Stunning Superman Art Showcases His Most Radical Reboot Of All Time

Published Sep 7, 2026, 9:30 PM EDT An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com. His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023. Sign in to your ScreenRant account When it comes to consequential reboots for DC Comics characters, few are as innately fascinating as that of their superpowered poster child, Superman. The iconic superhero has undergone everything from massive powerscaling developments to changed origins, costumes, and demeanors. But in terms of his most visually arresting reimagining, possibly ever, that crown doesn't go to Crisis on Infinite Earths, nor does it go to either the New 52 or Rebirth lineups. In terms of radical reboots, DC's Absolute Universe has given readers an entirely new way to see their favorite legends grow into the superheroes worthy of the DC label, with Absolute Superman standing tall as a stellar example. Kal-El is a different beast in Absolute Superman, with his origins as a baby adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent swapped out for much of his youth spent on Krypton before being sent away from his dying planet. Beyond his fleeting sentient cape companion, Sol, it's left him isolated and prone to barely-contained rage as he's faced the depravity of Earth's most corrupt and evil villains, as well as incomprehensible horrors wrought by a monstrous alien menace. Now, as he faces the most twisted iteration of Brainiac ever, long-serving Absolute Superman artist Rafa Sandoval released some incredible variant cover artwork to commemorate this troubled hero's journey. Superman's Big Reminagining Gets Killer Showcase For Landmark Issue Just ahead of Absolute Superman #25's release on November 4, 2026, the main cover revealed left and right connecting variants with a stunning splash image of the ascent of Kal-El. The biggest looming figures are naturally the ruthless corpo reimagining of Ra's al Ghul, the vengeful cosmic wrecking ball that is Absolute Black Adam, and the horrific, unstable spin on Brainiac who granted him his powers. But the covers also create a beautiful tapestry of Kal-El, later Clark Kent, and his triumph over them as he holds onto his conscience for dear life, a deeply human even if not born or entirely raised on Earth. The saga of Absolute Superman has been a tumultuous one for its hero, whose resolve has been tested over and over by the sadistic villains who strive to see him corrupted, be it to turn him into an ally or just to bring him down to their level. But it's also one where, despite dramatically different origins, Kal-El was able to meet the Kents, be given their home, and push new friends like Lois Lane on the righteous path and away from Lazarus Corp, with pals like Jimmy Olsen trying, and failing, to adjust to a post-Omega Men life. But above all, it sells readers on the promise of a major, climactic showdown with the elusive nemesis behind much of his suffering, Absolute Brainiac. The Big Bad Of Superman's New Era Is In The Crosshairs This November Few villainous reinventions have been as jarring yet demonstrably fitting as Brainiac in Absolute Superman. His backstory is one of humiliation, a grisly and demeaning inferior role in his collective, and enough years stewing in isolation and resentment, alongside some direct head trauma, turned this iconic Superman foe into an insane, deeply dangerous individual. Plus, having freshly butchered Lex Luthor's entire family while forcing him to watch in an ill-conceived bid to bring out the ambitious villain glimpsed in other universes, Brainiac will likely leave ripple effects felt long after the climactic events of Absolute Superman #25. Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition SupermanTrivia Challenge 🌏OriginsLast son ☠VillainsKneel! ⚡PowersInvincible 🎥FilmsBelieve 💫LegacyHope UP, UP AND AWAY! → 01 Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet? AThanagar BKrypton CApokolips DOa ✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story. NEXT → 02 Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she? ADiana Prince BLana Lang CLois Lane DCat Grant ✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner. NEXT → 03 Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called? AKryptonite BVibranium CNth Metal DRed Sun Ore ✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness. NEXT → 04 In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor? AHenry Cavill BBrandon Routh CTom Welling DChristopher Reeve ✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman. NEXT → 05 Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he? ABrainiac BLex Luthor CDarkseid DDoomsday ✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror. NEXT → 06 After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up? AGotham City BMetropolis CSmallville, Kansas DCoast City ✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm. NEXT → 07 As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper? ADaily Planet BDaily Bugle CMetropolis Star DGotham Gazette ✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home. NEXT → 08 This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain? ABizarro BParasite CMetallo DGeneral Zod ✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013). ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record / 8 Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth? ↻ FLY AGAIN In a testament to just how resilient and infectiously charismatic this version of Superman is, Kal-El will soon be joined by the likes of John Henry Irons aka Steel and others whom he has fought alongside or even clashed with. Superman's momentous battles and visually stunning deeds in issues past have produced impressive allies to the cause and even an unusually adorable pet Parasite. It even got Black Adam sentenced to the Father Box's Doomsday hunting that'll surely not come back to haunt the heroes in any way. But one thing's for sure, Absolute Superman is about to kick off a new era ahead of the New Year, and the clock is ticking for Brainiac's days as Kal-El's chief tormentor. Movie(s) Superman, Superman II, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Superman Returns, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Superman, Man of Tomorrow TV Show(s) Adventures of Superman, Superman, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Smallville, Superman: The Animated Series, My Adventures With Superman Comic Superman (2023) First Film Superman Genres Superhero, Action Cast Christopher Reeve, David Corenswet, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, Tom Welling, Tyler Hoechlin, Margot Kidder, Rachel Brosnahan, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, Gene Hackman, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey, Jesse Eisenberg