# Superman comics question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013 "2018-01-20T02:33:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/1 "2018-01-20T02:33:14Z")
You know how DC used to do “Imaginary stories”? The stories existed outside normal continuity and could be about virtually anything. “The Death of Superman”, Superman marries Lois, Batman and Superman have sons, whatever. Well, I’m wondering if one was ever done with this idea. Jor-El warned of Krypton’s doom and was regarded as a crank. But what if he’d been believed? Maybe not by the whole planet, but by a group of Kryptonians with the where-with-all to do something about it. So instead of just one little rocket ship carrying baby Kal-El, a whole flotilla of ships came to Earth. Not while I was reading comics it wasn’t but maybe later? ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/2 "2018-01-20T02:55:36Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > You know how DC used to do “Imaginary stories”? The stories existed outside normal continuity and could be about virtually anything. “The Death of Superman”, Superman marries Lois, Batman and Superman have sons, whatever. Well, I’m wondering if one was ever done with this idea. Jor-El warned of Krypton’s doom and was regarded as a crank. But what if he’d been believed? Maybe not by the whole planet, but by a group of Kryptonians with the where-with-all to do something about it. So instead of just one little rocket ship carrying baby Kal-El, a whole flotilla of ships came to Earth. Not while I was reading comics it wasn’t but maybe later? I can’t answer your question with certainty, but in Supes’ 80 years, I would imagine a story like you described has been written. FWIW, The Death of Superman, Superman marries Lois, Batman and Superman have sons, is all in canon now and has been for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/3 "2018-01-20T03:17:51Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > Batman and Superman have sons, is all in canon now and has been for a while. With each other? ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/4 "2018-01-20T03:26:58Z")
There was the city of [Argo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argo_City) that was protected by a dome built by Jor-El’s brother. And then there is [Kandor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor) that was shrunken and is kept in the Fortress of Solitude. Lots of variations of these cities to chew on. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/5 "2018-01-20T03:45:24Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > There was the city of [Argo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argo_City) that was protected by a dome built by Jor-El’s brother. > And then there is [Kandor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor) that was shrunken and is kept in the Fortress of Solitude. > Lots of variations of these cities to chew on. Indeed. Either would be an acceptable way to the story of large numbers of Kryptonians walking the Earth. (Or rather flying its skys.) ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/6 "2018-01-20T04:30:02Z")
IIRC there was a 70s comic that dealt with the idea they believed Jor-El except in this case they use their technology to solve Kryptons explodey problem. About 15 years later a teenage Supes is a model student and taking after his father when his father learns he made a miscalculation and in fact they just delayed the problem not solved it. Jor-El begs his son to leave but Supes refuses because he wants to help his father solve the problem together, they try and think they came up with a solution but then the planet blows up killing everyone. So basically Supes had to leave as an infant or else he’d try to save the day but fail and die. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/7 "2018-01-20T15:26:13Z")
While they didn’t come to Earth, there was a What if story where Kal El of Krypton was picked to be a Green Lantern. He was able to stay on Krypton because Jor El was believed and able to stop Krypton from exploding. Also, FWIW, in most of the modern continuities, the Kryptonians didn’t disbelieve JL because they are just assholes; it was because Braniac ran interference in order to ensure he could save himself. ETA: Ironically all of your examples of imaginary stories are actually things that happened in the main continuity of Superman 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/8 "2018-01-20T17:38:22Z")
Action just finished an arc which sort of covered this idea - actually in-continuity, though encountering a reset button at the end, due to its timey-wimey nature. Superman and Booster Gold went back in time to see if Jor-El survived (long story behind THAT), and ended up (through some accident of fate that I am unsure of since I came into the arc partway through) creating a timeline where Jor-El, working with Zod was able to save a significant number of Kryptonians, and they spread through the galaxy. (Booster dragged Superman away before the timeline ‘set’, so the regular one was left unchanged. Superman was NOT pleased with him, though he understood why he did it and eventually let it go.) > [@Quimby](#): > > Ironically all of your examples of imaginary stories are actually things that happened in the main continuity of Superman 🙂 Batman and Superman’s sons is a notable one, because they (Damien and Jon, AKA Robin and Superboy) have a title of their own right now - Super-Sons, which is the title used to refer to the old Imaginary Stories about the sons of Superman and Batman back in the day. (Some slight difference, of course - their mothers (Talia and Lois) are known, and they’re both younger than their IS versions were - Damien’s 13 or 14, Jon 10 or 11, IIRC.) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/9 "2018-01-20T17:38:25Z")
