Superman Travels to Krypton Before Its Destruction, Rewriting DC History Forever

Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1073Superman's home planet of Krypton has been long gone since his conception, but DC lore is about to change forever as he finally pays a visit to his home world. Krypton is an enigma to Clark Kent after growing up on Earth, and now he gets to experience life on Krypton at last. The history of the DC Universe gets rewritten as Superman acquaints himself with the world he hails from and prepares to meet his birth parents.

Action Comics #1073 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe continues Superman's ongoing journey through the treacherous Phantom Zone, a twisted Kryptonian prison realm that's suddenly taken an even darker turn. Superman ends up facing off against Aethyr, the source of the Phantom Zone's problems. However, because Superman's solar gauntlets have been depleted, he lacks the energy to fight back before Aethyr sends him back in time to an iconic location from his past.

Superman realizes he's on Krypton, his destroyed home planet. Moreover, because he's in the past, the planet remains intact and flourishing. This shocking return to Krypton marks a monumental moment in Superman lore, as the very foundation of his origin is uprooted in a big way.

Superman Time Travels to Krypton in a History-Making Moment

The Man of Steel Returns to His Home Planet Prior to Its Infamous Destruction

The destruction of Krypton has been a staple of DC lore since Superman's first appearance in Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The story of Krypton's destruction has evolved over time, but the core narrative remains intact: in the planet's final moments, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van send baby Kal-El off-world in order to save his life. Kal-El lands on Earth, where Martha and Jonathan Kent raise him as Clark Kent, and the rest is history. Superman paying a visit to Krypton is a crucial milestone for him, after decades of his home being a mystery to him.

Related

Absolute Superman Rewrites His Kryptonian Origin, Merging The House of El & The Kents in A Brilliant Twist

Superman's always had two sets of parents, one at the highest level of society, and one the salt of the Earth. DC's Absolute Universe just fused them.

Surprisingly, this isn't the first time Superman has found his way to Krypton in some capacity. In 1988's Superman #18 by John Byrne and Mike Mignola, for instance, Hawkman and Hawkwoman bring Superman to visit Krypton's remnants after its explosive end. Though he then experiences a corrupt vision of Krypton surviving, it still isn't a visit to the real Krypton.

Another instance, in Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' famous "For the Man Who Has Everything" story from Superman Annual #11, features Superman hallucinating a life where he grew up on Krypton. Superman's certainly seen Krypton before, but to walk among its living people in a tangible sense is far different.

Superman's Discoveries About Krypton Make His Return Bittersweet

Superman Questions His Father as He Uncovers the Phantom Zone's Secrets

As exciting as the prospect of Superman's return to Krypton may seem, recent revelations made by Superman have diminished the joy of his reunion with his people. In the current storyline, Superman is investigating the Phantom Zone after changes become cause for concern. The prison has been spawning grotesque monsters that turn out to be amalgamations of the prisoners themselves, transfused by Aethyr.

Since learning of these horrors, Superman begins to doubt whether the Phantom Zone is a just form of punishment. This doubt causes Superman to question the morality of Krypton's Science Council and, more importantly, the morality of his father.

Superman's worries about Jor-El stem from the fact that his father was the one who first found the Phantom Zone. The opening scene of this issue recounts the story of Jor-El's discovery of the Zone as a replacement for Krypton's initial punishment of ejecting criminals into space. Despite the Phantom Zone indeed being less drastic, subjecting anyone to a realm of horrors is still undoubtedly harsh. As Superman ponders whether anyone spoke out about these ethical issues, he asks, "Was my father really so cold as to dismiss that notion as irrelevant?" Now, upon meeting Jor-El face-to-face, Superman can get his answer.

Superman Finally Faces His Traumatic Origin as He Arrives on Krypton

How Will Superman React to Visiting His Former Planet?

Superman's return to Krypton doesn't only offer the chance for answers about the planet's ethics. It's also the culmination of a lifetime of trauma surrounding the loss of his home world and his fellow Kryptonians. The tragic destruction of Krypton, along with the untimely death of his parents, has haunted Superman for decades. While Supergirl at least has memories of Krypton to comfort her in the aftermath of its loss, Superman was too young when he was sent off-world to recall anything. Having the opportunity to see his home and interact with his parents can give Superman much-needed closure after all these years.

Action Comics #1073 is available now from DC Comics.

Superman

The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.

Created By Joe Shuster , Jerry Siegel

First Appearance Action Comics

Alias Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent

Alliance Justice League, Superman Family

Race Kryptonian

Summary

The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.