Superman Vol 1 416

"The Einstein Connection!": Year after year, Superman nabs Luthor when he breaks out on March 15th. Finally, the Man of Steel figures out the reason for Luthor's actions: he wishes to observe the birthday of his hero, Albert Einstein, by reenacting events in Einstein's life.

Superman #416 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1986.

Synopsis for "The Einstein Connection!"

Year after year, Superman nabs Luthor when he breaks out on March 15th. Finally, the Man of Steel figures out the reason for Luthor's actions: he wishes to observe the birthday of his hero, Albert Einstein, by reenacting events in Einstein's life.

Appearing in "The Einstein Connection!"

Featured Characters:

• Superman (Flashback and main story)
  • (also disguised as)
    • an Unemployed Man
    • a Soda Jerk
    • Jean-Paul Phrogue (a Patent Applicant)

Supporting Characters:

• Perry White (Flashback only) (Cameo)

Antagonists:

• Lex Luthor (Flashback and main story) also as (Hologram)
  • (also disguised as)
    • Herr Eisner (Patent Office Examiner)

Other Characters:

• Citizens of Princeton (Flashback only) (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
• Airline Passengers (Flashback only) (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
• European Patent Applicants (Flashback only) (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
• Thomas Edison (Mentioned only)
• Albert Einstein (Flashback only)
• Gary (Unnamed) (Phone call only)
• Calvin Anderson (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
• United Nations (As an illusion only)
• Washington D.C. Citizens (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
• Two Pocantico Prison Guards (Unnamed) (Single appearance)

Locations:

• 1986
  • March 14th-21st
    • North Pole
      • Fortress of Solitude
        • Newsroom (Unnamed)
    • Europe
      • Switzerland
        • Bern (Unnamed)
          • European Patent Office
    • India
      • Bombay (Mentioned only)
    • United States of America (Flashback and main story)
      • Illinois
        • Metropolis
          • Galaxy Communications Building
            • Perry White's Office
            • Purchasing Department (Mentioned only)
            • City Room (Unnamed)
          • Metropolis Eagle (Mentioned only)
      • Atlantic Ocean
      • New Jersey
        • Princeton
          • Nassau Street
            • Ice Cream Parlor (Unnamed)
          • Princeton University
          • Institute for Advanced Studies
          • Carnegie Lake
            • Archway of Water (Created by Lex Luthor)
      • New York
        • New York City (As an illusion only)
          • United Nations Building (As an illusion only)
        • Pocantico Federal Correctional Facility
      • Washington, D.C.
        • Capitol Building
        • National Mall
        • Washington Monument
        • Smithsonian Institution
• 1933
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • New Jersey
    • Princeton
      • Princeton University
        • Institute for Advanced Studies
• 1900s
  • Switzerland (Unnamed)
    • Bern (Unnamed)
      • European Patent Office
• 1879 (Mentioned only)

Items:

• Concussion Blaster
• Bubble Balloon
• Lex Luthor's Warsuit (Hologram)
  • Ray Blaster
• Albert Einstein (Statue only)

Vehicles:

• Motorboat
• Jetliner
• Sailboat

Concepts:

• Teleportation
• Enhanced Vision
• Enhanced Sense of Smell
  

Synopsis for "The Ghost of Superman Future!"

While Superman is chasing Luthor, he sees a hologram message from his future self, almost 100 years in the future. The future Superman convinces his younger self to temporarily cease his pursuit of Luthor, as Luthor will soon save a child who will grow up to one day cure him of his obsessive hatred for Superman. No longer focused on defeating Superman, Luthor will then go on to benefit mankind with his inventions.

Appearing in "The Ghost of Superman Future!"

Featured Characters:

• Superman (Flashback and main story) (from 1986 and the 21st Century) and also as (Hologram)

Supporting Characters:

• Lois Lane

Antagonists:

• Lex Luthor (Flashback only) (from the previous story) and (Mentioned only) (from the 21st Century)

Other Characters:

• Seven Reporters (from the 21st Century) (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
• Ralph Nader (Mentioned only)
• Daily Planet Employees (Unnamed)
• Gary (Phone call only)
• Calvin Anderson (Flashback only) (from the previous story) and (Mentioned only) (as Dr. Calvin Anderson from the 21st Century)

Locations:

• 1986
  • March 14th-21st (Flashback only) (from the previous story)
    • North Pole
      • Fortress of Solitude
        • Newsroom (just installed)
    • United States of America
      • Illinois
        • Metropolis
          • Galaxy Communications Building
          • City Room
      • New Jersey
        • Princeton
          • Princeton University
          • Institute for Advanced Studies
          • Carnegie Lake
• 21st Century
  • Space
  • Portsmouth (Mentioned only)
  • Time Stream (Mentioned only)
  • LexCorp (Mentioned only)

Items:

• LexCorp Holocaster
• Lex Luthor's Warsuit (Flashback only) (Hologram) (from the previous story)
• Fortress of Solitude Key
• Cassette Tape

Vehicles:

• Spacecraft
• Sailboat (Flashback only) (from the previous story)

Concepts:

• Thermal-Blast

Notes

• "The Einstein Connection!" was reprinted in Superman Vs. Lex Luthor and Lex Luthor: A Celebration of 75 Years.
• In the story "The Ghost of Superman Future!" Superman mentioned that he was 130 odd years old.
• Beginning with this issue, the Superman series starts a short period where the Superman of Earth-One (and all his supporting characters and villains) exist on the post-Crisis New Earth. This period ends when the effects of the Crisis "catch up" with Superman (et al) in The Man of Steel #1.
  • It is unclear why the Crisis did not affect Superman immediately. At the time there were were several powerful beings who were trying to delay, reverse or control the effects of Crisis (including Mekanique, Aphrodite and the Infinite Man), and perhaps this was a side-effect.

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Superman series

Recommended Reading

• Superman Recommended Reading

Links and References