"Superman" Comic Book Index

2016

Superman: Rebirth #1 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now Superman: Rebirth #1
Cover date: August 2016
"Rebirth"
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Doug Mahnke
Inker: Jaime Mendoza
Superman thinks back over the events of the past few days and the death of this world's Superman. He stands over the half finished crypt and is lost in thought, until he realizes Lana Lang is underground breaking into the crypt to keep a promise. Seeing Clark in the shadows Lana immediately assumes it's the Clark of this world and hugs him until she realizes he is the mysterious 'pretender' that was there during the final battle. After initially tearing strips off him for pretending to be Superman she is also taken aback that he knows her name and is strangely familiar. Upon questioning, Clark reveals he has been waiting to see if this world's Superman would return. Lana reveals she made a promise to her friend that she would bury him with his Earth parents. Clark explains how he fought Doomsday, not a virus but a beast and how he fell. He explains to Lana that he returned from certain death with the aid of Kryptonian artifacts which are unfortunately inaccessible to him as far as his original Earth is concerned. Lana begins to access information somehow imparted to her from her Superman, she asks the new Superman if he too had a Fortress of Solitude. Superman points out that though he did he's never visited upon principle that this version of his Fortress wasn't his to visit. Determined to find out if the artifacts exist on this Earth, Lana demands to be taken to the Arctic. Both Lana and Superman are taken aback by how epic a facility it is and set about hunting for the regeneration matrix. The Fortress robots cannot find a single trace of it but while browsing Clark discovers the Crystal Font, the holographic player that uses sunstones to store zettabytes of historical data. The Font recognizes the new Superman as Kryptonian and plays a message from the previous Superman intended for Kara telling her to fulfill her potential. Clark is shocked by what he sees next and is disappointed in himself for never having thought of it. The central statue once had just Superman's biological parents holding up a globe. This Superman however updated the statue to include the Kents. Superman aids Lana by secretly stealing the body and fulfilling his dying wish to be buried with his parents. Lana asks for some alone time to finish the burial in Smallville herself. Clark adds a special memorial addition to the Fortress, a statue of the fallen Superman and realizes he should finally take the mantle of his predecessor and become the one true Superman.

Superman #1 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now Superman #1
Cover date: August 2016
"Son of Superman" - Part 1
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Clark is alone at the grave of his 'twin' and he says a sorrowful goodbye now that resurrecting him has proved to be a failure. As he thinks back to Mr. Oz and his prophetic words Clark touches the grave and something strange happens, his handprint leaves a glowing blue remnant, what could it mean? Brushing it off Clark swears to his 'twin' to continue his legacy stating with pride as he rips open his shirt that 'The colors will fly!' Now Superman's attention turns to his family, now all sporting a new last name, 'Smith' and a new home in Hamilton County. Jon, Lois & Clark's son, watches in awe one night as his dad saves their new home, the Smith Farm and its livestock from a fire. A stunning site of heroism... but the next morning Lois & Clark are cleaning up the mess while an excitable Jon is eager to help and explore his burgeoning powers. Clark promises to allow Jon to help if his son keeps his powers in check in public. Jon promises and races eagerly with his cat Goldie to fill up the corn harvester. As the two race through the fields they don't notice that an eagle has been circling them. As it swoops down on Goldie Jon lets his emotions get the better of him and unleashes his heat vision, the result is an explosion of feathers and the horrifying sight of poor Goldie burnt to a crisp. Jon is horrified at what has happened and that he broke his promise to his father, worse still he realizes a young girl had seen the whole thing happen. As he returns home Clark offers to help him explore his powers while rebuilding the barn but is taken aback when his excitable boy turns him down. Over dinner Lois discusses her writing and notices that Goldie hasn't come home. Jon lies that he hasn't seen her and a knock at the door interrupts any further probing. Kathy Branden introduces herself on behalf of her family in the neighboring dairy farm. Bringing over a gift of local produce Kathy politely explains why they hadn't been over to visit before now but then she spies Jon. Lois quizzes her on Goldie and a relieved Jon sighs when Kathy doesn't reveal the truth and leaves. The events clearly weigh heavily upon Jon and when Lois & Clark talk about fitting in and making friends Jon's temper gets the better of him. He hates lies and hates that his mother & father seem to condone them. Clark sends Jon to cool down in his room and the tearful boy sits looking out his window. As the sky darkens two shadowy figures appear on the Smith Farm. Jon recognizes them as Wonder Woman & Batman. As Clark, garbed in his costume steps outside to join them Jon can't resist using his powers to eavesdrop but he isn't stealthy and he's spotted by the superheroes. Jon sits in the dark for a few seconds hoping everything would go away but his door opens and Superman cooly instructs his son that they are leaving to talk.

