Evidence is Mounting That DC Are About to Say Goodbye to Superman

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As a huge DC fan, I’ve always thought Superman was where it all began for them. He burst onto the scene back in 1938 and basically created the idea of superheroes as we know it! And even almost ninety years later, he’s still the main guy, the face of DC. Honestly, the whole DC Universe feels built around his unwavering hope and bravery – if anything happens to Superman, it feels like it changes everything. But it’s not just the comics; he’s inspired so many people over the years to be better, kinder, and more heroic. That’s pretty amazing, right? Now, after all this time with Superman as the cornerstone of everything, it’s scary to think he might be going away.

2025 was a fantastic year to be a Superman fan, arguably the best in a long time. The Superman movie was a box office hit and offered a fresh, inspiring take on the iconic hero. However, the comics were even more impressive. A wave of new Superman titles launched under the “Summer of Superman” banner, including Supergirl (2025), Superman Unlimited, and Krypto: Last Dog of Superboy. This, on top of already excellent runs like Joshua Williamson’s Superman (2023), Mark Waid’s Action Comics (2016), and the Superman-centered DC K.O., makes it particularly difficult to accept that DC is planning a farewell to the character who began it all.

Love Letters to the Man of Tomorrow

DC Comics is currently giving a lot of attention to Superman, as evidenced by the many new series featuring him. His comics consistently perform well, representing about 20% of all DC titles between his main series and related publications. Since the ‘Summer of Superman’ event began, these comics have really highlighted what makes Superman special. The series DC K.O. specifically focuses on Superman’s compassion. While others are focused on defeating Darkseid and becoming the next King Omega, Superman is primarily concerned with finding a way to win that saves everyone, a theme that’s being explored across multiple titles.

Mark Waid’s current storyline in Action Comics is a long flashback exploring Clark Kent’s early years as Superboy. It’s the first time in decades we’re getting a clear, detailed origin story for Superboy, showing how he developed into the hero he’s destined to become. The story consistently highlights what makes Clark special – his kind spirit that both distinguishes him and unites people. He’s a unique superhero, but this very uniqueness might ultimately be his downfall. In Action Comics #1096, coming out in March 2026, Superboy will travel to the present day as part of the “Reign of the Superboys” event, and I believe this will happen only after Superman vanishes.

A World Without a Superman

Recent announcements about upcoming comics confirm Superman will be absent following the conclusion of the DC K.O. storyline. Lex Luthor will be joining the Justice League Unlimited series, while the focus shifts to Superboys from different eras in all Superman-related comics. We’ll see Clark Kent appear in Action Comics, Thunder Boy and Conner in Supergirl, and Superboy-Prime will take the lead in Superman. Even Superman Unlimited will feature a young Jon Kent and a new character called Tomorrow Man, who may be an older version of Jon. The official descriptions even state that Superman is missing.

It might be surprising to see DC seemingly end Superman’s story now, especially with his comics currently so successful. However, this development has actually been carefully planned for months. Recent storylines in Superman have focused on his daily fight for people and his battles against Darkseid’s future reign. Meanwhile, Action Comics has revisited Superman’s origins, creating a fitting connection between his beginning and end – reinforcing the idea that superhero stories are cyclical. In fact, Superman Unlimited began with Superman acknowledging he’d fulfilled his purpose by inspiring the Legion of Super-Heroes, implying everything after that was simply a bonus.

For months, the Superman comics have consistently emphasized how crucial he is. This has all been leading to a massive showdown in DC K.O., where Superman is expected to make the ultimate sacrifice to save everything from Darkseid. The recent “Reign of the Superboys” storyline even echoes the classic “Reign of the Supermen” story, which followed The Death of Superman. Either Superman will die, or he’ll be gone for a long time – but he’s definitely going away. Now that he’s become so vital, it will be up to others to step up and take responsibility.

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2026-01-15 21:16