When you're in a position of power -- sometimes it's not easy to remember what all this is for. People, problems, and ideas can get lost in the confusion of our world. Stay focused. Don't let a few bad apples spoil our American pie. 
- — Superman
Superman/Batman Secret Files & Origins 2003 is a one-shot with a cover date of November, 2003. It was published on September 3, 2003.
Synopsis for "Recruits"
A terrorist named Abdullah Harish locks himself inside the penthouse suite of a hotel and begins making outrageous demands. President Luthor sends Major Force to handle the situation, while the Pentagon instructs Captain Atom to do the same. Superman likewise arrives at the scene. Captain Atom offers Superman a position to work alongside him for the government, but Superman refuses to work for President Luthor.
When Major Force arrives, Captain Atom and he get into a fight. Atom knows that Major Force will likely kill Harish and he would prefer to take him in alive.
Batman arrives on the scene and sneaks into the hotel to handle the terrorist while the other three battle one another. He manages to capture Harish, and Superman extracts both of them from the building before it explodes. Batman tells Captain Atom that Luthor sent both agents to the scene knowing that Force and Atom would fight one another. The President was hoping that Harish would be killed in the midst of a "super-hero fight" giving the President plausible deniability for the terrorist's death.
Appearing in "Recruits"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Captain Atom (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Abdullah Harish (Single appearance)
- Lex Luthor
- General Wynn, a Pentagon official (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Atom Smasher (On a TV or computer screen)
- Black Adam (On a TV or computer screen)
- Black Lightning (On a TV or computer screen)
- Blue Beetle (On a TV or computer screen)
- Blue Devil (On a TV or computer screen)
- Booster Gold (On a TV or computer screen)
- Col. Wade Eiling (Flashback only)
- Dr. Heinrich Megala (Flashback only)
- Firestorm (On a TV or computer screen)
- Guy Gardner (On a TV or computer screen)
- Katana (On a TV or computer screen)
- Plastique (On a TV or computer screen)
- Justice League (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Mexico
- Mexico City
- Cancún (Mentioned only)
- Guadalajara (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
- Kahndaq (Mentioned only)
Concepts:
- Quantum Field (Mentioned only)
Synopsis for "Young Luthor in Smallville"
An eighteen-year-old Lex Luthor goes to the Metropolis Talent Agency and hires an actor to pose as his father. This false paternal figure accompanies Lex to Smallville Kansas and enrolls him at Smallville High School. He meets fellow student Clark Kent and soon earns the ire of Principal Goodwin. Upon hearing Lana Lang complaining about the temperature of the classroom, Lex takes it upon himself to fix the school furnace.
Appearing in "Young Luthor in Smallville"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Clark Kent
- Lana Lang
- Principal Goodwin
Other Characters:
- Mister Luthor (fake)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "When Clark Met Bruce: A Tale from the Days of Smallville"
Many years ago, Alfred Pennyworth drives young Bruce Wayne across country. Their car breaks down in Smallville Kansas and Alfred makes repairs. In a nearby field, Clark Kent and Pete Ross play baseball. They notice the sad looking Wayne child in the window of the car, just as it drives away. Clark wonders if perhaps they should have asked him to play ball with them.
Appearing in "When Clark Met Bruce: A Tale from the Days of Smallville"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Profiles"
Appearing in "Profiles"
Featured Characters:
- Batman
- Batman Family
- Lex Luthor
- Metallo
- Superman
- Superman Family
- Ra's al Ghul (In picture only)
- Talia Head
Notes
- "Recruits" is reprinted in Superman/Batman Omnibus Vol. 1.
- "When Clark Met Bruce: A Tale from the Days of Smallville" is reprinted in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman Vol. 1 and Absolute Superman/Batman Vol. 1.
Trivia
- The actor that Lex Luthor hires to portray his father bears a resemblance to John Glover who played the role of Lionel Luthor on the WB/CW television series Smallville.
- A banner bearing the words "Go Crows!" can be seen in the hallway at Smallville High School. The Crows was the football team regularly featured during the first four seasons of the Smallville television series.
- Principal Goodwin in the second story is very likely named after and made to resemble writer Archie Goodwin, who has passed away in 1998.
See Also
