Publisher DC Comics Type Vehicle | Created by Cary Bates, Curt Swan Element of stories featuring Superman | |
First appearance Action Comics #481 (March 1978) | ||
The Supermobile, also known as the SMB, is the fictional vehicle for the comic book superhero Superman, and is capable of duplicating all of his abilities in situations where he finds himself powerless. It was introduced in a story entitled "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Supermobile!", published in Action Comics # 481, cover dated March 1978.
Contents
Background
When waves of red solar radiation from a long-exploded star reached Earth, the android Amazo reactivated and escaped his captivity on the satellite headquarters of the Justice League of America, seeking out his creator, Professor Ivo in the hopes of being returned to his deactivated state. With the rest of the Justice League imprisoned in another dimension by Amazo, though he makes sure they are able to watch him which they do, only Superman stands ready to defend Ivo, though he is left powerless by the red solar radiation, as he derives his power from Earth's yellow sun.
Luring Amazo to his Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic, after teleporting himself and Ivo there and hiding Ivo, Superman unleashes his new secret weapon on the android: a small vehicle he has dubbed the Supermobile, which is capable of duplicating all of his powers, including invulnerability, as it is constructed of Supermanium, a metal so strong that "only Superman's heat vision can soften the substance, and only his super-strength is mighty enough to mold it!" He finally travels five days into the future, when the radiation has passed Earth, enabling him to regain his powers.
Superman rarely used the Supermobile again after the red sun radiation passed and he regained his powers in the following issue. He used it a few months later, fighting the Atomic Skull and Titano. The vehicle has made a few unofficial cameo appearances in recent years. A few different versions of the Supermobile were seen protecting a futuristic Ivy Town in All-New Atom #8. The classic design of the vehicle could also be seen atop the sign of Funky Flashman's used automobile dealership (which also contained a lot full of Batmobiles from various media) in the fifth chapter of the Doctor Thirteen serial "Architecture and Morality" in Tales of the Unexpected #5.
Abilities
The Supermobile does not just duplicate Superman's powers, it acts as a conduit for the Man of Steel's powers, allowing him to channel them through the vehicle itself. The Supermanium hull of the SMB shields Superman from red solar radiation that would rob him of his powers, making it so that he remains at the height of his abilities as long as he is within the vehicle. When Amazo remarks that no engine on Earth could react as quickly and easily as the Supermobile's, Superman responds, "You're right about that, Amazo! But who said anything about an engine?", revealing that the vehicle is powered completely by Superman himself.
Besides invulnerability and flight, the Supermobile also channels Superman's other powers using the following devices: