Now entering the Multiverse...
Golden Age (1938–1955)
1938: Superman debuts in Action Comics #1 (June 1938) by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The iconic cover shows him hoisting a car overhead, introducing Clark Kent as a mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Star (soon to be the Daily Planet) and his heroic alter ego, Superman, an alien infant rocketed from a doomed planet. In this first story, Superman’s powers are modest – exceptional strength, bulletproof skin, and the ability to leap 1/8th of a mile, but he cannot yet fly. Krypton and his parents are not named in the debut; those details were added over time.
1939–1940: Within a year, Superman’s popularity soars. Superman #1 (1939) finally names his home planet Krypton and introduces the notion that Clark was raised by kind foster parents. Early comics mention only that his adoptive mother is “Mary Kent” and that the Kents passed away before Clark moved to Metropolis. By Action Comics #23 (1940), Clark’s workplace is officially renamed the Daily Planet and Superman gains a key enemy: Lex Luthor, introduced as a red-haired “mad scientist” adversary. Over 1940–41, the mythos rapidly expands – Superman #10–11 (1941) show Superman defying gravity and hovering in mid-air for the first time (until then he only leaped). By the end of 1941, the comics fully embrace flight for Superman, aligning him with his popular radio serial and cartoons. Superman #17 (1942) even gives him a hidden mountain hideout called the “Secret Citadel,” a precursor to his later Fortress of Solitude.
World War II era: Superman became an American icon during WWII, boosting comic sales industry-wide. He often battled Axis villains in comics and encouraged war bond sales. In 1941, the Adventures of Superman radio show introduced new elements like Perry White (Editor of the Daily Planet) and Jimmy Olsen, which were soon adopted by the comics. Superman’s powers grew more fantastical in the 1940s, adding abilities like telescopic vision, super-hearing, and even time travel in occasional stories. Many tales were labeled “Imaginary Stories,” exploring hypothetical scenarios with no lasting impact. (Later, DC would attribute some of these wild tales to alternate Earths in the Multiverse concept.) Superman also appeared in the Justice Society of America comics of the 1940s as an honorary member, establishing the first superhero team (albeit Superman had only cameo roles in JSA adventures).
1945–1950: Key pieces of Superman’s backstory emerged. More Fun Comics #101 (1945) introduced Superboy – the adventures of young Clark Kent in the rural town of Smallville. Initially, these Superboy stories were separate from mainline Superman continuity. However, by 1951, DC decided Superboy was canonical: Action Comics #158 (1951) explicitly said Superman had been a boy hero in Smallville. This required tweaks to earlier origin tellings – a 1947 story had briefly placed Clark’s teen years in Metropolis, but by 1951 his youth in Smallville as Superboy became the official history. Also in 1948–50, the names of his adoptive parents solidified. Originally “John and Mary Kent”, they were soon changed to Jonathan and Martha Kent, first mentioned in 1950’s Adventure Comics #149 and Superboy #12 (1951).
Kryptonite & expanded lore: Superman’s vulnerabilities and sci-fi elements grew during this era. Kryptonite, the radioactive fragments of his home planet, made its first comics appearance in Superman #61 (1949). (It had debuted on radio earlier.) In that 1949 story, Kryptonite was colored red, though it soon became the familiar green. Significantly, Superman #61 is also when Kal-El learns of his Kryptonian heritage – he finally discovers his home planet’s name and tragic fate, years after readers themselves learned of Krypton. Other milestones include Superman #76 (1952), where Batman and Superman teamed up for the first time and even learned each other’s secret identities, cementing a long friendship. By 1955, young Clark’s super-pet Krypto the Superdog appeared (in Adventure Comics #210) as another survivor of Krypton’s tragedy.
Multiverse Note: All Golden Age Superman stories (1938–early 50s) were later deemed to occur on Earth-Two in DC’s Multiverse. DC would introduce the concept of parallel Earths in the 1960s to explain continuity shifts. Thus, the original Superman (often called Kal-L in retroactive continuity) exists on Earth-Two, distinct from the Silver Age version on Earth-One. In Earth-Two’s history, Superman began his career earlier (during WWII) and, unlike the modern version, he married his Lois Lane later in life. This distinction becomes important during DC’s later “Crisis” stories.
Silver Age (1955–1970)
By the mid-1950s, superheroes were reborn in popularity (the Silver Age). For Superman, the Silver Age is often marked from 1955 onward, as his stories shifted in tone and new concepts flourished. Many classic pieces of Superman lore originated in this era, either newly created or revamped from the Golden Age.
Mythos Expansion: Superman’s backstory and cast grew enormously. Action Comics #242 (1958) introduced Brainiac, a green-skinned alien android, along with the Bottle City of Kandor – a Kryptonian city shrunk and preserved by Brainiac. Kandor’s survivors and their bottled city became a recurring element, often motivating Superman to find a way to restore them. In Adventure Comics #247 (1958), teen Clark (Superboy) meets the Legion of Super-Heroes, a team of super-powered youths from the 30th century. The Legion’s debut retroactively tied Superboy’s adventures to a future era, making him an inspiration for that future hero team. Other additions include the Fortress of Solitude – first shown as Superman’s Arctic hideaway in Action Comics #241 (1958) – and Bizarro, an imperfect duplicate of Superman introduced in Superboy #68 (1958). Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El also arrives: Action Comics #252 (May 1959) features the debut of Supergirl, the last girl of Krypton, who becomes Superman’s protégée. Around the same time, Superman #129 (1959) revealed Clark once fell in love with a college classmate, Lori Lemaris, who turned out to be a mermaid from Atlantis – showcasing the era’s penchant for surprising sci-fi twists.
