemesis, The Joker, and it’s after extracting more information from the Clown Prince, that Batman is able to further frustrate Luthor’s plans by blowing up a downtown drugs lab. The incident is just the catalyst Luthor needs to pressure Superman into bringing Batman in, and upon their inevitable confrontation atop a roof in Gotham City, their battle begins.

Though Batman can’t get the measure of Superman, just as Superman begins to retaliate, Wonder Woman intervenes and convinces that they all should be working together.

The Trinity confront Luthor in his office, and unable to withstand Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Submission, Luthor reveals all - all his underhanded, sinister schemes for financial gain and power. 

Added to this, Luthor also reveals a stunning secret that staggers Superman. Luthor speaks of the bottled city of Kandor and the evil Brainiac, and now with a new, all important purpose, Superman takes leave, innocently unaware of  Wonder Woman’s burgeoning feelings towards him, and leaving her and Batman to deal with Luthor.

Year One ends with Superman leaving Earth, unsure how long he will be away from his adopted home planet, but if anything, more assured of his place in the universe, and the role and responsibility he now has as a powerful protector of justice.

SHOW NOTES:

• Superman Year One, issue #3
• Superman and Lois
• Morrisons Cruelest Superman
• Superman Year One 3 Variant
• Superman John Byrne Omnibus
• Superman Alvin Schwartz Strip Collections

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The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;

EPISODE 29: THE RETURN OF THE PHANTOM KING

It's Halloween in the Fortress of Solitude, join Last Son Connor-El & James Cole aka Superman Red from the Krypton Report podcast as they review Action Comics 13 by Grant Morrison and Travel Foreman with a backup by Sholly Fisch and Brad Walker!

SHOW NOTES:

• Action Comics 13
• Bendis interview
• Krypton Report
• Action Comics 1016
• Batman/Superman 3
• Superman Smashes the Klan
• Superman Unchained
• Superman Doomed
• Doomsday Clock
• Ray Bradbury

SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK OR THOUGHTS ON -

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The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;