It's good to have ... a Superman back.
- — Submarine Captain
Superman (Volume 4) #2 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 4) with a cover date of September, 2016. It was published on July 6, 2016.
Synopsis for "Son of Superman, Part Two"
Superman has taken Jon for a flight to the Arctic. Once there, he tells him of his recent work with the Justice League and now, he will teach Jon how to properly use his powers while Superman rescues a Coast Guard submarine. Since the sub is powered by uranium, Superman carefully gets the sub off the ice and fixes its propeller. Just as Superman greets the sailors, a gigantic squid-like creature rises from the ice and attacks them. Superman distracts the beast while the sailors take their ship out of there.
Jon is exposed to danger while Superman discovers the creature is actually being controlled by a crystalline machine on its hide and tells Jon to shatter it with his heat vision. Although Jon is reluctant for fear of hurting his father, he reveals his own superhero uniform and successfully destroys the contraption. The beast is released and goes back into the sea. According to Superman, an unknown party used the creature to disable the sub.
Although Jon feels satisfied by today's work, Superman reminds him that wearing the "S" means doing the right thing and that is something Jon will learn in time. Jon sadly admits what happened to Goldie: he attempted to save her from a hawk but ended up accidentally killing them both. Superman already knew the truth from the blast's remaining heat and advises him to tell the truth to Lois when returning home. As Superman and Jon leave, the crystal machine's remnants absorb the plasma leftovers from Jon's heat vision and recognize Jon as a Kryptonian/human hybrid. The machine then takes the shape of the House of El symbol.
Back home, after burying Goldie, Lois tends to Clark's back injuries and they agree Clark must teach Jon in how to control his powers. Also, Clark gives Lois a package sent by her Prime Earth counterpart. Meanwhile Jon talks with Kathy, the girl next door, while climbing a tree. She agrees to keep quiet about Jon's powers, but when Jon reaches out to take her hand, he accidentally breaks the tree branch he was sitting on and falls to the ground. Kathy and her grandfather take Jon back home. Although Mr. Branden offers to take Jon to the doctor, Clark uses his X-ray vision to check on his injuries and decides to take care of him on his own. As the Brandens leave, Lois asks how can Jon develop Kryptonian superpowers and still get hurt like a regular child and Clark replies they must search for answers at the Fortress of Solitude.
Meanwhile, the small machine that controlled the giant squid reaches the Fortress of Solitude, which recognizes it as Kryptonian technology. The machine assimilates Clark Kent's glasses and badge and takes on a humanoid shape. The Eradicator has arrived at the Prime Earth.
Appearing in "Son of Superman, Part Two"
Featured Characters:
- Lois Lane/"Lois Smith" (Pre-Flashpoint)
- Superman/Clark Kent/"Clark Smith" (Pre-Flashpoint)
- Superboy/Jon Kent/"Jonathan Samuel Smith" (Pre-Flashpoint) (First appearance as Superboy)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Eradicator (First appearance)
- Giant Octopus (Unnamed)
Other Characters:
- Cobb Branden (First appearance)
- Superman (Clark Kent) (Deceased) (On a TV or computer screen) (Cameo)
- Unnamed crew (Single appearance)
- The submarine Captain (Single appearance) (Unnamed)
- Goldie the Cat (Deceased) (Mentioned only)
- House of El (Mentioned only)
- Justice League (Mentioned only)
- Batman (Mentioned only)
- Wonder Woman (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth 0/Prime Earth
- Earth
- Arctic Circle
- United States of America
- New York
- Hamilton County
- Metropolis (Mentioned only)
- New Troy (Mentioned only)
- 1111 Delaney Court (Mentioned only)
- Lois Lane's Apartment (Mentioned only)
- 1111 Delaney Court (Mentioned only)
- New Troy (Mentioned only)
- New York
- Earth
Items:
- Kryptonian Crystals
- Super-Computer
Vehicles:
- Unnamed submarine (Single appearance)
Concepts:
- Death of Superman (Mentioned only)
Notes
- The "Smith" farm in Hamilton County is located at 1938 Carter Court. The 1938 is a reference to the publication date of Action Comics Vol 1 1.