GENERATIONS: AN IMAGINARY TALE:
Generations is John Byrne's take on the concept "What if Superman and Batman debuted in 1938 and 1939 respectively, then aged in real time?" The first series starts in 1939, then each chapter jumps a decade, reflecting the type of storytelling the decade is known for. Here's how it works. Take Gold Kryptonite, for example. Gold Kryptonite was not introduced into continuity until 1962, but later Superboy encountered it. That means that retroactively, it must have existed in 1939. Similarly, when Lex Luthor was first intoduced, he had red hair. A later story revealed that Superboy was responsible for him losing his hair when they were teenagers. Therefore, in those early '30s stories, Luthor must have been wearing a wig. Got it? Okay.
ISSUE #1:
1939 - "The Vigilantes"
The first story takes place at the 1939-40 World's Fair and features Lex Luthor as one of the Ultra-Humanite's henchmen. Clark Kent is there with Lois Lane, and Bruce Wayne is there with Julie Madison. The Flying Graysons perform nightly. Superman and Batman meet face-to-face for the first time.
1949 - "Family Matters"
Lex Luthor teams up with the Joker. Lois Lane is pregnant with their first child, Joel. Robin goes on one last mission with Batman before leaving for college. Commisioner Gordon has been replaced by his son, Anthony. Superman is threatened by concentrated synthetic Kryptonite created in the lab by Lex Luthor. Lois is exposed to Gold Kryptonite, rendering the baby she is carrying powerless for life. Batman is married, but his wife's face remains unshown and her identity unrevealed throughout the course of the series. This, I believe, is to allow the reader to decide for himself if it is Kathy Kane or Selina Kyle.
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Batman is married, but his wife's face remains unshown and her identity unrevealed throughout the course of the series. This, I believe, is to allow the reader to decide for himself if it is Kathy Kane or Selina Kyle.
I always thought that that was a mis-step. Good grief, just show who it is! None of it's "canon", after all.
No mystery. She's just poorly lit!
JOHN BYRNE: "The woman I, personally, wanted to be Mrs. Wayne did not 'fit' this timetable. Plus, everyone had their own ideas on who Bruce would marry, so a mystery seemed the way to go."
This revelation raises the question, "Who did John Byrne see as Mrs. Bruce Wayne?" Julie Madison? Silver St. Cloud?
Apparently Kathy Kane. But he acknowledged that there was no consensus.
https://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=2&T1=Questions...
Oh, so it was Kathy Kane. Good. That's who I wanted it to be. Thanks! I guess it didn't fit because she would have had to have been introduced in 1949, long before the character's first appearance. Because "Mrs. Wayne" appeared alongside "Batman II" and "Robin II" et al, I didn't even really consider that.
ISSUE #2:
1959 - "Strange Days"
Mr. Mxyzptlk trams up with Bat-Mite, but they switch opponents. Clark and Lois's second child, Kara, begins to develop powers. Lois gives her a necklace which simulates the rays of a red sun to keep her powers in check until Kara is mature enough to handle them. This is the same necklace wore when she was pregnant with Kara, to protect her in case Kara's powers began to manifest in the womb. Lois smokes cigarettes, as was so common in the day. Dick Grayson is a lawyer now, and Bruce Wayne, Jr. has taken over the role of Robin.
1969 - "Changing Times"
Superman, Batman (Dick Grayson), Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Alan Scott) and flash (Barry Alan) meetin Nixon's Oval Office to discuss Viet Nam war protests. Joel Kent is already serving, but his platoon has been missing for five days. Batman tells Superman that Bruce Wayne, Jr., his Robin, plans to enlist soon. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne, Sr. visits the grave of Alfred Pennyworth, who appears next to him as a "ghost" (or perhaps a manifestation of his memories of his). Later, Batman and Robin visit Joker in his cell in Rock Island prison in hope of finding out more about the "Joker Junior" who has been plaguing them, but Joker denies ever having a son or a protegé.
Lois Lane is diagnosed with cancer. It is revealed that Perry White died of cancer. The blonde Kara operates as supergirl while wearing ablack wig. She has half of her father's powers. In Viet Nam, Joel Kent and his platoon have been operating secretly behind enemy lines. Lt. Kent is not a good guy. He has overseen the destuction of a village of non-combatants and is about to authorize the killing of te survivors, all women and children and one old man. He is about to be fragged by those under his command.
Back in the Batcave, Bruce, Batman and Robin discuss strategy. The public at large believes that there has only ever been one Batman. Using a technique developed by the Flash, Robin keeps a miniature Batsuit in his utility belt should the need ever arise for his to impersonate Batman. Following a clue left by Joker Junior, Batman follows him while Robin visits Joker in his jail cell. when he discovers that Joker has escaped, Robin rushes to follow Batman, but Batman has already fallen into Joker Junior's deadly trap, sliced deeply by razor blades laced with hallucinogenic drugs. By the time Robin gets there, Batman is already dead, but Robin changes costumes with his to presume the illusion that there is only one Batman and that he is still alive. The Joker is captured.
