Superman #418

Something strange is wearing the House of El's crest — the cover of Superman #418 (1986) presents a hulking, cybernetic figure marked "S-X," wired into an elaborate mechanical backdrop of gears, tubes, and circuitry, looking every bit like a engineered answer to the Man of Steel himself. Eduardo Barreto's cover art gives this impostor a cold, imposing presence that raises immediate questions about what — or who — could presume to replace Superman. Writer Cary Bates and artist Curt Swan bring their talents to the interior, making this an intriguing chapter in the series' mid-1980s run.