What do you think?
Rate this book
Superman Elseworlds
Superman: Distant Fires (1997) #1
An Elseworlds classic! In the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the human population of Earth has been destroyed. All that is left are deadly, mutated animals...and a few scattered members of Earth’s superhero community, left powerless in the war’s aftermath. Among them...the hero once known as Superman. Superman’s efforts to survive in this brave new world unfold in SUPERMAN: DISTANT FIRES! This thrilling one-shot follows the Last Son of Krypton—and such heroes as Wonder Woman, the Flash and Captain Marvel—as the harsh realities of a fearsome future turn friend against friend. As the heroes begin to regain their fantastic abilities, will they master the world they once failed to save? Or will they break under the despair of their situation, taking the planet with them when they fall?
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 1997
5 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Howard Chaykin
1,074 books112 followersHoward Victor Chaykin is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 13, 2018
An inadvertent nuclear war destroys most of humanity and strips away the powers of all meta-humans. Now Superman is all alone except for mutants and giant mutant rats and the the like. Eventually he comes across a community of the remaining meta-humans and they rebuild society. However, some of the former heroes aren't happy with how things are going and venture off on their own setting up a final conflict. I like how the ending bookmarked nicely with Superman's origins. Gil Kane's art has never looked better than with Kevin Nowlan's inks.
December 28, 2020
After total nuclear destruction Superman finds that he has survived - but lost his powers. After a long journey he finds Diana - WW - again; and a very jealous Billy Batson - CM/Shazam - who 'wanted' Diana for himself. What follows is a story of heartbreaking tragedy of the uncommons - Chaykin/Kane are at their best here.
January 24, 2016
Interesting premise. Could have definitely done with some fleshing out.
May 20, 2015
An interesting (albeit very dark) premise with a lot of potential, but one that probably should have been fleshed out into two or more issues. As stands, it reads almost like the outline of the story rather than the story itself. This has the unfortunate effect of making everyone other than Superman come across as quite shallow, and some plot threads appear or disappear without a great deal of warning. That's really a shame, because the basic story is quite interesting, and fleshed out better would have been quite impactful. Even as it stands this is a fascinating read, but it could have been better.
My honest ranking would average out to three stars, but I added one for the fantastic artwork from Gil Kane and Kevin Nowlan.
My honest ranking would average out to three stars, but I added one for the fantastic artwork from Gil Kane and Kevin Nowlan.
February 25, 2025
How can a story so short be so cool? This was a brief Elseworlds story that is exceptionally told, though supremely underrated, and deserves its spot with other great Elseworlds stories like Dark Knight Returns or The Killing Joke.
It begins a bit strange, it is the late 1990s and a computer error starts WWIII. Nuclear weapons destroy the world and somehow rob Superman of his powers. He survives, living in a post-apocalyptic world, where Lois, Perry, Jimmy, Bruce, and even Lex are dead. Metropolis belongs to Superman learning all the skills he used as a farmer to survive until the time comes to look for other survivors.
He finds a noble steed but even more, he finds his old friend Diana. The former Wonder Woman survived and even more importantly, she and Clark find each other - as in being more than just friends. They do find other friends and begin to rebuild the world... Unfortunately, it's ruined when the foundation is built whilst an old friend becomes a terrible enemy. It is weird seeing this character become an enemy but it's almost appropriate given how the villain competed with Superman's popularity in the Golden Age of comics.
In the end, hope turns into fear and then turns into despair. That despair becomes hatred that eventually destroys the world and there are no more chances at it except one. The son of Superman and Wonder Woman is sent away from Earth just like his father was from Krypton.
The ending is a bit skewed, I'd have preferred it if he was badly wounded to join his son but it's still a good ending.
It begins a bit strange, it is the late 1990s and a computer error starts WWIII. Nuclear weapons destroy the world and somehow rob Superman of his powers. He survives, living in a post-apocalyptic world, where Lois, Perry, Jimmy, Bruce, and even Lex are dead. Metropolis belongs to Superman learning all the skills he used as a farmer to survive until the time comes to look for other survivors.
He finds a noble steed but even more, he finds his old friend Diana. The former Wonder Woman survived and even more importantly, she and Clark find each other - as in being more than just friends. They do find other friends and begin to rebuild the world... Unfortunately, it's ruined when the foundation is built whilst an old friend becomes a terrible enemy. It is weird seeing this character become an enemy but it's almost appropriate given how the villain competed with Superman's popularity in the Golden Age of comics.
In the end, hope turns into fear and then turns into despair. That despair becomes hatred that eventually destroys the world and there are no more chances at it except one. The son of Superman and Wonder Woman is sent away from Earth just like his father was from Krypton.
The ending is a bit skewed, I'd have preferred it if he was badly wounded to join his son but it's still a good ending.
August 23, 2013
An interesting 'what if' scenario, even if I personally thiought that Superman's final decision based on just 'that's how was it's meant to be' was stupid and irresponsible, especially as he had a much better choice.
February 13, 2016
A very good futuristic story of the DC superheroes. Exceptional Gil Kane art. Very recommended
November 22, 2022
Superman: A Última Chama é um exemplo das dezenas de quadrinhos do selo Elseworlds da DC Comics que a Mythos Editora colocou nas bancas brasileiras no começo do século XXI para fazer frente à linha Premium da Abril. Claro que a maioria dos título era ruim e tão caros quanto as Premium. O que fez com que muita gente como eu só tivessem acesso a essas publicações em sebos muitos anos depois. Este também é um das dezenas de títulos do selo que foram escritos por Howard Chaykin e cuja qualidade também é de nível regular. O que se destaca aqui é a arte virtuosíssima do veteraníssimo Gil Kane (criador de Hal Jordan, entre outros), que é um deslumbre e um deleite, amparada pela bela arte-final de Kevin Nowlan. Na trama, o planeta Terra viveu uma guerra nuclear e sobraram mutantes radiativos, alguns humanos e muitos super-heróis. Lá pelas tantas o Superman e o Capitão Marvel entram em conflito pelo amor da Mulher-Maraviha. É, pois é, um argumento bem bocó. Mas os desenhos não são nada regulares, bocós ou ruins e valem a "leitura".
February 12, 2025
There’s this part where half of humanity wants to work to solve problems and the other half split because they want to conquer the world. I was hoping for some kind of insightful resolution but I guess I’ll have to look elsewhere. I liked seeing Superman stick to his morals.
October 1, 2014
The Basics
The world has ended, and Superman is the only one left alive in Metropolis. There are huge rodents, mutant humans, and Superman is surprised to discover many of his fellow heroes (and some villains) survived after all in a rebuilt colony. But peace can’t reign forever…
My Thoughts
Ugh, so many problems. Must organize thoughts. That cover is a lie, for starters. Utter lies. That wild cat is actually a giant house cat and, therefore, doesn’t look like that. Captain Marvel does a face-heel-turn, so he shouldn’t be behind Clark like that. He should be facing off against him. By that point in the story, Wonder Woman is dead. Am I spoiling you? Why do you care, really? It sucked. Don’t read this.
The concept was good. The end. Okay, there was more that was good than just that. Clark being confronted by the ghosts of people he lost (and it being up for debate if those were ghosts or his mind giving out on him) was really good. And instantly it went downhill. Then it had a surprisingly sweet ending that didn’t even come close to saving it.
When he finds the colony of superheroes and villains that are still alive, the Joker is there. He’s sane now. See, the twist is that everyone with superpowers has now lost them because of the apocalypse technobabble it doesn’t matter. The important part is that according to this writer, the Joker’s psychosis was a superpower. So he’s like your average Joe now, working to help the community. They do understand he’s human, right? Why are Lois Lane and Batman dead, but the Joker is alive? Also, there comes a point when their powers are returned, and conveniently the Joker is never shown again. Did his mental illness return? Did he side with the bad guys when that happened? Why even do that at all? I won’t get into how offensive the whole idea of mental illness being a “power” is. It’s offensive. That’s really all there is to say.
There’s a romance between Superman and Wonder Woman that goes so quickly you might as well just accept that it’s happening. Also, Captain Marvel is jealous. Because they were supposed to be together, and he sulks and turns evil. If you like Captain Marvel, you really don’t want to read this shitty, sulky, entitled version of him. And he appears to fall out of love quickly enough, because later in the story he kills her without remorse. Are you noting that character and motivation have no place in this mess? Oh, ahem, AND THEY FRIDGED WONDER WOMAN. They did that simply to motivate Superman to kill Captain Marvel. To quote the internet, I can’t even.
