DC Comics gets a new Superman and expanded universe in July

Susana Polo is an entertainment editor at Polygon, specializing in pop culture and genre fare, with a primary expertise in comic books. Previously, she founded The Mary Sue.

DC Comics’ Superman series is coming to an end, but just like its namesake, it will rise again in July — in the form of Superman: Son of Kal-El, a new ongoing series starring, well, the son of Superman.

Jon Kent, Superman and Lois Lane’s half Kryptonian kid, will take on the responsibility of protecting the Earth as its most powerful and compassionate superhero. And the rest of DC’s line of Superman comics will adjust around him, with a Supergirl miniseries from star writer Tom King, a Superman series from the legendary Grant Morrison, and the continued adventures of Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman (what, you thought he was gone?) in Action Comics.

Superman stands ready on the cover of Action Comics #1033, DC Comics (2021).

Current Superman and Action Comics writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson will continue his work on Action Comics with artist Daniel Sampere, with July’s issue #1033 kicking off a story arc in which Superman becomes caught up in a battle for the future of the gladitorial planet Warworld.

“This issue takes the action to Atlantis and the Fortress of Solitude,” says DC’s news release, “where Warworld refugees have taken possession of dangerous Warworld tech, bringing it to Aquaman’s undersea kingdom and risking an all-out war that even Superman may not be able to prevent. Meanwhile, some of the escaped Warworld prisoners have found the Fortress of Solitude…and along with it, Lois Lane!”

The issue will also feature a backup story about Midnighter and the Shilo Norman version of Mister Miracle.

Clark’s Warworld adventures will be further fleshed out in Superman and the Authority, which will mark the return of writer Grant Morrison (Superman (2011), All-Star Superman) to the Superman mythos. Morrison will team with artist Mikel Janín (Superman: Worlds of War, Batman) for a four-issue limited series that teams Superman with a new version the Authority — the Justice League of the Wildstorm comics universe, incorporated into the main DC Universe with the New 52 reboot. The new team is led by Manchester Black, and includes fan favorites Apollo and Midnighter, as well as Natasha Irons, Enchantress, Lightray, and OMAC.

“If Superman is to free the prisoners of Warworld, he’s going to need help, the kind of help that doesn’t scream ‘Justice League,’” says DC’s news release, “This new team will have to learn to work together, and fast, as the Ultra-Humanite has formed his own team of villains to take out the Man of Steel.”

Supergirl waits at a bus stop with aliens on the cover of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2, DC Comics (2021).

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is a feature miniseries for Jon and Clark’s favorite cousin, Kara Zor-El, from writer Tom King (Batman, Rorschach, Mister Miracle) and fabulous artist Bilquis Evely (The Dreaming, Detective Comics). The comic will further “Kara Zor-El’s journey of self-discovery and emergence from the shadow of her famous cousin,” according to DC’s news release, when she, Krypto the superdog, and a new character called Ruthye “travel across the universe the old-fashioned way…by cosmic bus!” in the hunt for a deadly fugitive.

Which brings us back to Superman: Son of Kal-El, which will hand the future of Superman’s kid over to writer Tom Taylor (Nightwing, Suicide Squad, Injustice) and artist John Timms (Young Justice). The series will begin by tackling Jon’s fears of his father’s death, which, according to his friends from hundreds of years in the future, could happen very soon. “It’s time for the son to wear the cape of his father,” says DC’s news release, “and continue the never-ending battle as a symbol of hope for his home planet.”

Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 will hit shelves on July 13, with Superman and the Authority #1 and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 following on July 20, and Action Comics #1033 on July 27. Check out new covers and variant covers for all four series below!