CHAPTER 1

  A WALK IN THE HILLS

  CHAPTER 2

  TERRA-MAN!

  CHAPTER 3

  THE ROUND-UP

  CHAPTER 4

  TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS

  CHAPTER 5

  SHOWDOWN AT CRIPPLE CREEK

  Daily Planet

  Biographies

  Glossary

  Discussion Questions

  Writing Prompts

  Copyright

  Back Cover

  It wasn’t often that Clark Kent had time to do something other than work. Clark had two jobs. Both jobs were full-time, and both were very demanding. Everyone knew he was a reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet newspaper. Clark spent many long hours every day writing important stories about people who broke the law or cheated the public.

  When he wasn’t reporting, Clark had another job. He was Superman — the legendary Man of Steel.

  Born on the planet Krypton, Superman gained superpowers and abilities from the yellow rays of Earth’s sun. Superman’s help was in constant demand all over the world and beyond. As both Clark Kent and Superman, the hero used his skills to keep the world safe.

  Clark was spending his day off from the Daily Planet exploring the Old West. There were no Superman-sized threats that needed his attention. So, he had some time to relax.

  One of the advantages of being Superman was super-speed. It took him only a few minutes to fly anywhere in the world. Clark had loved old Western shows when he was a boy. It made him curious to visit a town where those stories had taken place.

  Clark walked through the hills of Arizona’s Painted Desert. It was called that because of the amazing colors of its desert landscape. It was home to one of the greatest stories Clark had ever read.

  In the 1890s, the outlaw Jess Manning and his eight-year-old son, Tobias, traveled together across the Wild West. Whenever Manning would rob a stagecoach, train, or bank, he left the boy hidden along his escape route in the care of his trusty stallion, Nova.

  One day, Manning Big and Manning Little came to town. After a stagecoach robbery, the outlaws vanished. No one knows for sure where they went. But the outlaws were last seen in these very hills.

  Clark was certain he could solve the mystery of the missing outlaws.

  Clark followed the old trail through the mountains where the outlaws had disappeared 120 years ago. The trail cut through the harsh ground. It was surrounded by walls of granite, giant boulders, scruffy plants, and sun-baked rocks. There were even caves farther along the trail. Many people believed the Mannings had gotten lost in them as they tried to escape.

  Many people had searched for signs of the lost Mannings ever since, but the duo’s fate remained a mystery.

  Clark smiled. “I’ll have an edge in solving this mystery,” he said to himself. “I’ll be the first person to look for them who has X-ray vision!”

  One of Superman’s powers was the ability to see through solid objects.

  Superman’s eyes worked like an X-ray machine in a doctor’s office. As he walked, he scanned the hills with his X-ray vision. He peered inside the caves beneath their rocky face.

  While he was looking at the ground, Clark Kent suddenly heard a strange sound from above. He took off the glasses he wore as a disguise and looked up using his super-vision. It allowed him to magnify faraway sights with ease.

  Five flying objects streaked like fiery meteors through the sky. Each object was actually a ship with someone riding it. Suddenly, Clark realized that the ships were headed right for him!

  “So much for my day off,” Clark said with a sigh.

  The mild-mannered reporter removed his clothing faster than the eye could see. In a blur, Superman appeared in his blue and red uniform that was hidden underneath. “This looks like a job for Superman!” he said.

  With a mighty leap, Superman shot up, up, and away and into the sky.

  In a blue streak, Superman flew toward the flying ships.

  “Stop!” he yelled. His super-loud voice rumbled like thunder through the sky. Superman would not attack before learning what the visitors wanted, but he remained cautious.

  The five ships stopped when they neared the Man of Steel. The vehicles reminded Superman of motorcycles without wheels. Each airship carried a strange alien being.

  The aliens were dressed in identical spacesuits. Each wore the same star-shaped symbol on its chest. Sashes around their bodies held energy blasters and other equipment, just like a policeman’s belt. Each ship was surrounded by an invisible force field. The shields protected the riders from the intense cold of deep space.

