EPISODE 4: SUPERMAN #344 - 'THE MONSTERS AMONG US'

The Last Sons take you on an eery and hellish visit to a haunted house of sorts, as they set the scene for a spook-tacular review of another Superman comic!

This time, it's our boy in blue and red taking on two of the most powerful figures of the supernatural world - Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster!

Before that, the sons of El and Zod find themselves traversing a conversation of unexpected proportions and are subjected to a fiery and amusing chat about Superman and Batman!...The Dark Knight is not spared the hitting stick, and it's free rein - beware one and all!

The full moon, the evil in the night - a heady concoction for the mortal mind!

CREDITS: 

Superman Volume 1, issue #344

Released February 1980

Cover Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

Writer: Len Wein

Artist: Curt Swan 

Inker:Frank Chiaramonte

Colourist: Glynis Oliver

Letterer: Ben Oda

Editor: Julius Schwartz

 

SHOW NOTES:

• Superman Vol. 1, issue #344

• House of Mystery
• House of Secrets
• Dracula
• Frankenstein's Monster
• Action Comics 1004
• Superman Exile Omnibus
• Last Volume of John Byrne Run
• Justice League Action
• Firestorm
• Len Wein
• Curt Swan
• Huge Actman
• Phantom Stranger
• Dark Knight Returns
• Cassandra Craft
• Intro Music
• Dracula Music

 

SYNOPSIS:

Written by Connor-El

 

It's a dark and stormy night in metropolis, that is until the citizens are in danger from the ferocious lightning storm and Superman has to send the storm away with his heat vision. He then heads to an old castle where he is due to cover a story as Clark Kent. He arrives and meets Lois and a Mrs Macardle as well as the other participants of the SEANCE. Most important member being Cassandra Craft, a blind medium who senses Clark's inner nobility burning like a great fire despite his outward behaviour as Clark Kent.

 

The Seance is being conducted at midnight on the 50^th anniversary of Roland Randall, a Modern Master of Mysticism, as per instructions he left before his death. As they conduct the séance, the spirit of Roland Randall is greatly agitated, warning them not to summon him now,.as he is the only one holding “them” back. With the last warning shouted, Cassandra screams passes out for a moment. Clark observes the storm seems to be back, even though he sent it miles away earlier. With his Super-vision he scans the clouds and spots two nightmarish figures, and abruptly excuses himself as Clark Kent, feigning cowardice.

 

After Superman Departs what appears to be Dracula and Frankensteins Monster burst through the castle to abduct Cassandra, but are thwarted when Superman intervenes. After a brief fight where neither is able to hurt the other. Dracula and Frankensteins Monster flee. Dracula then hides and overhears that Superman has no special resistance to magic. He then plans to to bite Superman and drain his blood, thereby gaining his invulnerability rendering him immune to a stake in the heart, then finally killing Cassandra as without the person who summoned them, they cannot be sent back.

 

When Daylight hits, Superman heads off to find a cure while Lois stays in the Castle with Cassandra. Unfortunately he has to attend a meeting as Clark Kent, during said meeting Frankensteins Monster stops a food truck and starts eating all the cakes inside. Clark is refused dismissal from the meeting so he is forced to secretly suck all the air out of the room so everyone needs to rush outside.

 

As Superman, he tackles the Monster and takes the fight to a construction yard. Before the fight is concluded however, Frankensteins Monster is called back by its master, Dracula as its nearly sundown. Superman races back to the Castle, but on the way, grabs a balloon.

 

The relentless storm returns that night as Superman is guarding Cassandra, when Dracula and Frankensteins Monster arrive, They fight on the ramparts, and eventually Superman sets Frankensteins Monster on fire and knocks him out with an uppercut.Dracula then attempts to use his powers of Mind Control on Superman, but Superman is able to resist just enough to pull out the hydrogen balloon he had from earlier. He uses Super Pressure and Heat Vision to create a small artifical sun, which floors Dracula. But again, after a brief respite Dracula begins to rise, alon with Frankensteins monster. As they are again about to do battle, the Phantom Stranger arrives, thanking Superman for doing much of his task for him. With screams of protest by Dracula, him and Frankensteins Monster are enveloped in the Strangers cape, and sent back to the world they truly belong to. The world of Nightmare.. As the Sun rises, the phantom Stranger disappears, while Superman Lois and Cassandra enjoy its warmth.