The Pickytarian

Composite Superman is the most awesome thing ever! (That is, from the point of view of a little kid reading his dad's old Silver Age comics.)

So, these statues of the Legion of Super-Heroes were on display at a Superman museum of some sort (in our "current" time era). Do to the special properties of these statues, a bolt of lightning that went through the roof and hit them transferred their powers to a janitor working in the building. This janitor had hated Superman and Batman for years, basically because they were famous and he wasn't. So when he found himself with all the powers of the Legion (which includes Superboy), he decided to go beat Superman and Batman up.

The half-Superman half-Batman outfit doesn't make much sense, since Batman had nothing to do with the Legion. But he was able to make himself look like anything he wanted (using Chameleon Boy's power), and chose that appearance to show that he was usurping the two hero's roles.

He soundly defeated Superman and Batman, who never even figure out what's going on. But then the powers faded, and took his memory of the event along with it. We are left with an open ending, in which Superman and Batman vow (vainly) to figure out the mystery of the Composite Superman, and the reader is left wondering if the character will ever return. (I think that other versions of the character were made in later DC eras, but I don't know or care much about those).

There's not much reason to care about Composite Superman today, but it was a pretty cool story by Silver Age standards. The crazy high concept was a lot of fun, even if it didn't make much sense when you think about it. Also, it was very rare at the time (for DC, at least) to see the heros lose, and that made this a much more memorable event than...well, than whatever crazy adventure happened the next month.

The janitor's name was Joe Meach.

He was originally a high-driver but Superman had to save him during some jackass stunt; his reputation was ruined and was "reduced" to being a janitor at the Superman museum.

He was green-skinned to symbolize his continual use of Brainiac 5's 12th level intelligence. He was utterly unbeatable, the only foe Batman & Superman didn't even TRY to defeat, let alone succeed.

So powerful an image is the Composite Superman that he returns "in disguise" in various storylines. I thought everyone knew! I guess I should post a little history in my own blog.

"Batman & Superman didn't even TRY to defeat [him], let alone succeed."

----

Err.... they did try, and defeated him several times (with a little help from fate -- not the doctor but real fate).

Thanks guys!

Over at the Absorbascon, I spotted this link that might help, too. It's a full Composite Superman story.:

http://nightwing.superman.ws/adventures/return_composite_p01.htm

Linking to the Absorbascon may be dangerous now that Rann has dropped the CONTINUITY BOMB on Thanagar! Hawkman will never be the same! And we have the exclusive...

DIAL b for BLOG