  “We come in peace, Superman!” said one of the aliens. “We are lawmen, just like you.”

  “You know who I am?” asked the Man of Steel.

  “All of the universe knows who you are, Superman!” said the alien. “That is why we have come. I am Balther, leader of this team. It is an honor for us to meet the great Superman.”

  “Thank you,” Superman said. “What brings you to Earth, Balther?”

  “We are on the trail of the outlaw known as Terra-Man,” said Balther. “He is very dangerous.”

  “I’ve never heard of Terra-Man,” Superman said.

  “He is an evil and dangerous man,” said a blue-skinned alien. “I am Tyrox. I have seen the cruel things Terra-Man has done. He cannot be trusted.”

  A different alien with rocky skin and three arms and three legs moved forward.

  “I am Charop,” said the alien. “We have tracked Terra-Man here. We believe he is hiding in the Painted Desert. He was born here on Earth more than one hundred years ago.”

  “His father was an outlaw,” Charop continued. “He died in a fight with an alien known as the Collector. The Collector’s ship had landed in the hills below, for unknown reasons. That is where the earthling outlaw found him.”

  “The human was frightened by what he saw. So he drew his weapon,” Tyrox added. “But the Collector was faster, and he won their duel. The Collector took the human’s child into space. He raised him as his own son, and trained him to become the greatest outlaw who ever lived.”

  “He does sound dangerous,” said Superman. “I think you should let me take care of this Terra-Man by myself.”

  “Of course, Superman,” said a tall, purple man called Gyyhwn.

  “We are guests on your world, and we will do as you ask. But be careful,” Gyyhwn warned. “The Collector made Terra-Man into something more than human. His powers and weapons are great.”

  “Where I can find him?” asked Superman.

  “Terra-Man came from a place known as Cripple Creek, Arizona,” Charop said.

  Superman smiled. “That’s not far from here,” he said. “By the way, what was Terra-Man’s original name?”

  When Superman heard the name Balther spoke, his eyes went wide with surprise. “Great Krypton!” Superman gasped. “So that’s what happened to the Mannings!”

  Cripple Creek was a deserted ghost town. The wooden buildings and stores along Main Street were falling apart. Some were missing roofs. Others had collapsed long ago. All of them were covered with dust. Sand blew through the empty windows and doors of every building.

  Superman stood at one end of Main Street. Everything was silent except for the whisper of the wind that pushed along a few tumbleweeds. The scene reminded him of the old Westerns on television.

  In the distance, the Man of Steel heard the familiar whinny of a horse. At the end of the street, Superman saw something. A dark figure emerged from the shadow of a building.

  “Howdy, Superman,” the figure said. He stepped into the sunlit street and turned toward the Man of Steel.

  Superman was surprised. He had expected Terra-Man to look like an astronaut wearing a spacesuit. But the space outlaw was dressed like a cowboy from the future. He wore a wide-brimmed hat, a long cape, and boots just like a cowboy from the Old West. His outfit was made with a strong metal that covered his body. A shiny metal belt held two energy weapons in holsters. An energy whip was coiled at his side.

  “Terra-Man, I’m here to place you under arrest,” said Superman.

  “I reckon you can try,” said the outlaw, smiling. “But don’t expect me to come peacefully.”

  Faster than the human eye could see, Superman flew at super-speed toward Terra-Man. The Man of Steel would have the outlaw in jail before he could even finish bragging.

  Terra-Man vanished! Suddenly, he was at the other end of the street. The outlaw grinned at Superman.

  He’s moving faster than I can see! Superman thought to himself.

  “I’m harder to catch than a greased pig, partner,” the outlaw said, laughing.

  “Best you give up trying to catch me and save your breath!” Terra-Man said.

  Superman rocketed upward until he was just a distant dot in the sky. Terra-Man glanced up, but never lost his smile. He stuck his fingers between his lips and whistled long and loud.