nm - ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/10 "2018-01-20T18:29:54Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > With each other? I would pay for that comic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/11 "2018-01-20T20:24:30Z")
One of the _“Superman marries Lois Lane”_ stories wasn’t imaginary, it took place on “Earth 2”. Whenever they didn’t have the balls to do a storyline that would significantly alter future plots they’d drag out the Earth 2 nonsense! Wait a minute! Aren’t ALL comic book stories imaginary? :smack: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/12 "2018-01-20T22:21:22Z")
There was also a story where Jor-El completed the larger version of his rocket, so he and Lara escaped along with Kal-El. They landed on Earth and adopted the ways of the planet although, IIRC, they didn’t hide their super powers. ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/13 "2018-01-20T22:37:43Z")
They did an Elseworlds where the Kryptonians believed Jor-El and they all went to Earth. Superman was (I believe) born on Earth. Grown-up Supes and Batman fight against a totalitarian Kryptonian regime. Good readin’. > **[Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #3 - Unforgiven (Issue)](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/superman-the-man-of-steel-annual-3-unforgiven/4000-205833/)** ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/14 "2018-01-21T02:00:35Z")
That one was pretty much what I was looking for, Asylum. Not quite told with “Silver Age” sensibility, but on the money with my question. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/15 "2018-01-21T02:51:29Z")
Death of Superman has always been canon, in the post-crisis continuity anyway. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/16 "2018-01-21T03:02:05Z")
This is the “Death of Superman” that I was referring to. [http://ilikecomicsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/imported/SUPERMAN-V1-149-Silver-Age-DC-classic-1st-death-of-Superman-291574004254.jpg](http://ilikecomicsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/imported/SUPERMAN-V1-149-Silver-Age-DC-classic-1st-death-of-Superman-291574004254.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/17 "2018-01-21T03:08:36Z")
The previous season of Supergirl had a plot line in which the many survivors of the planet Daxom, a planet of shiftless ne’er-do-wells from the Kryptonian system, came to Earth after Kryptonian rubble rendered their planet uninhabitable. Although not as powerful as Superman, once they built up some solar power they were pretty darn powerful. Things probably would have gone quite poorly if they had been allowed to stay. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/18 "2018-01-21T04:08:34Z")
Well, _Superman_ #132 (October 1959) had an imaginary story (technically the framing device was “real” - Batman and Robin prompt Superman to run a simulation on the super-computer in his fortress on the question of “What if Krypton had not exploded?”) Kal-El grows to adulthood on a still-vibrant Krypton, ends up wearing a “space patrol” uniform identical to the Superman costume, ends up as a sidekick of sorts to another Kryptonian named Xan-Du who gets superpowers from accidental exposure to a ray of some kind and adventures as “Futuro”. Lois Lane stowed away on an experimental rocket ship and landed on Krypton, falls in love with Futuro, who takes her back to Earth to become a superhero there. Before leaving, Xan-Du uses the ray again to give powers to Kal-El, who will remain on Krypton as its “Superman.” A more recent take was _Superman_ #18 (volume 2, June 1988) in which Superman has a vivid hallucination about a Krypton that heeded Jor-El’s warning in time for a mass evacuation. The exiles land on Earth and soon start to take it over, with Jor-El himself taking up with the human resistance and gradually driving the Kryptonians away. The hallucination ends when Jor-El confronts the Kryptonian leader and discovers it is his own wife, Lara, who introduces him to his son, Kal, who was born on Earth. Overall, it sounds like the precursor to the story **Asylum** cited. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/19 "2018-01-21T21:10:53Z")
I was a big fan of Elseworlds books. I started buying those trades before I started to buy the normal ones. My favorite Superman ones were Red Sun (Superman lands in the Soviet Union), The Nail ( the Kents get a flat tire and never find Superman’s Rocket) and Speeding Bullets (Kal El is taken in by Thomas and Martha Wayne). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013/20 "2018-01-22T14:17:58Z")
Does the dream sequence from “For the man who has everything” count? It depicts a world where krypton never exploded and is seemingly idyllic, but is instead being torn apart by factionalism. Of course, the whole thing is really Superman’s desire for his ideal life battling his subconscious knowledge it’s all fake… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-comics-question/807013.md?page=2)