Superman #2 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now Superman #2
Cover date: September 2016
"Son of Superman" - Part 2
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Superman takes his son Jon on a mission to save a submarine, which is being attacked by a giant squid. Superman mentors Jon to use his heat-vision. The creature, which was being mind controlled, escapes to the ocean depths. Jon, whose knee is cut during the save, flies off with his father. His blood, left on the ice, is examined and used by an unknown entity, who uses it to gain access to the Fortress of Solitude. Back home, Jon tells his mother about the death of her cat, while Lois receives a package from this world's Lois Lane. Jon and his new friend Kathy are sitting up in a tree. When the branch breaks Jon falls and is knocked out. Kathy and her grandfather rush him to his parents. Superman flies him towards the Fortress... but inside the Eradicator awaits!

Superman #3 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now Superman #3
Cover date: September 2016
"Son of Superman" - Part 3
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Jorge Jimenez
Inker: Jorge Jimenez
The Mountain Fortress is good, but the fallen Superman's Fortress is far more advanced and so Lois & Clark Smith have brought along their unconscious son Jonathan to discover why his powers are fluctuating. Upon arrival they find the Eradicator facing off against Krypto. Superman is shocked to see a new Kryptonian tech being looking like a twin from his Earth. Clark and the Eradicator fight refusing to listen to each other's dangerous reflection. In the meantime, during the heat of the battle, Jon wakes up and is desperate to help his father fight this menace but as they get more and more aggressive they bring down chunks of sunstone. The Eradicator catches the largest chunk of the crystal and looms over Lois and Jon with Clark watching in amazement as his 'foe' tosses the sunstone aside and helps his family to safety. Lois, Jon and Clark are all uneasy as they run scans. The Fortress computers reveal that Jon's body is struggling to adapt to being half human, half alien but offer no solution. Clark turns his attention to Eradicator and questions why they look similar and both sport the El crest. He reveals he assimilated Clark's belongings to create a human form. He reveals he was one of many Eradicator mechanoid soldiers that were built on Krypton to follow General Zod's will to arrest all Kryptonian lawbreakers by transferring their life-force to the Phantom Zone while their bodies were placed in cryonic stasis. During a mission they were sent off planet but Krypton exploded leaving the army of Eradicators lost and alone. One unit, the one standing before Clark, saw Kal-El's ship escape and their final protocol, find the survivor, was activated and it attempted to follow, albeit slowly. The drop of blood from Jon attracted the Eradicator and he followed them to preserve the Kryptonian genome. Jon is 'tainted' and therefore would not be able to preserve the legacy of Krypton. The Eradicator offers to purge the human DNA to make Jon fully Kryptonian and states he must first ingest Jon to cure him. With Clark forced back by the vacuum, Krypto leaps to defend his family and is ingested in the process. Clark is enraged and beats Eradicator to a pulp while a devastated Jon seeing the death of yet another animal picks up Krypto's cape and his eyes begin to burn with energy.

