Superman: The Man of Tomorrow
Chapter 1: Just Another Tuesday
Midtown Metropolis
An older, cigar-chomping newspaper editor watches from his penthouse office window a helicopter fly off to the latest breaking story. "Olsen! You getting any shots there? We're going live in 2 minutes!", barked a concerned Perry White through an earpiece. "I'm almost on the scene, Mr White, and my name's Jimmy!", replied a freckled, red-headed pip squeak of an intern. "Right, right. Just trying to help ya get a pic of this guy before Gotham Daily swoops in, Ol— I mean Jimmy. The helicopter crew giving you shit?" "Not at all, Mr White. They're fin— hold up, that's Parasite holding the Mayor hostage!", Jimmy shrieks. "You said it was just some Z-list villain I was reporting on for my first time on camera!" "I wasn't lying, kid. Ya got this, and remember, smile for the Daily Planet like your bowtie's brand new!", Perry signs off from his office swivel chair.
"Well, fellas, there's our story", Jimmy stammers as he hops off the chopper. "Let's uh,… Let's do it the same way Lois—" "Yeah, yeah, like Lois Lane would. Kid, just report the news how you do", replied the best boy strapping on Jimmy's reporter mic. "Not everyone has her big blue Boy Scout for a lead." "Fair point, Jerry—" "And we're live in ten, kid. It's showtime." Jimmy, more anxious than ever, gulps out the fear and straightens his bowtie. "Hi, Jimmy Olsen reporting live at the Lexcorp Piers! Mayor Shuster has been taken hostage by the power-stealing villain Parasite, demanding a ransom of $15 million for his safe return at Warehouse 15."
Suddenly, as if it was their cue, a strong, blue and red gust of wind slams down into the dockside warehouse roof like a bullet. "Was that—?", asks the cameraman. "Folks, there you have it, on camera! Our hometown hero, Superman, has swooped in to save the day! Or at least I hope. Hopefully not a clone, or robot, or dude in his suit, or robot again—" BOOM! The same red and blue blur from before thrusts in front of Jimmy Olsen, as if some force of energy blasted him out of the scene. "Holy cats! Superman, it is you!.. Is it?", Olsen asked, cautiously approaching the muscular man. "Is Metropolis still the coolest city in America?", he replies, catching his breath.
"It IS you! Since you're the real deal, ya mind telling our viewers hHOO BOY you're taller than I realized", Jimmy exclaims to the dismay of his crew. "Tell us, what's your plan for taking down a Z-lister like Parasite?" "Z-LISTER?! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A Z-LISTER?!", bellowed a deep, sinister voice as a purple blot of rage steamrolls towards Olsen. "What's your name, son?", Superman asks in a soft yet stern manner. "Jimmy Olsen, sir—" "Move to the left, Jimmy; it's part of my plan." "WHAT KIND OF Z-LISTER KILLS THE MAYOR AND WINS, FRECKLES?", yelled Parasite; a purple sponge-like behemoth of raw, stolen power.
Superman lands an uppercut square on Parasite's chin, sending him up in the air 20 feet. "Jimmy, do you want to be a real pal?", Superman asks while throwing fist after fist after fist to Parasite. "Y-yeah." "Go call the cops, tell them it's safe to rescue the mayor." "TRY IT, FRECKLES! LISTEN TO YA BIG BLUE STICK IN THE MUD OVER HERE!", the purple n'er-do-well taunts as he continues to consume Superman's life force. "Jerry, call them now and pass me the camera!", Jimmy demands as an idea in his head pops up. "Kid, what're you doing, we're still live on air!", Jerry replies, throwing him the camera. "I'm being a pal of Superman's!", Olsen yells, running to the dock warehouse. "There goes another reporter. Get the chopper closer to the warehouse!"
Parasite sees the young reporter dash towards the warehouse, all to his dismay. "YA KNOW WHAT, SUPES? I THINK THE SUPER NERD IS GONNA BE A BETTER FIGHT, DON'T YA THINK?", he clammers on, breaking Superman's defense combo with a right hook to the chest and flying straight to the warehouse. Olsen bursts into the empty warehouse, seeing a man in a suit tied to a chair. "Mr Mayor, I'm Jimmy Olsen from the Daily Planet. Is that you? Are you safe?" "Mmmph mmph", the gagged politician replies, hopping towards Jimmy quickly.
"THOUGHT YOU COULD BE SUPER JUNIOR, DID YA?!", bellows Parasite once more as Jimmy unties the mayor. "WELL, YOU'RE WRONG! YOU—" The Metropolis Marvel slams Parasite into the salty seawater below. Immediately after, he grabs the mayor and Jimmy, flying them directly onto the front steps of City Hall. "Glad to see you're safe and sound, Mr Mayor. Jimmy acted like a real hero today, running in there to rescue you", Superman claims, gently dropping them down. "It couldn't have happened without you, Superman", the mayor replies, patting him on the back like a proud father.
"Well, uh, that's some VERY high praise for an intern like me", Jimmy stammers in a fan-boyish manner. "Thank you, Mr Superman—" "You're a fellow hero. Call me Kal", he replies, forgetting he's still on camera. "Ok, Kal. One quick question for the Daily Planet viewers: do you ever feel like a rescue like this could be your last rescue, if you catch my drift?" "Huh. No one's ever asked me that before", ponders a subtly shocked Kal. "I do my best to protect people like it's my last chance, even though in reality it's just another Tuesday. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go make sure our purple friend's still down in the ocean. So long, Jimmy!" In a swift red and blue blur, Superman flies off to the pier once more. "What a guy", Olsen thinks to himself while shutting off the live feed. "Hey, Jerry! How fast do ya think you guys can fly to City Hall?"
