DC Retroactive: Superman-The '90s #1 is an issue of the series DC Retroactive: Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 2011. It was published on August 24, 2011.
Synopsis for "Speed"
Lex Luthor is dying thanks to a plague supposedly unleashed by the Cadmus Project. Lex declares that if he is going down he is taking Cadmus and Superman with him. To this end he unleashes a recreated whale creature known as Cruiser that is ten times faster and more powerful than the original. At the Daily Planet Perry White holds a staff meeting to get ideas on how to increase circulation. Clark hears Jimmy's signal watch and moments later Superman streaks across the skies of Metropolis. Cruiser has undermined a tenement building and Superman saves the people that live there though the building itself falls.
Later Lois visits Emil Hamilton and learns more about the disease ravaging the clones and creations of Cadmus. Cruiser strikes again as Lois rides the subway home and Superman saves her. Cruiser sets his sights on Cadmus next as Superman is discussing recent events with the Guardian. The fight is brutal as Superman discovers that this Cruiser secretes a toxic slime that can hurt even him. When Cruiser erupts from the ground near the LexCorp building Superman forces the creature down into the molten core of the planet. The day is saved and a now bald Superman meets up with Lois who suggests he might want to wear his old fedora until his hair grows back.
Appearing in "Speed"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Luthor
- Cruiser 2 (monster)
Other Characters:
- Underworlders
- Clawster
- Fancy Feet (called erroneously as Neep)
- Keith
- Myra
- Dr. Katz
- Mayor Berkowitz (Mentioned only)
- Doomsday (Mentioned only)
- Lobo (Newspaper article)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- LexCorp
- Daily Planet
- Suicide Slum
- Project Cadmus
- Coates Children's Center
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Panic in the Streets"
This story is reprinted from Superman: The Man of Steel #12.
Superman takes on three warriors from the recently departed Warworld that are stealing scientific equipment. They are able to escape by endangering a group of scientists who Superman is forced to save. Later the Warworlders break into Emil Hamilton's lab and not only attack him but make off with some of his gear. Hamilton chases them into the sewers and meets up with Grub, someone Ham knew during his brief time in prison. Grub is joined by several escapees from the Cadmus Project who are living in the sewers because they can't find acceptance on the surface world. They track the Warworlders to another section of the sewers and discover that they were stealing the equipment to build a giant bomb.
One of the Warworlders initiates the countdown but the vibrations attract the attention of another Cadmus reject known as Cruiser. Cruiser, a giant whale looking creature, swallows the bomb and heads to the surface. This attracts Superman's attention and suddenly the Man of Steel is trying to stop Cruiser while the Warworlders attack him. Finally Superman defeats the Warworlders and flies Cruiser into space where he "harmlessly" explodes. Back on the ground Superman discusses the Cadmus escapees with Hamilton and Grub while the Warworlders plot to infiltrate the sewer society and take over.
Appearing in "Panic in the Streets"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Warworlders
- Mo'ah
- Krl'li
- Metallo
- Cerberus
- Cruiser
Other Characters:
- Grub
- Foswell
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet
- Project Cadmus (Mentioned only)
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- The first story happens between the fight against Lobo in Superman: The Man of Steel #30 and the Fall of Metropolis.
Trivia
- It is not explained how Superman recovered his long hair.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the DC Retroactive: Superman series
- Images from DC Retroactive: Superman-The '90s Vol 1 1