Superman #4 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now
Superman #4
Cover date: October 2016
"Son of Superman" - Part 4
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Patrick Gleason
Superman leaps forward separating Lois, Jon and the Eradicator. The fight between Clark and the malfunctioning artifact cause harm to Lois, and Jon swears to break his power vows and kill Eradicator. Lois pulls him back and reminds her son he can rise above the anger, he's the best of human and Kryptonian. He can be great if only he'd choose to be. Jon zips up his jacket and heat seals Krypto's cape to it before racing to help his dad. Father and son unleash a powerful punch each, one that literally knocks off Eradicator's head. Superman pulls Lois and Jon to safety as Eradicator releases everything trapped within him. Superman realizes everyone on Krypton, his parents, his aunt, his dog, are all still alive but are now being purged from Eradicator's body. The Eradicator swears they are all one and after replacing his head tries to unite everything related to Krypton. Meanwhile in the Ace O' Clubs bar, owner Bo 'Bibbo' Bibbowski and Gotham hitman Hacken are arm wrestling. The prize for the winner, a moon rock, supposedly from Krypton. Naturally, Bibbo wins much to the anger of Hacken and the 'Sooperman' shrine Bibbo has made gains its newest piece of memorabilia. Supernatural energy explodes over Suicide Slum and suddenly everyone from the Fortress has been teleported to the bar, drawn to the piece of space rock. The spirits begin possessing the customers in the bar, in the absence of their real bodies they begin trying to help Eradicator return them to life. Lois sees the rock and realizes it is the reason they've been drawn to Metropolis. With the help of Bibbo they hurl the rock as far from the club as possible. Suddenly with the rock away from them the Ôghosts' regain composure and release the humans they'd possessed. The spirit of Clark's father, Jonathan Kent, appears and helps his son regain his strength and inner peace. Clark is then able to speak to the Kryptonians who tell him they are at peace free from the Eradicator's prison. This peace lasts mere moments as Eradicator appears, fully regenerated and absorbs them all again. He then swears to free Clark's sanity by assimilating his 'half breed' son. Jon gears up for another fight but Clark teaches him another lesson. Learn when to stay and fight, and when to go. Superman races across the river towards the Metropolis Aquatic Research Laboratory and as he does some of the remaining spirits offer to buy him time by sacrificing themselves. The spirits all charge at Eradicator with such force they knock him back and force him to absorb them. Superman grabs a sub built for trench exploration and races away towards the moon. Hacken snipes that Superman is running away, but a confident Bibbo tells his pal that Sooperman has a plan!

Superman #5 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now
Superman #5
Cover date: October 2016
"Son of Superman" - Part 5
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Doug Mahnke
Inker: Jaime Mendoza
Superman, with Lois and Jon in the submersible pod, arrive on the dark side of the moon. Batman it seems has a secret Batcave there that Clark discovered by turning the tables and monitoring the dark detective. It provides a perfect battleground, away from prying eyes and innocent people, with the added benefit that it has enough tech to help protect Lois and Jon. Jon asks why they don't involve the League and Clark states it is a family affair, plus he's still nervous about Jon stepping out of the protective shadows. Lois looks at her son and disagrees, the more they overprotect him the more they do him a disservice as parents, he needs not only Clark Smith, but Superman to lead the way. At this moment Eradicator arrives having reacquired the souls of the Kryptonians. Superman and the android exchange blows that crumble parts of the Batcave until Eradicator decides to do as he did to Krypto and assimilate Clark with his vacuum breath. Jon fights back and demands the release of his father while Eradicator slaps Lois and begins pursuit of the boy. Again it offers to assimilate Jon's Kryptonian side and eradicate his human one, even showing a level of sympathy that he was born with a defect he had no control over. Lois seeing her child in danger picks herself up and searches through Batman's weaponry. Just as Eradicator catches Jon and is about to kill him Lois jumps in to defend her son inside Bruce's Hellbat armor. The armor enables Lois to go to toe to toe in a fight with the android while Jon joins her on the attack. Meanwhile Clark stands in the void with all the souls trapped in Eradicator and asks them to aid him and free themselves in the process. Initially hesitant they begin to possess Clark, boosting him with supernatural energies and enabling him to leap out of the void and the Eradicator himself. With the tables turned Clark charges forward for a showdown...

