The Terrifying Tale Of Tyrant Superman 

What's your favourite alternate Superman story?

I love how these deep dives into silver age just make every new "Evil Superman" story more redundant. Every new writer who does it thinks it's a unique take but it's been done for so long.

"Unfortunately, Ar-Val lost his powers before Lois could get around to marrying him..." --Morgan Freeman, probably

I can imagine Ar-Val, Bee-Boy, and Mon-El leaving increasingly-desperate voicemails on Clark's phone..."For God's sake, man, it's been 60 years! Haven't you found a cure yet?"

So Superman can easily restore his Lilliputian Kryptonians but chooses to leave them trapped watching movies of how awesome he is? And he’s *NOT* the evil one?!?

"Tyrant Superman" Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?

I like that Jimmy was included in the stuff that Clark gave away when he lost his powers. Does he think Jimmy is a job perk?

Homelander: "Jesus Christ man, take it easy."

Wait, GL could have re-sized the people of Kandor...at any time?! And...Superman apparently knew this all along? Umm... (Also, I can't help but imagine someone with a bullhorn repeating "New Superman!" right outside Clark's apartment window...)

Ar-Val was chosen because he was the only Kandorian with a spit curl. Has anyone noticed how the Silver Age treated the 30th Century like a place rather than a time? "The rest of the Legion are.off on a mission. But don't worry, we'll just wait for next month when everyone is present and they'll we'll contact back in the next seond, since we are communicating via time travel."

Justice for Ar-Val! Really, the ideas of a temporary replacement Superman for Kandor is a great idea. If there was a reason all the Superman robots couldn't function, and Clark slipped on a bar of soap and hit his head on kryptonite, there you go!

Ar-val could have been used in a lot more stories. For example, he could have been recruited as a freedom fighter against Injustice Superman's Regime.

I'd argue that Ar-Val did in fact get an update. The blonde Kandorian villain from Superman: Godfall is basically Ar-Val with his negative aspects dialed past 11.

IIRC, the Silver Age Green Lantern ring was able to duplicate itself, so I'm guessing that Hal just gave Kal a temporary dupe. This whole story kind of gives me Batman: Knightfall vibes. In both cases, the hero gets incapacitated, hand picks a successor to take over the superhero identity, and then tries to retire to a normal civilian life. In both cases, they wind up needing to find a way to get back in the superheroing business while their designated heir goes mad with power. Though I suppose Ar-Val never went quite as far off the rails as Azrael, even though *he* had to sacrifice himself for his redemption while Azrael got a 100 issue spinoff series. 😅

Before I realized that Sasha is dressed as the comet, I thought she was celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

I suspect their original plan was for Ar-Val to sacrifice his life for Superman but someone got cold feet so they switched it to something 'milder'... not death but something similar.

Currently watching Smallville for the "first" (as an adult, anyway) time. And I just watched the episode where Clark accidentally transfers his powers to some random kid. There are many parallells to this story in that episode. Although in that story it turns out Clark can transfer his powers to just about anyone as long as he holds on to a piece of kryptonite and gets hit by a sufficient amount of electricity.

Apparantly Superman's position requires the traditional Superman forehead hair curl. It's a necessity to the job.

The Silver Age Superman wasn't just Superboy. He was also Superbaby!

He might have Hal's ring, but Clark will never be known for the planes he flew

Ah, the times when this idea was Silver Age nonsense, and not a freaking overdone and frustrating storyline in of itself. Yes, I'm bitter and salty about the use of Injustice/Tyrant/"Subversive," Superman.

My favorite bit is the "Too bad I cannot cure the Kandorians... unless I borrow this ring from my buddy Hal!" I think I get it now; he knew all along that all but 2 Kandorians were definitely jerks who could not handle super powers, and only 2 were possible replacement Supermen. Also; why only one New Superman? Was the other guy that bad at it?

Superman was a tyrant in an episode of Batman: the Brave and the Bold, thanks to Red Kryptonite... Just thought you know that

10:30 "How could you do this? He gave you Jimmy." Considering what a pain in the ass Jimmy generally is, I think you just answered your own question about Ar-Val's motivations.

@14:07 Ar-Val joins the "I'll definitely get around to curing you... whenever" list, with Bee Boy and Mon-El 😄

Loved the vid, it was super-fun! Side tangent: I have to say, the "bottle city" thing has always amused me. I don't know if there has ever been an attempt to explain how these poor people survive, but I haven't seen it. No city is completely self-sufficient. That's why sieges work. Eventually the city runs out of food and other essentials. Does Superman drop them tiny pallets of supplies every week? What is their water source? Where do they grow enough food? I need to know!

"The Green Comet" would make a good super hero name.

"It has to be chained person energy or it doesn't work. Also it's my kink, don't judge me."

Am i the only one who sees a similarity with how Superman gets his powers back in Superman II the Donne Cut? As in a mechanism from Jor-El that transfers his life essence to Clark. Wonder if this one of the inspirations for that even if it handles way better in the film.

You do not just hint at the Red Bee without following up!

Yay for more Legion!!! Thank you, Sasha! And yes, probably the worst of Superman's forgotten promises is still Mon-El... Or is it? Since he found out as a boy that Mon-El would not be released until the 30th century, was there any point in trying? Or did he give up because of finding that out? Ugh, time travel.

This was one of the first comics I read using my own money to buy it. At the time I thought it was a great story with no flaws (of course I was in second grade then and very uncritical). Thank you very much for taking me back to my childhood and the beginnings of my love of comics!

A Clark Kent story without super power should be about how he is pretty terrible at his job now that he can't easy drop on everyone, can't fly at super speed to get scoops, and is late typing up his story at regular speed. Lois would certainly be kicking his butt for stories, until she gets stepped on by a robot or marries a really handsome statue.

9:38 "As I can't fly now..." You have Cosmic Boy's magnetism powers, Clark. Let's just see what Static has to say about this from over in the Dakotaverse: "Flying on a trashcan lid or a manhole cover too good for you, big man?" Yeah, that checks.

That powerless Clark Kent story was kinda done in the book "52". By the the time he gets his powers back after a year without them, he becomes the Daily Planets top reporter, wins a Pulitzer, and single handedly takes down Intergang.

Thanks for exposing me and other viewers to this fun new story. I like that even the Silver Age has attempted to deconstruct Superman in his own title. Unlike current deconstructions which emphasize the pathology of a tyrant who is corrupted by the excess of power to become violent, this story focused more on the pettiness and vainglorious aspects of the character. These distinct depictions may be due to being regulated by the comics code, but I feel it also reflects the changing mindsets of people at different periods of time and what they needed to feel powerful and validated as well as what readers from different times seek out in order to be stimulated.

Today's Green Lantern Cosplay is very cool. Thanks for yet another great Silver Age episode.

Once you see Anthony Starr with his glasses and natural hair, Superman's secret identity thing seems a lot more feasible.

That machine. It just gets you so stoned. You stay stoned for the rest of eternity. AR-Val. Mad stoned

Homelander is looking real different lately 😬😬😬

Suggestion for a future video: the amazing weird and cool comics "Uncanny X-Men at the State Fair of Texas". It includes a centaur/angel hybrid kicking Magneto 's butt, puzzle on professor x's head and much much more!

Homelander before homelander

F S could really stand for something much different. But it was the silver age, so former Superman it is.

All I can think is Some poor planet is about have a night of the comet situation 2:49

Tarnished Silver Age is the greatest age.

How did Jor-el know that comet would take away people's super powers? Kryptonians didn't have powers on Krypton, or did he already know they could have had powers under a different sun?

Superman would suffer less if he'd just shut his window once in a while.

