Comic Book / Let My People Grow!

Let My People Grow! is a Superman story published in Superman (1939) issue #338 (May 1979). Written by Len Wein and illustrated by Curt Swan, it finally saw the enlargement of the City of Kandor, a subplot which had been going on since The Super-Duel in Space, published twenty-one years before.

Many years have passed since Superman retrieved the Bottle City of Kandor and swore to restore the Kandorians back to normal size in "The Super-Duel in Space". After many failed attempts, he may have finally found something powerful enough to counteract Brainiac's shrinking ray: a sample of the light of an exploding super-nova.

However, Superman must test his enlarging device first, and he does not dare to risk any Kandorian's life. So that there is only one option left: he and Supergirl must lure Brainiac back to Earth and anger him into using his shrinking ray on Superman. Then they will be able to test Superman's ray... if they manage to survive the wrathful onslaught of one of their most dangerous enemies.

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Tropes:

• Another Dimension: Rokyn, the world chosen by the Kandorians, is a phase-world. It really exists in another dimension, and it only appears in their universe during a brief shift of the cosmic axis.
• Apologetic Attacker: Superman manages to enlarge the Kandorians shrunk by Brainiac, but their city crumbles down. When Superman says he wants to stay and help rebuild Kandor, Van-Zee thanks him. Then, apologizing for rejecting his selfless gesture, Van punches Superman out and asks Supergirl to take him away, since they need to succeed on their own.
• Badass Boast: When Superman declares he will stop Brainiac, the Coluan retorts:
  Brainiac: I know you're more than welcome to try— But I don't give much for your chances of succeeding!
• Batman Gambit: Superman needs to trick Brainiac into using his shrink ray, so he throws a massive asteroid at the Coluan, expecting him to reduce it instead of blowing it to smithereens.
• Beam-O-War: Supergirl shoots her ray gun to counter Brainiac's shrinking ray, effectively deflecting the beam back at the Coluan villain.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Supergirl flatly refuses to save Brainiac from shrinking into oblivion, stating coldly they cannot waste power on him.
• Big Damn Heroes: Brainiac is about to blast Superman into oblivion when Supergirl shows up and warns against attacking her cousin.
• Big "NO!": Supergirl lets out a firm "Cousin, NO!" when Superman wants her to use up one of their enlarging ray's remaining shots to save Brainiac.
• Bookends: Many fans tend to regard Kandor's shrinking (1958) and enlarging (1973) as bookends for Superman's Silver Age.
• Bridal Carry: Kara carries Superman in her arms when her cousin passes out when flying back to Earth.
• But Now I Must Go: After being enlarged, the Kandorians choose to live on a Brigadoon-style planet called Rokyn, which phases in and out of the universe at lengthy intervals.
• Catch a Falling Star: Superman is reentering the Earth's atmosphere when he passes out due to be exposed to the energies of an exploding super-nova, and plummets down. Fortunately, Supergirl, who was looking out for him, flies upwards, catches him and takes him to safety.
  Narrator:But even as Superman plummets Earthward, a second caped Kryptonian rockets into the sky... She is the Maid of Might, Supergirl— and to her, catching a falling figure in mid-air is as simple as catching a nap.
• Continuity Nod: A Kandorian points out that their previous attempt to enlarge the city almost killed them all. A footnote informs it happened in Superman #158.
• Crystal Spires and Togas: Kandor◊ is a city of tall, shiny, brightly-colored buildings, curvy architecture and winding floating streets.
• De-Power Zone: When Kandor begins crumbling to dust, the Drygur Moliom (Kryptonian for the Science Council leader) asks Superman to do something, but he reminds them he has no powers under Rokyn's red star.
  Drygur: Superman, you must do something— quickly!
  Superman: But I can't, Drygur! Under this planet's red sun, I'm as powerless as any normal man!
• Evil Gloating: After shrinking Superman, Brainiac takes a moment to gloat about annihilating him instead of annihilating him without further ado, giving Supergirl time to appear and run interference.
  Brainiac: I have no idea what you hoped to accomplish with that ridiculous maneuver, Superman— and, regrettably, you're not going to be here long enough for me to find out! That first shot shrunk you to the size of a mosquito— But the blast you're about to receive will reduce you to absolute nothingness!
  Supergirl: I wouldn't touch that button if I were you, Brainiac!
• Fainting: Superman passes out in exhaustion after flying into a supernova.
• Forgot About His Powers: Given that a supernova occurs only once in a millennium, Superman and Supergirl think they have only one shot to collect a sample of energy... even though they can time-travel.
• Good Is Not Soft: When Brainiac disappears, Superman looks upset, but Supergirl is displaying a huge, slightly disturbing, toothy grin.
