Credits | Characters | Plot Summary | Comments | Reprinted In Superman Chronology | Legion-Relevant Stories Editor: Mort Weisinger Writer: Edmond Hamilton Penciller: Curt Swan Inker: George Klein Feature Character: The Superman of 2966 (Klar Ken T5477) Supporting Characters: In the future: Lyra 3916, Jay L-3388, computer PW-5598 Villains: In the future: Muto and his henchmen: Von-Don, Vrann, and Thargo Other Characters: In the future: androids of one girl and two boys, android citizens of Ulthat, citizens of Atlantis, citizens of Metropolis "Muto Versus the Man of Tomorrow" (12 pages)
The cover of this issue lists the title for this story as "Muto's Water Trap for the Future Superman". This 30th descendant of Superman appeared before in Superman No. 181/2 (Nov. 1965), where he was refered to as "the Superman of 2965." When he appears later, in World's Finest Comics No. 166 (May 1967), he will be called "the Superman of 2967." This story must take place in an alternate 30th century from that of the Legion of Super-Heroes; for details, see our essay "The Superman of 2965: A Legion-Less Future". The 30th century descendant is Superman the 20th, according to World's Finest No. 166. This story continues from the last issue. When all the living things in Metropolis start expanding, Lyra comments that, "It's a good thing modern clothes have plenty of stretch!" When Superman approaches Muto in his rocket-ship near the end of the story, he comments that Muto's two henchmen are there with him. He must be refering to Vrann and Thargo, who were introduced last issue (along with Von-Don, who was captured earlier in this story). However, they are not seen and do not even speak; in fact, none of Muto's henchman are even named in this story. Superman No. 247 (Jan. 1972) Superman: Past and Future |
The future Superman
tangles with Muto on a distant world, where the villain
uses his mind-over-matter powers to flood a valley with
sea water. Superman swoops down to rescue three children
from the waters, only to find out that they are androids.
He is covered in the sea waters which paralyze him.
Certain of his victory, Muto leaves to rejoin his gang.
Under the water, Superman uses his weakened heat vision
to change the androids' programming and making them swim
him out of the water. Superman takes the android children
to the planet Ulthat, which is populated entirely by
androids, only to receive a telepathic thought summons
from Atlantis on Earth. Muto has returned there to an
undersea base with the arsenal he stole from the Weapons
World. Returning to Earth, Superman makes a colossal
grapple with which to fish the base out of the water.
However, the finned building startes to rapidly rotate,
creating a huge waterspout that engulfs the hero.
However, Superman had taken the precaution of wearing a
flying jet which automatically starts when it is hit by
water, and he is flown to safety. He mentally contacts
the Atlanteans, who fasten the grapple to Muto's
revolving base, and Superman pulls the base out of the
ocean and captures Muto's henchman inside. Superman
returns to his secret identity of Klar Ken T5477 and
studies the Ultra-News' files on Muto and his origin,
searching for the villain's one weakness which he had
hinted at earlier. Just as he finds a clue, his fellow
reporter Lyra bursts in; Muto is making a special
broadcast, wherein he says he will bring a special doom
on Metropolis. Klar tells his friends to separate and so
they can all search for Superman, giving him a chance to
change and fly out to meet Muto. The villain is hiding in
a cloud carrying a device stolen from the Weapons World,
but when Superman enters, Muto uses his power to change
the cloud back into the sea water from which it came.
Paralyzed, Superman and the water fall to Earth, but he
is saved at the last minute by his flying jet. Meanwhile,
Muto has used the device to shoot a ray over Metropolis
which turns out to be the expander-ray; all the
inhabitants of the city start enlarging, trapping them
inside buildings when they are too big to escape through
doors or windows. They think that Superman has deserted
them but he has just travelled to Museum World and back
at super-speed in order to get an apparatus which was
used as a defence against the expander in the past. With
the people of the city saved, Superman quickly locates
Muto and his cronies in a rocket-ship. The villain shoots
out helium bombs at the hero, but of course he is
unharmed. The last bomb is filled with water, but
Superman's flying-jet saves him once again. He then
pretzel-bends all of the rocket-tubes on the ship but
Muto escapes through a hatch. Putting the ship into orbit
so he can deal with Muto's henchman later, Superman
pursues Muto to the arctic. He smelts metal from the rock
with his bare hands, creating a giant rod, and the uses
his vacuum breath to draw storm clouds over the area.
Bolts of lightning strike the rod as Muto approaches,
intent on melting the ice Superman is standing on.
However, the titanic disharge of electrical force opens a
space-warp into another dimension; as Muto was originally
born there, he is drawn through into it. The warp closes
behind him, and Superman hopes the villain stays there
permanently.