EPISODE 8: SUPERMAN #64, Volume 2 + DCU HOLIDAY BASH #1 SPECIAL (1997)

The Last Sons of Krypton bring the holiday cheer with this, their Holiday Special Episode!

It's hurtling towards the end of the year, so the two favourite sons look at two stories set around Christmas for our Kryptonian Kris Kringle!

That, plus a whole treasure trove of recommendations for any old or new Superman fan currently on sale at Comixology!

It's all about the giving this holiday season - Enjoy and Happy Holidays to All!

SHOW NOTES:

• Superman #64, Volume 2
• DCU Holiday Bash #1, Volume 1
• Comixology - Digital Comics
• Emil Hamilton
• My favourite Batman story
• Kingdom Come 20th Anniversary Edition
• Superman 75 Years
• All-Star Superman
• Superman: Last Son of Krypton
• Superman Golden Age vol 1
• Superman Golden Age vol 2
• Superman Golden Age vol 3
• Superman Golden Age vol 4
• Morrisons Action 1
• Morrisons Action 2
• Morrisons Action 3
• Superman Secret Identity
• Superman Alan Moore Collection
• Superman Emperor Joker
• Superman Many Worlds of Krypton
• Superman Man of Steel
• Superman For All Seasons
• Superman Birthright
• Barry Jameson

SYNOPSES:

Metropolis Mailbag

(Synopsis Written by Rey-Zod)

Superman has fought many dangerous and massive threats to humanity but there’s not many villains which he is more hesitant to face than what lies ahead during the holiday season.

Mr. Simpkins and Lois Lane meet Superman a couple of days before Christmas and it’s at the Metropolis Post Office that they lead the Man of Steel towards the room filled with letters addressed to him, seeking his help.

The cries for help are rich and varied with some appearing more legitimate than others. A citizen writes in proposing a business deal to Superman by which both can achieve financial game; another curious writer ponders whether Superman’s strength could convert coal to diamonds - again, proposing that both he and Superman could gain from this.

It’s a letter written from a survivor of Auschwitz which piques Superman’s interest and upon reading her letter pleading to be reunited with her only surviving family member, he wastes no time in making her acquaintance.

In Chicago, Mrs. Agnes Schomer is greeted at the door by the Kryptonian and to her astonishment, he whisks her to Germany where she is reunited with her sister, Ellie amidst tears of joy.

Returning to the stockpile of letters, Superman comes across another letter which tugs at his heart strings. This time, it’s from a young boy, Terry Baldwin, who hopes Superman can do the impossible and save his Dad from a terminal brain tumour. Struck with sympathy, Superman decides to go to the hospital in Salt Lake City to let the boy know  that he unfortunately can’t do anything to help him. He leaves Lois to sift through the letters whilst he ventures out to face the music.

It’s a tragic and sorrowful sight when Superman arrives all too late - Terry’s Dad has passed away and Terry - the young boy who relied so much in Superman - is left bitter and hateful towards our hero. Superman explains that the situation was out of his hands and Terry’s Mum, Mrs. Baldwin comforts the inconsolable child. Before leaving, Superman makes a suggestion, ensuring his suggestion is sensitively handled - and asks Terry’s Mum to consider that her deceased husband’s organs be donated in order to help others less fortunate.

Superman indeed had come across a letter from a woman in desperate need of a heart transplant and leaves Terry’s Mum to make the important and emotional decision.

A small Christmas miracle is achieved when in Kansas City, Gloria is given a new lease on life with a donated heart from Terry’s deceased Dad. With organs compatible, it allows Gloria to live and Superman to yet again marvel at the compassion of the human spirit through Mrs. Baldwin’s donation.

One final gesture for Christmas is realised when Lois Lane reminds Superman of a party hosted by the Daily Bugle for disadvantaged kids. Gifts are short this year so it requires a bit of creative thinking to make things special for the children who are in need of something positive and reaffirming.

Superman pulls some strings (not the least, being from Bruce Wayne,  Emil an acquaintance and some zoo animals) and the children are greeted with none other than Santa on the roof of the Daily Planet. Emil takes the reins as Santa, whilst Superman dresses in black and props the two innocent reindeer into the sky, to the childrens’ delight!

Yet again, the Man of Steel brings the holiday cheer to those who need it most.

After all the adventures as Superman, Clark Kent returns home to his apartment, only to be met with an invitation from Elizabeth Lana Lang and Peter Joseph Ross, announcing their marriage.

It leaves Clark in a state of disbelief, no doubt spring boarding him into the dramas and adventures ahead!

Benefaction of Peace

(Synopsis Written by Connor-El)

It's dusk on Christmas eve and a man named George stands on the top of the Daily Planet building getting read to jump. He's interrupted by Lois Lane who asks what he's doing. George replies his wife left him and the holidays will be too empty without her so he has decided to end it. Lois says that you can't let loneliness kill you, and tells him that in an interview Superman said that even he gets incredibly lonely. She proceeds to tell him about an early Christmas in Superman's career where he felt most alone.

Years in the past, Superman rescues a construction worker falling from a building. It turns out the reason he is working on Christmas day is for the overtime pay to get his family gifts, a feeling Superman can't relate to as he is spending his 1^st Christmas in metropolis alone.

He has left the Daily Planet Christmas party since it was difficult to deal with, so he has decided to give Metropolis a completely crime free Christmas by stopping every single crime no matter how small. Superman has been at this for hours, when he hears yet another alarm go off and stops a group of surprised crooks robbing a Jewellery store, thinking it would be an easy score on Christmas day with no-one around. One is getting away when a lady putting out her trash stops one of them with a trashcan, then goes back inside. Superman picks up the crook thinking he has just tripped over and knocked himself out and is glad that he's caught a break.

But breaks are few and far between as Superman goes from taking out renegade robots, stopping purse snatchers and out of control trains. But Superman is so focused on these tasks that he doesn't realize at nearly every scene there is everyday heroism for the people he has sworn to protect, whether it's a neighbour dialling 911, or a bystander triggering a fire alarm.

That evening at a feed the homeless charity dinner, a disgruntled business partner in the charity who has gone bankrupt and holds a gun to the spokes model. Superman arrives and melts the gun with his heat vision but the man reveals a bomb strapped to his chest which can be triggered by intense heat or the dead mans switch he holds. Superman is at a standstill with him when a bystander named Milton put his thumb and holds down the switch while Superman knocks him out with a flick of his finger. Superman then holds down the trigger himself while everyone evacuates and waits for a bomb squad.

Superman thanks Milton for his help and vice versa, and Milton says everyone is in this together and you'd have to be crazy to try and keep the city safe alone. Superman smiles and agrees, when Milton asks Superman to have Christmas dinner with him, an offer which Superman accepts.

As Lois finishes her story, she says being alone is indeed difficult but life is what you make of it. The man slowly climbs down off the ledge and Lois mentions she has a free few hours and offers to have coffee with him, so they can talk more. To which George gratefully accepts..

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;