Spoilers!
Whether it’s the 20th century or the 853rd century, villains are obsessed with defeating Superman because he represents all that is good and just in the universe. So it is in Grant Morrison’s 1999 graphic novel, DC One Million, with drawing by Val Semeiks. Superman is the Man of Tomorrow, the man of all ages, and it’s especially a profound notion when you realize that all the other metahumans and superpowered beings (and Batman) look to him for guidance and inspiration, too. In a battle spanning the ages, they’ll need Superman (Supermen) more than ever.
In DC One Million, so named because if DC Comics kept printing monthly issues until the 853rd century, that is when the millionth issue of Action Comics would be printed, is also so named because a million Uruguayans are killed in a deflected nuclear bomb attack by the immortal supervillain Vandal Savage. Because of his immortality, he’s a brilliant tactician, who has teamed with Solaris, essentially an A.I. anti-sun, to kill Superman Prime. Superman Prime is the original Superman who has spent thousands of years at the center of the sun after everyone he knew and loved died. In the 853rd century, they are awaiting his return. The Justice Legion Alpha of that time journeys back to bring the 20th century Justice League of America to witness his return. Instead, because of Savage’s machinations, the what-is-thought archaic and overmatched JLA is stuck in the future while Justice Legion Alpha is stuck in the very distance past. Solaris plans to use the last piece of kryptonite in the universe, buried on Mars and un(marsed?) by Savage, to kill Superman Prime. Solaris said, “I will tear down the sun and take his place in the sky.” I read that as both taking the place of the sun and Superman in the sky.
But of course, Superman. Superman and Solaris have been rivalrous for centuries — through Superman Prime and descendants of the “House of El” — with various battles and other superheroes joining in to assist Superman. Heck, there was even a time when Solaris turned good (at the cost and death of one Superman), but eventually, he turned bad again. It’s noted in the oral history that humans were “turning away from thinking machines in favor of human mind potential.” How prescient! Superman won the day again not because he’s the most powerful being, although he is, but because he’s “nobler, more caring, more selfless.” The oral history continues, “That dynasty, although of alien origins, always represented what is best about the human race, while Solaris, born of man …” The oracle history was cut off, but presumably it would say something like, “… born of man, reflects its worst impulses.”
The Superman of the 853rd century quite literally punches the timeframe until he’s able to punch his way to his future to help the 20th century JLA. That said, Green Lantern from the 20th century is able to turn Solaris supernova and contain an exploding sun in his hands via his ring. That was pretty cool. But not as cool as Superman Prime finally emerging from the sun golden and creating some sort of superpowered version of Lois Lane; his love and world returned to him. (I lost the thread somewhat, but somehow the heroes were able to also send Savage back in time to the moment the nuclear bomb went off in Uruguay, killing him.)
I was somewhat lost at times with this graphic novel, which I owe to my unfamiliarity with some of the characters and comic book lore up to that point in time, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it because the best of DC Comics means the best of Superman: the representation of all that is good and just in the world, and the steward of our ability and yearning for the good and just.
Milam's Musings 