- It was weird having powers for a short time. I was just getting used to them and then... But I must say, Clark, it--it opened my eyes. I have such a unique appreciation for you.
- — Lana Lang
Superman (Volume 5) #25 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 5) with a cover date of November, 2020. It was published on September 8, 2020.
Synopsis for "Mythological, Part One"
Many years ago, the leaders of planet Synmar were watching the destruction of Krypton and wondered what could have caused such an event. They take a notice of a small spacecraft departing from the dying planet and from their analysis, they determine the craft's sole occupant to be an infant, the sole survivor of Krypton. The ship is headed towards Earth, a small, primitive planet with a yellow sun. This causes concern amongst the rulers of Synmar, as they know that a Kryptonian exposed to the light of a yellow sun could become a light-god, an entity of fantastic power and a threat to Synmar's way of life. Some of the Synmar consider killing the child before that happens, but their suggestion is quickly shot down by President Dreti, who tells them that the murder of a child, an innocent child, is something strictly forbidden by the Lords of Light, the deities worshipped by Synmar. Instead, the Synmar shall wait and see what happens to the child, and they will take preventive measures.
Years later, Clark Kent, the Kryptonian child, had become a teenager and become friends with Lana Lang. He tries to invite to the school's upcoming dance, but she turns him down, saying that she doesn't want to ruin their friendship and she is already dating someone else, much to Clark's disappointment.
Meanwhile, the Synmar had chosen a young, promising soldier called Eisno Alkor to be their weapon against the Kryptonian threat. President Dreti went to have a personal conversation with Eisno and told him that he would be chosen to represent Synmar across the galaxy. Eisno felt honored and accepted his new duty.
Years later, Lana had reached adulthood and become a special science correspondent at the Daily Star. She was talking to her employer about her personal relationship with Clark Kent and had become acquainted with Bethany Snow, when suddenly, they all watched Superman fight Lex Luthor right outside the Daily Star building. The Daily Star's reporters pointed their cameras as Superman and, in that moment, Superman and Lana briefly stared at each other's faces.
Meanwhile, the leaders of Synmar would become occupied with monitoring Superman's activities on Earth. While Superman had indeed become powerful thanks to Earth's yellow sun, the leaders of Synmar were surprised to learn that instead of becoming ruler of Earth, Superman had become a protector. President Dreti and his associates were starting to consider that Superman would not become a threat to Synmar as they have previously feared, but they still agreed to keep monitoring him. Doro, Synmar's military commander, suggested to Dreti that they should send some of their warriors in order to make Synmar's intentions clear, but Dreti shot that request down, as he did not believe that antagonizing a sol-powered Kryptonian was a good idea. Communicator Oclblumm then asked Dreti about the Earth-deterring program they were developing and suggested that perhaps Synmar should have its own Superman.
In the present, Lana goes to Kent apartment in order to have a private talk with Clark. She is surprised at how clean the apartment looks and Clark replies that he keeps it clean with super speed. She asks about Clark about the last time they saw each other and Clark remembers it with perfect clarity: it was a time when Lana had superpowers and was active as Superwoman. She was trying to save a cruise full of passengers in Puerto Rico and felt like she couldn't lift the entire cruise all by herself. Fortunately, Superman happened to be nearby and helped her take the cruise to a beach, where the passengers were safely disembarked. One of the passengers, a boy, asked Superman if Superwoman was his wife and Superman had to clarify that Superwoman was just a friend and nothing more, an answer that dissapointed the boy.
Although she was glad the passengers were safe, Lana began to think that, maybe, superhero work wasn't her life's calling. Clark asks Lana about her powers and she says that she feels a small portion of her powers within her, but doesn't know if they will ever return. Clark is forced to interrupt the conversation in order to put out a fire in Star City, leaving Lana to explore the Kent apartment. She finds Clark's old Smallville yearbook and finds pictures of Clark and herself in their teenage years. Clark returns and, as the two friends are about to drink some coffee, Lana asks him if he is afraid of something. Clark answers that he fears the unknown. Lana is surprised by that answers, because a lot of people fear the unknown, but Clark's line of work forces him to confront the unknown over and over and over again.
Meanwhile, Eisno has become a powerful super-soldier and Synmar's most powerful defender. The people of Synmar celebrates Eisno's return from another succesful space mission and the leaders of Synmar declare this celebration to be "Synmar Utopica". President Dreti invites Eisno to his balcony and congratulates Eisno for his service, but Eisno asks why is he the only one of his kind. Dreti says that Eisno was originally selected to fight a threat known only as "Superman", but that threat turned out to be irrelevant. Dreti feels tired and leaves the balcony with his companions and a confused Eisno is left alone to think about the "Superman" Dreti had just mentioned.
