Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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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:
Continuing the final stand of Superman, the hero destroys the key to his Fortress, right as Brainiac's ship arrives carrying the villains, soon joined by the Legion of Supervillains who have arrived from the future to witness Superman's historical defeat. Brainiac Luthor erects a force field keeping any other heroes from interfering, before barraging the fortress, Superman fighting back, but unable to get too close thanks to Kryptonite Man. That night, as the fighting suddenly ceases, Superman confides in Perry White, admitting how guilty he feels that Lois and Lana wasted so much of their lives trying to gain his affection. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Lana find Superman's trophy room, where they use the samples he kept from what had previously made them superheroes to regain their superpowers. Unfortunately, Lana overhears with her superhearing Superman admit he only has love for Lois, before both new heroes run out to meet the villains. They take them by surprise, Jimmy disabling the force field, while Luthor manages to wrest control from Brainiac long enough to command Lana to kill him, which she does. However, the Legion use their abilities to remove Lana's powers before frying her, while a dying Brainiac kills Jimmy, before revealing that the force field is mysteriously still in place and their final assault begins now. They use a nuclear strike to punch a hole in the fortress, Perry narrowly saving his ex-wife Alice, and the couple go off to make up for lost time. Kryptonite Man is the first to enter the fortress, but is mauled by Krypto, who dies soon afterward of the radiation. Superman tries to get his friends to safety, when the Legion of Supervillains arrive to gloat. But when they mention they killed Lana, Superman attacks in a rage, the villains realizing they're vulnerable and fleeing back to their own era. Brainiac prepares to kill Superman, but Luthor's body finally loses all motor function and collapses, and without a host, Brainiac is soon disabled. Despite the battle seemingly being won, Superman wonders what possessed his enemies to all attack at once, why the force field is still up, and what the significance of the Legion giving him the statuette was. But it soon becomes clear as the interdimensional prankster Mxyzptlk arrives and takes credit for all the mayhem. He reveals he's bored with being immortal and omnipotent, thus he's decided to be evil for a while, starting with the death of Superman. He changes into his true form and prepares to end the powerless hero, when Lois realizes what the statuette is holding, the two running into the other room and grabbing the Phantom Zone projector. He fires the ray at Mxyzptlk just as he speaks his name backwards to return to his dimension, and the two opposing forces tear the being apart, destroying him forever. Horrified by the fact he took a life, Superman walks into the room where he stored gold Kryptonite, and Lois says that's the last anyone ever saw of him, the world thinking the now powerless hero went outside and froze to death out of guilt. Back in the present, the reporter wraps up his interview, saying goodbye to Lois and her mechanic husband Jordan, who also brings in their son Jonathan. The couple feel relieved that they're alone again, and they discuss what to do with the rest of their day, happy to be living a normal life unlike what Superman had to go through. And it ends with the parents oblivious to the fact their son has just crushed a lump of coal into a diamond with his super strength, confirming Superman is indeed his father. What can I say? This story is a classic, and rightfully considered one of the greatest Superman stories ever written. Admittedly, it is a little disjointed, with a lot of the story feeling more like a succession of events than a flowing narrative, but it all comes together in the end, and it legitimately feels like a finale for the Man of Steel. Which it technically was, as it closes out the Silver Age incarnation of the hero so DC could relaunch the continuity in the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths. With nobody better than legendary writer Alan Moore to send the hero off. I'd say read it, but you probably already have, as, unlike most of the Imaginary Stories line, it's been reprinted multiple times. It is absolutely essential reading for any fan of Superman or comics in general. To the point it's surprising it hasn't been adapted into its own DC animated feature.
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:
Continuing the final stand of Superman, the hero destroys the key to his Fortress, right as Brainiac's ship arrives carrying the villains, soon joined by the Legion of Supervillains who have arrived from the future to witness Superman's historical defeat. Brainiac Luthor erects a force field keeping any other heroes from interfering, before barraging the fortress, Superman fighting back, but unable to get too close thanks to Kryptonite Man. That night, as the fighting suddenly ceases, Superman confides in Perry White, admitting how guilty he feels that Lois and Lana wasted so much of their lives trying to gain his affection. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Lana find Superman's trophy room, where they use the samples he kept from what had previously made them superheroes to regain their superpowers. Unfortunately, Lana overhears with her superhearing Superman admit he only has love for Lois, before both new heroes run out to meet the villains. They take them by surprise, Jimmy disabling the force field, while Luthor manages to wrest control from Brainiac long enough to command Lana to kill him, which she does. However, the Legion use their abilities to remove Lana's powers before frying her, while a dying Brainiac kills Jimmy, before revealing that the force field is mysteriously still in place and their final assault begins now. They use a nuclear strike to punch a hole in the fortress, Perry narrowly saving his ex-wife Alice, and the couple go off to make up for lost time. Kryptonite Man is the first to enter the fortress, but is mauled by Krypto, who dies soon afterward of the radiation. Superman tries to get his friends to safety, when the Legion of Supervillains arrive to gloat. But when they mention they killed Lana, Superman attacks in a rage, the villains realizing they're vulnerable and fleeing back to their own era. Brainiac prepares to kill Superman, but Luthor's body finally loses all motor function and collapses, and without a host, Brainiac is soon disabled. Despite the battle seemingly being won, Superman wonders what possessed his enemies to all attack at once, why the force field is still up, and what the significance of the Legion giving him the statuette was. But it soon becomes clear as the interdimensional prankster Mxyzptlk arrives and takes credit for all the mayhem. He reveals he's bored with being immortal and omnipotent, thus he's decided to be evil for a while, starting with the death of Superman. He changes into his true form and prepares to end the powerless hero, when Lois realizes what the statuette is holding, the two running into the other room and grabbing the Phantom Zone projector. He fires the ray at Mxyzptlk just as he speaks his name backwards to return to his dimension, and the two opposing forces tear the being apart, destroying him forever. Horrified by the fact he took a life, Superman walks into the room where he stored gold Kryptonite, and Lois says that's the last anyone ever saw of him, the world thinking the now powerless hero went outside and froze to death out of guilt. Back in the present, the reporter wraps up his interview, saying goodbye to Lois and her mechanic husband Jordan, who also brings in their son Jonathan. The couple feel relieved that they're alone again, and they discuss what to do with the rest of their day, happy to be living a normal life unlike what Superman had to go through. And it ends with the parents oblivious to the fact their son has just crushed a lump of coal into a diamond with his super strength, confirming Superman is indeed his father. What can I say? This story is a classic, and rightfully considered one of the greatest Superman stories ever written. Admittedly, it is a little disjointed, with a lot of the story feeling more like a succession of events than a flowing narrative, but it all comes together in the end, and it legitimately feels like a finale for the Man of Steel. Which it technically was, as it closes out the Silver Age incarnation of the hero so DC could relaunch the continuity in the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths. With nobody better than legendary writer Alan Moore to send the hero off. I'd say read it, but you probably already have, as, unlike most of the Imaginary Stories line, it's been reprinted multiple times. It is absolutely essential reading for any fan of Superman or comics in general. To the point it's surprising it hasn't been adapted into its own DC animated feature.