Later, at dick Grayson's funeral, Bruce Wayne and the Ghost of Alfred watch from a nearby hill. Bruce Wayne, Jr. has cancelled his plans to enlist so that he may become the new Batman. Apparently, he and Kara Kent have a budding romance, but he puts that on hold. Mrs. Wayne is not at the funeral because she never forgave Dick for allowing Bruce, Jr. to become Robin at such a young age. When they return home, the Kents receive a telegram informing them that Joel has been killed in action.
I was never wild about the way that Dick was killed off,here. I mean, i know that innthis kind of story, characters can get "killed", but it felt like another mis-step to me.
And chapter 1 is sort of a New York World's Fair Comic...
ISSUE #3:
1979 - "Twilight of the Gods"
This chapter begins with the wedding announcement of Kara Kent (26) and Bruce wayne, Jr. (29). Lois, about 70 years old now, is in the hospital undergoing cancer treatments. Clark wears makeup to make him appear to be Lois's age, but as superman he still looks as young as ever. In Earth orbit, Batman and Supergirl (soon to Superwoman) fight off Brainiac. At the Daily Planet, Jimmy Olsen, three months shy of his sixtieth birthday, tells editor-in-chief Clark Kent of his plans to reture in six weeks. In the Himalayas, Bruce Wayne Sr. scales a peak and is capruted by Ra's al Ghul and his daughter Talia. Ra's al Ghul ushers Wayne to the Lararus pit with a proposition.
Bruce Wayne Jr.'s mother stops by to see him in advance of the wedding. It has been almost five years since they last saw each other. Elsewhere, a man in green and purple "Lex Luthor" armor (complete with helmet) discusses his nefarious plans with his wife Vietnames, Mei-Lai. the day of the wedding arrives. The armored man attacks, blasting Clark Kent with intense Kryptonite radiation. Kara switches to Supergirl/woman and sets off in pursuit, revealing her and her father's secret identities to all. A forcefield forms around Clark, Lois and Lois's oncologist, who reveals himself to be Lex Luthor in disguise. Superman is still incapacitated by the Kryptonite, and Lex strangles Lois in her wheelchair. Then he transports himself away.
By this time, Supergirl/woman has caught up to the man who attacked them, who then sheds his armor to reveal a green and Pur[le "Lex Luthor" jumpsuit beneath. More shocking that that, however, is that Kara recognizes him has her long-thought-dead brother, Joel. His men did, in fact, try to kill him, but he was founf and nursed back to health by Mei-Lai. Soon after that, his is found by Lex Luthor, who fills his head with lies about his father. Lex granted Joel superpowers, which he now uses to kill his sister by punching his fist through her chest. Shortly after that, Batman finds her dea body. By that time, Joel has returned to Luthor's hideout, where Lex reveals that is was in fact him who had lied to Joel all along, and the artificial powers he granted him will kill him within minutes.
Superman arrives just in time to see his son die. He lost his wife, his daughter and his son all in the same day thanks toLuthor, who again transports himself away. Just then Mei-Lai appears holding Superman's grandson. Superman confirns that the baby is a genetic match with his microscopic vision but, like his father, the baby has no super-powers. Batman suggests that, "In this child, perhaps we can build the true union of our families... and a hope for a better tomorrow!"
1989 - "Crime and Punishment"
As the story opens, President (and former test pilot) Harold Jordan orders Superman's arrest for the televised murder of Lex Luthor. Batman (still Bruce Wayne, Jr.) flies to the Fortress of Solitude to retrieve him. Batman knows a secret way in but Superman is nowhere to be seen, so Batman starts destroying Superman's precious mementos to draw him out. This ploy works, and they get into a brief fistfight. Superman ends up with a bruised and bloodied face, and admits that he is now human. He had finally tracked Luthor down after 10 years. Superman didn't know it, but after the deaths of Lois and Joel and Kara, Luthor stepped into a timewarp into the future and, from his point of view, has been in1989 for only two days. Nevertheless, in that time he has managed to kill Jimmy Olsen, his wife Lucy, their kids and Mayor Peregine White, Jr.
Superman's costume now sports a black border around the "S" shield. "Luthor" reveals that he is actually the Ultra-Humanite, and has been ever since 1939. He also points out the cufflinks he is wearing, wheich are made from Gold Kryptonite. Superman is now powerless and contained within a forcefield. There is a piece of debris within the field, however, from when Superman initially crashed through the wall, and although organic material cannot pass through, this metal bar can. Superman hurls it at the Luthor/Humanite, but it becomes lodged in some equipment, electrocuting him. The Luthor/Humanite had a failsafe backup plan, however, which recorded the moment of his death and broadcast it for the world to see.
Superman allows himself to be taken into custody by Batman, and pleads guilty before the World Court. He cannot plead self defense, he says, because he can't be sure he didn't subconsciously want to kill him. Bob Ingersoll, however, once wrote one of his "The Law is a Ass" columns which stated even if superman had intended to take Luthor's life, it's still self defense. (I just spent about ten minutes looking for that article in Ingersoll's online archives, but I can't find it.) Under the circumstances (him being Superman and all), the court sentences him to ten years, but now that he's powerless, he wouldn't survive a day in the general populace of a prison, yet to condemn him to solitary confinement would be cruel and unusual punishment. Batman supplies the solution: send him into the Phantom Zone.
Again, I wasn't wild about Kara being killed off, either.
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