  Superman flew higher until he knew Terra-Man could no longer see him. Then, at super-speed, he dove back down toward Cripple Creek. He flew in big, fast circles. He hoped he would catch Terra-Man off-guard.

  Just as Superman passed the highest rooftop in town, another flying object shot out of the sky.

  It crashed into the Man of Steel.

  The collision sent Superman tumbling out of control. He was moving so fast that when he had finally stopped, he was hundreds of miles away.

  Superman shook his head. “What hit me?” he said. “How c

an he move so fast that even I can’t see it coming?”

  As Superman sped back to Cripple Creek, the answer to that question flew straight toward him.

  “What is that?” Superman gasped.

  It was a horse — a flying horse with wings! Seated on the stallion’s saddle was Terra-Man. In one hand, he held the reins. In his other, he held an energy blaster.

  “This here’s Nova,” Terra-Man said. “He’s a mustang. He used to belong to my pa, the outlaw Jess Manning!”

  “My alien step-pa upgraded old Nova,” Terra-Man said. “Now Nova’s invulnerable, just like you. And he can travel faster than any spaceship!”

  Terra-Man gave Nova’s reins a shake. Then the winged horse flew forward. Its front legs kicked at Superman. The Man of Steel dropped below its hooves and swooped under the animal.

  Nova spun faster than Superman thought any living creature could move. This time, its hammering hooves found their mark. They struck the Man of Steel in his chest.

  Superman went spinning through the air. Before he could stop himself, Terra-Man aimed at him with his energy blaster.

  “Let’s see if I can hit a moving target,” said Terra-Man.

  Superman chuckled at the thought of such a weapon being able to hurt him. Then he remembered Gyyhwn’s warning: “His powers and his weapons are great.”

  It was too late! Waves of energy blasted from the weapon, knocking Superman to the dusty ground. Gritting his teeth, Superman tried to push against the tremendous force.

  “Can’t . . . move!” gasped the Man of Steel. “Feels like . . . I’m getting heavier!”

  “That’s because you are, Superman,” Terra-Man said. “My alien step-pa made me all kinds of weapons. This one here makes an hombre super-heavy.”

  Superman was being crushed under his own weight. Even with his super-strength, he was unable to lift an arm. He could barely breathe. It was like nothing he had ever felt before.

  “You’re a thousand times heavier than normal, partner,” said Terra-Man with a smile. “A normal man would’ve been crushed to death by now.”

  The Man of Steel felt himself begin to sink. Then, the ground beneath the super-heavy Superman gave way.

  Superman plunged through the solid ground like a pebble sinking in a lake.

  “Hasta luego, amigo,” Terra-Man said. “That means ‘see you later, friend!’”

  Terra-Man chuckled. He spun his energy blaster on his finger and then slipped the weapon back into its holster.

  The outlaw patted Nova on the horse’s powerful neck. “Guess Superman ain’t as tough as we heard,” the outlaw bragged. “I was hoping he’d put up a better fight.”

  Terra-Man hopped off of Nova’s back. “Oh, well,” he continued. “I guess we don’t have to worry about him bothering us from now on.”

  Then the space outlaw started walking. He passed through an alleyway between an old dress shop and a saloon. Nova followed behind him obediently.

  “We got a lot of ground to cover before we can hightail it back home,” Terra-Man said. “Now let’s get searchin’. Keep your eyes open, Nova.”

  The white horse shook his head up and down as if to say ‘yes.’ Then, Nova lowered his head and sniffed. The horse carefully searched the ground in front of him just like Terra-Man was doing.

  “It’s got to be around here somewhere,” Terra-Man muttered. “We’ll check every inch of this town until we find it!”

  Nova stopped suddenly and reared back on his hind legs in surprise.

  Terra-Man looked around but saw no threat. He was puzzled.

  “What’s wrong, Nova?” the outlaw said. He drew his energy blasters. His eyes darted back and forth, looking for danger. “I don’t see anything, boy!”

