Almost 15 years after Man of Steel, the rules that had confined Superman in the post-Crisis era were retconned away. Krypton would return to its appearance from the pre-Crisis "World of Krypton" stories, and Kryptonian characters not seen since the 80's would be reintroduced, including Superman's dog Krypto, and eventually his cousin, Supergirl.
Superman #166
Another Kryptonian rocket crashes at the Kent farm, leaving behind a crystal. Steel and Professor Hamilton help Superman unlock the secret message of the crystal, a message from his father Jorl El that only Superman can see. Jor El tells Superman that the sterile, anti-social version of Krypton that he had been taught was a lie intended to make Superman forget his home world and adapt to his adopted parents and planet. Jor El shows Superman the last days of Krypton, with images that merge the pre-Crisis versions into the post-Crisis. The cylandrical blue rocket from Superman's original origin now encases the birthing matrix from John Byrne's reimagined depiction. Professor Hamilton tells Superman that it might be possible for him to go back to Krypton, and when Clark tells Lois this she decides that they're both going.
At a press conference, Lex Luthor announces his remarkably diverse cabinet: General Rock, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; Amanda Waller, Secretary of Meta-Human Affairs, Major Sam Lane, Secretary of Defense; Jefferson Pierce, Secretary of Education, and Catherine Grant, White House Press Secretary. It was a simpler time, considering Luthor hasn't even been inaugurated yet and there's no indication his nominees have to go through the confirmation process. In a more Trumpian parallel, Lois Lane asks a question about Jenny Hubbard's assassination attempt and gets her press pass revoked.
We didn't know it at the time, but this was to be the last foil-enhanced cover of the era. There wasn't even an increased price for it. At first, it seemed like an odd issue for a cover enhancement, considering the double-sized 775th issue of Action Comics this same month didn't even have one. But it would soon become apparent that this issue was a turning point, as much or more as Man of Steel had been. For many, that era officially ends here, and there would be further retcons and revisions in the next few years that would radically undo many of the post-Crisis changes.
Adventures of Superman #588
Joe Casey takes over writing this series and abruptly wraps up the story that had been unfolding for the last year. Though Superman was taken to hell last issue, Superman is seen in Metropolis using his heat vision to make graffiti, while at the Daily Planet Clark Kent hits on other women while Lois isn't around. Lois can tell her husband isn't quite himself, and that night she's visited by Night Eagle who cryptically sort of tells her what has happened. Lois uses the Kryptonian discipline of Torquasm Rao to breach the nightmare real and rescue her husband from damnation. Superman breaks his deal with Lord Satanus and takes Lois and their disabled neighbor Cary back to Metropolis.
This story arc has been a chore and I was glad when it ended. Some of the characters don't even sound the same from the previous issue, and Lord Satanus doesn't even look the same. None of these characters are ever seen again.
President Luthor: Secret Files & Origins #1
In the usual Secret Files format of the period, this issue has a series of short stories and "Who's Who" bios of Talia Head, Vice President Pete Ross, and his cabinet. In an almost entirely silent story, we see citizen Luthor's day on the day he decided to run for president. Next, we see the moment when Talia agreed to be the CEO of LexCorp, and he may or may not have staged an attack on her to convince her to cooperate. In another story, Luthor finally tracks down his ex-wife the Contessa and has her assassinated, conveniently tying up one of his remaining loose ends from his life in Metropolis. With the Contessa out of the way, Circe breaks into the White House and offers herself to Lex, but he refuses. And in a seemingly throw-away 2-page gag, we meet Luthor's personal assistant Nathaniel Mackelvany, who resembles Luthor's henchman Otis from the movies. We'll find out later that he's really the Martian Manhunter in disguse, planted by the JLA to keep an eye on Luthor.
Superman: The Man of Steel #110
At President Luthor's inauguration in D.C., his bodyguards Hope and Mercy are distracted by a red herring protest group. They start a fight with John Henry Irons without his Steel armor, but the new Star Spangled Kid (before she acquired the cosmic staff from Jack Knight and called herself Stargirl) and S.T.R.I.P.E. happen to be there to help him. A villain with earthquake powers who calls himself Earthquake attacks the President after he's sworn in, and Superman appears on the scene to stop him. Though Superman had wanted to avoid being seen at the inauguration, Lex Luthor uses it as a photo opportunity and gives Lois Lane an exclusive for old time's sake. Steel invites S.T.R.I.P.E. to move to Metropolis and work with him at the Steelworks.
Action Comics #775
A violent new team of heroes called the Elite starts making the news. Superman arrives on the scene only to see the bloody aftermath of several their battles, until he finally meets them face to face. Their leader, Manchester Black, doesn't see any need to play by the old rules, with old-fashioned honor codes against killing. As Superman observes the world responding to this new breed of "hero," he's particularly disturbed when he sees children playing superhero no longer want to role play as Superman because he doesn't kill.
Manchester Black challenges Superman to a fight, putting the Man of Steel's values on the line. The Elite believe they've destroyed Superman, leaving only his cape behind, but while they divide his raiment among them, one by one Superman takes them out. Making eye contact with Manchester Black, Superman focuses his heat vision through the villain's retina and surgically excises the brain abnormality that gave Manchester Black his powers. Superman once again triumphs without taking a single life.
Manchester Black would eventually return, but never again in a story so memorable. This story contrasted then-popular antiheroes like the Authority with DC's classic heroism, all without making Superman appear hokey or outdated. Life imitates art and Superman has managed to outlast the fads of these darker periods in comics. "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" was one of the best stories of this period, and a decade later it would be faithfully adapted into an animated feature, Superman Vs. the Elite. It's still one of my top 3 Superman stories of all time.
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