5 Worst Changes To Superman Lore In 80+ Years Of DC Lore

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Superman is a beloved hero, but over the years, his story has seen some changes that fans haven’t always agreed with. It’s understandable – he’s been around for almost a century, and characters naturally evolve. While some changes have strengthened Superman, like adding to his supporting cast or giving him new abilities, others haven’t worked as well and have actually detracted from what makes the character special.

It’s great that creators want to explore new ideas with Superman – that’s how we get compelling stories. But some core aspects of his history are best left untouched. Things like his family, love life, and how he became Superman are pretty fundamental, and changing them usually doesn’t benefit the character. Here are 5 changes made to Superman’s backstory that ultimately didn’t work.

5. Killing Off the Kents

As a huge Superman fan, I’ve always felt the Kents were essential. For a long time, especially during what many call the Silver Age, they weren’t really in his stories, but after the ‘Crisis,’ seeing an adult Superman with his parents felt really good. It added a layer to the character that worked. Then, the ‘New 52’ reboot killed them off in a car accident, and honestly, it just didn’t sit right with me. The Kents are what keep Clark grounded, and they bring a heartwarming quality to Superman that feels core to who he is. After seeing them so actively involved, making him completely alone just feels… unnecessary and a bit sad, frankly.

4. Getting Rid of Supergirl

As a fan, I always felt Supergirl’s death was a really bad move. It happened during Crisis on Infinite Earths, and it felt like they killed her off just so Superman could be the ‘Last Son of Krypton’ – to really emphasize his loneliness. They did try to introduce other characters as Supergirl, but honestly, none of them ever felt right. Thankfully, after years, DC finally realized their mistake and brought the real Supergirl back, and they haven’t messed with it since, which I’m so grateful for.

3. Making Rogol Zaar Krypton’s Killer

It’s understandable why writers would want to create a memorable villain connected to Superman’s history, but Rogol Zaar just didn’t work. Introduced when Brian Michael Bendis started writing for DC Comics, Zaar was intended to be a major threat – the one responsible for destroying Krypton and creating a deep, personal conflict for Superman. However, fans didn’t embrace the idea of a single villain being behind Krypton’s destruction, and ultimately, Zaar’s importance was minimized and largely forgotten.

2. Having Superman Date Wonder Woman

As a big fan of Superman and Lois Lane’s relationship, I was really disappointed by this storyline. The New 52 reboot wiped away years of their history, including their marriage. Instead of rebuilding their connection, DC paired Superman with Wonder Woman for a while. While it makes sense they’d be seen as a powerful couple, their romance just didn’t feel genuine. Ultimately, Superman and Lois belong together, and I’m glad this brief pairing is over.

1. Aging Up Jon Kent

I might be focusing too much on changes made by Brian Michael Bendis, but I have to mention this one. DC had a really good thing going with Jon Kent as Superboy. The idea of Superman being a father worked well, and it only lasted a few years before they suddenly aged Jon up. Even worse, since he became an adult, Jon hasn’t really found his purpose, and DC seems determined not to revert the change. Honestly, the Superman series would have been better off if Jon had stayed a kid.

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2025-11-24 19:11