Superman #358

This 1981 issue of Superman is a gem from my childhood. While the issue I just recently read is not the one I had as a kid; it is one that when I was able to find again, I quickly snatched it up without a second thought. 

There two adventures in this issue. Let's talk about the back-up feature first. It's an imaginary tale in which instead of landing in Metropolis, baby Kal-El's rocket ship crashes on the outskirts of Gotham City. The babe is found by officer Jim Gordon and delivered to the Wayne's where they raised the boy as Bruce Wayne. 

In a reality where the Waynes were never killed by Joe Chill, this Bruce Wayne isn't ruled by vengeance. This Bruce is a mild-mannered rare book dealer by day. At night, Wayne assists a now Commissioner Gordon in a war against law and order as Superman: The Last Son of Krypton!

This back-up feature last for a few issues. But it didn't really take-off. However, the concept was explored deeper in the Elseworlds title, Superman: Speeding Bullets.

Now let's look at the main feature. Clark Kent visits a classroom of Metropolis students where he tells them of an adventure of the Man of Steel. Superman encounters a powerful being that resembles a giant sunflower. This being is the male equal of Mother Nature and is unhappy with how his mate allows life to evolve on planet Earth! Father Nature plans to do something drastic about it. But he'll have to get rid of Superman, who stands in his way, first!

This was an odd tale by Cary Bates and Curt Swan. I loved the artwork. It was as vivid and exciting as I remember as a kid. But I now find it odd that Clark Kent would tell a bunch of fifth graders that they are the product of alien experimentation on our planet millions of years ago. I also find it unusual that the kiddies don't find Clark's revelation all that faith-shattering. Is there a missing Superman #358.5 in which Clark Kent has to explain his actions to an angry group of PTA parents? 

One thing really cool about this story is the kids themselves. There's a blond haired boy named Alec and a pig-tailed girl named Alanna. If the names and descriptions sound familiar, that's because the pair starred in a series of Radio Shack comics as the TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids (AKA the Tandy Computer Whiz Kids)

Clark Kent mentions to himself of having met Alec and Alanna before as Superman. So this is one of the first appearances of the Whiz Kids. More than likely, it's probably their second ever appearance and first canon appearance in the DC Universe as the Radio Shack stories have never really been considered 'official DC tales.'

This was a nostalgic look at my comic book filled childhood. It featured an interesting take on the Superman/Batman mythos. Plus there were unexpected guest stars from another comic series of my youth. Maybe not the best Superman comic book of all-time but it is definitely one of my favs!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.