Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 2001. It was published on January 17, 2001.
Synopsis for "Saints"
Metropolis experiences an earthquake, which not a common event, and not, it would seem, a natural one either. The epicenter of the quake is moving, towards and through some of the key pieces of the B13 technology which has made Metropolis the city of the future. Steel and Superman, plummeting to the depths of Metropolis underground, investigate the swathing path of devastation. The quake nearly destroys a B13 power relay, which would make the city's state chaotic. Emil Hamilton, from Steelworks, follows the center of the anomaly and guides Superman and Steel to it.
In the center, they find a globe with a crack in it and with the words "FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PLANET, FOR THE EXPLOITATION AND DEGREDATION OF SUICIDE SLUM, LEXCORP WILL FALL AND LUTHOR WILL DIE!" The globe turns to dust. A large creature watches from the background as Superman and Steel return to the surface.
In Washington, Lex Luthor prepares for his inauguration. His aides show him an intercepted message from the Suicide Slum avenging terrorist group, C.A.E.L.O.S.S. (the Citizens Army for the Economic Liberation Of Suicide Slum), regarding an inauguration-day protest. Luthor muses that they must have a strong backer and sends Mercy and Hope to deal with it.
Elsewhere, John Henry Irons and Natasha attend the inauguration and meets with Irons' friend Pat Dugan and Courtney his step-daughter Courtney Whitmore. John Henry quickly leaves Natasha with Pat and walks off. C.A.E.L.O.S.S. meets him nearby, and Irons, the strong backer, gives them a piece of technology that will allow them to broadcast a message that will be readable into the sky above Luthor's inauguration. However, the meeting is interrupted by Hope and Mercy. They confront John and assume him he is aligned with C.A.E.L.O.S.S. for business reasons, as his Steelworks is in direct competition with LexCorp. Irons protest hat he really does have problems with the effect that the B13 technology has had on Suicide Slum and does his best to fend off Luthor's bodyguards. Luckily, the Star-Spangled Kid shows up and pin Hope and Mercy to the wall. Steel suddenly realizes that since C.A.E.L.O.S.S. has no paper communications, the one intercepted by Luthor's aides must have been a fake, designed to divert attention away from the inaugural platform.
Just as Luthor begins to swear in, a rumbling tears the ground apart, and a monstrous, magma covered being emerges, looking to destroy Luthor for his environmental crimes against both Suicide Slum and the world at large. He controls magnetism, and the Earth's lithosphere, in which he identifies himself as Earthquake. At the last minute, Superman, who had hoped not to be seen at the inauguration (in silent protest at Luthor's successful election), materializes by slowing the rate of his vibration to become visible.
Superman along with Steel, S.T.R.I.P.E., and the Star-Spangled Kid battles Earthquake. Easily defeated, Earthquake digs into the earth and flees. Luthor pulls Superman over to appear in front of the cameras with him, as calls him a real member of the Luthor team, much to Superman's displeasure.
Steel, meanwhile, talks to S.T.R.I.P.E., who is also known as Pat Dugan, the reason for meeting up - he wants to offer Dugan a job at Steelworks in Metropolis.
Appearing in "Saints"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Earthquake (First appearance)
- Lex Luthor
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in the Superman: President Lex collection.
Trivia
- This story takes place on January 20th.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Superman: The Man of Steel series
- Images from Superman: The Man of Steel Vol 1 110
Recommended Reading
Links and References
Previous Adventures of Superman #588: 2001/11 |
Superman 2001 Navigation |
Next Action Comics #775: 2001/13 |