- Heed these words I now implant within your mind... obey them or the fate of all those about you will suffer in ways best left unspoken!
- — Destiny
Superman #352 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1980. It was published on July 10, 1980.
Synopsis for "Day of Destiny!"
Superman rescues a group of people from a fire blazing through a tenement building in Suicide Slum. Fire fighters are present to contain the blaze, but everyone is grateful that Superman could lend a hand. After performing several more heroic deeds, Superman meets Father Pérez who asks him to help build an orphanage for Hispanic children called "Superman House". Superman is only more than happy to help out.
Returning to his apartment, Superman finds the robed figure of Destiny waiting for him. Destiny tells Superman that humanity has become too dependent from him, and that he must cease functioning as Superman. Superman of course, refuses, but soon finds that he is unable to use his powers when he needs them the most. Reluctantly, he is forced to broadcast a public video announcing his retirement.
Later, two slum lords named Rose and Stone begin antagonizing Father Pérez and the other workers at Superman House. It is revealed that these men set fire to their own building in order to collect the insurance money. They attempt to sabotage the citizens' efforts to build Superman House, and Superman tries to stop them. Every time he attempts to use his powers though, Destiny intervenes. As it turns out, the citizens are able to solve their own problems without Superman's help. Superman realizes that sometimes it is better for normal people to solve their own problems without relying on Superman to get them out of every situation. Once Superman comes to accept this, Destiny enables Superman to use his powers again.
Appearing in "Day of Destiny!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Destiny
- Jimmy Olsen (Cameo)
- Josh Coyle (Cameo)
- Lana Lang (Cameo)
- Lois Lane
Antagonists:
- Barney Rose (Single appearance)
- Frederick Stone (Single appearance)
- Hostage Taker (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Two Criminals (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Citizens of Metropolis
- Metropolis Fire Department
- Metropolis Police Department
- D.A. office worker (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Lawyer (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Judge (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Father Perez (Single appearance)
- WGBS employee (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Justice League of America
- Flash (Cameo)
- Green Lantern (Cameo)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Suicide Slum
- el Barrio
- Lois Lane's Apartment
- Courtroom
- Metropolis Tower Restaurant
- Metro Park (Mentioned only)
- 344 Clinton Street
- Clark Kent's Apartment
- Superman House (under construction)
- Galaxy Communications Building
- WGBS Studios
- Daily Planet Offices
- Suicide Slum
- North Pole
- Fortress of Solitude (On a TV or computer screen)
Items:
- Book of Souls
- Daily Planet Newspaper
- Morning Herald Newspaper
Vehicles:
- El Train
Synopsis for The Fabulous World of Krypton: "The Mark of a Citizen!"
Jimmy Olsen's cousin Mike drops out of high school. As he's leaving the school he encounters Superman who tries to convince him to reconsider by recounting a tale of old Krypton.
On Krypton there was once a boy named Kar-Lu who, like Mike, believed that he no longer required the benefits of an education and refused to receive citizenship training. He went on to become a surveyor, but during an expedition to the Eiu Sea, he ran afoul of a group of criminals from the warring continent of Urrika. Fortunately for Kar-Lu, his assistant Van-De had completed citizenship training, and was intelligent enough to find a way to outwit the criminals and save Kar-Lu's life.
After listening to the tale, Mike decides to respect Superman's wisdom and return to school.
Appearing in The Fabulous World of Krypton: "The Mark of a Citizen!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jimmy Olsen (Mentioned only)
- Mike (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Urrikarans (Unnamed) (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Earth-One
- Earth
- Metropolis
- Senior High School
- Metropolis
- Earth
- Krypton (Flashback only)
Items:
- Measuring Horn
- Quicksand Missile
- Druasic Berries
- Jungle-Penetator Ray
- Whirltop Tree
- Ice Ray
Vehicles:
- Kar-Lu's Spacecraft
- Urrikaran's Ice-Craft
Notes
- "Day of Destiny!" was reprinted in DC Retroactive: Superman-The '80s #1.
- "The Mark of a Citizen!" is a The Fabulous World of Krypton featurette.
- It was mentioned in "The Mark of a Citizen!" that Mike is a cousin of Jimmy Olsen.
Trivia
- This is the first time that Destiny has appeared in a mainstream DC Universe title. He appeared last as the host in Secrets of Haunted House #41. He appears next in New Teen Titans #8. He would later go on to become a recurring character in The Sandman as the title character's elder brother.