Later that night, Eisno stares at an open field, still thinking about Dreti and the "Superman", until his friend Galana asks him to join the Synmar Utopica celebration. Eisno does not feel comfortable with hundreds of people celebrating his accomplishments. Instead, he feels that he is no longer in control of his life. Before he can elaborate, however, a sphere of light appears in front of Eisno and plays a transmission from the leaders of Synmar: they are under attack and they request Eisno's assistance immediately. Eisno flies towards Synmar's palace and finds the planet's leaders dead, while images of Clark Kent and Superman are displayed around their corpses. One of Synmar's leaders clings to life long enough to tell Eisno that he was always meant to be the Superman, but he dies before he can talk any further. Surrounded by the corpses of his leaders, Eisno is left to wonder who exactly is this Superman.
Appearing in "Mythological, Part One"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (Clark Kent) (Flashback and main story) (Also as an hologram)
Supporting Characters:
- Superwoman (Lana Lang) (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Lex Luthor (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Mechanical Monsters (First appearance; unnamed) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- The Synmar (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Presidential Dreti (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Doro (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Synmar Utopica (Eisno Alkor) (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Frnou (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Fliti (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Galana Rodoso (First appearance)
- Oclblumm (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Qestwes (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Reswas (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Vdyez (First appearance) (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- Daily Star staff (Flashback only)
- Bethany Snow (Flashback only)
- George Taylor (Flashback only)
- Checkmate (Cameo)
- Director Bones (Cameo)
- Green Arrow (Cameo)
- The King (Cameo)
- Lois Lane (Cameo)
- Manhunter (Kate Spencer) (Cameo)
- The Question (Vic Sage) (Cameo)
- Steve Trevor (Cameo)
- Talia al Ghul (Cameo)
- Jon Kent (In a photograph only)
- Jonathan Kent (In a photograph only)
- Justice League (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Aquaman (Arthur Curry) (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Cyborg (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- The Flash (Barry Allen) (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira) (Also as an hologram) (Flashback and main story)
- Laura Lang (In a photograph only)
- Lewis Lang (In a photograph only)
- Martha Kent (In a photograph only)
- Smallville High School football team (Unnamed) (Flashback only)
- Holzherr (Single appearance) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- J. Rich (Single appearance) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Nate (Single appearance) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Thanagarians
- Thanagarian Wingmen (Flashback only)
- Brad (Mentioned only)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (Mentioned only)
- G. Gordon Godfrey (Mentioned only)
- Gods (Mentioned only)
- Lords of Light (Mentioned only)
- Jimmy Olsen (Mentioned only)
- Jonathan Kent (Mentioned only)
- Kryptonians (Mentioned only)
- Leviathan Organization (Mentioned only)
- Steve Lombard (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth 0
- Earth (Flashback and main story)
- Atlantic Ocean (Flashback only)
- Markovia (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- United States of America (Flashback and main story)
- Kansas
- Smallville (Flashback only)
- Kent Farm (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Smallville High School
- Smallville (Flashback only)
- New York
- Metropolis (Flashback and main story)
- Daily Planet (Flashback only)
- Daily Star (Flashback only)
- Kents' Apartment
- LexCorp Tower (Flashback only)
- Metropolis (Flashback and main story)
- Puerto Rico (Flashback only)
- Washington, D.C.
- Hall of Justice (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- California
- Star City (Mentioned only)
- New Jersey
- Gotham City (Mentioned only)
- Kansas
- Krypton (Hologram) (Flashback only) (Destroyed)
- Moon (Hologram) (Cameo)
- Synmar (First appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Oa (Mentioned only)
- Thanagar (Mentioned only)
- Earth (Flashback and main story)
Items:
- Batsuit (On a TV or computer screen) (In a photograph only) (Cameo)
- Bracelets of Submission (Flashback and main story)
- Lex Luthor's Warsuit (Flashback only)
- Manhunter Armor (Cameo)
- Nth Metal
- Trick Arrows (Cameo)
- Wonder Woman's Tiara (Flashback and main story)
Vehicles:
- Kryptonian Rocket (Hologram) (Flashback only)
- Thanagarian Star Cruiser (Flashback only)
Concepts:
- World War II (In picture only)
Notes
- The present events take place just after the events of Action Comics #1024.
- Reprinted in Superman: Mythological.
See Also