• Heroic BSoD: Superman covers his face with his hand and falls to his knees when his ray enlarges the Kandorians but destroys their city.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: Brainiac shoots his shrinking ray at Supergirl, but she deflects it back at him. Struck by his own ray, Brainiac begins to rapidly shrink, and he pleads with Kara to save him, but she refuses:
  Superman: Brainiac is gone— Destroyed by his own devices!
• Hypocritical Humor: Jimmy Olsen assures Perry White that he will not call him "chief" again while doing just that.
  Jimmy Olsen: You're welcome, chief. [...]
  Perry White: You're lucky I'm in a good mood, Olsen. I've told you a million times— Don't call me chief!
  Jimmy Olsen: Don't worry, chief— I'll never do it again!
• Inconsistent Coloring: Supergirl's red choker is colored white in several panels.
• Incredible Shrinking Man: Superman shrinks down to mouse-size when he is hit by Brainiac's shrinking ray. Brainiac himself becomes too tiny to be seen by the human eye after getting hit by his own ray.
• It's All My Fault:
  • When Superman collapses after being battered by a supernova, Supergirl blames herself for not having gone with him...even though it is not clear that she would have achieved other than passing out alongside him, which would have prevented her from catching him when he plummeted towards the ground.
    Supergirl: Obviously, what we both feared came true— not even a Superman could endure the fury of a supernova— This is all my fault— I knew it would be dangerous— I should have insisted on going with him— If he doesn't recover, I'll never forgive myself.
  • Superman blames himself when Kandor falls apart and turns to dust because he did not test his enlarging ray on inanimate objects.
    Superman: I should have thought of that— I should have tested for it! Now, because of my incompetence, Kandor has been destroyed! I've failed my people... failed... failed...
• It's Personal: When Brainiac gets shrunk into oblivion, Superman looks upset... but Supergirl is grinning wickedly. Having been raised in Kryptonian society, she took Kandor's abduction way more personally than her cousin, who was raised as an Earthman, ever did.
• Lilliputians: Subverted. After spending decades turned into miniature people, the Kandorians are turned back to normal size.
• Kryptonite Factor:
  • Not even Superman can withstand an exploding supernova. He needs a special armor suit, and he passes out due to the strain.
  • Brainiac deliberately builds weapons which can kill Kryptonians.
• Lap Pillow: After catching her fainted cousin, Kara lays Kal on a rocky ledge and rests his head on her lap. As she waits for him to come around, Kara strokes her cousin's hair.
• Literary Allusion Title: The title is based on Book of Exodus 5:1: "Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let My people go that they may celebrate a festival for Me in the wilderness.'"
• Logical Weakness: Since this incarnation of Brainiac is a humanoid computer, Superman builds a gadget which interferes with his electronic brainwaves.
• Meteor-Summoning Attack: In order to trick Brainiac into using his Shrink Ray, Superman flies upwards and tosses at him a gigantic meteor of the size of a football stadium.
• Murder by Inaction: When Brainiac starts shrinking uncontrollably due to be struck by his own weapon, he begs Supergirl to save him. Supergirl coldly retorts◊ that their enlarging ray has two shots left, and she will not waste one of them to save him from his own stupidity. Even though Superman pleads with her◊, Kara refuses to lift one finger.
• My Suit Is Also Super: Superman uses his own cape to shield himself from Brainiac's nerve-wracking shockwave weapon.
• Noodle Incident: The whole incident must be very weird from Brainiac's point of view: suddenly, Superman starts emitting waves which get him pissed off enough to go back to Earth, refuses to turn them off, and tricks him into shrinking him.
• No-Sell: When charging at Brainiac, Superman gets a very painful reminder that his force-field is so impenetrable as ever.
  Superman: You know I'm going to have to stop you, Brainiac!
  Brainiac: I know you're more than welcome to try— But I don't give much for your chances of succeeding!
  Superman: Uunnff!! [thinking] His impenetrable force-field is as powerful as ever!
• Not Enough to Bury: Invoked when Brainiac declares there will be nothing left of Superman when he is done with him.
• Oh, My Gods!: Even a humanoid A.I. as Brainiac swears "By the Great Cosmos!"
• Platonic Kissing: Before their spaceship takes off, Van-Zee gives Kara a brief but tender parting kiss.
• Playful Cat Smile: Supergirl displays a wicked, cat-like grin when Brainiac disappears after hitting himself with his shrinking ray.
• Powered Armor: Superman builds a space armor suit to protect his body while he collects energy of an exploding supernova.
• Rule of Perception: Brainiac's words when he has been shrunk to nearly nothingness are rendered as nonsensical letters, so readers understand it is unintelligible gibberish.
• Rule of Three: The story is divided into three parts: "Chapter One: Let My People Grow", "Chapter Two: The Lilliput Problem!" and "Chapter Three: All Creatures Great and Small...!"
• Save the Villain: Subverted when Brainiac is shrinking uncontrollably and Supergirl bluntly refuses to save him.
  Brainiac: What...have...you...done...to...me...?
  Supergirl: I did nothing, Brainiac— You've done this to yourself!
  Brainiac: Please, Supergirl— You've got to help me!
  Supergirl: [coldly] I'm sorry, but there isn't enough energy left in the enlarging ray to save Superman— Kandor— and you!
  Brainiac: Can you be so callous— So cruel? I beg you— Don't let it end like this!
  Superman: Blast it, Kara— He's right! We must try to save him!
  Supergirl: Cousin— NO! We can't afford to waste the energy!
• Screw Your Ultimatum!: Brainiac warns he will level Metropolis if Superman does not turn the signal off. Superman replies he will just stop him.
  Brainiac: I'll give you one last chance to reconsider, Superman! Turn off that cursed signal— and your city will be spared!
  Superman: You're wasting your breath, Brainiac! I've got you where I want you this time— and I'm not going to let you go!
• Secret Identity Change Trick: Superman exploits the chaos caused by Brainiac's ground-shattering arrival to sneak out of a company party and change clothes.
• Settling the Frontier: The Kandorians choose to colonize a large, primitive world orbiting a red sun. Kal and Kara pick an area near water sources and surrounded by fertile land, and they enlarge the city.
• Shrink Ray: Superman tricks Brainiac into using his shrinking ray on him, becoming as tiny as a mouse. Then, Supergirl deflects Brainiac's ray back at him, and the Coluan becomes impossibly tiny.
• Shout-Out:
  • The title reminds readers that Superman was created by two Jewish men and inspired by several biblical figures by paraphrasing Book of Exodus 5:1: "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness."
  • The third segment is named after The BBC series All Creatures Great and Small (1978).
• Skintone Sclerae: Kal and Kara's eyes are flesh-colored in some panels.
• Tap on the Head: Van-Zee knocks Superman out with a well-placed uppercut.
• Technobabble: Superman's explanation of his enlarging method comes across as pseudo-scientifical babble.
  Superman: According to my calculations, the stellar energies captured in this canister— combined with a few precious grains of the element Illium 349— will reverse the effects of Brainiac's Shrink-Ray.
• Tears of Joy: Superman weeps joyously when the enlarging ray's experiment is a success.
  Narrator: Tears of victory welling at the corners of his eyes, the Man of Steel happily embraces his cousin Kara— and his jubilation is shared by all who dwell within the Bottle-City...
• Troubled Fetal Position: Superman becomes so upset when his enlarging ray accidentally destroys Kandor's buildings that he sits on the dirt, pulls his knees up and covers his head as he sobs.
• Unfinished, Untested, Used Anyway: Double subversion. When Superman develops his enlarging ray, the Kandorians point out they need an assurance that it will work. Superman decides to use himself as a guinea pig, and he checks the ray works fine. However, when he uses it on Kandor, the buildings crumble down, and he realizes he did not test it on inorganic matter.
• Video Phone: In this 1973 story, Superman communicates with the Kandorians via videoconference, using devices which are bulky and clunky by 21st century Earth standards, even though Kryptonian technology is supposed to be clearly superior.
• Villains Want Mercy: When Brainiac starts shrinking without control, he begs both cousins to save him. Even Superman pleads with Supergirl, but she puts her foot down: they have only two shots left to enlarge her cousin and Kandor, and she is not squandering one of them on Brainiac. Hence, the Coluan is out of luck.
• We Have Become Complacent: Superman feels incredibly upset when his ray enlarges the Kandorians but destroys their city. However, Van-Zee tells him it is not such a big loss at all. They grew accustomed to be under his care and had become more like pets that people. Maybe now they will need to rebuild their city and their civilization without depending on him, they will get their sense of initiative back.
  Van-Zee: These past years inside that bottle, we haven't been people— We've been pets! You tended to us, protected us, loved us— and gradually we lost our sense of initiative! Perhaps now we can begin to find it again!
  Superman: W-what do you mean?
  Drygur Moliom: Look around you, Kal-El— A primitive wilderness, waiting to be tamed, to be conquered—! And if we cannot accomplish that, then perhaps we never deserved to be released from our bottle in the first place!
• You Are Too Late: When Supergirl joins the fight, Brainiac declares she is too late to stop him from shrinking Superman to nothingness.
  Supergirl: I wouldn't touch that button if I were you, Brainiac!
  Brainiac: What—?!? You're too late to stop me, Supergirl— But you're just in time to share your cousin's fate!
• Zeerust:
  • Despite hailing from a technologically hyper-advanced civilization, Superman needs a computer which takes up a whole wall, two different monitors -one of them moved by a clunky mechanical arm-, and a headset to talk to the Kandorians via video-link.
  • Superman builds a device capable of causing Brainiac severe mental discomfort and irritation. Said device is attuned to his electronic brainwaves, and its ultra-high frequency signal can find him anywhere in the universe. And it looks like a 70's beeper.

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