|
"The Greatest Hero of Them All" is a story arc that was published by DC Comics, and presented in ''Superman'' vol. 2, #8, ''Action Comics'' #591, and ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' vol. 3, #37–38 from August through September 1987. It was written by Paul Levitz and John Byrne, and pencilled by Byrne, Greg LaRocque and Mike DeCarlo. The story arc was DC’s first attempt to correct the inconsistencies in Legion history created when the original Superboy was removed from mainstream DC continuity in the ''Man of Steel'' limited series. In the aftermath of the ''Zero Hour'' and ''Infinite Crisis'' miniseries, this story is no longer canonical. ==Plot== In the 30th century, Cosmic Boy and his girlfriend Night Girl (of the Legion of Substitute Heroes) have returned from a journey to 20th century Earth, where they were attacked by the Time Trapper and found history altered such that Superman never had a teenage career as Superboy.〔''Cosmic Boy'' #1-4 (December 1986 – March 1987)〕〔Prior to this story arc, it was established that Superman began his career as a pre-adolescent, using the name "Superboy". – ''More Fun Comics'' #101 (January/February 1945)〕 Brainiac 5, Ultra Boy, Sun Boy, Cosmic Boy, Night Girl, Blok, Invisible Kid (Jacques Foccart) and Mon-El take a Time Bubble in an effort to breach the Trapper’s "Iron Curtain" and reach his Citadel at the End of Time. However, the Trapper redirects them to 20th century Smallville, Kansas, the home of Superboy. Several of the Legionnaires try to blend into town wearing 20th century clothing when they are recognized by Pete Ross, Superboy’s best friend and an honorary Legionnaire.〔Pete Ross was made an honorary Legionnaire for safeguarding Superboy’s secret identity, with even Superboy himself unaware that Pete knew his secret. – ''Superboy'' #98 (July 1962)〕 After Pete makes a passing reference to Superboy saving Smallville from "red skies" and an energy wall,〔Red skies and waves of antimatter preceded the destruction of numerous parallel universes in the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' limited series (April 1985 – March 1986).〕 the Legionnaires arrive at the Kent General Store, where Mon-El and Ultra Boy are reunited with Jonathan and Martha Kent.〔Mon-El met the Kents shortly after arriving on Earth in ''Superboy'' #89 (June 1961), while Ultra Boy first visited 20th century Smallville in ''Superboy'' #98 (July 1962).〕 Later that evening, Superboy (as Clark Kent) arrives at the Kent farm. He surprises the Legionnaires by using the Phantom Zone Projector to freeze them in time-stasis. Realizing that something is amiss, Pete locates and warns the remaining Legionnaires, who enter the Time Bubble and escape into the time stream, just as Superboy arrives to attack them. Just over a decade later, Brainiac 5, Sun Boy, Blok and Invisible Kid arrive in Smallville, almost immediately attracting the attention of Superman. The Legionnaires attack him, occasionally calling him Superboy. However, Superman does not recognize them, and knows of no one named Superboy except Superboy-Prime,〔At this point, the character was simply referred to as the Superboy from Earth Prime. The name "Superboy-Prime" is not used until ''Infinite Crisis'' #2 (January 2006).〕 who has not been seen since the Crisis. When Superman has no recollection of meeting and being inducted in the Legion,〔Superboy joined the Legion in ''Adventure Comics'' #247 (April 1958).〕 it becomes apparent that he is a separate individual from the Boy of Steel. Suddenly, Superboy arrives, places the Legionnaires in time-stasis and returns to his own time. Superman follows, barely able to keep up with the faster Superboy. From his Citadel, the Time Trapper observes the transpiring events. He also recalls how he created a "pocket universe", with its own Earth, its own Krypton and its own Kal-El. In this pocket universe, Kal-El became Superboy at the age of eight, and it is to this universe that the Trapper has directed the Legion whenever they have travelled through time. In the pocket universe, Superman encounters Pete Ross and the Kents (who initially assume that he is their Superboy, aged due to exposure to red kryptonite), but is soon attacked by Superboy. After the two engage in combat for a time, with Superboy's greater power being countered by Superman's superior experience, Jonathan Kent attempts to stop Superman using multiple varieties of kryptonite, but they are ineffective because Superman hails from a parallel universe. However, Superman soon deduces that Superboy has been continually holding back, giving Superman opportunities to win their battle, forcing him to admit that he knows he is in the wrong. Superboy and the Legion depart to rescue the other Legionnaires and face the Time Trapper. They leave Superman behind, fearful of the consequences to history if he is killed or otherwise unable to return. Superboy explains to the Legionnaires that the Time Trapper protected Earth in his era from destruction during the Crisis, and promised to keep it safe in return for Superboy's cooperation in defeating the Legion. When they find the Trapper, they engage him in battle, inadvertently smashing the machine that protected the pocket universe Earth from the effects of the Crisis. With the red skies and antimatter returning (and with Brainiac 5 unable to repair the machinery), Superboy replaces the damaged unit with his own body. The gambit works and the Earth is saved, but the Boy of Steel is gravely weakened. With the Trapper having now made time travel perilously unsafe, Superboy flies the Legionnaires back to the 30th century, carrying the Time Bubble himself. Shortly after their arrival, Superboy dies in Mon-El's arms. The entire Legion mourns his passing, remembering him as "the greatest hero of them all." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 The Greatest Hero of Them All" is a story arc that was published by DC Comics, and presented in ''Superman'' vol. 2, ">ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■The Greatest Hero of Them All" is a story arc that was published by DC Comics, and presented in ''Superman'' vol. 2, ">ウィキペディアで「"The Greatest Hero of Them All" is a story arc that was published by DC Comics, and presented in ''Superman'' vol. 2, 」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|