Disconnected

After 10 years of the triangle numbering, the Superman books disconnected from each other this month and started to have their own independent stories.  The books would reconnect every now and then for a month or two, but usually with a guest creative team.  Though we didn't know it at the time, this disconnection was really the beginning of the end of the era, as Superman: The Man of Steel would be cancelled about a year after this.  Also, after this point you currently won't be able to follow along on DC Universe Infinite.

Superman #176

Superman sees a therapist recommended to him by the Martian Manhunter.  While keeping his Clark Kent identity secret, he opens up about the difficulty of losing Aquaman and almost losing his parents.  Though he doesn't talk about Lois by name, we find out that she's taken a leave from the Daily Planet to spend time with her mother after her father's death, and he's hardly seen her since then.

Though they had decided to end the triangle numbering after this month, they still maintained it here even though this issue was the first week of 2002.  Ian Churchill returns to draw another issue as a guest artist, as he would do semi-regularly during this period delivering lots of fan service.  The covers this month are two opposing pairs.  This issue's angle of Superman from behind corresponds to Action Comics' cover of Bizarro from the front, both by Ed McGuiness.

Adventures of Superman #598

Superman's fight with the fake Fatal Five at the start of Our Worlds at War is broadcast on repeat to every TV in Metropolis, and one working class viewer is inspired by the Persuader.  He makes a VHS tape of the broadcast and uses it to encourage his union to riot.  This imitation Persuader is easily stopped by Superman, but after his arrest he's placed in a cell with a mysterious, demonic cellmate.  The new Persuader will return a few months later (after issue #600) and pose a real threat to the Man of Steel next time.

This issue's cover of Clark Kent entering a phone booth corresponds to the Man of Steel cover of Superman leaving it, both by Mike Wieringo.

Superman: The Man of Steel #120

Cave Carson comes to Clark Kent hoping that a renowned reporter can help him expose LexCorp.  Cave Carson could have gone to Superman, but he knows if a superhero stops LexCorp's operations then the world will never know about it.  Unfortunately, Clark Kent doubts himself as a reporter and he decides to intervene as Superman instead.  After he shuts down a LexCorp facility overrun by a dangerous fungus, he visits LexCorp CEO Talia Head to let her know she failed.  After Superman leaves, Talia wonders to herself how her plan had failed.  It turns out she had manipulated Cave Carson to go to the press as she was hoping LexCorp would finally be exposed, but she had no idea why he contacted Superman instead.

Action Comics #785

This issue literally reads in reverse order as it features none other than the backwards Superman villain, Bizarro.  Clark Kent insists to Perry White that he and Lois aren't separated, although Perry points out that Lois has no planned returned date.  Perry sends Clark Kent to Pokolistan to cover General Zod and the small nation's rise to power courtesy of President Luthor.  Back in Metropolis, a woman jumps off the second tallest building in the city to try to attract Superman's attention, but fortunately she survives.  Bizarro meets with a mysterious figure in Pokolistan's "Gorge", which looks like the pits of hell.  This will actually lead to the return of Guy Gardner, who was recently killed in Our Worlds at War.

This month's letters pages were omitted to make room for a special September 11th message, so readers didn't even really know until next month that the books would no longer be linked as before.