Adventures of Superman #540 (1996)
by Karl Kesel & Jerry Ordway
pencils by Terry Dodson
cover by Stuart Immonen
Right at the beginning of the Final Night crossover, a future Legionnaire debuts in a Superman book.
As a reminder, the world is currently in perpetual darkness while the Sun-Eater is busy eating.
But that doesn’t mean the show business stops, because we focus on a theater in Metropolis.
This is especially important for theater star Nancy Nolan, who we will get to know better soon.
There’s nothing to worry about, this theater is perfectly safe.
Now if this was a theater in Gotham City, there would be more serial killers in the audience than actors on stage.
Does Nancy giving out tickets for those in need mean she’s a saint, or that she’s an opportunist getting free publicity in a period where nobody else would go to theater?
The story doesn’t give an outright answer to this specific question, but it will definitely give you an answer to the principle behind my question.
Since this is a Superman book, it’s time we check on Mister Mullet himself.
This is a rough time for him: Lois has left him, Perry White has cancer, and the lack of yellow sunlight is quickly diminishing his powers.
I really like how the post-Crisis Superman books utilized Perry. He truly grew into being a complex character and kind of the embodiment of journalistic integrity, unlike the Silver Age Perry who was a madman.
Not to mention that this is an overt metaphor for what is going on in the crossover.
But back to the main plot: it’s showtime!
The public thinks this is part of the perspective, but Nancy immediately recognizes the intruder.
This leads into a 3-panel montage that shows us that, unbeknownst to her public, Nancy got pregnant with twins…
…who she abandoned to a team of questionable scientists, covering the kids with burlap masks.
In a Legion era that is far from lacking terrible Legionnaire parents, Nancy is just. The. Worst.
Not really sure why you thought it would be a great idea to surprise her during the show, Andrew.
Unless you did it to ensure she wouldn’t reject you again, in which case it’s kind of brilliant.
And then the ceiling collapses from the sheer amount of snow.
Luckily for everybody, Superman’s eternal side chick Lori Lemaris was attending the show, so she can telepathically call for help.
Given his diminishing powers, it’s entirely possible he might not have heard it without her.
Andrew did manage to save his mother though, demonstrating super-strength.
He’s in the shadows when he does this, so there is no indication that he transformed.
Superman’s joke can sound pretty insensitive, but I doubt he peeked under the helmet so he can’t know Andrew’s face is disfigured.
There’s like three people in all of fiction as good as Superman at giving inspirational speeches, so of course he convinces Andrew to be a hero.
At long last, Andrew is able to talk to his mother…
I told you she is just. The. Worst.
We will get to know Ferro a lot better in the Legion books. He’s not one of my favorites, but it’s hard not feel sympathy for this poor guy.
I would understand if he turned into a supervillain after this… but Ferro is such a nice guy that he decides to deliver newspapers for free.
Legion significance: 7/10
Ferro isn’t the most vital member of the team, but he will stick around for quite a while and turn out to be an interesting character. Shockingly, his origin isn’t discussed all that often… but I am glad to say we are not seeing his mother again.
Silver Age-ness: 0/10
Not really.
Does it stand the test of time? 10/10
An understated little story, but one you could easily do today without changing anything except Superman’s haircut.
Nancy turned out to be quite a monster, more interested in covering up her secret that even attempting to have a relationship with her abandoned son.
Considering that she never shows up again and there is just one quick mention of her doing new shows in a future Ferro appearance… I like to believe that her career completely bombed and she fell into obscurity, without ever learning that the son she abandoned will become a galactic celebrity.
Who did it better?
We are not done with Ferro’s origin, so I will compare him to the original Ferro Lad when the time comes.