Krypton and Kryptonite: The Silver Age redefined Krypton as a highly advanced civilization. Superman’s Kryptonian name “Kal-El” was first explicitly used in 1957 (Superman #113). We learn more of Jor-El and Lara (his parents) in various stories. Multiple varieties of Kryptonite are introduced to challenge Superman: Gold Kryptonite (debut Adventure Comics #299, 1962) could permanently remove Kryptonian powers, Red K caused bizarre temporary effects, Blue K affected only Bizarros, White K killed plants, and so on. These colorful forms of Kryptonite became a trademark of Silver Age Superman tales. The era also added the Phantom Zone, a pocket-dimension prison for Kryptonian criminals. Adventure Comics #283 (1961) sees Superboy discover the Phantom Zone and encounter its prisoners like General Zod, establishing that Jor-El had invented this method of exile on Krypton. Thus General Dru-Zod and the very concept of Kryptonian exiles were born in 1961, enriching Superman’s rogue gallery with phantom villains.
Lex Luthor & Smallville: Lex Luthor’s backstory was expanded in Adventure Comics #271 (1960), which revealed that Lex and Clark knew each other as teenagers. In that story, a young Lex in Smallville idolized Superboy until a lab accident (for which he blamed Superboy) caused Lex to lose his hair and turn bitter. This retcon made Lex Luthor’s villainy a personal grudge. Other Smallville figures introduced include Clark’s best friend Pete Ross (Superboy #86, 1961) and the local teenage inventor Mon-El (Lar Gand of Daxam), who first appears in Superman #89 (1961) claiming to be Clark’s long-lost brother. Mon-El, who ends up in the Phantom Zone due to lead poisoning, would later be a prominent member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future.
DC Multiverse is born: A pivotal Silver Age development was the creation of the DC Multiverse. In The Flash #123 (1961) – “Flash of Two Worlds” – Barry Allen crosses into Earth-Two and meets Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash. This story established that the Golden Age heroes (1930s–40s comics) live on a parallel Earth. Two years later, Superman himself directly encountered the multiverse concept: Justice League of America #21–22 (1963) featured “Crisis on Earth-One/Earth-Two,” the first crossover between the Justice League and Justice Society. This tale firmly established that the Golden Age Superman (Kal-L) still existed on Earth-Two, while the “current” Superman (Kal-El) was on Earth-One. The two versions had separate histories. Throughout the 1960s, annual JLA/JSA team-ups (often titled “Crisis on ___ Earth”) became tradition. Superman occasionally joined these, and thus DC managed two Supermen in continuity. They finally met face-to-face in 1969: Justice League of America #73 has Earth-One Superman teaming up with his older Earth-Two counterpart to battle a threat. This was a momentous meeting of two eras of Superman, highlighting the complexity (and fun) of DC’s expanding multiverse.
Late Silver Age: By the late 1960s, Superman’s powers were truly godlike, and stories often took a whimsical or cosmic scale (“The Superman who split in two,” “Superman’s Rainbow Face,” etc., many being “imaginary” tales). To celebrate Superman’s 25th anniversary, a tongue-in-cheek Jimmy Olsen #70 (1963) even introduced “Silver Kryptonite,” which in that story turned out to be a hoax gift that did nothing except commemorate the anniversary. Also, in Superman #158 (1963), Superman and Jimmy Olsen took on the identities of Nightwing and Flamebird to fight crime in Kandor – an interesting detail since decades later Batman’s former sidekick Dick Grayson would adopt “Nightwing” as his superhero name, inspired by that Kandorian legend. By 1970, the stage was set for some change as the creative teams prepared to modernize the Man of Steel for a new era.
Bronze Age (1971–1985)
1971 Revamp: In 1971, under editor Julius Schwartz and writer Denny O’Neil, DC attempted to power-down and contemporize Superman. A storyline beginning in Superman #233 (“Kryptonite Nevermore!” Jan 1971) eliminated all Kryptonite on Earth – an explosion in space turns every kryptonite sample on Earth to ordinary iron, freeing Superman from his Achilles heel (at least temporarily). In the same story, Clark Kent changes careers, leaving the Daily Planet to become a TV news anchor for WGBS (Galaxy Broadcasting). This reflected the changing media landscape of the time. During this arc, Superman also confronted a strange sand-creature (the “Sand Superman”) that siphoned a portion of his power. For a short period, Superman’s power levels were significantly reduced, making him more vulnerable. However, by Superman #242–243 (1971), the status quo was restored – the Sand Superman was defeated and new deposits of Kryptonite soon fell to Earth, bringing back his classic weakness. Still, the Bronze Age maintained a somewhat depowered, more relatable Superman compared to his 1960s omnipotence.
