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Superman: The Secret Years Vol 1 1

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"Dreams and Schemes and Feeling Proud!": Lex Luthor escapes from the Soames Reform School and makes a computer theft of $48,000 before Superboy captures him. Meanwhile, Clark Kent gains a new friend, Billy Cramer

Sorry, pal -- you had your free shot!
— Superboy

Superman: The Secret Years #1 is an issue of the series Superman: The Secret Years (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1985. It was published on November 1, 1984.

Synopsis for "Dreams and Schemes and Feeling Proud!"

Lex Luthor escapes from the Soames Reform School and makes a computer theft of $48,000 before Superboy captures him. Meanwhile, Clark Kent gains a new friend, Billy Cramer, who is also from Smallville. Also, Superboy turns up too late to prevent his roommate, Ducky Ginsberg, from having a drunk-driving accident which shatters his legs.

Appearing in "Dreams and Schemes and Feeling Proud!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Soames Reform School
    • Mr. Soames (Cameo)
    • Burke (Cameo) (Single appearance)
  • Smallville County Sheriff (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
  • Jetliner Passengers (Single appearance; dies) (In dream sequence only)
  • High, Wide, and Handsome (Mentioned only)
  • Amy Paterson (Ducky Ginsberg's ex-girlfriend) (Mentioned only)
  • Metropolis Meteors (Mentioned only)
  • Miss Hart (Smallville High teacher) (Mentioned only)
  • Metropolis Police Department
    • Four Officers (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
  • Mr. James (Electronics Store owner burglary victim) (Single appearance)
  • Kojak (Mentioned only)
  • Metropolis Dormitory Students (Unnamed)
    • Football Team A (Steve Power's dorm) (Unnamed)
    • Football Team B (Clark Kent's dorm) (Unnamed)
  • Mr. Drysdale (Bank Manager) (First appearance)
  • Billy Cramer's Parents
    • Fred Cramer (Single appearance)
    • Alice Cramer (Single appearance)
  • Ducky Ginsberg's Parents (Mentioned only)
  • Tommy Lee's Parents (Mentioned only)
    • John Lee M.D. (Unnamed)
    • Susan Lee (Unnamed)
  • Two Telephone Repairmen (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
  • Howard Shatt (from Smallville) (Mentioned only) in (Flashback only)
  • Jason Shatt (from Smallville) (Mentioned only) in (Flashback only)

Locations:

Items:

  • Lex Luthor's Shoes Escape Contraption
    • Bedsprings
    • Flashlight Batteries
  • Missiles (Destroyed) (In dream sequence only)
  • Beer
  • Bank Computer

Vehicles:

  • Jetliner (Destroyed) (In dream sequence only)
  • Two Fighter Jets (In dream sequence only)
  • Ducky Ginsberg's Car (In ruins)

Concepts:

Notes

  • Superman: The Secret Years is a four-issue limited series which takes place on Earth-One of Pre-Crisis continuity.
  • Meanwhile... contains a tribute to the passing of Don Newton.
  • In what would be the letter column, a two page history of Clark Kent's college years and of Bob Rozakis and the conception and making of this mini-series. Bob mentioned he wanted this to be a 12 issue maxi-series but was only given an approval for four issues.
  • The chronology of Superboy's stories is confusing. When his stories started being published in 1945, his stories have always been updated to work in the recent past. This story takes place strictly in 1974 or after (page 22). In this story Lex Luthor, then 21, is arrested by Superboy for the crime of hacking bank computers. The parents of Tommy, a colleague of Superboy, are visiting Vietnam; The Vietnam War lasted until 1975. An advertisement for the "new" Pong video game (created in 1972) was seen in Mr. James store window.

Trivia

  • A letter to Clark Kent from Lana Lang said she likes the Broadcast Journalism program at Hudson University.
  • The bank manager Mr. Drysdale may be a homage to Milburn Drysdale from the Beverly Hillbillies television show.


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References
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