To be honest, Ar-val is a story ripe to be retold with modern writers. The idea that Superman named a successor from Kandor should he ever permanently lose his superpowers? Maybe give it more of a slow burn and have it where Ar-val is given the mantle but it actually takes awhile for Superman to utilize him, and as he is brought back, have the power and responsibility go to his head. Actually play up how people are comparing him to the old Superman, maybe have him get angry how people want to give him a different name and that upsets him, so he starts creating his own disasters and fixing them, that is what triggers him to want to be the one and only Superman. And yeah, have some big name villains who normally wouldn't be so forward realize a green Superman is the perfect time to strike. Plus, having Superman having to call in favors to cobble together a superhero identity that can fight on par with Ar-val Superman, maybe a mesh of machine and magic. I think that could be a great modern Superman story!

Clark “ Bruce you haven’t always made the best selection when it came to who could substitute for you as Batman…need I remind you of Jean Paul Valley ?” Bruce “ Need I remind you of the six foot four Ar-Val stone man in your fortress “ lol …did anyone else notice how little Superman of FS looked like he was dying or even hurt when Ar-Val chained him to the power converter 🤨 …Anyway Luv the Kryptonite green wig & outfit …Keep Up The Outstanding Work Sasha 🖖🏾

A litigious villain? Nothing is more terrifying. But seriously did Superman just jack Hal's ring for what was essentially a joyride?

Love your Clark's voice over!

"Where's Hal, Clark?" He just slipped on a banana peel and knocked himself out. He'll be fine...

Jimmy Olsen: Who's the best blonde Superman Homelander: I'm stronger, I'm smarter, I'm better, I am better Ar-Val: Excuse me

3:45 According to Hal Jordan himself, “(sigh) My Power Ring can do anything for me except get me the one thing in the world I want most-Carol!” ❤😂

It was an interesting story. I liked your mentioning Beeboy again. I remember hearing the story/song "Eric the Half a Bee" by the Monty Python Players.

This story could easily be continued into today's era. Bring him back via the Lazerus volcano. Make a new Reign of Superman starting with him. The other 3? Off hand I have no idea.

Girl, how do you find time to keep putting out all this fun content? You're spoiling us. If you ever take a real vacation a lot of us are going to get Sasha withdrawals.

Could you do a video on Secret Hero Society? It was a graphic novel series where all the DC characters are middle schoolers, written by Derek Fidolfs and art by Dustin Nguyen. It's really easy to find, but for some reason it seems to have completely fallen through the cracks when it comes to DC themselves. It's not on the wiki, the official DC website, or any pirating site I've ever heard of, despite being an official DC publication. I've always wondered why that is, and it'd be amazing if you talked about it, cause it was such a significant part of my comic book childhood.

And here I was thinking you would be talking about one of my all-time favorite Superman stories - the one in Action Comics 311 and 312 in April and May 1964.

Superman vs Homelander would be such a great story.

Loving the silver age analysis! But looking at all these panels from the comic makes me realize Swan drew every male face exactly the same. Only the hair changes. Probably the women too.

And 90s Batman was also bad at picking replacements. Though, Jean-Paul Valley gets a bad wrap. He didn't actually kill anyone, he just didn't save a serial killer from himself. AND, Bruce was training under Lady Shiva and bring her people he knew she was killing. Bit hypocritical of him if you ask me to say JPV was not worthy and went too far.

9:12 Say what you will, Blondie there has a decent justification for getting the City to pass that law even if he's really doing it to screw with Clark. Having Superman imposters walking around is a legit concern for everyone involved, and it's already happened more than a few times by this point. Heck, there was a whole Fleischman cartoon built around that as a plot.

Watching these SA Superman videos makes me anxious for the Superman Silver Age Omnibus this year!!!

Maybe de-powered Superman should have opened a fashion boutique and studied Kung fu under a blind master...

11:48 LOL,😂 I had my left eye covered at this moment and thought he was saying, "You Mother@#$%ers !!" in the same way that Homelander would...😅

The Formerly Known As Superman didn’t get to become a symbol like Prince.