Expanded mythology and family: Bronze Age stories added depth to Krypton and the Superman family. A 1973 retelling of Superman’s origin (in Superman #263 and the 1973 Superman “Family” anthology) expanded on Jor-El’s history and included more of Kal-El’s supporting cast (Krypto, Supergirl, etc.). All-Star Comics #58 (1975) introduced Power Girl on Earth-Two – Kara Zor-L, the Earth-Two counterpart of Supergirl, who became a member of the Justice Society. And in “Earth-Two” continuity, Clark Kent married Lois Lane in Action Comics #484 (1978) – the Golden Age Superman finally got his happy ending with Lois after decades. (This was separate from the main Earth-One Superman, who was still unmarried at the time.)
Crossovers and team-ups: Superman’s world further integrated with DC’s wider universe. Notably, in 1976, Superman met Marvel Comics’ flagship hero Spider-Man in a historic intercompany crossover, Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man. This blockbuster one-shot showed Superman and Spider-Man teaming up (and briefly tussling), proving the Man of Steel’s appeal transcended publishers. Within DC Comics, Superman was a founding member of the Justice League of America (introduced back in 1960) and appeared regularly with the team. A story in Superman #276 (1974) even featured a thinly veiled battle with a Captain Marvel analog (foreshadowing DC’s eventual acquisition of the character).
1978–1980: By the late ’70s, Superman had become a multimedia superstar thanks to Christopher Reeve’s Superman: The Movie (1978). In the comics, Superman’s parents on Earth-One (Jonathan and Martha Kent) were depicted as having died early in his adulthood (unlike the Earth-Two version, where they lived to see him become Superman). One emotional 1971 tale showed they died from a rare tropical disease after a vacation incident – a departure from the Golden Age version where they simply passed from illness/old age. Superman also finally avenged his foster parents’ loss by using time-travel to procure a cure in a famous story, only to learn “even Superman can’t change the past” (a lesson often repeated in his mythos). In 1980, DC retroactively established that the Earth-Two Kal-L had been a founding JSA member in 1940 and introduced an Earth-Two Lana Lang who never knew Clark in Smallville, deepening the dual timelines ahead of the looming Crisis.
Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985): By the mid-1980s, DC’s multiverse had grown unwieldy with numerous alternate Earths and conflicting histories. The Crisis on Infinite Earths event (12-issue maxiseries, 1985) was conceived to streamline continuity. This saga had an enormous impact on Superman. In Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (Oct 1985), Supergirl (Kara) heroically sacrifices her life to save her cousin Kal-El and others, dying at the hands of the Anti-Monitor. Her death is one of the most iconic moments of the series – and due to the reality-altering nature of the Crisis, Kara’s very existence was erased from the new timeline, meaning Superman would post-Crisis believe he never had a cousin. Also during Crisis, a young alternate Superman – Superboy of Earth-Prime (from a universe where DC’s superheroes are only comic characters) – makes his debut and joins the fight. In the final battle (Crisis #12, 1986), Earth-Prime Superboy, Earth-2 Superman (Kal-L), his wife Lois Lane of Earth-2, and Alexander Luthor Jr. of Earth-3 all survive the Anti-Monitor and enter a paradisal pocket dimension together as the multiverse is collapsed. When the dust settles, the infinite Earths are merged into one single universe (Earth) – effectively rebooting DC history. The pre-Crisis Superman of Earth-One had his “final story” in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583 (1986) – the famous “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” tale by Alan Moore – which bid farewell to the old continuity with a “imaginary” ending. After that, Superman (and all DC heroes) were relaunched anew in a single unified timeline.
Post-Crisis Modern Age (1986–2000)
1986 Reboot – The Man of Steel: In the wake of Crisis, Superman’s history was completely reimagined. Writer/artist John Byrne led the reboot with The Man of Steel #1–6 (1986), a mini-series that retold Superman’s origin and introduced a “new” Superman for the modern age. Major changes under Byrne’s Post-Crisis continuity included: Kal-El’s birthing matrix landed on Earth (he was effectively “born” on Earth, making him legally human by birth); Clark never was Superboy in his youth (his heroic career begins as an adult); Jonathan and Martha Kent are alive and continue to support him into his Metropolis days; Lex Luthor is no longer a fugitive mad scientist but instead a powerful business tycoon in Metropolis who first meets Superman as an adult. Superman’s powers were scaled back – he could no longer juggle planets, and was more “powerful but not all-powerful,” to allow more credible threats. The Legion of Super-Heroes’ history had to be adjusted since Superman was no longer their inspiration as a boy (this led to the creation of a new character “Mon-El/Valor” to fill the Superboy role). Byrne’s run also emphasized Kal-El as truly the last Kryptonian – wiping out concepts like Supergirl, Krypto, etc., at least initially. This clean slate set the stage for nearly two decades of new Superman storylines.
Late 1980s – New enemies and tough choices: The post-Crisis Superman faced grittier storylines. In Superman #22 (1988), in a story titled “The Price,” Superman is forced to do the unthinkable – he executes three Kryptonian super-criminals (General Zod and companions) from a pocket dimension, who had destroyed their entire world. This controversial moment – Superman using lethal force – haunted him for years after. A new version of Supergirl was introduced in 1988 as well: not Kara Zor-El, but “Matrix,” a shape-shifting artificial life-form from an alternate universe, who comes to Earth in Superman #21 and Adventures of Superman #444 (1988). This Matrix Supergirl could mimic human form (often appearing as Clark’s adoptive cousin). Also in 1987–88, Superman got a new foe in the form of the Phantom Zone criminal known as the Eradicator – an ancient Kryptonian device which debuted in Action Comics Annual #2 (1989). The Eradicator’s story would later become important in the 1990s. Post-Crisis, Superman initially had no Fortress of Solitude, but that changed by 1991: Adventures of Superman #461 (1990) shows the creation of a new Fortress in the Arctic, tied to the Eradicator’s technology. Fun fact: Action Comics #654 (1990) features Superman entrusting Batman with a piece of Kryptonite, for use if Superman ever goes rogue – a significant gesture of trust.
