A parallel world is one that co-exists with our own on another dimensional plane. This dimensional barrier has been crossed both ways during the Silver Age - sometimes parallel versions of people have come through to our world and sometimes our heroes have traversed the planes to find themselves in a world very similar to their own but strangely different, usually in intriguing ways. On some occasions we, as readers, merely glimpse into a parallel world to see oddly familiar faces in a new light. Parallel-World Chameleon Boy and Proty II 30th Century Superman (No Legion)
Known Members: Chameleon Boy and Proty II Synopsis: The Chameleon Boy and Proty II from our universe use an extradimensional portal machine to travel to another universe in order to pay a visit to their parallel world counterparts. Comments: The Parallel-World Chameleon Boy and Proty II seem to be friendly with each other and, given the infinitude of the multiverse, the odds of this being the same Parallel-World Chameleon Boy from Superboy No. 117's "The Five Legion Traitors" (see below) are quite slim. Appearance: Superboy No. 117 (Dec. 1964) Known Members: Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid, Ultra Boy (all expelled) and Superboy Synopsis: Superboy is unaware that he was blown into an alternate dimension by a supernova and, back on Earth, five parallel Legionnaires - Brainiac 5, Chameleon Boy, Element Lad, Invisible Kid and Ultra Boy - appear in 1930s Smallvile and attempt to expose his identity. The Superboy of this parallel universe helps the Boy of Steel, who returns the five criminals to 30th century Metropolus. Comments: This parallel universe's Legion does not appear in the story, however Superboy speculates that the five "traitors" were once Legionnaires "thrown out of the club for conduct unbecoming Legion members". The parallel Superboy does not confirm this theory but according to a Science Police officer they were "the most wanted criminals of our time!" In this way, those former members are that universe's equivalent of the Fatal Five and we can't help but wonder if, in the cosmic balance of it all, that perhaps Tharok & Co. are heroes in this universe! Note that in this universe place names are misspelled from our point of view: Smallville is written Smallvile and Metropolis is spelled Metropolus. Lana Lang in this reality does not suspect that Clark Kent is Superboy. A parallel version of Pete Ross is seen but it is not known how he differs from our own Pete. It is possible that Pete is the one who is always scheming to reveal Superboy's identity and Lana is his loyal supporter who secretly knows his identity!
Appearances: Superman No. 181 (Nov. 1965), Action Comics No. 338 & 339 (June & July 1966), World's Finest Comics No. 166 (May 1967) Known Members: None. Most likely there is no Legion of Super-Heroes in this parallel reality, since our Legion was a group of teenagers who were inspired by the teenaged Superboy from the past. Considering that there has been an adult Superman carrying on the original's work from generation to generation, it is possible, however, that other super-hero teams - both adult and teenaged - are based on this parallel-Earth. Synopsis: In this reality, the Superman line has continued, unbroken, for 1,000 years and his 20th descendant officially takes up the mantle as Earth's greatest protector. Comments: As it is never stated that these stories are of an "imaginary" nature, we have chosen to list them here as parallel-world stories. For a more detailed essay on the Superman of the 30th century, click on the picture below...
Appearances: Action Comics No. 388 (May 1970) Known Members: Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad Synopsis: Because of a professor's experiment-gone-wrong, the real Earth is replaced with a duplicate version of itself where all of the parallel inhabitants behave in a mixed-up and insane manner. The real Superman is able to reverse the process and return the real Earth to its rightful place. Comments: The Legionnaires of this universe have a "time square" instead of a time bubble, which they use to travel to the 20th century to warn Superman not to marry Lois Lane; an edition of the Daily Planet printed a year from then states she will lose his super-uniform, thus forcing him into hiding. These Legionnaires have an annual cookie drive, which Lois decides not to give to anymore after they tell Superman she "has all the brains of a cucumber!" The duplicate-Saturn Girl has a crescent moon as an insignia. The duplicate-Cosmic Boy wears the glove of Colossal Boy on his left hand. The duplicate-Lightning Lad wears the Flash's lightning bolt insignia.
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