Warning! Contains Spoilers For Action Comics #1069!

DC Comics has promised to reveal a pivotal tale in the early history of Superman, which helps to explain why he developed a reputation as Earth's greatest superhero and protector. An issue of the long-running Action Comics series is set to definitively explain how the Man of Steel developed into a beloved worldwide icon.

Action Comics #1069 – written by Gail Simone, with art by Rainbow Rowell – finds Earth in danger, and the only way it will survive an alien invasion is if Earth's champion can defeat the trials these alien invaders have.

Of course, Superman ends up being the champion, and it's this act of bravery that ends up winning him the hearts of the world. Overall, this story adds valuable a pivotal piece of the character's canon.

DC Establishes A Crucial Early Victory For Superman As Earth's Champion

Action Comics #1069 – Written By Gail Simone; Art By Rainbow Rowell, Eddy Barrows & Cian Tormey

In Gail Simone's Action Comics #1069 story, as Superman completes trial after trial, the entire ordeal is being broadcast to Earth. That means everyone on the plan can recognize that the only person standing between their planet being conquered is the Man of Steel. If nothing else, that is a pretty quick and easy way to become one of the most beloved superheroes of all time. This story carves out a place for itself in Superman history by answering lingering questions many DC fans have had over the decades.

The biggest uncertainty about Superman's popularity was the actual scale of it. While Superman has saved the universe several times, from villains including Darkseid and The Batman Who Laughs, the average person across the glove might not necessarily know who those people are. In often cases, they won't even know the planet was in danger to begin with. It's not like they announced on the news that the Anti-Monitor is coming to destroy the planet, to give one example. Yet this new adventure perfectly, and simply, explains why every regular civilian on Earth seems to be a fan of Superman.

Everyone On Earth Knows Superman Is Fighting For Them

This Makes Him Humanity's Greatest Hero

In Action Comics #1069, aliens came to Earth and issued a public statement that unless a champion of Earth could defeat their challenges, they would take over the planet. Everyone on Earth became aware of the situation, and unlike other situations, the fight was reported all over the world. That's the biggest change to Superman lore this story provides, and it's a critical one. In every other situation, even if the average person is aware that the Anti-Monitor was defeated and didn't destroy the world, they still don't know what role Superman specifically played in that fight.

Cat Grant said it best when she reported on this event, "Superman is not fighting alone, Earth fights with him."

This story completely explains why nearly everyone would love Superman. It's one thing to simply be told that Superman saved the world, it's another to witness first-hand exactly the kind of pain and danger he goes through to save the world. Cat Grant said it best when she reported on this event, "Superman is not fighting alone, Earth fights with him." It shows that this one moment is all it took for Superman's reputation to be cemented as Earth's greatest hero the world over.

Action Comics #1069 will be available September 25, 2024 from DC Comics.