Romance and revelations: A major development in this era was Clark Kent’s relationship with Lois Lane. In Superman (Vol.2) #50 (1990), Clark finally proposes marriage to Lois. Shortly after, in Action Comics #662 (Feb 1991), he reveals to Lois that he is Superman. Lois struggles with the shock but ultimately accepts, and the two become engaged – a long-awaited milestone after decades of “will they/won’t they” storytelling. During the early ’90s, other familiar elements gradually returned: Superman (Vol.2) #65 (1992) reintroduced Red Kryptonite (with new effects), and Action Comics #662 also restored Silver Banshee and other villains from earlier eras, blending past and present.
1992 – The Death of Superman: In the early 1990s, Superman was the subject of an unprecedented crossover storyline. In Superman #75 (Nov 1992), the unthinkable happened – Superman dies in battle, sacrificing himself to stop the rampaging monster Doomsday. This event, “The Death of Superman,” made real-world headlines. Superman and Doomsday pummel each other to death in front of the Daily Planet building in Metropolis (as depicted in the iconic splash of Superman #75). In the aftermath, DC’s books spent much of 1993 dealing with a world without Superman. This led to the “Reign of the Supermen” arc: four Superman impostors/legacy characters emerge to fill the void, each claiming to be Superman reborn or his successor. These were: Steel (John Henry Irons), a heroic engineer in armor; Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent), a teenage clone of Superman; The Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw), who turns villainous; and the Last Son of Krypton (the Eradicator), an energy being assuming Superman’s form. Eventually, it’s revealed the real Superman was healing in a deathlike state. In Adventures of Superman #500 (1993), Clark Kent returns to life (initially in a black recovery suit and long hair). With the help of his allies, he stops the Cyborg Superman’s schemes (which included destroying Coast City) and Doomsday’s rematch. By late 1993, Superman is truly reborn, though now sporting a trendy mid-90s mullet as a nod to his time away.
1994: Zero Hour – minor tweaks: In 1994, DC launched Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, another crossover aimed at cleaning up timeline inconsistencies. Unlike 1985’s Crisis, Zero Hour did not reboot Superman, but it made small adjustments. For example, it was briefly retconned that Clark’s powers developed more slowly (meaning he didn’t possess his full super-strength during high school or college, which explained why he excelled at sports fairly but didn’t show powers). However, these changes were not very significant and were later mostly ignored. Overall, Superman emerged from Zero Hour relatively unchanged – a testament to how cohesive the post-’86 Superman reboot had been.
Late 1990s – Marriage and new powers: In Superman: The Wedding Album (Dec 1996), Clark Kent and Lois Lane finally get married in DC continuity, following a long engagement (timed to coincide with their marriage on Lois & Clark TV show). The wedding issue was a celebratory moment uniting nearly all the Superman creative teams. After marriage, the couple moved into a townhouse together and continued their dual careers. Then, in 1997–1998, Superman underwent a dramatic transformation: an accident involving his powers’ energy matrix turned him into “Electric Blue Superman,” an energy-based lifeform who could no longer function as a physical powerhouse. He donned a blue and white containment suit and had new energy manipulation abilities. The storyline saw him struggle to adjust to intangible form and new limits. Things got stranger when a second incident split him into two beings – Superman Red and Superman Blue – each representing different aspects of his personality. This homage to a Silver Age “imaginary tale” was short-lived; by 1998’s Superman Forever one-shot, the two Supermen merged back and Superman’s classic powers and costume were restored. This return to status quo neatly coincided with Superman’s 60th anniversary in 1998.
1998–1999: As the 20th century closed, Superman’s lore continued evolving. In the 1998 event DC One Million, we learn that Superman may survive to the 853rd century – living in the sun and becoming near-divine. He also supposedly fathers a long line of superheroes in the far future, a nod to his enduring legacy. Meanwhile in 1999, writer Jeph Loeb and others began to re-incorporate more Silver Age elements: the Kryptonian super-dog Krypto was reintroduced (in the “Return to Krypton” storyline), and new explanations were given to align the post-1986 origin with pre-1986 nostalgia. The 1999 mini-series Superman: King of the World saw Superman briefly take a more authoritarian approach to global defense (under Brainiac’s influence), and the Y2K storyline saw the villain Brainiac-13 upgrade Metropolis into a futuristic city. On a personal front, Clark and Lois navigated married life and even separated for a short time (storyline: “Breakdown,” over Lois’s fear for his safety) but reconciled strongly by 2000.
