Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Help Support the Channel: patreon.com/ZCInfinity
Let's take a look through DC Comics' first alternate universe series Imaginary Stories, and discover the What Ifs of the Comic Silver Age!
Transcript:
Superman 2001. In this update to the Superman mythos, Kal-El arrives on Earth in the then-current year of 1976. His escape pod crashes into the Pacific, where the Americans and Soviets rush to be the first to claim it. So much so, that their helicopters smash into each other, killing everyone save for Thomas Clark, who claims the craft for America. It's taken to a top secret research facility, where a toddler Kal-El emerges, instantly proving he's laser-proof, can speak multiple languages, and can fly straight through steel. And that he can eat as much as an entire platoon. Later, after demonstrating his X-Ray and heat vision, he's instructed to cut the fabric he was wrapped in, which they use to sew together an outfit for him, saying it'll grow with him. And the S in this case stands for Skyboy, which they choose to call him. Reports of a space child are denied at the United Nations, and the world speeds along to the then-future year of 1990, where technology has advanced, buildings are a mile-high, and, most unbelievably, a woman leads the United States. Who finally admits that, yes, they have kept a now 14-year-old Superboy hidden from the world, the Soviet Union retaliating by saying he must be made a ward to the entire United Nations or else. Upon hearing the news, an unnamed third world power plots to wipe out the other superpowers and seize control of the world. Meanwhile, in a secret mountain military base, General Garrett checks in on Superboy, notifying him of the president's decision. At that moment, they're alerted that the Soviet Union has launched a barrage of missiles straight at them, retaliating with their own missile strike. But the Soviets have received the same warning and retailiate in kind, threatening to wipe civilization from the planet. Which is revealed to all be the third world power's doing. Unable to accept the eventuality, Superboy springs into action, gathering all of Russia's missiles, which he uses to block the laser blast from America's base on the moon. He then prevents any other missiles from either side from being fired, before then enveloping a cloud of poisonous gas in a cyclone, which he lets disappate outside the atmosphere. Thanks to Superboy, the world leaders are able to come to their senses and talk cease-fire. But unfortunately, the strain of the world ending was too much for General Garrett and he dies, Superboy feeling responsible and vowing never to use his powers again, instead taking Thomas Clark's last name and General Garrett's first name Kent to form the identity of Clark Kent, also tossing away his supersuit. Years later, the world celebrates 2001 and all the futuristic tech I wish we had back then. Where television reporter Clark Kent tells the world the east coast has fused into one giant city called Metropolis. But as the New Years festivities commence, the world is suddenly notified of the superbeing Moka, who claims to be the one who saved the planet back in 1990, and thus demands to be made ruler of the world. The population does actually start to accept him, not knowing he's a puppet of the third world power. All except for Clark Kent, of course, who realizes he has to save the world from itself again, locating his supersuit and changing back into Superman, who confronts Moka. Moka's strength proves to be Superman's equal, but Superman throws a barrage of rocks at it, distracting it long enough to land a superhuman punch, and eventually reduce it to a pile of scrap, much to the power's disappointment. He announces that the world can govern itself before flying off, a monument to his greatness soon being erected. And the comic ends with Clark being passively asked if Superman will ever return, to which he replies he will when the world needs him again. This was exciting, but lacks substance. It's not a bad reimagining having Kal-El raised by the government instead of in a small town, and I like the future the 70s thought we'd have, but not a lot happens, especially concerning Superman. We just see him demonstrating his power as a baby, then we suddenly see him as a teenager saving the world, before he quickly pops up again as an adult to destroy the villain in a one-sided fight. Heck, the villain's not even defeated, the third world power gets away with everything they do. And there's so little remaining of Superman's universe, there's practically no reason for this to BE a Superman story. At the very least, why wasn't Luthor the leader of the third power? It's an interesting idea, but even for the time, lacks story or development. You'll probably like it, but you'll forget it in a week. Though they did correctly predict that by 1990, there would be a Bush in office.
Help Support the Channel: patreon.com/ZCInfinity
Let's take a look through DC Comics' first alternate universe series Imaginary Stories, and discover the What Ifs of the Comic Silver Age!
Transcript:
Superman 2001. In this update to the Superman mythos, Kal-El arrives on Earth in the then-current year of 1976. His escape pod crashes into the Pacific, where the Americans and Soviets rush to be the first to claim it. So much so, that their helicopters smash into each other, killing everyone save for Thomas Clark, who claims the craft for America. It's taken to a top secret research facility, where a toddler Kal-El emerges, instantly proving he's laser-proof, can speak multiple languages, and can fly straight through steel. And that he can eat as much as an entire platoon. Later, after demonstrating his X-Ray and heat vision, he's instructed to cut the fabric he was wrapped in, which they use to sew together an outfit for him, saying it'll grow with him. And the S in this case stands for Skyboy, which they choose to call him. Reports of a space child are denied at the United Nations, and the world speeds along to the then-future year of 1990, where technology has advanced, buildings are a mile-high, and, most unbelievably, a woman leads the United States. Who finally admits that, yes, they have kept a now 14-year-old Superboy hidden from the world, the Soviet Union retaliating by saying he must be made a ward to the entire United Nations or else. Upon hearing the news, an unnamed third world power plots to wipe out the other superpowers and seize control of the world. Meanwhile, in a secret mountain military base, General Garrett checks in on Superboy, notifying him of the president's decision. At that moment, they're alerted that the Soviet Union has launched a barrage of missiles straight at them, retaliating with their own missile strike. But the Soviets have received the same warning and retailiate in kind, threatening to wipe civilization from the planet. Which is revealed to all be the third world power's doing. Unable to accept the eventuality, Superboy springs into action, gathering all of Russia's missiles, which he uses to block the laser blast from America's base on the moon. He then prevents any other missiles from either side from being fired, before then enveloping a cloud of poisonous gas in a cyclone, which he lets disappate outside the atmosphere. Thanks to Superboy, the world leaders are able to come to their senses and talk cease-fire. But unfortunately, the strain of the world ending was too much for General Garrett and he dies, Superboy feeling responsible and vowing never to use his powers again, instead taking Thomas Clark's last name and General Garrett's first name Kent to form the identity of Clark Kent, also tossing away his supersuit. Years later, the world celebrates 2001 and all the futuristic tech I wish we had back then. Where television reporter Clark Kent tells the world the east coast has fused into one giant city called Metropolis. But as the New Years festivities commence, the world is suddenly notified of the superbeing Moka, who claims to be the one who saved the planet back in 1990, and thus demands to be made ruler of the world. The population does actually start to accept him, not knowing he's a puppet of the third world power. All except for Clark Kent, of course, who realizes he has to save the world from itself again, locating his supersuit and changing back into Superman, who confronts Moka. Moka's strength proves to be Superman's equal, but Superman throws a barrage of rocks at it, distracting it long enough to land a superhuman punch, and eventually reduce it to a pile of scrap, much to the power's disappointment. He announces that the world can govern itself before flying off, a monument to his greatness soon being erected. And the comic ends with Clark being passively asked if Superman will ever return, to which he replies he will when the world needs him again. This was exciting, but lacks substance. It's not a bad reimagining having Kal-El raised by the government instead of in a small town, and I like the future the 70s thought we'd have, but not a lot happens, especially concerning Superman. We just see him demonstrating his power as a baby, then we suddenly see him as a teenager saving the world, before he quickly pops up again as an adult to destroy the villain in a one-sided fight. Heck, the villain's not even defeated, the third world power gets away with everything they do. And there's so little remaining of Superman's universe, there's practically no reason for this to BE a Superman story. At the very least, why wasn't Luthor the leader of the third power? It's an interesting idea, but even for the time, lacks story or development. You'll probably like it, but you'll forget it in a week. Though they did correctly predict that by 1990, there would be a Bush in office.
