This one drifted towards the bottom of the pile, because I may have confused it with one of the earlier
Elseworlds annuals. Maybe this one should've had the big "Earth is Dead" page to remind me, but no time for that! From 1996,
Superman Annual #8, "The League of Supermen!" Written by David Michelinie, pencils by Tom Grindberg and Kevin J. West, inks by Barb Kaalberg, John Lowe, and Bill Anderson.
On another far-off colony world, the legacy of Superman lives on, in a team of genetically-modified humans, and their 'boss,' a computer-simulation of Superman himself, saved by his drones. Unable to bring him back without a new body, Kryptonian DNA data was used to give humans powers, although they could only be given one power tops, and there were side-effects. (The heat-vision guy had to let off blasts when they built up too much, the flying guy couldn't not fly, the x-ray vision guy couldn't turn it off either, etc.) Worse, 'Superman' seemed to becoming colder, planning an elaborate system of defense satellites. New members were given technological enhancements instead of the DNA, to emulate super-speed and super-breath; but they discover the defense satellites were intended for use on the populace, if they should become unruly. The League has to come together and use all their powers to stop 'Superman,' after they lock their invulnerable teammate in a closet since he wouldn't turn against their mentor.
Nothing essential, but pretty good; and no spoilers: while there are some kind of terrorists in the opening, this is the rare story where there maybe isn't a bad guy! I was positive one of the League went full traitor but I guess that's from some other annual. (Either a Superman or JLA Elseworlds, probably.) Also, the last
Legends of the Dead Earth post, for Guy Gardner/Warrior, I thought I was down to three: wrong! I also thought I had all of them, and I'm not positive I did then, but we do now: three more to go, with at least one I haven't read.
Huh. Well this story certainly made a strong case why having superpowers would realistically suck, not to mention all those poor guys getting stuck with genetic code names as well. Eeeew.
ReplyDeleteAs for that traitor, you’re thinking of the Superman guy from JLA Annual# 8
https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/book/justice-league-america-annual-1987-8/20ea48b0-5a46-485d-b7cf-256d8a8d1036
Thank you, that explains that! I only remember that issue for the Dorkin "O-Squad" back-up.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was a great one- why is it that the back-ups in these annuals events are usually better than the main story?
DeleteThat back up RULED! Why couldn’t we get an entire annual based off that back up alone?
DeleteWasn’t the Elseworlds 80 Page Giant (and any reprints thereof) essentially that?
DeleteNot of that particular Evan Dorkin story, but that does remind me I need to go find said 80 page giant and go read it online.
DeleteI don’t think that story alone could have sustained an entire annual-length feature. As I remember, it was mostly setting up the punchline and pointing out how many DC characters’ names end in o. Definitely more than what was there but not enough for a forty page story or even a twenty eight pager.
DeleteI’m pretty sure Dorkin could’ve pulled it off if given the opportunity.
DeleteThere’s also a bit of a Superboy 1 Million thingy there, so you might have been thinking of that too. I know I’ve mixed up LOTDE and 1 Million issues before. That’s one of the downsides of LOTDE I guess- they’re mostly Elseworlds as well, since they don’t have any continuity with each other and only a couple have been made part of the main continuity.
ReplyDeleteHmm, no real villain- I was sure this would have something to do with Brainiac.