Writer Kurt Busiek, stated in the introduction to the collected volume of the series, that his inspiration for this story was the original appearances of Superboy-Prime in DC Comics Presents during the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Clark Kent of the story bears similarities to the Superboy of Earth-Prime. Both are brought into a world without other superheroes, and they become the first (although Clark would later be joined by others).{see below: "Issue #4"}