Reign of the Supermen #311: League of Supermen

Source: Superman Annual vol.2 #8 (1996)
Type: Alternate futureLong after the Earth was dead, on a colony world seeded by humanity, Superman's mantle was taken up by the League of Supermen. Among the treasure brought from the home planet, the first settlers found a recording of Superman's consciousness and bits of his DNA. This "essence" could manifest as a hologram, and would go on the lead a group of bio-engineered Supermen from his Shrine. The first League looked like this:
But this story isn't about them. Rather, the current crop of Supermen each have one of Superman's powers, though genetic modifications hasn't yet been perfected. Those powers are always on and carry a curse as well. The roster is made up of:
-Pounder, whose super-strength will crush anything he caresses.
-Flyboy, who might just float away during his sleep.
-Heat, who must discharge solar energy through his eyes rather often lest he accidentally fry someone.
-Shield, the indestructible man who feels nothing, nothing at all, ever.
-See-Through, you must wear lead lenses or else forever see the world as guts and gears.
In the course of the story, they take on two rookies whose abilities are derived technologically:
-Speed, her suit makes her super-fast but takes a physical toll.
-Tempest, whose collar gives him super-breath, though he must be careful not to inhale and burst his lungs.

David Micheline's story (as drawn by a bunch of artists) is respectful of the Superman legend. Though holo-Superman seems to have gone bad and started to build a giant weapon, it's all a ploy to make the League rebel and destroy his matrix. He has sensed that his lack of physicality has made him start to go insane and he gives up his existence before it's too late. And the League continues, for while Superman's essence is gone, his spirit lives on. On that unnamed planet. Somewhere out there. In days yet to come.

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