Superman #262 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1973.
Synopsis for "The Skyscraper That Screamed For Its Life!"
Clark is on his way to interview billionaire Peter Demeos when he sees the man himself falling from his penthouse apartment. As Superman he catches him and returns him to his rooftop terrace but notes that the boundary wall is too high for someone to fall over it by accident. Back as Clark he enters the building, which begins to shake as if in an earthquake while an unearthly scream rings out. The building's occupants seem to have experienced it before but refuse to talk about it. The interview begins with Demeos relating how he grew up in poverty in Greece but thanks to his father forcing him to study to better himself, he won a scholarship to Hudson University then made a fortune and built a reputation of never making a mistake. He shows Clark the room where he lives: sparsely furnished and reminiscent of the rundown shack where he grew up. He has no need for a fancy office, other than for show, nor yes-men surrounding him, so intends to convert the building to a self-running machine. At this point the building begins shaking again and Clark uses the excuse of taking his equipment to safety to change to Superman and rescue some window-cleaners whose cradle is about to break free. He finds himself showered with debris from the offices, as if of its own accord, and demands an explanation from Demeos. The billionaire explains that the building has always acted as if it was alive and Superman tells him to evacuate the office staff before something more serious happens. As Demeos emerges to the street he emits the scream Clark heard earlier and then attacks Superman, before transforming into an alien creature identifying itself as a Ninukab. Superman has heard tales of this dead race of sorcerers whose spirits inhabit objects like buildings or spaceships. The Ninukab tells him that if Demeos goes ahead with his plan to automate the building there will be no people from which to draw its life-force and it has to kill the billionaire to prevent this. Superman is helpless against the magical creature and his last resort is to destroy the building, causing the alien spirit to disperse.
Appearing in "The Skyscraper That Screamed For Its Life!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- A Ninukab (One of a race of alien spirit-like creatures) (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Peter Demeos (A billionaire) (Flashback and main story) (Single appearance)
- Peter Demeos' father (Dies in flashback) (Single appearance)
- UNICEF (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- An island off the coast of Greece (Flashback only)
- United States of America
- Hudson University (Flashback only)
- Metropolis
- The Demeos Building (Single appearance)
- WGBS (Mentioned only)
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for The Private Life of Clark Kent: "Puzzle of the Telepathic Twins!"
April and May Marigold, twins who live in Clark's building, seem to have a telepathic ability to sense danger so he books them for the Stranger Than Fiction show, though they warn him that as they grow older the sense seems to be fading. As taping of the show proceeds at Metropolis University, where the girls had been studied a year or so earlier, Clark realises that the balcony of the auditorium is on the point of collapsing under the weight of the TV equipment. He holds off dealing with the situation as Superman, relying on the twins to warn of the danger in time, but they fail to pick up on it until he kills the lights, enabling them to see the source of the problem. As soon as he does, the twins call for the balcony to be evacuated. When it falls, everyone is safely clear, but somehow the girls can tell that their ability has gone for good. Morgan Edge is thrilled with the whole event and gives the University money to build a new auditorium--named after himself.
Appearing in The Private Life of Clark Kent: "Puzzle of the Telepathic Twins!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Josh Coyle
- The Marigold Twins (Twin sisters who are neighbors of Clark Kent in the 344 Clinton Street apartment building)
- April Marigold (Flashback and main story) (First appearance)
- May Marigold (Flashback and main story) (First appearance)
- Morgan Edge
- Mrs. Marigold (Mother of April and May) (First appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Professor Fellman Gordon (A psychology professor at Metropolis University) (Flashback and main story) (Single appearance)
- Frank McGee (Mentioned only)
- Rudy Hertz (A Metropolis University student) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- 344 Clinton Street
- Metropolis University (Flashback and main story)
- WGBS
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- "The Skyscraper That Screamed for Its Life!" was reprinted in The Best of DC #56.