Superman (Volume 5) #16 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 5) with a cover date of December, 2019. It was published on October 9, 2019.
Synopsis for the 1st Story
Back when Superboy was exploring the galaxy with his grandfather Jor-El, he started having second thoughts and recorded a message for his friend Robin. In the message, Superboy said that leaving home might be the dumbest idea he ever had and right now, he was working on a way to get back home.
In the present, Robin is fighting some Leviathan soldiers that had been located on Gotham City Harbor. The Justice League's tracking systems had detected Leviathan activity on Gotham and Robin thought he could do something to stop them. Unfortunately, the Leviathan forces escape with their teleportation technology and Robin is left empty-handed. As Robin inspects the area, hoping to find anything left behind by Leviathan, he turns around and finds the now teenaged Superboy, who has come to Gotham so he could have talk with his friend.
Robin refuses to believe this young man is his friend and throws Batarangs at Superboy's face, to which Superboy shows no reaction. Knowing this is how his friend is processing this new development, Superboy calmly explains what happened to him and even hugs Robin. Robin, however, is still confused by what's happening and he cannot believe that Superboy is now taller than him, thinking this is some sort of Leviathan trick. Superboy, already aware of Leviathan thanks to Superman, reiterates that his story is true and invites Robin to eat some hot dogs.
As they eat their hot dogs on top of a gargoyle, Superboy explains he was stuck on an alternate Earth, populated by evil versions of the people they know. Robin asks what will Superboy do now. Superboy has no idea, but for now, he just wants to spend time with his friend. As they spend the night fighting supervillains, Superboy tells Robin about the invitation he got from the Legion of Super-Heroes and Robin is fascinated that superheroes exist in the far future. The new day begins and the Super-Sons part ways, but not before Robin actually hugs Superboy.
Superboy flies to the Fortress of Solitude, where his father is waiting for him. Superman admits he feels jealous of the choices laid out in front of his son, but for the most part, he is proud that Superboy handled himself well in space. Suddenly, a time portal opens inside the Fortress of Solitude and from it emerges Saturn Girl, who has travelled to present to see whether or not Superboy accepts the Legion's offer to join them. At first, Superboy asks Saturn Girl to let him see what the future looks like and Saturn Girl gives him a vision of the future with her telepathy, impressing him. Before Superboy leaves, however, Saturn Girl gives Superman a special button that can call Superboy back to the present whenever Superman wants. Superboy and Saturn Girl depart towards the future and Superman bids his son farewell. As the time portal disappears, Superman silently stares at the Legion button.
Appearing in the 1st Story
Featured Characters:
- Robin (Damian Wayne)
- Superboy (Jon Kent) (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Kelex
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Post-Rebirth)
- Superman (Clark Kent) (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Calendar Man (Cameo)
- Catman (Cameo)
- Kite-Man (Cameo)
- Leviathan Organization
- The Riddler (Cameo)
Other Characters:
- Gargoyles (Statue only)
- Justice League (Mentioned only)
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) (Mentioned only)
- Kryptonians (Mentioned only)
- Jor-El (Mentioned only)
- "Leviathan" (Mentioned only)
- Lex Luthor (Mentioned only)
- Lois Lane (Mentioned only)
- Mongul (Mentioned only)
- Talia al Ghul (Mentioned only)
- Titans (Mentioned only)
- Wildfire (Post-Rebirth) (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth 0 (Flashback and main story)
- Milky Way Galaxy (Flashback and main story)
- Earth
- Bermuda Triangle
- United States of America
- Gotham City
- Batcave (Mentioned only)
- Olsen's Dogs (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis (Flashback only)
- Daily Planet (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Washington, D.C.
- Hall of Justice (Mentioned only)
- Gotham City
- Andromeda Galaxy (Mentioned only)
- Earth
- Milky Way Galaxy (Flashback and main story)
- Earth 3 (Mentioned only)
- Post-Rebirth Legion's Future (Mentioned only)
- 31st Century (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Batarangs
- Batrope
- Kryptonite (Mentioned only)
- Gold Kryptonite (Mentioned only)
- Legion Flight Ring
- Riddler's Staff (Cameo)
- Super-Computer
Vehicles:
- Jor-El's Spaceship (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Time Bubble
Concepts:
Trivia
- In this issue, Robin complains about how Jon is taller than him. However, this clashes with what was established previously in titles like Super-Sons, which made Jon's tall nature a running gag ("I'm older. I'm taller.").
See Also