Superman and Metropolis are nearly synonymous. It’s almost impossible to think of one without thinking of the other, as the legacy of both the hero and the fictional city has been built up together. However, one of the Man of Steel’s main writing talents has now essentially itted that the city no longer needs Superman, and his argument is more than valid. Still, this revelation leaves one major question: if not Metropolis, then where does the Man of Steel truly belong?

The DC fandom is currently abuzz with all things Superman, as the comic publisher kicks off its new Summer of Superman initiative, which is seeing a surplus of Super-Family-related comic titles launch, alongside the continuation of Joshua Williamson’s fan-favorite Superman run.

DC.com recently sat down with Williamson to discuss the 25 issues that have been released thus far, as well as his vision for the future of the series. One of Williamson’s most notable comments suggested that the Man of Steel may be outgrowing his longtime home of Metropolis, a statement that might seem blasphemous coming from anyone else. However, this DC creator makes an exceptionally solid argument.

Why Metropolis Doesn’t Need Superman Anymore

Cover K 1:100 Fico Ossio Variant for Superman #25 (2025)

During the interview, DC.com praised Williamson for his introduction of Marilyn Moonlight into the narrative, pointing out that she, along with characters such as Black Lightning now showing up in Metropolis, has helped unearth underprivileged communities that Superman himself hasn’t been seeing. Williamson responded to this by remarking that Metropolis is “a city where everybody looks up all the time. There needs to be characters who are paying attention to the streets.” Hence, part of his motivation for introducing characters like Marilyn is to ensure there are heroes protecting Metropolis when Superman isn’t there.

However, Williamson then acknowledged that there is now an abundance of characters living in Metropolis, with the city “pretty much covered at this point” when it comes to being protected. While the writer doesn’t outright say it, he seems to be itting that Metropolis has reached a point where it no longer needs Superman, with plenty of heroes ready to serve as the city’s protectors, many of whom are Kryptonians themselves, such as Superboy and Supergirl. Thus, there’s no denying that DC’s narratives may have come to a point where it is almost redundant and unnecessary for Superman to continue serving as Metropolis’s primary guardian.

Joshua Williamson: We never got to do this, but I always thought about Metropolis as being a city where everybody looks up all the time. There needs to be characters who are paying attention to the streets. That’s why Marilyn can’t fly. That’s why she rides a horse. That was part of my motivation—I want there to be characters that are protecting Metropolis when Superman isn’t there. The funny thing is that since I’ve had these thoughts, so many characters live in Metropolis now [laughs]. I think Metropolis is pretty much covered at this point. If Superman flies away for a day, the city is going to be fine, which is also something we’re going to explore at some point. I have a story for next year that’ll explore that.

Joshua Williamson Teases Bringing Other Super-Family to the Forefront

Cover J 1:50 Laura Braga Variant for Superman #25 (2025)

Williamson’s comments about Metropolis having no shortage of heroes go beyond mere commentary, as he teases that he has plans to further explore this idea that Metropolis would be fine without Superman. Specifically, Williamson says, “If Superman flies away for a day, the city is going to be fine, which is also something we’re going to explore at some point.” He then elaborates that this is a story he plans to explore next year. Hence, fans won’t just have to speculate about what a Metropolis without the Man of Steel would look like, as Williamson fully intends to dive into this notion.

It will be interesting to see which heroes Williamson will bring to the forefront in his exploration of Metropolis’s guardians beyond Superman. If he decides to put the Super-Family at the center of the narrative, then fans could get a storyline starring Supergirl, Power Girl, Jon Kent, Superboy, Steel, Lana Lang, or any combination of these characters. However, there is also a chance that Williamson may want to shift the focus onto heroes outside of the Super-Family, which could feature a deeper exploration of characters like Marilyn Moonlight or Black Lightning.

Superman Has Outgrown Metropolis: Where Does He Belong in DC’s Narratives?

Cover B Rafael Grassetti Variant for Superman #25

With so many heroes now calling Metropolis their home, there is a valid argument that Superman has outgrown the city, at least when it comes to the need for his heroics, with the exception of all-hands-on-deck situations like Doomsday appearances. Hence, the question becomes whether Superman would be better suited somewhere else. This is a tough question, given that there is no obvious answer as to where the Man of Steel would be better placed, especially since his civilian life remains deeply connected to Metropolis. However, DC’s latest development concerning the Daily Planet may turn out to be the perfect opportunity for Superman and Clark Kent to begin operating outside of Metropolis.

As revealed in numerous interviews and now in Free Comic Book Day 2025: DC All In / Absolute Universe Special Edition #1, the Daily Planet is undergoing a massive expansion. According to the preview for the FCBD special, the Daily Planet is evolving into a worldwide media empire, with branches in all major cities, "from Gotham to Themyscira." Hence, this development gives Clark the perfect opportunity to work anywhere in the world, and by extension, have Superman primarily operate outside of Metropolis. It will be interesting to see if any of the Superman-centric titles DC is putting out take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Metropolis Is Down a Protector, Maybe They Do Need Superman After All

Cover D Jeff Dèkal Variant for Superman #25 (2025)

While Metropolis currently has a surplus of heroes, including numerous Kryptonians protecting it and making Superman’s role in safeguarding the city seem somewhat redundant at this point, that does not mean this will always be the case. Such a status quo could change at any given moment, as proven by Lois Lane’s time as Superwoman. Williamson’s Superman #25 ended on a major cliffhanger, revealing that Superwoman has seemingly lost her powers, meaning Metropolis is now down one of its most powerful protectors. Hence, any number of Metropolis’s heroes could be taken out of commission at any time, so while the city might not need Superman right now, it is best to keep him on call.

Source: Joshua Williamson