DC Comics Presents #57 is an issue of the series DC Comics Presents (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1983.
Synopsis for Superman and the Atomic Knights: "Days Of Future Past!"
Resumed
A series of false military start-ups throughout the world leads Superman and S.T.A.R. scientist Marene Herald to the isolation tank of Gardner Grayle, whose mind has been manufacturing adventures of himself leading a group of Atomic Knights in a post-nuclear holocaust world.
Detailed
Superman wanders through the ruins of Metropolis with no memory of what happened or how he got there. A group of armored knights approach and start blaming him for not preventing the atomic war. Ghostly survivors also join in, tormenting Superman with their cries. Suddenly, Superman wakes up and assumes his identity as newsman Clark Kent. Kent reports to work and leads the day's stories with news of a computer glitch at the Pentagon that almost triggered a nuclear war. Unable to shake the feeling that this event is connected to his dreams, Superman travels to his Fortress of Solitude to investigate further.
Superman discovers that computer breakdowns have been occurring in both the United States and the Soviet Union. To investigate, he links his mind to his computer to run a diagnostic. However, a sudden electrical feedback renders him unconscious. When he awakes, he finds himself in the town of Durvale, where he is greeted by the Atomic Knights, a group of heroes in medieval armor dedicated to rebuilding the world after a nuclear holocaust. Alongside the Atomic Knights is the Greek God, Hercules. Superman is unsure if he is dreaming once more or if he has actually been transported into the future.
The Atomic Knights receive a report about a radioactive creature threatening the inhabitants of New York's ruins. Superman confronts the creature and is quickly weakened by a blast of Kryptonite radiation. The Atomic Knights distract the creature, allowing Hercules to defeat it with a powerful blow. Superman, still recovering, questions Gardner Grayle, the leader of the Atomic Knights, about the inconsistencies in the post-apocalyptic world. Despite the supposed total destruction of the war, the Atomic Knights have abundant resources for rebuilding, and the effects of radiation seem selective, manifesting in mutated creatures and devolved populace rather than widespread sickness. Grayle becomes furious at Superman's observations and forcibly removes him from their world. Upon waking up in his Fortress of Solitude, Superman visits Marene Herald, an S.T.A.R. Labs psychologist, who initially denies knowledge of Grayle and the Atomic Knights. However, Superman uncovers a case file on Grayle in her office and uses hypnosis to reveal suppressed memories.
Grayle was part of an experiment to see how soldiers would react to a post-nuclear war situation. Herald fears the experiment may have never ended. She leads Superman to a top-secret military installation, seemingly abandoned. Herald uses her key card to open the door, triggering a massive explosion. Only Superman's super-speed saves Herald from harm. Superman tears the door from its housing and gains entry into the facility. Inside, they find Grayle submerged in a sensory deprivation tank, still connected to the computer simulation. Traumatized by the reality of a nuclear holocaust, Grayle's mind has taken control of the simulation, imagining a new world filled with adventure, in which Grayle is seen as a hero. Subconsciously, Grayle's mind has begun to infiltrate other computer systems, intending to turn his post-apocalyptic fantasy into reality. Grayle has been the one pushing the world to the brink of nuclear war. Some part of Grayle's mind was aware of his actions in the real world, leading him to reach out to Superman to stop him. However, Grayle has now completely rejected Superman and given himself over to the computer simulation.
Superman attempts to disconnect Grayle from the computer simulation, but he is suddenly attacked by an enormous robot wearing medieval armor, resembling the Atomic Knights. Originally designed to be piloted by soldiers after a nuclear war, Grayle's mind takes control of the true Atomic Knights and directs them to attack Superman. Superman is surprised by the strength and resilience of the robot knights. Herald also tries to disconnect Grayle from the simulation, but she is grabbed by one of the Atomic Knights. Superman warns Grayle that in order to maintain his fantasy world, his fellow Atomic Knight is about to harm Herald, the woman Grayle loves. The Atomic Knight with Grayle's personality confronts the Atomic Knight holding Herald, and they begin fighting over her. Although both are controlled by Grayle's mind, only one speaks with his voice, while the other is presented as Douglas Herald, Marene's brother. When Herald reveals that Douglas is not her real brother but her husband, it shatters the lies that Grayle has built his world upon. However, it might be too late, as Grayle's subconscious mind initiates a nuclear launch sequence. Using his super-speed, Superman reprograms the entire computer system, stopping the countdown with just one second to spare. Superman then disconnects Grayle from the world's computers, releasing him from the simulation. Grayle is overwhelmed by guilt for his actions. However, his time in the simulation gives him a new perspective on the Cold War. Grayle suggests that mankind should not focus on surviving a nuclear war, but on preventing one from happening in the first place.
Appearing in Superman and the Atomic Knights: "Days Of Future Past!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Marene Herald (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Atomic Knight (First appearance)
- Kryptonite-breathing mutant aberration (As an illusion only)
Other Characters:
- Atomic Knights (As an illusion only)
- Hercules (As an illusion only)
- New York Cro-Magnons (As an illusion only)
- Giant Dalmatians (As an illusion only)
- Bryndon Smith (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
- Atomic knight robots
Vehicles:
Notes
- The events depicted in this issue are also canonical to Post-Crisis continuity, as confirmed by Outsiders #25.
- The New York devolved humans seen in this issue debuted in Strange Adventures Vol 1 123.
See Also
Links and References
The events from this issue or series involve a Multiversal crossover between Pre-Crisis worlds and characters. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Pre-Crisis Multiverse Crossover category.
See also Post-Crisis Multiverse Crossovers.