Superman #6 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now
Superman #6
Cover date: November 2016
"Son of Superman" - Part 6
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inker: Mick Gray
Superman, empowered by the souls of Krypton, fights back against Eradicator while Lois protects Jon in the borrowed Bat armor. The fight gets more and more aggressive bringing sections of the Batcave down and rocking the surface of the moon. The quake draws the attention of NASA and their moon module and as soon as The Eradicator and Superman soar out of the crater the world media soon stream a live feed. Superman and the souls fight the android. One soul, trapped by Eradicator still resides within him and is fueling his fight while all the other souls aid the Man of Steel. Superman realizes who the soul is and with all his strength, physical and will based, he calls out to that soul, the most loyal of dogs... Krypto! With the combined might of both Krypto, Superman and the souls they create a massive ball of energy and soar downwards onto the moon surface. The force is on atomic levels and leaves Eradicator an almost lifeless husk. The souls converge above them, forming the House of El crest before dispersing into the afterlife. Krypto watches over the android's remains while Superman moves the moon module to safety and raises the american flag back to its pride of place on the moon's surface. The epic moment is captured on the live stream and Superman is revealed to the world once more. Superman and Krypto head home, but it isn't the end. Superman returns to Metropolis a hero, the guest of a huge parade and the recipient of the key to the city. Lois and Jon watch with pride on TV at home and Bibbo arrives at the parade to proclaim his friendship with Superman. But questions are raised and later that night Clark visits Jon with two gifts. A Hamilton County Huskers cap and a pair of spectacles to match Clark's. Jon is uneasy at having to keep more secrets and telling more lies, but Clark points out he isn't completely 'super' yet and more threats will rise in the future and to preserve their family, while fighting for truth and justice, this is a small price to pay. Clark has one more surprise, suiting up he and Jon travel to the Justice League Watchtower. There they find Batman angry at the destruction of his cave with Wonder Woman trying to calm him. Superman apologizes and tells Bruce 'we' will repair the damage. Diana is curious as to Clark's wording of 'we' but that is when Jon steps out of the shadows in his new role of SUPERBOY!

Superman #7 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now
Superman #7
Cover date: November 2016
"Our Town"
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Jorge Jimenez
Inker: Jorge Jimenez
Clark has helped repair an orbiting satellite and faster than he thought it would take, leaving him time to bond with new friends with familiar faces, namely Barry Allen, Princess Diana, Arthur Curry and Bruce Wayne, aka The Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Batman. His heroic assistance builds bonds even with Bruce, though he'd be reluctant to admit it. Superman then spends the night watching over Metropolis and his old home away from home, the Daily Planet. With the city keeping him busy Clark realizes he's been caring so much for the world he almost forgot his own world, that of the Smiths and races home to Hamilton County. Lois and Jon remind Clark that it is the last night of the County Fair. To their surprise Clark swears to hang up his cape for the night and be with his family. Lois is skeptical, Jon overjoyed. The family enjoy the fair, a rare moment of relaxation and even though Jon is reluctant to speak to Kathy Branden, Lois nudges the friendship forward promising to watch the Blue Ribbon contest. Meanwhile three local thugs notice the ticket office is cash only and plot to rob it, while the Smiths approach the Hamilton Elementary booth and meet Jon's teacher Mr Martinez. While Jon's teacher sings his praises, the thugs unpack pistols and clown masks. Lois approaches the booth of the local paper The Hamilton Horn and Clark takes Jon to meet Cathy. Clark literally bumps into one of the thugs and is taken aback by the clown's rudeness. His suspicions lead to a quick glimpse with x-ray vision, and super hearing, both of which reveal the robbery plot. But Clark remembers his promise and holds back on a 'Super' intervention. Lois meets up with a snack laden husband and tells him she's organized an interview for Clark to work on a column for the paper. They arrive just in time to see Cobb's cow win first prize and Clark apologizes for being rude when Jon had his head injury. While Kathy and Jon enjoy cotton candy Cobb introduces the Smiths to Doc Brooks, town physician. The new friends toast Cobb's winning and the fireworks display is announced, leading Clark back to watching the criminal clowns. Clark makes an excuse to slip away but dons a medieval costume from the fair rather than his Superman suit and rejoins his wife and son as they are climbing into the rollercoaster. The ticket office staff accidentally turn on their p.a system and describe how a medieval knight with heat vision foiled the clowns robbery and saved the takings. Clark may have kept his promise of no Superman rescues but Lois is unimpressed at his sneaky workaround. Still the thrill of the coaster and the awe of the fireworks serve as a great distraction!

