In 2 Months, Superman Will Begin His New Era After One Final Battle

Published Sep 8, 2026, 11:30 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 Ever the one for a climactic showdown in DC's collective chronology, Superman's streak continues as one of his most widely-circulated comics is about to enter a new era. But while the flagship Superman and Action Comics stories are each facing the end of a big crossover arc of their own, another critically-acclaimed saga approaches its climax in just two months with Absolute Superman #25. The oversized issue's planned November 4, 2026 release date will be one to watch out for, as fans will hopefully finally see this universe's Brainiac get his just deserts, ideally before the villain reveals another inhuman act or murder or torture following the Lex Luthor incident. But the climactic confrontation with Brainiac is certainly set to be far more than a simple fight and cathartic defeat returning Kal-El to business as usual. Lives have been upended by Brainiac's actions, some broken beyond repair, others likely set down a dark path, and in the case of Christopher Smith aka the new Metallo, unforgivable crimes against humanity have been wrought. Defeating the ultimate menace is teased to set up a shocking conclusion in this issue, with the narrative trajectory of Absolute Superman to change dramatically from this point forward. 2 Years Of Superman's Thrilling New Run Have Led To The End Of A Brilliant, Haunting Era The Kal-El introduced in Absolute Superman has been positively raked over the coals, being old enough this time to experience the loss of both his birth parents while being sent away from a dying Krypton in real-time, and even his new adoptive family in Smallville. It's introduced a threat willing to tear through rural Kansas to break the spirit of a novice Superman, and even produced a mighty and brutal physical rival in Black Adam. But one villain who's been behind nearly all of this run's twisted deeds, including massacring the family of this universe's humble, unassuming Lex Luthor, sought to gather allies to defeat Superman, or irreparably break his mind trying. Brainiac's not the only one in need of kindred spirits, though, and if Absolute Superman #24's any indication, John Henry Irons, aka Steel, is increasingly ready to step up to the plate as he makes a new armor upgrade. In fact, many of the people won over by Superman in this universe appear in the gatefold triptych variant cover, hyping up a potential team-up of the reformed Metallo and Hawkman joining Steel, as well as possibly other figures from the run so far. But one element from the preview is especially compelling, the notion of a new narrative era beginning for Absolute Superman, with its final pages teasing a shocking conclusion to the first macro-arc of the series. Absolute Superman's New Era Will Likely Face Fallout Of Brainiac's Actions Much of the actual details for Absolute Superman's future in issue #25's ending and beyond are still ostensibly under wraps, yet several loose ends remain tantalizingly unresolved. Black Adam's defeat resulted in him being banished on a faraway planet inhabited seemingly entirely by Doomsdays, vowing to return as Superman's doom. Talia al Ghul is certainly not ready to live down the fate of her father who met a terrible end in the same arc. But all eyes can reasonably be pointed to Luthor, who was bound and forced to watch Brainiac butcher his family, making it completely impossible to return to his blue-collar life in Missouri, left with some chilling parting words from Brainiac. What happens next will be up to you. I do hope you won't squander the work we've done here today. Seize this opportunity, Lex Luthor, I beg of you. Make yourself interesting. Until we meet again, then. Luthor was left to helplessly stare at his murdered family's scattered remains, the scene awash with a hellish crimson hue with the ominous pledge of another meeting with his family's killer in the future. All Brainiac wanted, after all, was an ally to join him on his ominous "Superman" project. Given Luthor's otherwise canonical xenophobia in plenty of other stories, and his origins in Absolute Superman featuring a sadistic alien wiping out his family, it'd be unsurprising that he develops his signature distrust in other aliens, namely Superman, in the process. But rather than a measured, charismatic titan of business "who raised himself up to throttle gods," Luthor's story so far suggests a broken man who'd have every motive to endorse more of a scorched earth policy. 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 Whether Brainiac will actually return to Luthor is neither here nor there, though, as he's done more than enough damage to have left his mark on the series, and for Luthor's story to surely be far from over. For now, the clear end goal of Absolute Superman's two-year first saga is to take down Kal-El's greatest remaining adversary. But Brainiac has never gone down fighting in this run, and in fact only emerged from the brink more dangerous before, so don't be surprised if he gets in one last laugh by the final pages to ring in the new era. Jason Aaron's run, accompanied by Juan Ferreyra for issue #24 as well as Carmine Di Giandomenico and Rafa Sandoval for issue #25, has rarely, if ever, had a dull moment leading up to this point, so hopefully this new era is one that won't be without them. Absolute Superman #24 is set to release on October 7, while the oversized issue #25 will release on November 4, 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