DC Comics Reveals New Direction for Superman Line in 2023 | NYCC 2022

2023 marks the 85th anniversary of Superman’s debut, and DC is celebrating that milestone with a major revamp of the Superman comic book line. That includes the launch of a new monthly Superman series from Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths writer Joshua Williamson and Far Sector artist Jamal Campbell in February.

As revealed during DC’s Superman panel at NYCC, the new status quo builds on recent storylines like Dark Crisis and “Kal-El Returns.” Kal-El has returned to Earth from his long ordeal on Warworld and is ready to reconnect with his family and resume his old life as Superman. But just because Lex Luthor is in prison doesn’t mean there won’t be new enemies and new challenges for both Supermen to confront.

Kal-El will be the main character of Williamson and Campbell’s Superman series as well as Action Comics. The latter series will retain its classic numbering but switch to a new, larger format beginning with January’s Action Comics #1051. Current writer Philip Kennedy Johnson will continue to write the lead story.

Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks, who first introduced Lois and Clark’s son Jon in 2015’s Convergence, will reunite for a backup story called Lois and Clark 2: Doom Rising. That story will take place when Jon was still a child and his parents were living anonymously on their farm, prior to the events of 2017’s Superman Reborn.

Finally, writer Leah Williams and artist Marguerite Sauvage will reintroduce Power Girl to the DCU in a three-part backup story that spins out of the Lazarus Planet crossover.

Fortunately, just because Kal-El is back doesn’t mean Jon won’t have a book of his own anymore. Superman: Son of Kal-El writer Tom Taylor and artist Clayton Henry are continuing their story in a new limited series called Adventures of Superman. The boo kwill pit Jon against his kidnapper, Ultraman, and also feature Earth-2’s Superman, Val-Zod.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Jon Kent to headline the iconic Adventures of Superman,” said Taylor in DC’s press release. “It’s a real testament to the fantastic response of fans to Jon as Superman. This series is going to be one of the most action-packed books I’ve ever written and Jon is going to be tested more than ever before. While we can tell you the Superman of Earth-2, Val-Zod, and Jon’s nemesis, Ultraman, will be key characters in the early part of Adventures of Superman, what we’re going to reveal at the end of issue #2 will have everyone talking and issue #3 launches us in a direction that no one will see coming.”

“After the darkness of the last year in the DCU, there is no character better suited to lead DC into the light than Superman,” said Williamson. “It’s an understatement to say I’m honored to be writing DC’s flagship series. I’m very excited to take Clark Kent on a fun, pulp style adventure in Metropolis against his greatest villains. We’re also going to be introducing new concepts and new challenges for the Man of Steel and to be doing it with wonderful partners like Jamal Campbell and Nick Dragotta is a dream come true. Every page explodes with awesome energy. The Superman line that Tom, Phillip and I are putting together with DC is going to lead the way for an exciting 2023.”

Be sure to stay tuned to IGN’s NYCC hub page for all the big announcements and collectibles from this year’s convention.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.