It has to end before it begins!!! 
- — Future Superman
Superman/Batman #2 is an issue of the series Superman/Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 2003. It was published on September 17, 2003.
Synopsis for "The World's Finest (Part 2 of 6): Early Warning"
Continued from last issue...
Batman and Superman have been buried alive by Metallo. Unable and unwilling to go up out of the grave for fear of another Metallo attack, Batman uses an explosive charge to free them from the grave. They end up in the Gotham City Sewers and working together eventually return to the Batcave via underground tunnels.
Meanwhile in DC, Luthor and Captain Atom wait as a cache of nuclear missiles head towards the Kryptonite Asteroid via an illegally obtained boom tube. The missiles fail and the meteor gets closer.
Back in the cave, Alfred has removed the bullet and patched up Superman. Batman has found out what Superman was trying to tell him about John Corben...according to files in S.T.A.R. Labs, Corben was in Gotham City the night his parents were murdered and also carried the same caliber weapon they were murdered with. While they argue, a boom tube opens and an older version Superman appears in the cave and attacks them. During the confrontation, older Superman explains that he is the future version of Superman there to stop him from doing something that will result in him killing everyone he knows and ending up alone.
Batman confirms that the doppelganger is in fact telling the truth and rushes to get the kryptonite ring. Future Superman attacks Batman and throws him into one of the Batmobiles and then threatens to drop the car on him. Superman fires Metallo's bullet from a shotgun at Future Superman. He disappears with a warning ("Beware...") before the bullet can strike.
In D.C., Luthor prepares to address the nation. Captain Atom once again requests to talk to Superman, which Luthor denies. Luthor goes on TV and informs the public that the meteor is coming and that Superman is responsible for bringing it here. He then offers a bounty of $1 billion dollars for the capture of Superman so he can face the charges of crimes against humanity.
The story continues next issue...
Appearing in "The World's Finest (Part 2 of 6): Early Warning"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Cat Grant
- Pete Ross (Mentioned only)
- Magpie (Mentioned only)
- Metallo (Mentioned only)
- Thomas (Mentioned only)
- Martha Wayne (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Concepts
Notes
Continuity Notes
- Superman asks Batman whatever happened to Magpie. Batman says she died. Magpie is seen dying years later in Batman #651. Superman and Batman first encountered her together in The Man of Steel #3, the first Post-Crisis meeting between the two, recounted in Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #4. Batman later encountered her in Batman #401.
- It is not explained here, but the "future Superman" seen here is the Superman from Earth-423 as seen in Superman #423–Action Comics #583. He travels back in time here to kill Superman because of future alterations to the timeline seen in Absolute Power in Superman/Batman #14– #18. This Superman is next seen in Superman/Batman #5.
- Superman has battled another version of himself before in Action Comics #591. He next battles his Earth-Two counterpart during the Infinite Crisis in Infinite Crisis #5–Superman (Volume 2) #226–Action Comics #836–Adventures of Superman #649.
Publication Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman Vol. 1, Absolute Superman/Batman Vol. 1 and Superman/Batman Omnibus Vol. 1.
Trivia
- The future Superman's costume bears a large resemblance to the costume worn by Superman from Earth-22.
See Also