2000: President Luthor and new origins: In 2000’s Lex 2000 special and the pages of Superman, Lex Luthor improbably became President of the United States – a plot that would run through 2003. This development put Superman in the ethical bind of having his arch-enemy as the nation’s leader. Also around 2003, significant retcons were made to Superman’s early years once again. Writer Mark Waid penned Superman: Birthright (2003–2004), a 12-issue series intended to serve as a new origin. Birthright updated Superman’s backstory for the 21st century, showing a globetrotting young Clark and emphasizing his alien heritage (e.g. depicting the \S/ symbol as the Kryptonian symbol for “hope”). It also reestablished that Clark and Lex Luthor had been friends in Smallville during their youth (an element from pre-Crisis Lex lore). Though initially controversial, parts of Birthright were indeed adopted into canon, reflecting a trend of folding classic elements back into the post-Crisis version. By 2004, DC also fully brought back Kara Zor-El – the original Supergirl, who had been wiped out in 1985. Kara was reintroduced in Superman/Batman #8 (2004), with a revised story of survival, and she was integrated as Superman’s cousin once again (this time without undoing his “last Kryptonian” status, since she arrived after him).
21st Century: Infinite Crisis, New Krypton, and Flashpoint (2005–2011)
2005–2006: Infinite Crisis: DC’s next big “Crisis” came two decades after the first. Infinite Crisis (2005–2006) was a sequel of sorts to the original COIE, and it reverberated through Superman’s life. The plot saw the return of the long-lost Earth-2 Superman (Kal-L) and Lois Lane from their pocket dimension, as well as Superboy-Prime, all of whom had survived since 1985. Disillusioned with the darker modern world, these characters attempted to “fix” reality. The villainous Alexander Luthor Jr. of Earth-3 manipulated them to recreate the multiverse. In the ensuing battles, Conner Kent (Superboy) – the young clone of Superman – heroically dies fighting Superboy-Prime in Infinite Crisis #6. In the final issue, Kal-L (Earth-2 Superman) is himself killed in combat against Superboy-Prime, dying in the arms of his cousin Kal-El (Earth-1/New Earth Superman). The outcome of Infinite Crisis is a modified continuity for Superman and the DCU. Reality is “reset” in a subtler way than 1985’s reboot – various Pre-Crisis elements were restored to the timeline. Notably, it was retroactively established that Superman did operate as a teenage Superboy after all (on New Earth), which realigns his history with the Legion of Super-Heroes. Also, his status as a founding member of the Justice League was restored (where post-1986, initially he wasn’t present at the team’s formation). Essentially, Infinite Crisis merged some Silver Age history back into the modern narrative. The multiverse itself was reborn – initially as one New Earth, but a new 52-Earth Multiverse was revealed shortly after (in the weekly series 52). After the climactic battle, Superman finds his powers depleted (from overexposure to Kryptonite and the sun eater) and he takes a hiatus for one in-story year. During this “One Year Later” gap, Clark and Lois took time for a normal married life. Superman’s powers return in 2006 (Action Comics #844 and Superman #650) – the storyline “Up, Up and Away!” depicts Clark gradually regaining his abilities and resuming the mantle. Upon return, his power levels are said to be higher than before, perhaps due to his sun-dip during Infinite Crisis. He even builds a new Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic, modeled after the classic Silver Age fortress (and the Christopher Reeve films). Infinite Crisis thus served as both a tribute and a course-correction, affirming Superman’s legacy.
The “New Earth” era (2006–2010): In the late 2000s, Superman faced both personal and cosmic challenges. In 2006, Clark and Lois briefly foster a young boy, Chris Kent, who is revealed to be the son of General Zod and Ursa from the Phantom Zone (introduced in Action Comics #844). They raise Chris as their own, naming him after Jonathan Kent, until the child is reclaimed into the Zone (setting up future stories). The Legion of Super-Heroes are re-integrated into Superman’s backstory: Action Comics #858 (2007) shows Superman reuniting with the Legion and recovering long-suppressed memories of his teenage adventures with them. This effectively canonized Superman’s Superboy years with the Legion once more, undoing a key aspect of Byrne’s reboot. That same issue reestablishes Mon-El as having been a friend to young Clark.
“New Krypton” saga (2008–2010): One of the biggest status quo shake-ups came when Superman’s Kandor wish was finally fulfilled. In the 2008 Brainiac storyline (by Geoff Johns), Superman battles Brainiac and succeeds in restoring the bottled city of Kandor – enlarging it in the Arctic. Suddenly, there are 100,000 Kryptonians alive under Earth’s yellow sun. This kicks off the Superman: New Krypton event. The Kryptonians, led by Superman’s own uncle Zor-El and aunt Alura, create a new planet for themselves in our solar system (opposite Earth’s orbit) named New Krypton. At first, Superman tries to mediate between humanity and his fellow Kryptonians. Tensions rise when some Kandorians begin dispensing vigilante justice (capturing Superman’s villains and even killing human policemen). Reacting to fear of an “alien army,” Earth’s militaries (spearheaded by General Sam Lane – Lois’s estranged father) and Lex Luthor plot against New Krypton. The saga spans several arcs: World of New Krypton (where Superman lives on New Krypton for a time, serving under General Zod), Codename: Patriot, Last Stand of New Krypton, etc. Ultimately, it climaxes in War of the Supermen (2010). In that final conflict, New Krypton is tragically destroyed – Lex Luthor covertly plants a bomb (inside Reactron) that causes the planet to explode from within. The vast majority of the 100,000 Kryptonians perish in an instant, bringing Superman’s race back to near-extinction. In the aftermath, Superman and Supergirl are left to mourn their people (once more the last Kryptonians). Supergirl’s mother Alura dies saving her, and General Zod and his soldiers launch a vengeful attack on Earth, which Superman and his allies thwart. The “New Krypton” epic thus resets the status quo (“the reset button thoroughly pressed” as observers noted) – Clark is again unique on Earth, having learned hard lessons about heritage, and the world’s distrust of Kryptonians is amplified. Storylines following this (Superman: Grounded, etc.) deal with Superman reasserting his role on his adopted planet.
Other events (2007–2011): The late 2000s saw Superman in major crossovers like Final Crisis (2008) and Blackest Night (2009). In Final Crisis (2008) by Grant Morrison, Superman plays a critical part. Darkseid unleashes the Anti-Life Equation on Earth, and reality itself is threatened by the cosmic vampire Monitors. Superman traverses the Multiverse and even the metaphysical realm – in Final Crisis: Superman Beyond, he teams up with alternate Superman versions (like Captain Marvel and Ultraman) and obtains an ultimative weapon, the Miracle Machine. At Final Crisis’ peak, Darkseid drags the world into despair, and Batman is seemingly killed by Darkseid’s Omega Beams. In the end, music saves creation – with help from a race of celestial beings, Superman sings a perfect counter-frequency song that shatters Darkseid’s essence. He then uses the Miracle Machine to wish the world back to safety, effectively undoing the damage. Final Crisis concludes with the restoration of the Multiverse (now firmly 52 universes strong) and Superman victorious, holding Batman’s fallen cowl. Shortly after, Flashpoint (2011) became the next line-wide reset point. But before that, one more origin revision occurred: Superman: Secret Origin (2009) by Geoff Johns retold Kal-El’s early years once more, blending elements of Birthright and the classic Silver Age. “Secret Origin” reintroduced Smallville’s teenage Lex Luthor friendship, the Legion club, and a young Daily Planet crew, aiming to be the definitive origin before the next reboot.
Flashpoint (2011): In 2011, the DC Universe was rebooted again with the Flashpoint event. Barry Allen’s time-travel escapades created a flashpoint timeline and then a new reality – dubbed the “New 52” or Prime Earth continuity. For Superman, this meant a full reset of his story: the Post-Crisis “New Earth” history was overwritten. In the new continuity, Superman’s career started later (in the 2010s) and many aspects were altered. Notably, Clark’s adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent died early (before he becomes Superman), removing the Kents’ ongoing support in his adult life. Clark also never was Superboy in this timeline (again), and the Legion of Super-Heroes connection was dropped or altered. Essentially, DC launched a younger, unmarried, “edgier” Superman for the 2011 relaunch, wiping clean many developments since 1986. Thus ended the Post-Crisis era with Clark and Lois not having had children (in main continuity) and with story threads like their marriage suspended for the new take.
The New 52 Era (2011–2016)
In September 2011, DC’s entire line was relaunched as “The New 52,” presenting modernized versions of its heroes. Superman was no exception: he received updated origin stories and brand-new series. Action Comics (Vol. 2) #1 (2011) by Grant Morrison reintroduced the early days of Superman in Metropolis. This young Superman wore a simple T-shirt, cape, and jeans, and was powerful but not yet invincible (he could leap tall buildings but had lower strength and durability initially). The world was more distrustful of him – he was seen as a controversial vigilante championing the oppressed. In this revised origin, Kal-El’s arrival and public debut occur in a modern setting, and he faces contemporary takes on classic villains (Morrison’s run reimagined Brainiac, Metall0, etc., in the context of this younger Superman). Concurrently, Superman (Vol. 3) #1 (2011) by George Pérez depicted the present-day Superman, now wearing a high-collar Kryptonian armor suit instead of tights. Major changes in New 52 continuity included Lois Lane is not Clark’s love interest (she is dating someone else and they’re colleagues/friends) and instead, Superman eventually begins a romantic relationship with Wonder Woman in this era. The entire Kent family dynamic is different since the Kents passed away – Clark is more of a loner. The Daily Planet is bought by Morgan Edge, and Clark later quits the Planet to become an independent blogger for a while (frustrated with media conglomerates). Lex Luthor is re-established as a scheming billionaire who is initially in prison and later released.
Key storylines: In the New 52 period, Superman experienced several notable arcs. In “Justice League: Origin” (2011), it’s shown that this younger Superman was initially mistrusted by other heroes but soon became a founding member of the new Justice League in a war against Darkseid. In 2012–13, the crossover “H’el on Earth” introduced a new Kryptonian villain, H’el, pushing Superman, Supergirl, and Superboy into conflict. The Multiverse was less of a focus initially, but Grant Morrison’s Action Comics did introduce the concept of a wider DC Multiverse and even a black Superman from Earth-23 (President Calvin Ellis). In 2013, the “Trinity War” and Forever Evil events saw Superman mind-controlled into killing Dr. Light (which led to a brief story of him questioning his morality), and Lex Luthor curiously ended up aiding the League and even joining it post-Forever Evil.
