- Wait!-- Look! The flames... the cracks...! I can't see any sign of life-- anywhere! Oh, dear Lord... What have we done? For our own selfish ends, we've destroyed-- everything! Forgive me, forgive me...
- — Superman
Superman #242 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1971.
Synopsis for "The Ultimate Battle!"
Jimmy Olsen finds Superman's weakened and injured body in a junk yard, where a paper-created monster inhabited by a spirit from the Quarrm dimension dragged him. Jimmy has the doctors operate on Superman's head injury while two criminals try to take advantage of the monster's abilities before they become its victims. The monster is drawing itself toward where Superman is in order to finish him, but finds himself contending with the sand-created Superman figure whose power is partially restored, wondering why he even cares to act on behalf of anyone. Superman and the sand-created duplicate work together to bring the spirit inhabiting the monster back to the Quarrm dimension, but now the duplicate wants to take over Superman's role as protector of the planet. Superman fears that he would have to battle this duplicate whose very touch can trigger off a powerful explosion, when I-Ching mysteriously causes such effects to be cancelled, which results in a knock-down drag-out fight between the two Superman which results in the world's destruction. However, this fight turns out to be nothing more than a dream that I-Ching cast both Superman and his duplicate into, to make them realize the futility of such a fight. The duplicate decides to return to the Quarrm dimension, and Superman is left with a third less of his powers than before.
Appearing in "The Ultimate Battle!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Chinese Paper Monster
- Sand Superman
- Stewpot and Gemmi (Dies)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Broadway Hospital
- Central Park
- Manhattan
Items:
- Kryptonite (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Girl Who Didn't Believe in Superman!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #96.
When Superman learns that Alice Norton, a blind girl, does not believe in Superman, he tries and fails to convince her of his existence...until he operates upon her and restores her sight.
Appearing in "The Girl Who Didn't Believe in Superman!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- Alice Norton (Single appearance)
- Martha Norton (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Myrtle (Single appearance)
- John Norton (Single appearance)
- Perry White (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Eiffel Tower (Cameo)
- Golden Gate Bridge (Cameo)
- Grand Canyon (Cameo)
- Mount Rushmore (Cameo)
- Niagara Falls (Cameo)
- Roman Colosseum (Cameo)
- Great Sphinx of Giza (Cameo)
- Taj Mahal (Cameo)
Synopsis for "The World's Mightiest Weakling!"
This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #54.
Appearing in "The World's Mightiest Weakling!"
Featured Characters:
- Rodney Drake (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Professor Milton (Single appearance)
- Wilma (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Brad Anderson (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Dynamite Davis (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Notes
- "The Ultimate Battle!" was reprinted in The Best of DC #32 and DC Comics Classics Library: Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore!.