As a bright and sunny day turns into a star sprinkled, calm Metropolitan night, a familiar looking man in a haphazardly slapped-on suit knocks on the apartment front door of his date. "I'll be out in a minute, Clark; come on in", shouted a startled voice from her bathroom. "Looks like you got some new groceries, Lois", Clark states, using his X-ray vision on her fridge while fixing his tie. "Can anyone see it or can only you see it?", she asks in a snarky manner, still getting ready for her night with Clark. "I guess it's just me. Some would say I have 'super' vision." "C'mon, Clark! You don't have any better puns? You know I love a good pun." "It was funnier in my head." "You know something else that's funnier in your head?" "…please don't do the—" "YOUR BATMAN IMPRESSION!", snarls Lois Lane, sliding into the living room wearing a flowing red dress while using her hair towel as an impromptu cape.
"You're never gonna let that one holiday party joke die, will you?", he chuckles, kissing her hello. "Damn right I won't; even Perry lets out a good cackle every time he hears it. Careful with the hair, Smallville, this took an hour and a half!" "It's a good look. Is that a new dress?" "Is your button down still wrinkly? Or was that the wind on the flight over here?" "Sadly, wind control and dry cleaning aren't on my mental list of superpowers." "It should be, along with being punctual. I swear, you've never been late for a single date! You can't be THAT super, give the everyman a chance", Lois replies, locking up her apartment. "That's just good old fashioned Kent family values there, so it kind of counts. And who's this everyman guy with a first name like The?" "Alright, my big farm boy. Save some of that game for Sardi's, will ya?" "What game?" Lois lets out an audible snicker, and buries herself deep in Clark's right bicep as the coy couple stroll down the bright lights of Downtown Metropolis to their restaurant.
"Are you sure Perry didn't slide the maitre d a wad of cash the night before? This is the type of table that celebs get out of a favor", Lois states in awe. "Turns out the NYU quarterback profile was more popular than we thought, and I didn't have to save up as much for a special night like this." "You're shitting me! That was a great piece, but it was good enough for seats like THIS?" "Well, if I'm being honest, a friend of mine saved the owner's daughter in that subway crash a couple months back, and he insisted I get a nice table on my next visit." "He knows?" "No, but he passed it onto me. You know Superman doesn't fight for glory or fame, he does because he can and it's the right thing to do." "There's my Kansas kid and his morals higher than the Empire State Building! I don't care what you say, you came here from 193-hold up, is that..?" "Who?" "Over on your left, walking in. Baldie in black holding some blonde twig in his arms", Lois cautiously points out with her hand hiding behind her black leather clutch. "…Luthor." "Really? I thought he was supposed to be released from Rikers a month from now." "That's him, alright. I'm starting to feel that slither of Kryptonite on his right ring ANDDD she's gone."
"Hey! Hey, excuse me", Lois says, forcefully sliding in front of the suspected criminal. "Lois Lane from the Daily Planet—" "I know exactly who you are; you're Superman's reporter with benefits", Luthor replies dryly. "What do you want, I'm trying to have a relaxing meal with an associate of mine that doesn't have a shiv inside the rice." "So it is you, Luthor! Mind if I borrow some salt from your table and ask a quick question?" "Leave the two of us alone, please", Luthor demands, imposing himself over her. "I'm not in the mood to answer any questions tonight, so go to your blue Boy Scout and let us eat." "Is he bothering you, Lois?", Clark asks sternly, grabbing her by the shoulder.
"There's no problem here,… Kent, is it?" "Clark Kent, Mr Luthor. I thought a man like you wouldn't try to hit a woman unless she's from Krypton." "Well, well, well. Look at you, trying to be a real hero, just like that quarterback. I respect that." "Damn, that WAS a popular article!", Lois muttered under her breath. "To be fair, your associate—" "Coworker." "Your 'coworker' here was harassing me in public like some kind of paparazzi, trying to squeeze info outta me!" "She's a good reporter, and gets her stories as they happen. You should still be in Rikers for another month." "Good behavior goes a long way, big man. You should know that in your profession." "I'm not a cop, just a decent reporter. You wanna explain to us on record how you really got out?" "God damnit, you two are more persistent than those animal rights people. If I let you two talk with me tomorrow morning at 10, will you let me eat in peace already?"
"If you're lying, remember you'd be lying to the press", Lois begrudgingly agrees. "I know better than lie to a paper like yours. Bring your boyfriend with you, and leave before I remove you myself." "We have reservations here, baldy. If you think-" "We understand, and we won't be late", Clark confirms, carefully unclenching Lois' fist as the couple walks back to their table. "Lemme guess, the ring and its emerald was starting to hurt you", Lois whispers in his ear.
"Not as much as your left hook was going to hurt your career", Clark commented, back in his fancy table seat. "I don't like Luther just as much as you, but Superman punching him in battle is very different than a reporter starting a fight with him at Sardi's on his first day free." "…You're 100% sure that being right all the time isn't a secret power our friend gave you some Friday night at the office bar?" "You mean Bruce?" "Sweet Jesus, Clark; you innocent cinnamon roll. Better have some good questions in mind, as long as they're not mine." "I do need some answers from him, but if you want to brainstorm a couple of questions for each other—" "So we don't ask the same thing twice?" "Yeah, exactly. I got a new couch and coffee table not too long ago." "I would, but I got a night to think of the best interview we've ever done. I'll do it myself, don't want anyone saying you did all the work for me." "Who's saying that?" "You don't check Twitter very often, do you?", Lois chuckles as she heads back home.
"What a woman", Clark mutters as a waiter gives him a bill saying "sorry she left you, it's on us".
END OF CHAPTER 1