Story: "Sons and their Fathers" (22 Pages)

Credits:

James Robinson (plot, script)
Peter Snejberg (pencils, inks)
Bill Oakley (letters)
Jason Wright (colors)
Jamison (color seperations)
Peter Tomasi (edits)

Feature Character:

Starman VII

Guest Stars:

Superman

Villains:

Professor I.Q.
Mad Mod

Supporting Characters:

Shade
Teddy Knight
Mason O'Dare
Charity
Hamilton Drew
Bobo Bennetti
David Knight (last in flashback in issue #64; as a spirit)

Guest Appearances:

Elongated Man
Black Condor II

Comment: The following characters also appear as Jack looks back over his activities since his father's funeral. They are not listed above as these are all flashbacks to previously published tales. Hawkgirl II, Atom Smasher, Star-Spangled Kid II, Sentinel, Black Canary II, Hourman III, Sand, Flash I, Martian Manhunter, Dr Fate IV, Parademons, Firestorm, Captain Marvel, Mister Miracle (Scott Free), Power Girl, Wildcat II, Mister Terrific II and Doctor Mid-Nite II.

Synopsis:

It's some time since the end of Culp's reign of terror and the deaths of Culp, Matt O'Dare, the two Mists and Ted Knight. Jack is a now single father and a super-hero, and Mason O'Dare, the almost silent member of the cop dynasty, finally finds the words and asks Charity to marry him. And there are now more heroes on hand in Opal to assist Jack, but can any of them really help him in himself?

Visiting his father's museum seeking guidance, Jack is met by Superman, who wants to talk to him about something that happened while Jack was in space searching for Will Payton: Jack and Mikaal went back in time and met Superman's father and grandfather on Krypton before it exploded. Superman wants to know what Jor-El was like as a man - he knows everything about him, except his character; Jack tells him about how Jor-El saved his life.

Jack tells Superman that he's thinking about giving up the super-heroic life to look after his son, and finds great encouragement when the elder hero gives him his blessing in this. They then briefly discuss some of the other events that happened on Krypton, most notably how Jack gave Jor-El the co-ordinates of Earth, in so doing helping Superman to come to be. Jack feels that this may have been part of the reason he became Starman.

Superman leaves, telling Jack to call him Kal - Jack wishes he could have been talking to his father. And just at that moment, his deceased brother arrives for their yearly talk...