A major shift came with the “Truth” storyline in 2015. In this arc, Clark’s secret identity was exposed to the world – in Superman #42 (2015) Lois Lane learns Clark’s secret (to protect him) and ultimately publishes it, revealing to everyone that Clark Kent is Superman. This controversial decision upends Superman’s status quo: he is depowered (losing most of his powers due to overuse of a new solar flare ability) and now operates as a quasi-outlaw. Clark travels America on a motorcycle, sporting a short haircut and T-shirt with the \S/, in a story (Superman: Truth/Justice) that explores a humbled Superman proving himself to a skeptical public. The Truth saga was divisive – sales dropped and fans missed the classic setup. DC planned a course correction.
By 2015, DC also began acknowledging the prior continuity. The event Convergence (2015) briefly brought back many pre-Flashpoint characters. Notably, the pre-2011 Superman (often called the “New Earth” Superman) and his wife Lois Lane appeared, living in a bottled Gotham City from before Flashpoint. During Convergence, this Clark and Lois became parents – Lois gave birth to their son Jonathan Samuel Kent during the event. After Brainiac and Telos resolved Convergence, this Superman, Lois, and baby Jon survived and were integrated into the New 52 Earth (Prime Earth). They hid using alias identities (the Lois & Clark (2015) comic follows this story). Thus, unbeknownst to the world, there were effectively two Supermen co-existing: the younger New 52 Superman publicly active, and the older pre-Flashpoint Superman living quietly on a farm with Lois and their young son.
2016 – Death of New 52 Superman: The New 52 Superman’s journey culminated in Superman: The Final Days of Superman (2016). Having been weakened by multiple ordeals (the solar flare power, Kryptonite poisoning, and Apokolips fire pits), Superman realizes he’s dying. In this finale, he settles his affairs and heroically confronts one last menace – a human who had absorbed Superman’s excess solar energy. Despite help from the pre-Flashpoint Superman and others, the New 52 Superman succumbs to his condition and dies, disintegrating into energy in Lois’s arms. The world mourns, and a statue is erected in Metropolis. This paved the way for the older, classic Superman to take up the mantle again. The “missing” Superman of pre-Flashpoint reveals himself to Batman and Wonder Woman, and by the time of DC Rebirth #1 (2016), he steps forward as the Superman of the DC Universe once more. Lois from New 52 also dies (imbued with Clark’s energy) and the pre-FP Lois assumes her role publicly.
Rebirth and Beyond (2016–2025)
DC Rebirth (2016): The Rebirth initiative sought to restore legacy and optimism to DC. For Superman, it meant merging the histories and resolving the double-Superman situation. The pre-Flashpoint Clark Kent (often called “Superman Prime” or simply the older Superman) now lives openly as the Superman with Lois and their 10-year-old son Jon Kent in tow. The comics incorporated family themes, with Superman (Vol. 4) focusing on Clark teaching young Jon (who develops powers) the values of being a hero. Titles like Super Sons paired Jon Kent with Batman’s son Damian for adventures. Meanwhile, Action Comics resumed its original numbering at #957, bringing back a classic feel. One lingering wrinkle: the world remembered New 52 Superman’s public life and also knew Clark Kent (that Clark had even been unmasked, then died). To address the confusion, 2017’s “Superman Reborn” crossover (Action Comics #975–976, Superman #18–19) provided a cosmic fix. Mr. Mxyzptlk and the cosmic being Red-Blue Energy caused the two versions of Superman and Lois to merge into single beings, combining their histories. After “Reborn,” it is as if there was only one Clark and one Lois all along – their timeline fused elements of both continuities. This new composite history starts with the Secret Origin version of young Clark, includes most of his Post-Crisis adventures up through the birth of Jon, and preserves his connections to the Justice League in the New 52 era. Certain characters like the New 52 Supergirl, Superboy (Kon-El), and others were adjusted or reintroduced gradually after Rebirth. Importantly, the Kents (Jonathan & Martha) are again deceased in this merged timeline (as in New 52), and Clark never had a cousin Supergirl until Kara’s reintroduction (so Power Girl is eliminated from his main history). The merging resolved the anomaly of two Clark Kents running around.
2018–2019: New challenges and the Metaverse: In 2018, Action Comics reached issue #1000 – a landmark 80 years in the making. Shortly after, famed writer Brian Michael Bendis took over the Superman titles. Bendis launched The Man of Steel miniseries and then new runs of Superman (Vol. 5) and Action Comics. His era brought significant changes: a new villain, Rogol Zaar, claimed responsibility for Krypton’s destruction and even destroyed the bottled Kandor (an shocking tragedy for Superman’s community) in Man of Steel #1 (2018). Superman’s pre-teen son Jon was taken into space by his grandfather Jor-El for schooling, and Jon returned as a 17-year-old due to time dilation – suddenly far older, he joined the future Legion of Super-Heroes (this happened in 2019’s Superman run). One of the most dramatic moves by Bendis was having Superman reveal his secret identity to the world (again). In Superman #18 (Dec 2019), Clark holds a press conference and publicly announces that he is Superman. This shockwave ends the Clark/Lois double life for a while – the public and the Justice League now fully acknowledge Clark as Superman. It was billed as a huge “status quo shift” in Superman’s history, and indeed many stories in 2020 explored the consequences (both positive and dangerous) of everyone knowing Superman’s identity.