The climax comes on like a hurled turd. “Oh, also Metallo was around with the mutant humans.” Thanks for letting me know? “And remember how Aquaman was on the fence? He sided with Superman by default.” By default? What does that even mean? Because he was the lesser of the two evils? If you want me to explain any of that, I can’t. It was literally that abrupt. Really the whole story was incredibly rushed. Way too much happened in a very small space, so none of it had any kind of impact. It was more like reading a summary than reading a book.
I want to leave you with this: Superman uses a gun. We’re supposed accept that, because it’s the end of the world and he has no powers. Bruce would be proud of how quickly he threw that out the window, I’m sure.
Worst AU ever. Run for your lives.
Final Rating
1/5
The world has ended, and Superman is the only one left alive in Metropolis. There are huge rodents, mutant humans, and Superman is surprised to discover many of his fellow heroes (and some villains) survived after all in a rebuilt colony. But peace can’t reign forever…
My Thoughts
Ugh, so many problems. Must organize thoughts. That cover is a lie, for starters. Utter lies. That wild cat is actually a giant house cat and, therefore, doesn’t look like that. Captain Marvel does a face-heel-turn, so he shouldn’t be behind Clark like that. He should be facing off against him. By that point in the story, Wonder Woman is dead. Am I spoiling you? Why do you care, really? It sucked. Don’t read this.
The concept was good. The end. Okay, there was more that was good than just that. Clark being confronted by the ghosts of people he lost (and it being up for debate if those were ghosts or his mind giving out on him) was really good. And instantly it went downhill. Then it had a surprisingly sweet ending that didn’t even come close to saving it.
When he finds the colony of superheroes and villains that are still alive, the Joker is there. He’s sane now. See, the twist is that everyone with superpowers has now lost them because of the apocalypse technobabble it doesn’t matter. The important part is that according to this writer, the Joker’s psychosis was a superpower. So he’s like your average Joe now, working to help the community. They do understand he’s human, right? Why are Lois Lane and Batman dead, but the Joker is alive? Also, there comes a point when their powers are returned, and conveniently the Joker is never shown again. Did his mental illness return? Did he side with the bad guys when that happened? Why even do that at all? I won’t get into how offensive the whole idea of mental illness being a “power” is. It’s offensive. That’s really all there is to say.
There’s a romance between Superman and Wonder Woman that goes so quickly you might as well just accept that it’s happening. Also, Captain Marvel is jealous. Because they were supposed to be together, and he sulks and turns evil. If you like Captain Marvel, you really don’t want to read this shitty, sulky, entitled version of him. And he appears to fall out of love quickly enough, because later in the story he kills her without remorse. Are you noting that character and motivation have no place in this mess? Oh, ahem, AND THEY FRIDGED WONDER WOMAN. They did that simply to motivate Superman to kill Captain Marvel. To quote the internet, I can’t even.
The climax comes on like a hurled turd. “Oh, also Metallo was around with the mutant humans.” Thanks for letting me know? “And remember how Aquaman was on the fence? He sided with Superman by default.” By default? What does that even mean? Because he was the lesser of the two evils? If you want me to explain any of that, I can’t. It was literally that abrupt. Really the whole story was incredibly rushed. Way too much happened in a very small space, so none of it had any kind of impact. It was more like reading a summary than reading a book.
I want to leave you with this: Superman uses a gun. We’re supposed accept that, because it’s the end of the world and he has no powers. Bruce would be proud of how quickly he threw that out the window, I’m sure.
Worst AU ever. Run for your lives.
Final Rating
1/5
April 27, 2018
yikes
May 31, 2019
How did so many great, talented people come together and make such a lackluster story?
July 15, 2019
a very interesting short story.
September 13, 2020
Superman survives the apocalypse and then rides a giant housecat like a horse.
Really.
Really.
November 7, 2025
Lousy, a waste of some interesting ideas.
October 7, 2021
2.5/5
I wouldn't say it's good, but it has some neat ideas and is overall an enjoyable read.
I wouldn't say it's good, but it has some neat ideas and is overall an enjoyable read.
Read
March 29, 2017One shot dedicado a un Elseworlds de Superman a cargo de Chaykin, Kane y Nowlan.
April 12, 2018
Un Otrosmundos de Superman a cargo de Chaykin y otros. One-shot con lomo que aparentemente no fue recopilado con otros Elseworlds por ahora.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews