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A new era just began for DC's Superman, with a new design and a major addition to his official lore. Here's everything you need to know, and what's coming next.
In today's Action Comics #1100, Superman returns to the DC Universe after being absent for months. Superman disappeared in the aftermath of DC K.O., traveling across realities as the 'Omega King' of the multiverse while his family picked up the slack.
Now, Superman officially returns to DC's main reality, with major consequences already playing out for the Man of Steel and his supporting cast.
Superman Returns to DC Continuity
Superman officially returns in Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, Alejandro Sánchez and Steve Wands' 'Superman Meets Superboy,' as a team of Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel and his own younger self save him from a void at the end of time, using the younger Clark Kent to forge a connection.
Superman confirms that he used his DC K.O. powers to fix the timestream on an adventure fans will see in July 29's Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1. He returns with his regular powers and a new beard, just in time to join in with the upcoming 'Kingdom of Zod' crossover event.
After months away, Superman is finally back, however the biggest news is that he's bringing his younger self with him.
There's a New Superboy in DC Lore
In recent issues of Action Comics, Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge et al. have been exploring Clark's early days as Superboy. In this issue, Superboy saves his future self and requests that he be allowed to visit the present day, which Superman approves. That means the young Clark Kent will now be a hero in DC's modern day as Superboy, red sneakers and all.
However, it's likely DC is setting up an important twist. When Superboy helps rescue Superman, Superman claims he doesn't remember this adventure from his past or visiting the future as a kid. This makes it likely that the time-travel shenanigans experienced by Superboy have bifurcated the timeline, turning him into a separate character with his own unwritten future.
This may even be Booster Gold's fault. As the team travel through time to find Superman, Booster shows Superboy his future, revealing the identities of his biggest villains and his friendship with Batman and the Justice League. Booster even goes so far as to nudge Superboy towards canon events, despite Martian Manhunter warning the effects will be unpredictable.
It's possible that Booster Gold messing with Clark Kent's past just turned this new Superboy into a separate individual whose future is uncertain, now set to find his way in the modern day. This would turn the last few months of Action Comics into a stealth backstory for a new Kryptonian hero.
Superman's Exile Created Another New Hero
While Clark Kent's Superboy joins the modern day, Superman's absence has also started a redemption arc for the formerly villainous Superboy-Prime - a version of Clark from a world without any other superheroes, implied to be our own.
While Superboy-Prime still isn't trusted by most heroes - or even the members of the Superman Family - replacing Superman allowed him to prove his sincere desire for redemption, and Lois Lane has become his champion. With Clark returning, DC is teasing an upcoming solo series for Prime, and he'll also be part of the 'Kingdom of Zod' event alongside the family, continuing to earn his place as a hero.
Today saw the return of Superman after months voyaging through the multiverse, with his exile and return adding a luxurious beard and two new heroes to the family - the semi-redeemed Superboy-Prime and a younger version of Clark Kent, who may be a lot more than he seems.
Action Comics #1100 is available now from DC Comics.
