Superman engages with Solomon Grundy deep beneath Metropolis in this latest chapter of superhero fanfiction from Mark Wooden.

If you want to start at the beginning, CLICK HERE!

Superman exchanged blows with Solomon Grundy. Some landed, some missed, destroying parts of the drain’s infrastructure. None of it slowed Grundy.

“Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday!”

Changing tactics, Superman used his super speed to position himself behind Grundy. The creature stared dumbly at Superman’s last position. He then looked ahead and to his side, trying to find his opponent.

Superman grabbed Grundy from behind in a full nelson. Grundy fought him, but the hero of Metropolis was too strong for him. Superman then turned his x-ray vision above them, scanning for any activity.

He determined that, despite the trajectory of their underground struggle, he and Grundy were still beneath Metropolis’s downtown New Troy district where he’d begun his stakeout as Clark Kent.

The hero also realized there wasn’t much traffic, due largely to police presence cordoning off the area.

“Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday!” the beast exclaimed while struggling against Superman’s grip.

Not sure how much longer he could hold the brute, Superman put his plan into action.

Remembering the shaft leading above ground, Superman flew toward it and up, pressing Grundy ahead of him.

His earlier suspicion was correct: Grundy was much too large to fit through the utility hole and descend into the storm drains. That wasn’t going to stop Superman from making him fit now.

Pressing Grundy ahead of him, Superman flew the two combatants through the utility hole cover and much of the concrete surrounding it. Grundy took the damage from the impact.

Superman hoped it would help take the fight out of him.

Something also told him to doubt that idea.

Superman flew up, quickly taking Grundy high above Metropolis. From there, Superman could see Hobb’s Bay to the west. He presumed Grundy had come from that area.

It was the only place he’d fit into the storm drains without a casual observer reporting the appearance of a gray-skinned hulk.

It was an unfortunate trait of Hobb’s Bay that Grundy wouldn’t be an outlier due to the amount of crime plaguing the area, costumed criminal or otherwise.

Superman meant to do something about that.

Turning his attention back to the brute in his arms, Superman spun in a circle, building momentum. He then threw Grundy toward Hobb’s Bay, landing him in Hobb’s River.

By the time Grundy swam his way back to civilization, Superman could sweep him up.

First, he needed to let Sawyer know what they were up against.

Detective Sawyer was out of her car and on her radio. She was looking down the street when Clark Kent emerged from the Jurgens Building.

“So you’re telling me Superman flew into the air carrying some gray-skinned thing?” the detective said into her radio.

“Miss anything?” Clark said to her as he approached.

She waved him off, focusing on her conversation.

Clark reached into his pocket and pressed a button on his cell phone, causing it to ring. Sawyer glanced at him. He pulled out his phone and pretended to listen. Sawyer looked him over, then went back to the radio.

“Detective,” Clark said after a moment. When he had her attention, he continued. “Call from a certain flying source of mine.”

Catching his innuendo, Sawyer snatched Clark’s phone.

“Superman?” she asked into the phone.

“Um, he just hung up,” Clark said.

Sawyer glared at him. He gave her a sheepish grin. The detective tossed him his phone.

“He say anything interesting?” Sawyer asked.

Clark put away his phone. “He said he found a gray-skinned man moving to this position through the storm drains. He got him out of the way, depositing him in Hobb’s Bay.”

“That confirms the sighting I just got.” Sawyer picked up her radio. “This is Sawyer. Send a heavy-duty Special Crimes Unit team to Hobb’s Bay and pick up that thing Superman put in the water. All units on Ribeiro detail remain in place in case that thing wasn’t the only assassin.”

“If he gave Superman a run,” Clark said, “this thing is a lock for a murderer who committed that much destruction.”

Sawyer thought about that for a moment. “Good instinct, Kent, but I’m the cautious sort.”

“Which is why you’re the best in Metropolis.”

Sawyer almost cracked a grin.

Clark punched some digits into his phone. “Think I can get a Lyft out here?” Off Sawyer’s confused glance he added, “The action’s out by the Bay now, and you have this area cordoned off…”

Sawyer shook her head. “And that’s why you’re one of the city’s best journos.”

“One of?” Clark asked.

“Sorry, Kent. Still partial to Lane.”

Clark shrugged. Lois did have a hell of a track record. And two Pulitzers.

“Which makes me wonder why you of all people have Superman’s phone number,” Sawyer said.

“It’s unlisted,” Clark said. “He calls me. Or Lois. Mostly Lois.”

Sawyer shook her head at that. Clark gave a quick wave to the detective and then headed down the street. “Hey, Kent!”

Clark stopped, turned back to Detective Sawyer.

“May wanna change your diet,” she said. “Whatever you ate has you smelling like a sewer.”

Kent smiled. “I’ll consider that, detective.” He walked on, rounding the nearby corner. Once out of sight, Kent put away the phone and prepared to head to the Bay as Superman.

To be continued…

While writing this fanfiction, I used Green Ronin’s Mutants and Masterminds, 3rd Edition RPG, to leave some things to chance. Check it out!

Like this fanfiction? Check out Mark’s original “Shadowdance” saga books!

Author’s Note:

The characters Maria Hill, Captain Marvel/ Carol Danvers, SHIELD, Abigail Brand and Nick Fury are Copyright Marvel Comics

The characters Superman/ Clark Kent/ Kal-El, Supergirl/ Kara Zor-El, Darkseid, Maggie Sawyer, Solomon Grundy and Parademons are Copyright DC Comics

I don’t own any of the characters as this is fanfiction, done for fun and as a creative exercise