Sure it may only be mid-April, but that’s early enough for DC Comics to declare this week the kick-off of the “Summer of Superman.” The overarching label covers a celebration of everything Man of Steel that totally coincidentally happens around the same time Warner Bros. Discovery is releasing Superman on the big screen in July. And it all starts with the Summer of Superman Special #1, which hit this week. But what’s most interesting about this oversized issue is how it shows three very different, but complimentary takes on the Man of Steel.
The over-arching story, and spoilers past this point, is that Lana Lang and John Henry Irons are getting married in Smallville. But at the same time, an old frenemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes keeps popping up in town at the most inopportune times. Also providing connective fiber is Jorge Jiménez on art, who ably provides three different art styles and panel layouts for the three different stories.
Seeing Jiménez flex his art muscles this way would be reason enough to pick up the issue, but from the writing perspective we’re also getting three takes: in order, we get Mark Waid, then Dan Slott, then Joshua Williamson.
Waid’s portion of the issue is set in Clark’s Superboy days, as he wrestles with telling Lana Lang that he’s in love with her. It stands as a done-in-one preview of what to expect from Waid’s new run on Action Comics, which will also be set in Superboy Times. And of course, always the expert, Waid knows how to weave current continuity with past continuity, while also tugging at the heartstrings thanks to a tease of the future Lois-Clark relationship. If there’s a more across-the-plate pitch than Mark Waid on Superboy, I don’t know what it is. But it’s a solid start to the issue.
The big question mark (sort of) is Dan Slott on the middle story. He’s moving from Marvel to DC for a new title, Superman Unlimited. And it’s entirely possible there are seeds planted here for that storyline, but mostly, it reads like Slott getting comfortable with the world of the Man of Steel. And he seems pretty comfortable! There’s a fun fight, and Slott seems to understand Superman’s voice. The story is hampered by a confusingly shoehorned message about climate change that could have used more pages to properly set up. But overall it’s another solid entry.
The stand-out in the issue is Joshua Williamson’s capper, which not only closes out the story of the issue but sets up some big things to come for Superman — and the DC All In overarching story. It’s a tricky balancing act, but Williamson continues to deliver the work of his career on Superman. There’s a confidence to how he writes the Man of Steel and his extended cast, a care, a patience that you don’t normally see from the bombast of superhero comics. And that plays out in Jiménez’s art, as well, which feels radically different in the first story than it does in the first two.
Overall? Grab me a towel and let’s head to the beach, because if this is what the “Summer of Superman” has in store, we’re in for a great couple of months.
Summer of Superman Special #1 Rating:
Summer of Superman Special #1 Official Synopsis:
THIS IS IT! SPRING INTO THE SUMMER OF SUPERMAN! The Man of Steel and his universe of friends, family, allies, and rogues is in for some big changes, and it all starts in the Summer of Superman Special! Brought to you by Superman series architects Joshua Williamson (Superman), Mark Waid (Superman: Action Comics), and (making his grand entrance to the world of tomorrow) Dan Slott, this special oversize issue will set the stage for all the major events exploding throughout the Superman titles! When John Henry Irons and Lana Lang take their vows, everyone turns up for the big day — but trouble is brewing on the horizon, as threats from the past, present, and future kick off major new conflicts for the Superman Family.
Brought to stunning life by the incomparable art of Jorge Jimenez (Batman, Super Sons), the Summer of Superman Special is the ground floor to the most exciting action imaginable in 2025!
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