[Nowhere Man]

These 'Elseworlds' graphic novels have been going on since at least the 80's. I have several, one where he was raised by the Wayne family until they were killed before his eyes, one where he was involved in the American Civil War, or landed in the jungle and grew up as a tarzan-like savage.

In each case, the story shows how the CHARACTER of Superman overcomes his upbringing and circumstances to become a TRUE hero. Save your outrage until the story is over.

I'd like to pick up a few of those comics myself, I'm an "alternate history" buff, I like the "what-if" stories. I remember this was discussed in the Usenet group soc.history.what-if several times. If you want a real trip, read "Guns of the South" by Harry Turtledove where it features time travelling South African Neo-Nazis giving the Confederates AK-47's so they can win the Civil War. The Neo-Nazis wanted to establish their own country and use Robert E. Lee as a figurehead but it doesn't turn out that way as he figures out what it really going on. Good book.

[weegee]

Harlan Ellison doesn't even like the term Science Fiction (for future stories). He prefers speculative fiction since it is an theory as to how things could turn out under certain circumstances.