Superman's Oldest Powers Make A Stunning Return In An Alternate Metropolis

Published Sep 5, 2026, 5:00 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 One of the greatest qualities of Superman is his innate ability to inspire hope in others by being endowed with incredible abilities yet tempered with the innate conviction that they must only be used for good. He is the ultimate symbol of these principles, yet his modern incarnation, from Kryptonian powers boosted by the Yellow Sun including flight and absurd feats of strength, to recent godlike ascensions like his Omega King moment, were naturally far beyond his initial scope. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, both of Jewish descent and the latter also being born in Canada, 1938's Superman was a more grounded portrayal, fighting social injustice and looking out for marginalized immigrants with more limited talents. This is what makes DC Black Label's Superman: The Stranger so compelling. Returning to the Late Art Deco world of 1938, against the backdrop of the Great Depression and rising tides of fascism, readers continue to connect with this visual of Clark Kent and his alter ego. But in the interest of keeping him in this grounded state, it meant returning him to his baseline of powers from the era, in this alternate Metropolis. The results of this old continuity being explored more deeply are quite spectacular, with an impressive series run on the horizon. Superman's Return To His Roots Is A Welcome Detour Early previews of Superman: The Stranger had plenty to say about how his public-facing daytime role, compromising for a janitor's assistant role to get his foot in the door at the Daily Planet. But even in an all-too-real scenario of layoffs in the journalism sector both in 1938 and in the present, it's impressive how readers can connect with Kent's duties at night as Superman. This latest Superman comic explores his memories of a different origin, growing up at an orphanage before his final recollection before his powers set in. Through stories about playing stickball with friends, readers get a sense of how Superman himself comes to terms with his mysterious and emerging powers, feeling utterly alien yet reassured that his all-too-human impulses like hunger, worry, doubt, and conscience keep him moving forward. It explores these developments, including a progressively evolving sense of toughness and durability, growing super strength, speed, and what he calls his "Olympic High Jump" instead of flight. Superman can take a bullet to the chest, but be left winded while the perpetrator gets away. At one point he was the slowest on his team, and now, Superman can leap to the public's aid at a moment's notice. Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a mighty locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! ("Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!") -First lines from Adventures of Superman opening narration These qualities feel fundamentally still there in Superman's modern existence, but Kryptonite is five years away from being introduced. Flight isn't really a thing for him either yet, instead focusing on his leaps. And Superman, bearing no real name, family, or friends at this point, is far from the crash-landed scion bearing Krypton's last embers of hope. In this iteration, Superman merely sees the power he is given, understands the feeling of otherness and cruelty he felt at the orphanage, relating with the marginalization of immigrants going on at the time, and chooses to run and face the injustice he sees, rather than merely preserve order at all costs. 1938 Metropolis Creates An Opportunity For A More Complex Superman Story With Superman readers certainly open to nuance in addition to the spectacle of his other, more typical comics, and even subversive best-sellers like Absolute Superman, there's still space for Superman: The Stranger to explore his conceptual origins. Fighting crime, as shown in issue #1, sometimes breaking up an armed robbery while choosing not to use a closed fist to strike criminals. By merely taking away the robber's pistol, Superman instead sees a vulnerable member of the community driven to desperate actions by stealing from other, wealthier Metropolis citizens. Even the victims suddenly show a reversal of their attitudes the moment they feel safe, labeling the robber as belonging to savages and unwelcome in their city. Superman: The Stranger features the following creative team: Writer/Illustrator: Wes Craig Colorist: Jason Wordie Letterer: Tom Napolitano But despite Superman stopping this robbery and knowing what it feels like to struggle to make ends meet, he refuses a cash reward for his deeds, knowing the greater evil that plagues Metropolis isn't starving thieves and petty criminals. This is where Lex Luthor comes in, making ominous "list" demands for what would be illegal extradition of those he sees as not having contributed to the country's foundation, despite himself being born from immigrants. He's just the sort of corrupt yet down-to-Earth portrayal of Superman's most classic antagonist to set up the plot going forward as DC's archetypal superhero figures out exactly how he can make a difference in the world. Superman: The Stranger #1 is now available digitally and in print at local comic book retailers, with issue #2 releasing on October 7, 2026. 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