Superman: The Feral Man of Steel

Last updated
Superman: The Feral Man of Steel
SupeFeralMan.jpg
Cover for Superman: The Feral Man of Steel.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Format prestige format one-shot
Publication date 1994
No. of issues1
Main character(s) Clark Kent
Sir Richard Burton
Lex Luthor
Lois Lane
Creative team
Created byDarren Vincenzo
Frank Fosco
Stan Woch

Superman: The Feral Man of Steel (Superman Annual #6) is a DC Comics Elseworlds special published in 1994, written by Darren Vincenzo, pencilled by Frank Fosco and inked by Stan Woch.

Contents

In 19th century India, Kal-El is raised by wolves. The story is loosely based on Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli stories, with added elements of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan novels. [1]

Plot

Tiger, Tiger

The first part of the story starts with K'L'L, whose ship crashes deep in the Indian jungle. He is saved from the Bengal tiger Khan by M'R'R, the she-wolf of a pack of Indian wolves. She adopts him and nurses K'L'L as one of her own. When the time comes for M'R'R to present her human child to the tribe, none but her and her mate would speak for the man cub which as Khan points out means that according to the law, the child is to be left in the jungle to die. The black panther Jahd Bahlja speaks for K'L'L and Khan is foiled again. K'L'L grows and starts to develop his powers. An expedition led by Sir Richard Burton and his traveling companion Sir John Ellis is interrupted when the men he has employed shoot and kill M'R'R and one of her cubs. When K'L'L hears the yelps of his mother, he flies to the camp and starts tossing the men like rag dolls, almost killing Sir John. He is only deterred by Sir Richard, who somehow talks K'L'L out of killing his companion. K'L'L grabs the two dead wolves and flies off.

Lord of The Wolves

While K'L'L mourns, Khan has taken control of the pack, overthrowing A'K'L the old leader. Jahd tells K'L'L what is happening and he rushes to his home, challenging Khan for leadership. In the battle, while Khan puts up a strong fight, even piercing the wild man's skin with his claws, K'L'L kills Khan and becomes the leader of the tribe. He skins the tiger and takes from him "that which earns him the fear and respect of the entire Jungle". He swears to avenge the death of his mother and hunt the Man-Pack that killed her. Jahd shows K'L'L the space ship from which he came and he takes a strange hieroglyph from it, the familiar S-shield. Meanwhile, in England, Sir Richard and Sir Ellis prepare for their next expedition; Lois Lane joins them this time. While in the jungle, they bump into Lex Luthor, who is also after the jungle man. The two groups decide to combine their efforts. The search continues for several days, and one night, two of Luthor's men try to kidnap Lois and steal Luthor's most prized possession, a big green gem he acquired in Africa. Their efforts are stopped, and Luthor's ruthlessness is evident after he executes them both. Moments later, the camp hears the sounds of a stampede coming their way.

Civilization!

K'L'L and an army of jungle animals attack the camp. The jungle man singles out Sir Richard, who is powerless against him. Only Lois is able to convince the jungle man to stop. The animals leave the camp and Lois starts to teach him some English. K'L'L's education continues, as he is even given an English name: Clark. Everyone is amazed at Clark's progress and abilities until the day Luthor proposes to Lois, offering her the green gem as an engagement present. She refuses and it becomes obvious to Luthor that she has fallen in love with Clark. Luthor becomes infuriated and threatens Lois. While they struggle, Clark comes to the rescue. However, when he enters Luthor's tent, the jewel starts to weaken him and causes him to collapse. In a few hours, Luthor and his men seize the opportunity and take over the camp. Sir Richard is tied to a tree and left to die as Luthor sets fire to the camp with Lois and Clark as his prisoners.

