Comic Title: Superman:Tales from the Phantom Zone TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2009
On Sale Date: June 24, 2009 Direct Market Date June 24, 2009
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Direct Market Date June 24, 2009
Source: Previews, #246

Direct Market Date June 24, 2009
Source: Previews, DC Comics Previews May 2009

Cover Price: $19.99
Page Count: 144
Editor: Bob Joy

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Superboy's Big Brother"
Pages: 19

Feature(s):
Superboy (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Bernstein
Artist: George Papp

Reprinted From:
Superboy #89 (1961)

Feature Character(s)

• Superboy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #284; next appearance in Superboy #89)

Guest Star(s)

• Mon-El (Lar Gand; adopts the 20th century alias "Bob Cobb" in this story; origin revealed; next appearance in Adventure Comics #293)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jonathan Kent (last appearance in Adventure Comics #284; next appearance in Superboy #89)
• Martha Kent (last appearance in Adventure Comics #284; next appearance in Superboy #89)
• Lana Lang (last appearance in Adventure Comics #284; next appearance in Adventure Comics #285)
• Krypto (last appearance in Adventure Comics #284; next appearance in Superboy #89)
• Police Chief Parker (as a voice only; last appearance in Superboy #88; next appearance in Superboy #89)

Villain(s)

• A gang of criminals (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Ed Locke (a traveling brush salesman; no further appearances)
• Miss Joyce (a Smallville High teacher; no further appearances)
• Several high school students (no further appearances)
• King Mycerinua, Queen Rhodophis, and the people of ancient Egypt (miscolored as fair-skinned; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Jor-El (in flashback)
• Lara (in flashback)
• The citizens of Krypton (in flashback)
• A Phantom Zone criminal and projectionist (in flashback)

Comments:
Chap 2. : "The Secret of Mon-El"

Although Superman would search in vain for a cure for years, Mon-El would eventually be released from the Phantom Zone permanently in the 30th century, and cured of his lead poisoning by a serum created by Saturn Girl and perfected by Brainiac 5. This story provides a clue to the element crucial to the serum’s long-term effects, Kryptonite, in a scene in which, in the presence of Kryptonite, Mon-El is unaffected by the proximity of lead.

This story is based in part on "Superman’s Big Brother" in the first story of Superman #80, which is the closest Earth-2 counterpart of this story.

Synopsis:
One evening outside Smallville, Superboy rescues an older teenager from an exploding rocketship. Although the boy cannot remember his origin, his super-powers, a medallion, and a note written by Superboy’s father Jor-El convince them both that he is Superboy’s older brother. Christened "Mon-El" after the day he arrived (Monday), he is adopted by the Kents, and takes the secret identity of Bob Cobb, brush salesman.

One night, Superboy notices that Mon-El’s belt buckle is made of non-Kryptonian metal. Playing a hunch, he exposes a sleeping Mon-El to Kryptonite and determines that, whoever this stranger is, he is not from Krypton. When the two of them confront a gang of criminals who are catapulting lead boulders on Smallville, Mon-El collapses, the crooks escape, and Superboy is convinced that his new friend is in league with them.

Intent on exposing this ruse, he confiscates the lead boulders and paints them to look like Green Kryptonite, and then arranges a fake meteor shower. Feigning agony, he watches Mon-El weaken; then he stands, accuses him of lying, and shows him the "evidence". However, the exposure to lead has returned Mon-El’s memory, and he explains that he is a traveller from a Krypton-like world, Daxam, who landed on Krypton and met Jor-El and Lara shortly before the planet exploded. Moreover, he says, a Daxamite is doomed once exposed to lead.

Fortunately, Superboy is able to save Mon-El’s life by projecting him into the Phantom Zone, and vows someday to find a way to free him.