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! Warrior of Mars! In this reality, Kal-El's escape pod instead crashes into the planet Mars with its war-obsessed population. A nearby battle force emerges to confront the supposed invaders, but the alien toddler proves more than a match for them. Impressed, Commander Norr adopts him as his own son, wrapping him in the S emblem of his clan and naming him Skagerrak. As the years pass, Skagerrak is trained in battle, and Norr scores many victories, expanding his reach into a empire and proving to be a threat for other Martian warlords. But for most of his life, Skagerrak is disguised as a lowly slave to throw off the enemy, emerging only when his abilities are needed. As demonstrated when he helps take down the empire of Dumumblah the Incoherent to rule all of Mars. He serves as a political advisor to his father, who quickly becomes bored with having conquered everything he can see. Thus Skagerrak suggests they find a new world to conquer, ordering a fleet of ships constructed, before finding and invading Earth, taking the White House to prove their might. Skagerrak decides to infiltrate the humans to learn more about their culture, disguising himself as a homeless man and entering a soup kitchen, where he's surprised by the concept of charity. He's called a space cadet by the other patrons and leaves thinking they actually know he's from another planet. As he walks down the street, a nearby donation drive Santa faints, and he's given the job, thinking he's collecting taxes. All this time, the planet considers the abduction of the White House as some kind of practical joke, and Skagerrak overhears multiple cracks at the Martians, unable to grasp the concept of humor. Suddenly, he witnesses a nearby mugging, using his superbreath to subtly upset the thief, and the stolen purse is returned to the lady by two homeless men, who donates a few dollars in thanks. Finally realizing the idea of kindness, Skagerrak flies back to the invading fleet, where he announces they will not invade and that he's making Earth his new home, disabling the fleet and preventing them from attacking the air force that has gathered to defend the planet. In the aftermath, the Daily Planet gives their new hero the name of Superman, who in his civilian identity works at the Johnson Space Center, where they send a probe that takes pictures of the surrounding Martian landscape, the camera conveniently being destroyed before it reveals the presence of civilization on the planet's surface. This was genuinely sweet. I like how this Superman, raised in a war-centered culture, has to learn about the concept of kindness, and that his aversion to battle isn't alien to other civilizations. And it's funny how dismissive this Earth is to an alien invasion, possibly being so used to other heroes and supernatural occurances, this is just another Thursday for them. And setting this during Chirstmas is cute, unique, and drives the themes of charity further home. My only problem is that it's so short, and I feel this idea could have been expanded into its own graphic novel. But if I'm asking for more, than that's a good sign for this story. Though I'm a little bummed Superman didn't face off against John Carter.
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! Warrior of Mars! In this reality, Kal-El's escape pod instead crashes into the planet Mars with its war-obsessed population. A nearby battle force emerges to confront the supposed invaders, but the alien toddler proves more than a match for them. Impressed, Commander Norr adopts him as his own son, wrapping him in the S emblem of his clan and naming him Skagerrak. As the years pass, Skagerrak is trained in battle, and Norr scores many victories, expanding his reach into a empire and proving to be a threat for other Martian warlords. But for most of his life, Skagerrak is disguised as a lowly slave to throw off the enemy, emerging only when his abilities are needed. As demonstrated when he helps take down the empire of Dumumblah the Incoherent to rule all of Mars. He serves as a political advisor to his father, who quickly becomes bored with having conquered everything he can see. Thus Skagerrak suggests they find a new world to conquer, ordering a fleet of ships constructed, before finding and invading Earth, taking the White House to prove their might. Skagerrak decides to infiltrate the humans to learn more about their culture, disguising himself as a homeless man and entering a soup kitchen, where he's surprised by the concept of charity. He's called a space cadet by the other patrons and leaves thinking they actually know he's from another planet. As he walks down the street, a nearby donation drive Santa faints, and he's given the job, thinking he's collecting taxes. All this time, the planet considers the abduction of the White House as some kind of practical joke, and Skagerrak overhears multiple cracks at the Martians, unable to grasp the concept of humor. Suddenly, he witnesses a nearby mugging, using his superbreath to subtly upset the thief, and the stolen purse is returned to the lady by two homeless men, who donates a few dollars in thanks. Finally realizing the idea of kindness, Skagerrak flies back to the invading fleet, where he announces they will not invade and that he's making Earth his new home, disabling the fleet and preventing them from attacking the air force that has gathered to defend the planet. In the aftermath, the Daily Planet gives their new hero the name of Superman, who in his civilian identity works at the Johnson Space Center, where they send a probe that takes pictures of the surrounding Martian landscape, the camera conveniently being destroyed before it reveals the presence of civilization on the planet's surface. This was genuinely sweet. I like how this Superman, raised in a war-centered culture, has to learn about the concept of kindness, and that his aversion to battle isn't alien to other civilizations. And it's funny how dismissive this Earth is to an alien invasion, possibly being so used to other heroes and supernatural occurances, this is just another Thursday for them. And setting this during Chirstmas is cute, unique, and drives the themes of charity further home. My only problem is that it's so short, and I feel this idea could have been expanded into its own graphic novel. But if I'm asking for more, than that's a good sign for this story. Though I'm a little bummed Superman didn't face off against John Carter.