Perdition's Flame

Two months later in England, Lex parades Clark as a sideshow attraction to the world on his way towards forcing K'L'L to assassinate Queen Victoria and take over the country. He has a polished piece of his green jewel affixed to the top of a staff as well as a sword encrusted with more pieces of it as a means to command the wild man of India. He also blackmails him by threatening to hurt Lois. When it comes time however, Clark ultimately refuses to assassinate the queen and attacks Luthor. In the ensuing melee, the building is set on fire and Clark's animal friends escape. Clark is kept at bay by Luthor's sword until Sir Richard appears and duels with Luthor. Sir Richard wins, throwing Lex off the building. Clark saves Lois and Richard and is knighted K'L'L: Sir Clark of Kent by the Queen. His powers bring a new shine to the British Empire, which now comprises one-third of the Earth. Lois and Clark's children all share the same powers as their father and it is assured to the reader that the empire is at the dawn of a new age, one that will never end.

Characters

Most characters in Superman: The Feral Man of Steel are either based on existing DC characters, the cast of The Jungle Book , or the cast of Tarzan.

Main

Secondary

See also

Related Research Articles

The Daily Planet is a fictional newspaper appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Superman. The newspaper was first mentioned in Action Comics #23. The Daily Planet building's distinguishing feature is the enormous globe that sits on top of the building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lex Luthor</span> Fictional supervillain appearing in DC comics publications and related media

Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Lex Luthor originally appeared in Action Comics #23. He has since endured as the archnemesis of the superhero Superman.

<i>Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman</i> American television series (1993–1997)

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman is an American superhero television series based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. It stars Dean Cain as Clark Kent / Superman and Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane. The series aired on ABC from September 12, 1993, to June 14, 1997.

<i>Superman for All Seasons</i>

Superman for All Seasons is a 4-issue comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. It was originally published by DC Comics in 1998, hot off the heels from their previous success, Batman: The Long Halloween, and as that Batman story dealt with holidays as the theme, this story's theme dealt with seasons. The artwork contains many influences from that of Norman Rockwell. The story also parallels the events from Superman's then-origin story John Byrne's The Man of Steel, though it can be read on its own.

<i>Superman & Batman: Generations</i>

Superman & Batman: Generations is the umbrella title of three Elseworlds comic book limited series published by DC Comics in the United States, written and illustrated by John Byrne. A major concept of the series is the avoidance of so-called comic book time; it places Superman, Batman, and the other members of the DC Universe in a single timeline, showing the characters aging and being replaced by their progeny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry White</span> Fictional character in DC Comics

Perry White is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the editor-in-chief of the Metropolis newspaper the Daily Planet. The character maintains very high ethical and journalistic standards and is an archetypal image of the tough, irascible, but fair-minded boss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasite (comics)</span> Fictional character from the Superman comics

Parasite is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Each version of the character has the ability to temporarily absorb the life-energy, superpowers, and knowledge of others. The most recurring Parasite is Rudy Jones, who is a main adversary of Superman and belongs to the collective of enemies that make up his rogues gallery. In 2009, Parasite was ranked as IGN's 61st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.

<i>Superman: Birthright</i> American comic book series

Superman: Birthright is a twelve-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 2003 and 2004, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan.

<i>Superman: Brainiac Attacks</i> 2006 film by Curt Geda

Superman: Brainiac Attacks is a 2006 American animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation. Released on June 20, 2006 as a marketing tie in with Superman Returns, the film features Superman battling the forces of Lex Luthor and Brainiac, and his relationship with Lois Lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative versions of Superman</span> Various incarnations of comic book superhero

The character of Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and has been continually published in a variety of DC Comics book titles since its premiere in 1938. There have been several versions of Superman over the years, both as the main hero in the stories as well as several alternative versions.

<i>The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo</i> 1997 American film

Rudyard Kipling's The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo is a 1997 American adventure film starring Jamie Williams as Mowgli, with Roddy McDowall and Billy Campbell in supporting roles. It is a live action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. The film was adapted for the screen by Bayard Johnson and Matthew Horton.

