Superman Unlimited #1 (2025)

At the Daily Planet, Lois introduces the staff to Imani, ex-wife of Morgan Edge. After her divorce, Imani acquired a controlling interest on the Planet and has announced her intentions of adding the Planet to her global media empire. The biggest enemy, she believes, the Planet is facing is misinformation and she wants the Planet to continue its neverending battle for truth and justice, but more cynical journalists like Cat Grant and Ron Troupe believe Imani just wants the Planet to buoy her less-than-reputable outlets. Clark immediately picks up a cry for help with his super-hearing and removes himself from the meeting under the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom. Imani is surprised that Clark would miss out on one of the most important moments in his wife's career, but Lois replies that Clark is their best reporter on everything Superman and if Superman is doing something, Clark will be there. Superman, of course, is already keeping himself busy with a series of people-saving efforts and even takes the time to give money to a struggling guitarist. He picks up a call from Red Tornado over at the Watchtower and is informed that a large asteroid is about to hit the Earth and Superman is the only one close enough to intercept it. Black Canary asks Red Tornado how the asteroid flew under his radar and Red Tornado replied that the asteroid is composed of inertron, an otherwordly metal with high durability and a reflective composition that can fool radars and scanners. Superman rushes towards the asteroid and breaks it with his fists, but suddenly finds a terrible surprise: the asteroid has a secondary layer made of Kryptonite. Even so, Superman fights against the pain with everything he has and attempts to stop the asteroid from falling into Rio de Janeiro. As he grabs hold of the asteroid's poisonous surface, Superman experiences visions of his past. First, he watches his first memories, the faces of Jor-El and Lara before Krypton's untimely destruction. Then, he watches as Jonathan and Martha found him in the fields of Smallville. As he grew, Clark developed his powers and his control over them. To help Clark, his parents told him to use his glasses so that people could see Clark for the person he really was, beyond his powers. In his teenage years, Clark befriended Lana Lang and Pete Ross. He even tried to be friends with Lex, but Lex continously ignored him. Jonathan ultimately showed Clark the spaceship that brought him to Earth and the ship provided him with information about Krypton. Clark decided he could use his powers to help people, so he assumed the identity of Superboy and became a hero, a task made easier with the arrival of Krypto. Superboy's adventures became more interesting when he met the Legion of Super-Heroes, who informed him of the legacy Clark would have in his immediate and far future. When he became an adult, Clark left Smallville and traveled to the Arctic Circle, where he used a Kryptonian crystal to construct his Fortress of Solitude. Having a clear picture of who he was and who he wanted to be, Clark decided to expand his efforts, so he moved to Metropolis and earned the attention of the Daily Planet. Superboy was no more and his place stood Superman. Clark became a reporter at the Planet and befriended Lois and Jimmy. A hero is only as great as the enemies he fights, though, and no enemy would prove to be as persistent and dangerous to Superman as Lex, who was not happy that Superman had apparently usurped him as the most powerful man in Metropolis. He discovered Superman's vulnerability to Kryptonite and weaponized it against him multiple times, but even though Lex was Superman's most dangerous foe, he was not the only one. Over the years, Superman would come into conflict with multiple enemies with their own agendas to either destroy or enslave humanity. Luckily, Superman was not alone in his countless adventures. He made friends, founded the Justice League and even started a family. His marriage with Lois, the only person who could see Clark for who he really was, brought him happiness that still endures today. Even death was but a temporary setback for Superman, and successors arose to fight in his name. The love between Clark and Lois produced a son, Jon, who would follow on his father's footsteps and become a hero in his own right. Continuing to struggle against the Kryptonite asteroid, Superman tries to send what he believes are his final message to his son and tells him to extend his love to the rest of his family, but the pain is too much for him and Superman collapses from exhaustion. Some time later, Clark awakens at the Watchtower's medical bay, where his family is already waiting for him. Everybody is happy to know he is okay, and Jonathan informs Clark that Martian Manhunter had been impersonating Clark to prevent suspicions for his absence at the Daily Planet. The rest of the Justice League is overjoyed that their hope and inspiration is alive, but Batman says Superman needs to see something important. He tells Superman to use his X-ray vision in the land between Brazil and Corto Maltese and Superman finds a nation has formed between those countries. Batman says that the nation-state of El Caldero has become one of the richest, most prosperous nations in the world thanks to their vast supply of Kryptonite. The world has become a more dangerous place for Kryptonians, a fact confirmed by the injuries suffered by Superboy and Supergirl. With Kryptonite available to just about everyone who can afford it, the Superman Family will have a much harder job at protecting the world, but Superman is optimistic that they can rise to the challenge. Superboy replies that Superman has a secret weapon to combat the proliferation of Kryptonite and Batman illuminates Superman with spectometer lights. Much to his own confusion, Superman finds himself enveloped in a mysterious golden light.