Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1073Superman The home planet of Krypton has been long gone since its conception, but DC’s lore is about to change forever when he finally visits his home world. Krypton is an enigma to Clark Kent after growing up on Earth, and now he finally gets to experience life on Krypton. The history of the DC Universe is rewritten as Superman familiarizes himself with the world he comes from and prepares to meet his biological 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 kingdom that has suddenly taken an even darker turn. Superman ends up facing Aethyr, the source of the Phantom Zone’s problems. However, as Superman’s solar gauntlets have run out, he does not have the energy to fight back before Aethyr sends him back in time to an iconic location from his past.
Superman realizes he is on Kryptontheir home planet destroyed. Furthermore, being in the past, the planet remains intact and prosperous. This shocking return to Krypton marks a monumental moment in Superman lore, as the very basis of his origin is completely uprooted.
Superman travels back in time to Krypton in a historic moment
The Man of Steel returns to his home planet before its infamous destruction
The destruction of Krypton has been a staple in 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 central narrative remains intact: in the planet’s final moments, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van send baby Kal-El off-world 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 visiting Krypton is a crucial milestone for himafter decades of his home being a mystery to him.
Surprisingly, This isn’t the first time Superman has arrived on Krypton in some capacity. In 1988 Superman #18 by John Byrne and Mike Mignola, for example, Hawkman and Hawkwoman bring Superman to visit the remains of Krypton after its explosive end. Although he experiences a corrupt vision of Krypton’s survival, it is still not a visit to the real Krypton.
Another example, in the famous story “For the Man Who Has Everything” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, from Superman Annual #11, shows Superman hallucinating a life where he grew up on Krypton. Superman has certainly seen Krypton before, but walking among its living people in a tangible way is very different.
Superman’s Discoveries About Krypton Make His Return Bittersweet
Superman questions his father as he uncovers the secrets of the Phantom Zone
As exciting as the prospect of Superman’s return to Krypton may seem, recent revelations made by Superman the joy of his reunion with his people diminished. In the current storyline, Superman is investigating the Phantom Zone after the changes have become a cause for concern. The prison has been generating grotesque monsters that end up being amalgams of the prisoners themselves, transfused by Aethyr.
Since learning of these horrors, Superman begins to doubt whether the Phantom Zone is a fair form of punishment. This doubt causes Superman to question the morality of Krypton’s Scientific Council and, more importantly, the morality of his father.
Superman’s concerns about Jor-El stem from the fact that his father was the one who first found the Phantom Zone. This issue’s opening scene tells the story of Jor-El’s discovery of the Zone as a replacement for Krypton’s initial punishment of ejecting criminals into space. Although the Phantom Zone is less drastic, subjecting anyone to a reign of horrors is still undoubtedly difficult. As Superman ponders whether anyone has spoken out about these ethical issues, he asks: “Was my father really so cold as to consider this idea irrelevant?” Now, by meeting Jor-El face to face, Superman may get his answer.
Superman finally faces his traumatic origins when he arrives on Krypton
How will Superman react to visiting his old planet?
Superman’s return to Krypton doesn’t just 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 after its loss, Superman was too young when he was sent off-world to remember anything. Having the opportunity to see your home and interact with your parents can give you Superman much needed closure after all these years.
Action comics #1073 is now available from DC Comics.