  With an explosive roar, the ground at Terra-Man’s feet burst into a blinding cloud of dirt. The outlaw fell backward. He threw his arms up to protect his eyes from the dust.

  “No!” said Superman, who erupted from the ground like he had been shot from a cannon. “Now you don’t see anything!”

  Nova charged through the blinding storm of dust. But Superman saw him coming. The Man of Steel grabbed one of the reins and leaped onto Nova’s saddle.

  Nova bucked wildly in protest. The horse began to kick and thrash in the air. Superman held on tightly, clinging to the stallion like a rodeo rider.

  “Easy, Nova!” Superman said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “Well isn’t that sweet of you,” snarled Terra-Man.

  The outlaw wiped dust from his eyes with the back of his hand. With the other, he quickly reached for something inside his cowboy hat.

  “Too bad we’re not going to be so nice in return,” he said to Superman.

  Suddenly, Terra-Man threw what looked like a handful of twigs into the air. The twigs grew into giant, eight-foot-tall tumbleweeds.

  “Now, Nova!” Terra-Man yelled.

  The horse lurched violently. Surprised, Superman lost his grip on the reins. He flew through the air. Suddenly, the tumbleweeds rushed at him like bees to honey.

  Superman saw them coming. Before he could fly out of their path, something wrapped around his leg. It was Terra-Man’s lasso! The outlaw’s powerful rope held the Man of Steel down. Soon, the tumbleweeds caught Superman. They wrapped around his body.

  The giant plants moved their branches like snakes. For every weed Superman swatted away, three others raced at him. Before he knew it, he was trapped inside the grip of the terrible tumbleweeds.

  Superman tried to break through the tangled twigs, but the thin branches refused to snap. They stretched like rubber bands in his iron grip.

  “Forget about bustin’ out, Superman,” Terra-Man said. “These are unbreakable alien weeds. Try not to get caught in the wind, partner!”

  The cluster of twigs trapping Superman began to roll across the ground. He was caught inside a giant tumbleweed!

  The wild weeds lifted him along up, up and away, and into the sky. Terra-Man laughed as he watched the Man of Steel tumble away.

  Superman waited until Terra-Man could no longer see him. He took a deep breath, and blew super-cold air on the tangled tumbleweeds. In seconds, his breath froze the twigs solid, making them as brittle as glass. He flexed his muscles, and the frozen plants shattered. He was free from the terrible twigs.

  Superman didn’t return to Cripple Creek to face off against Terra-Man. Instead, he sped back to the hills where the alien lawmen were waiting.

  “I think I found out why Terra-Man is here,” Superman told the alien lawmen. “And I’ve found a way to stop him.”

  “Tell us, Superman,” Tyrox asked eagerly. “His weapons have always been too powerful for us.”

  “If this plan works, then his weapons won’t be a problem,” Superman said. He reached into a pouch in his cape and removed a small, yellow orb. It was the size of a golf ball.

  “I found this when Terra-Man made me sink into the earth,” said Superman.

  • • •

  The terrible heat at high noon did not stop Terra-Man and Nova from their search. They walked up and down every street and alley.

  Terra-Man paced back and forth over every inch of Cripple Creek. He checked each building, one by one.

  For the first time in a century, the outlaw from space was sweating. He pulled a bandana from his back pocket and wiped his forehead.

  “I don’t get it, Nova,” Terra-Man said. “Step-pa’s notes said this was where he left it! So why isn’t it here?”

  “Maybe because someone else found it first,” said Superman. He stepped out from the doorway of an old saloon.

  Superman held out his hand. “Is this what you’re looking for, Terra-Man?” In his palm, he held the glowing orb.

  “The power pack!” cried Terra-Man in surprise.

  Terra-Man whipped out his blasters and aimed them at Superman. The Man of Steel strolled out to the middle of the street.

  “It was buried under Main Street,” Superman said. “I wouldn’t have found it if you hadn’t made me sink into the ground.”

  “I came halfway across the galaxy for that little gadget!” Terra-Man growled. “So you better hand it over. Pronto!”

 

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