Sometimes the old ideas still work. And remember, I've got the shadows covered, Smallville... We need you out in the light.
- — Batman
Superman #710 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2011. It was published on April 13, 2011.
Synopsis for "Grounded: Part Eight"
Superman saves Helen Phelps, an archeologist, from being hit by a truck in Ogden, Utah. He takes her to her trailer near Mt. Krowak. There, she and her crew had begun a dig on the mountain to find artifacts left by a civilization that established itself in the mountain before Paleo-Indians had. However, their research is being hampered by Centum Industries, a company that recently bought the mountain, wanting to use it as a radioactive waste site. Suddenly, Superman sees an S-signal in the sky, only visible to those who can see the ultraviolet end of the spectrum.
Superman flies to the source of the signal and finds Batman, who says that they haven't had the chance to talk after his return. They remember the time when they met in Bhutran. There, Clark and Bruce met with Terri, Clark's friend. After her father's death, Terri had become the new Rhana Bhutra. She had asked for Clark and Bruce's help to defend Bhutran from a group of Chinese soldiers led by Vandal Savage.
Vandal Savage had received information from Hassan-I-Sabbah, another immortal. Vandal believed that the inhabitants of Bhutran knew the location of Nanda Parbat, and he also believed that the monks of Rama Kushna could cure him from his cancer. To stop Vandal, Clark used rocks to block the pathway to Bhutran while Bruce used hypersonic speakers to summon a group of bats and attack the soldiers. After defeating the soldiers, Clark and Bruce expressed hope in working together again.
Superman and Batman then discuss about Superman's recent emotional crisis. Batman believes that Superman can get past his doubts. Also, Batman says that he just bought Mt. Krowak, allowing Dr. Phelps and her crew to continue their research. Superman compliments Batman for creating Batman Incorporated, and Batman replies that Superman can also create his own squad of supermen. Batman then says that he will work in the shadows while Superman works in the light. The two then part ways.
Appearing in "Grounded: Part Eight"
Featured Characters:
- Superman/Clark Kent (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Batman/Bruce Wayne (Flashback and main story)
- Terri Chung (Flashback only)
Antagonists:
- Chinese soldiers (Flashback only)
- Vandal Savage (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- Ajahn (A disciple of the Rhana Bhutra)
- Batman Family (Mentioned only)
- Barbara Gordon (Mentioned only)
- Dick Grayson (Mentioned only)
- Jason Todd (Mentioned only)
- Tim Drake (Mentioned only)
- Batman Incorporated (Mentioned only)
- Bats
- Centum Industries (Mentioned only)
- Crimson Avenger (Appears only in a comic book)
- Doctor Helen Phelps
- The Flash (Mentioned only)
- Iron Munro (Appears only in a comic book)
- John Grayson (Mentioned only)
- Jonathan Kent (Mentioned only)
- Jor-El (Mentioned only)
- Justice League (Mentioned only)
- Khyber (Hassan-I-Sabbah) (Flashback only)
- Lara Lor-Van (Mentioned only)
- Magpie (Mentioned only)
- Martha Kent (Mentioned only)
- Martha Wayne (Mentioned only)
- Mary Grayson (Mentioned only)
- The old Rhana Butra (Mentioned only)
- Sirocco (Mentioned only)
- Thomas Wayne (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Africa (Mentioned only)
- Ghana (Mentioned only)
- Asia (Flashback only)
- Bhutran (Flashback only)
- Himalayas (Flashback only)
- China (Flashback only)
- Japan (Mentioned only)
- Nanda Parbat (Mentioned only)
- Bhutran (Flashback only)
- France (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
- Gotham City (Mentioned only)
- Kansas (Mentioned only)
- Smallville (Mentioned only)
- Kent Farm (Mentioned only)
- Smallville (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis (Mentioned only)
- Utah
- Ogden
- Skull Valley
- Krypton (Mentioned only)
- New Krypton (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Bat-Signal (Mentioned only)
- Justice League Signal Device (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
Notes
- The flashback in this issue is a follow-up to the flashback scenes in Superman: The Odyssey #1, taking place about a year later.
Trivia
- Archeologist Helen Phelps used to be the girlfriend of Immortal Man and last appeared in Strange Adventures #198.