Superman #8 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now
Superman #8
Cover date: December 2016
"Escape from Dinosaur Island" - Part One
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Doug Mahnke
Inker: Jaime Mendoza
In the Arctic Fortress Jon is working on his science project. He is excitedly working on a flying saucer whose designs came to him in a crazy dream that had Krypto in it too. To Clark and Jon's surprise while working on the remote the saucer activates, converts itself into a box and tries flying away. Krypto grabs it but when Jon tries to pull it from his jaws it activates some kind of teleportation bubble and drops them in the sea off a strange island. The box tries flying away but as they give chase a giant prehistoric fish leaps out of the water and swallows Superman whole. Clark scans the interior of the fish and initially wants to cut his way out until he spots the creature's heart and gives it a gentle squeeze. The shock forces the fish out of the water and the Man of Steel out of its belly. Now free of peril the three begin an investigation of the island. They find an overturned US Destroyer with a large claw mark on the hull and an armored tank flipped on its side. Clark warns Jon to stay back in case of any old shells or munitions nearby and he discovers the remains of the crew inside. Using his heat vision he makes it a coffin so they remain undisturbed. Jon finds a crashed Japanese Zero aircraft and hanging from a tree above the long dead remains of the pilot who tried to parachute away. Clark decides the Smiths should return home and the three of them soar upwards but to his astonishment, Superman cannot see beyond the clouds. This strange pacific island seems sealed off from the rest of the world. Jon suggests they try to find the box and get it to send them home but suddenly a murder of pterodactyls attacks. One snaps shut on Jon's cape while the others attack Krypto and Clark. Superman flings the dinosaurs as far as possible while Krypto attacks Jon's captor. The Kryptonian canine notices too late he is being targeted and ends up in the belly of one of the pterodactyls. Jon snatches back his cape and leaps towards the dinosaur that ate Krypto sending it to the ground with a powerful punch. It works but that's when Jon remembers he cannot fly. Of course Clark cushions his fall just in time and they find Krypto clambering out of the dead dinosaur's jaws. The dinosaurs see them and fly away, something about where the Smiths are is frightening them. Clark turns to discover the skeleton of a tyrannosaur with a pilot's body inside. Clark examines the dog tag and finds the name John Cloud. They also find the graves of four other American soldiers. They see a mountain top nearby and Clark decides he might be able to see the transporter box from there better than hunting through the jungle. Krypto whimpers when they discover the skeleton of a dog at the mouth of a cavern. A damaged wooden leg, a cavern mouth wrapped in barbed wire, bazookas, machine guns, grenades, mortars, all form a hidden base long abandoned. Clark scans for the box while Jon looks around the cavern but the youngster discovers a message scrawled onto the cavern wall. One that tells a story that captivates Clark and Jon with a story of The Losers...

Superman #9 Read Review KindleDownload iBookBuy Now
Superman #9
Cover date: December 2016
"Escape from Dinosaur Island" - Part Two
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Doug Mahnke
Inker: Jaime Mendoza
The Kent boys stand in the cave and read the story of The Losers. Jon notices the mention of O.S.S. Clark tells Jon about the Office of Strategic Services and how it was the precursor of the C.I.A. but the history lesson doesn't last as Captain Storm climbs into the cave and starts firing at the intruders. Superman flies forward and knocks Captain Storm outside and demands answers. Captain Storm tells them how he was snatched away from the cave by a pterodactyl as food for its young. He was desperate to reunite with his friend John Cloud in the cave but by the time he had returned, Cloud was dead and all that was left was his story scrawled on the walls. Storm asks about the outcome of the war, he is from 1940s and is relieved to hear Tojo, Hitler and Mussolini were all defeated. Clark asks him if he wants to know today's date. Storm declines telling them that just be looking at them and their dog he can tell his time is long gone. He offers to help them but only after they escort him to the gravesides of The Losers to lay Cloud to rest with his team. Jon draws a picture of the transported box that got them here and Storm recognizes it or at least something similar that one of the prehistoric monsters has possession of. Storm suggests he grab weapons ready to fight the beast and while he does Clark finds Jon crying. Clark reassures Jon that they will get home and see Lois and that they're going to get yelled at for going missing. He smiles at his son and tells him that he often forgets that Jon is only ten years old. When Jon returns to the cave he presents Storm with a gift carved by Clark. Storm smiles as he unwraps a strong, more realistic shaped wooden leg to replace his missing one. Jon asks Storm about how he lost his eye and leg and is shaken to hear the war stories. Superman offers to carry Storm but instead Storm whistles for a tame Pterodactyl and the five of them head out to find the devices. Clark is surprised, assuming Storm had killed the Pterodactyl, even more that he had named one of the babies Myrna and convinced the mother and babies to trust him. Superman notes a little seismic activity. Storm warns them that the creatures in this swampland area are very different from the others they've encountered. Sure enough as they approach the centre they find a giant white gorilla sitting atop a mountain of tanks, boats, planes and weaponry. One of its eyes has the machinery in it that was similar to that which was in the giant octopus they fought that attacked a sub. Captain Storm urges them to concentrate as the gorilla has quickly amassed an army of monsters that attack with all their might. Clark allows Jon to fight no holds barred alongside Krypto and Storm while he tries to get closer to the gorilla. When the gorilla reveals it has a stockpile of torpedoes and mines, Clark holds back, Jon igniting the weapons. The white gorilla is unscathed but Jon is hurled back with only Krypto to rescue him. As Clark has a fistfight with the gorilla, Jon finds the cube in the remains of weaponry as it begins to crackle and spark. Storm urges them to hurry as the forces become stronger and overwhelming. Clark removes the device from the gorilla's eye as Jon does the same with the cube. It begins to start the teleportation process and at speed Clark grabs Storm by his wooden leg. The old war hero warns them that he can't allow the creatures to teleport with them and in an act of bravery he shoots off his wooden leg as the portal shuts. Krypto, Jon and Clark suddenly reappear in the Fortress but in the process of transporting them the cube burnt itself out and they lost Storm's wooden leg and the alien device. Superman assures Jon that Storm wouldn't go down without a fight and someday they'd find a way back and get the answers. Elsewhere a shadowy man examines the wooden led and alien device looking at a strange purple creature. His motives cannot be good...


Superman Comic Book Index

Introduction

Here is a listing of the regular Superman title since the 2016 Rebirth saga that started a new era for the DC Universe of comic books. The title ended in 2021, and then was relaunched in 2023. For accuracy almost every entry is based upon actually looking in the issue, and not memory or another source.

This listing is done in the order for when a comic book issue was published.

Note: Remember, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic was on sale.

The Writer, Penciller and Inker for each issue is listed under the Comic's Title and Date.

CONTENTS:

2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021
2023 | 2024

Back to Comic Book Index Contents Page.

You can read reviews of all the Superman related comics (from October 1999 onwards) in the Mild Mannered Reviews section of this website.