Concurrently, DC’s 2019 event Doomsday Clock (a sequel to Watchmen) added a metatextual layer to Superman’s importance. In Doomsday Clock #10–12, Doctor Manhattan observes that the DC Universe’s timeline is centered on Superman – whenever Superman’s history is changed (1938, 1956, 1986, 2011 reboots), reality “reboots” around him. Manhattan dubs the main Earth the “Metaverse,” which evolves and spawns new parallel worlds whenever Superman’s origin shifts. He even reveals he was responsible for certain changes (like the Kents dying early in New 52) and later restores elements like the Justice Society and Legion by ensuring Superman’s heroism inspires them again. This storyline essentially celebrated Superman as the central figure of DC’s entire multiverse lore. By the end of Doomsday Clock, the timeline is healed and Manhattan foresees a future in 2025 where Superman’s optimism unites heroes from across multiverses, and even further ahead in 2030, another crisis (“Time Masters”) where Superman will be key.
2020: Infinite Frontier and identity reversal: The 2020 crossover Dark Nights: Death Metal blew open the concept of the Multiverse once more. Wonder Woman’s actions at the end of Death Metal restored an “Infinite Multiverse” – not just 52 worlds, but countless universes and timelines, all now valid and accessible. This effectively meant everything in DC history “happened” in some form, bringing back endless possibilities. For Superman, it meant all his past incarnations and Elseworld stories exist somewhere, though Earth-0 remains his main home. After Death Metal, the DC Universe moved into the Infinite Frontier era (2021), focusing on possibility and legacy.
During this time, Clark faced one of his biggest off-world challenges: the Warworld Saga (2021–2022). In Action Comics #1030 onward, Superman learns of enslaved gladiators on Mongul’s Warworld calling out for his help. Despite his powers waning (his invulnerability slightly faltering due to exposure to a substance), Superman forms the Authority and leaves Earth to liberate Warworld. He entrusts Earth’s protection to his now-adult son Jon Kent, who takes on the mantle of Superman in Metropolis. Jon stars in Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021) where he comes out as bisexual and fights modern social injustices in his father’s stead. Meanwhile, on Warworld, Clark endures as a gladiator and inspires a slave uprising. In Action Comics #1042–1046 and Warworld Apocalypse #1 (2022), Superman finally defeats Mongul and frees the Warzoons. Returning to Earth in late 2022, Superman is weakened but triumphant, accompanied by new refugee allies. However, on his return, he faces a cunning ploy by Lex Luthor: in Action Comics #1050 (Dec 2022), Lex uses advanced technology derived from Manchester Black’s telepathy to mind-wipe the entire world’s knowledge of Superman’s identity. Essentially, Lex “put the genie back in the bottle” – once again Clark Kent’s secret identity is secret. The mechanism causes anyone learning Superman’s identity to suffer a lethal mental attack (as Perry White does, suffering a stroke upon remembering). Close allies like the Justice League retain their knowledge, but the public and most of his supporting cast (except family like Lois and Jon) no longer know Clark is Superman. This dramatic reversal was DC’s way of restoring a classic element to Superman’s story, setting the stage for new mysteries and classic secret-identity storytelling.
2023 and the road ahead: With his identity restored and his family by his side, Superman enters a new era. The Dawn of DC initiative in 2023 relaunches Superman titles with fresh creative teams. Clark resumes working at the Daily Planet as a reporter. Lex Luthor is in prison (after his machinations) but still haunting Superman by proxy. New villains like Marilyn Moonlight and the Kryptonite-corpse creature “Graffo” emerge, and old foes like Parasite evolve (a Parasite pandemic hits Metropolis in Superman (Vol. 6) #1–3, 2023). Jon Kent, now operating as the hero Superman of Earth (Jon), even explores the multiverse to find the lost Earth-2 Kal-L in the Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent mini-series. Meanwhile, Superman leads the new Super-family (including Supergirl, Conner Kent, Steel and his daughter, and even the Chinese Superman Kenan Kong) to protect Metropolis – which has now been dubbed “Metropolis: City of Tomorrow,” a haven for technology and refuge (partly thanks to the Super-family’s influence). Lex Luthor, from prison, attempts to “ally” with Superman against a common enemy (the Ultra-Humanite) in Action Comics 2023 issues, demonstrating their complex rivalry continues. Through it all, Superman remains the hopeful center of the DC Universe.
Summation: From 1938 to 2025, Superman’s saga has come full circle and reinvented itself multiple times. He has lived, died, and lived again; he’s been the sole survivor of Krypton, then one of many Kryptonians, and back to the Last Son; he’s juggled secret identities and even gone public with them; he’s traversed time, space, and the multiverse. DC’s creation of the Multiverse in the 1960s allowed every version of Superman – Golden Age, Silver Age, Post-Crisis, New 52, etc. – to exist in a grand tapestry. When crises hit, Superman often stands at the crux: whether in Crisis on Infinite Earths (fighting Anti-Monitor), Infinite Crisis (inspiring Kal-L and Conner’s sacrifice), Final Crisis (literally singing reality back into shape), or Doomsday Clock (proving to be the metaverse’s lodestone). The “Man of Steel” has proven truly timeless – his core story of hope, heroism, and humanity shines through every era’s changes. As of today, Clark Kent continues to fight for “truth and justice,” now alongside his family, in an ever-expanding DC Multiverse that he helped create and will forever inspire.
