DC’s Superman Comics to Expand with Super-Family Focus in 2023

The Superman line of DC Comics has seen some sizable shakeups in the previous few years. As Clark Kent has been on Warworld up till pretty not too long ago, it fell to his teenage son Jonathan to take the Superman mantle and save the world in his father’s absence. (Yes, Clark’s useless proper now, however let’s not fake we don’t know the place that’s going.) With two Supermen on Earth, to say nothing of different heroes utilizing the S-emblem like Conner Kent and Kara Zor-El, what’s DC to do? The reply is to simply embrace that household side even more durable than earlier than.

DC’s Superman-centered panel at New York Comic-Con noticed the writer announce a pair of latest Super books, together with a construction change to its flagship Action Comics. Beginning in January, Action points will function three tales centered on particular person members of the Super-Family, which incorporates China’s Super-Man Kong Kenan, together with a pair of at present unnamed twins. (You can inform they’re dedicated to this “family” thought as a result of all of the non-Clark Supers have a hoodie or jacket as a part of their costume.)

The first story, by present Action author Philip Kennedy Johnson and artist Rafa Sandoval, will see an imprisoned Lex Luthor conscript Metallo into undermining the Man of Steel’s latest heroics. Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks will deal with the second arc a few younger Jon Kent getting the grasp of his powers on the Kent household farm; the third arc from Leah Williams and Marguerite Sauvage might be a three-part story centered on Power Girl, who’s return is linked to the incoming Lazarus Planet comedian occasion.

Johnson defined that Action’s new three-story format was impressed by the Triangle Era that outlined Superman books through the early 90s as much as the early 2000s. “My one-word mission statement for Action Comics in 2023 is ‘Super-Family,’” he mentioned. “We’re giving everyone in the House of El their own role and personal journey while still keeping Superman at the forefront.”

Though his dad has returned to Earth, Jon will nonetheless be the star of his personal solo collection. Superman: Son of Kal-El author Tom Taylor and Clayton Henry (Uncanny X-Men) are teaming on Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent, which is able to change Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s Son of Kal-El. The six-issue miniseries will see Jon battle Ultraman, who beforehand made Jon his prisoner. That identical miniseries may even function Val-Zod, the Superman of Earth-2 beforehand created by Taylor and Nicola Scott within the Earth-2: World’s End miniseries.

With Clark again within the image, he’ll be headlining a brand new foremost Superman comedian by Joshua Williamson (The Flash, Dark Crisis) and Jamal Campbell (Naomi, so many attractive variant covers). In addition to previous baddies like Parasite and Livewire popping out of the woodwork, Williamson teased that new ones could be displaying as much as check Clark. But after having spent so lengthy making the DC Universe go to hell, the author confessed to feeling elated at getting the prospect to deal with one of many writer’s most uplifting heroes. “After the darkness of the last year in the DCU, there is no character better suited to lead DC into the light than Superman,” mentioned Williamson. “I’m very excited to take Clark Kent on a fun, pulp style adventure in Metropolis against his greatest villains.”

Superman’s new Family-centric period will start with Action Comics #1051 on January 24, 2023, adopted by Superman in February and Jon Kent in March.

Want extra io9 information? Check out when to anticipate the newest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every part it’s good to learn about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.