The Greem Lantern ring can do many things...except prevent trips and falls

"How can you do this to him? He gave you Jimmy!" ...can't...breath...🤣

For a sec I thought that was a wig on Superman

If anything, the blond haired Superman reminds me of the blond Jean-Paul Valley, the evil replacement for Batman...Speaking of hair color, nice Doc Samson wig, Sasha!

Great video Sasha. Love the Silver age. And how would you say that your coffee tastes?

5:08 Obviously Krypton and Kandor technology hasn't advanced to the point where Mirror Mate Adhesive exists.

This video made my day!! 15+ minutes of fun!

Superman Classic sounds like the strangest sodapop ever. 🤣

It didn’t take long for Ar-Val to learn the American monetary system.

If Jimmy and Clark are calling the future, why can’t the Legion just wait for everyone to get back and then call back to the same moment in time?

Something you said at the beginning made me think of a hypothetical teaser cover, of Clark/Supes in a jam somehow, thinking, "I know you always wanted to marry Superman, Lois, and now you can! When I'm gone, the man you wed will be granted my powers and abilities!"

A little late, but luckily RU-vid compensates for the lack of a proper time-machine being handy! I was 9 when first read this then-new story. It had so much drama, friendship, heroism, hint of romance plus the ingenious plot device of borrowing the powers of allies -- all the big-world elements done so well it remains worth rereading -- or discovering as a gold nugget from a bag of gems as Sasha has shrewdly done here. This story exemplifies why Silver Age is so enduring -- writing, art, editing, and timing. BTW why turn him into stone? Maybe because editor Weisinger often recognized that Curt Swan's talent was well displayed by statues and monuments.

Why, oh why can't I receive "All Notifications" for this channel?

Since this was a pre-Crisis story, for Superman to call Ar-Val "The Greatest Superman of All" because he sacrificed his life, even though he didn't have much of a career as a superhero, made sense. It wasn't until the death of Kara Zor-El that someone with Superman's powers sacrificed her life after ALSO having a long and successful career of using those powers for good as a superhero.

I think the Kandorians just wanted to get rid of this guy!

I need Clark awkwardly laughing whenever Azrael gets brought up, because sure, only *Bruce* makes poor replacement choices- Totally.

14:18 Mr freeze and Clark can now bond over finding cures for inanimate people

Just Brilliant More Crazy Silver Age goodness

The cw crisis on infinite earths part where we find out that Tom welling’s Superman gave up his powers makes sense (especially the part where kryptonite doesn’t affect him). I wonder if this and/or any other Superman loses is powers stories are the inspiration for Tom welling’s Superman’s fate.

I like this. Thank you

8:00 Well hell, if anyone ought to be able to tell Clark how to get super-powers it's Jimmy. He's almost overqualified. "I've got some of that six-arms alien fruit left if you want a bite."

I think Hal slipped in the Justice League Break Room and Clark just casually borrowed it while Hal is in the hospital

Batman swiped the ring. He's done it before😂

10:30 LMAO. I like how Jimmy is just a measure of value here.

So I'm going out on a limb and speculating most people received their first look at "evil Superman" through the DCAU's Justice Lords arc. And I mean tyrant evil, not Superman III super-jackass evil.

13:42 love the laugh

“I Love You Superman replacement from Kandor!”

Another mention of Bee Boy, the famed ward of, Doctor Bees!

Thirty seconds in an a powerless Clark Kent story wanting to save Lois and Lana intrigues me so

Thanks!

With the "people turning into stone" and "transferring powers/conditions between individuals" bits, it's got sort of a Jojolion vibe.

5:20 It's even worse than that, he was Super-Baby as well. No waiting for puberty for this guy. It's a miracle the Kents didn't die in a tantrum at some point.

Mon-El in the Phantom Zone: "Hello? Anyone?"