<i>Superman: War of the Worlds</i>

Superman: War of the Worlds is a DC Comics Elseworlds comic story, published in 1998, written by Roy Thomas with Michael Lark as the artist. The story is a rough adaptation of the H. G. Wells 1898 novel The War of the Worlds, but is primarily based on the Superman mythology. Wells' story is transported from early 20th century Britain to Metropolis in 1938, where the Martian invasion is met with a Golden Age-style Superman who is not blessed with the full range of powers that he typically has in modern comics.

<i>Its Superman!</i>

It's Superman! is a novel by Tom De Haven based on the comic book superhero Superman. It was released on September 15, 2005 in hardcover and August 29, 2006 in paperback. The premise tells the tale of Clark Kent's beginnings into becoming Superman, set in the 1930s, where Clark befriends a wrongly convicted photographer named Willi Berg, and is then taken from Kansas to Hollywood and finally in New York where he meets Lois Lane, fights Lex Luthor, as he debuts in his superhero persona. Despite the setting, this is not about the Golden Age Superman also known as the Superman of Earth-2; as Perry White, the Daily Planet, Lex Luthor's position and his trademark powers are not part of that alternate Earth. Rather, it's a Superman period piece set in the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Up, Up and Away!</span>

"Up, Up, and Away!" is an eight-issue Superman story arc written by Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek with art by Pete Woods. The story primarily features a powerless Clark Kent using his skills as a journalist to defend Metropolis from both organized crime and Lex Luthor, newly bankrupt and disgraced due to his actions in the series 52. Gradually, however, Superman begins to regain his powers, just in time to battle the embittered Luthor as he seeks to inflict his revenge upon Metropolis with the help of stolen Kryptonian battle technology and redesigned versions of the Toyman and the Kryptonite Man.

<i>The Jungle Book: Mowglis Story</i> 1998 American film

The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story is a 1998 American adventure film directed by Nick Marck, produced by Mark H. Orvitz and written by José Rivera and Jim Herzfeld. It is the third film adaptation by The Walt Disney Company of the Mowgli stories from The Jungle Book (1894) by Rudyard Kipling. It stars Brandon Baker, and features the voice work of Brian Doyle-Murray, Eartha Kitt, Clancy Brown, Peri Gilpin, and Sherman Howard.

<i>The Jungle Book</i> (2010 TV series) 3D CGI animated television series

The Jungle Book is a 3D CGI animated television series co-produced by DQ Entertainment International, MoonScoop, Ellipsanime Productions, ZDF, ZDF Enterprises, TF1 and Les Cartooneurs Associés. It is based on the Rudyard Kipling book of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman (1978 film series character)</span> Fictional character in the Warner Bros film series

Superman (Kal-El) or Clark Kent is a fictional character portrayed by Christopher Reeve in the Warner Bros. Superman film series produced by Ilya and Alexander Salkind and Cannon Films, and is an adaption of the original DC Comics character, Superman. Many actors were interviewed for the part before Christopher Reeve was chosen to fill the role. Superman is portrayed as a superhero who stands for "truth, justice and the American way".

Lois Lane is a fictional character first appearing in DC Comics' Action Comics #1, an intrepid reporter and commonly portrayed as the romantic interest of the superhero Superman and his alter-ego Clark Kent. Since her debut in the comic books, she has appeared in various media adaptations including radio, animations, films, television and video games. Actresses who have portrayed Lois Lane include Joan Alexander, Noel Neill, Phyllis Coates, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Dana Delany, Erica Durance, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, Elizabeth Tulloch, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lois Lane (DC Extended Universe)</span> DC Extended Universe character

Lois Lane is a fictional character in the DC Extended Universe, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. As with her comics counterpart, Lane is a reporter for the Daily Planet and the love interest for Clark Kent / Superman. She is portrayed by Amy Adams and appears in almost all films in the DCEU featuring Superman: Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as Justice League and its director's cut. Lois's character was designed to be a modern-day reporter in a world with superheroes.

References

  1. "Superman Replaces Mowgli in DC's JUNGLE BOOK Universe". ScreenRant. May 22, 2020.