History ComicBook / SupermanReborn

''Superman: Reborn'' is a four-issue ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' [[BatfamilyCrossover family crossover]] story arc that was published in 2017. It was told in the ''ComicBook/SupermanRebirth'' and ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' books, with Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason and Dan Jurgens as the writers. ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'' was also involved in the story. It was the first major Superman story arc in the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' event.

The story encompassed the entire March 2017 Superman titles with aftermath effects through other titles starting with ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'' #8. The "Aftermath" storyline in ''Action Comics'' in particular focuses on it.

* [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil Covers Always Spoil]]: Look at that picture up there. Based on that, what do you think is the story behind the two Supermen? Your first guest is probably right. And if you've got the other three issues, then you almost got the complete story (see above).

* WhamShot: ''Superman'' #19 [[spoiler:The Red Energy released by Lana Lang back in ''Superwoman'' #8 merges with Superman and Lois, transforming them back into their New 52 counterparts]]

* ArcWelding: [[spoiler:It's revealed that Mxyzptlk of all continuities - [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], ComicBook/PostCrisis, [[Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse DCAU]], [[BizarroUniverse Bizarro]], Franchise/{{LEGO}} - is the same Mxyzptlk. Previous stories had also established Mxyzptlk was aware of his existence as a fictional character. Interestingly, WordOfGod is quite mum if the Mxyzptlk that showed up during ''ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsActionComics'' is the same Mxy or not - the "Who is Mxy?" feature specifically gives his origin there a ShrugOfGod.]]

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:When Mxyptlk turned into the human Clark Kent, he deliberately brainwashed himself to protect Superman's secret identity. After he gets his memories back, he erases Lois' memories of Jon as revenge for Supes forgetting him. Lana seems to be suffering from the same thing, too.]]

* CallBack: The aftermath shows a timeline of Superman's now canon career, which basically ''annihilates'' the whole "five years" rule the New 52 universe had. That same week, ''Blue Beetle'' went about wasting it as well. The New 52 universe seems to be receding, and this makes sense when you consider that ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' said that all things in the DC Universe originate from Superman. His continuity changing means the universe's continuity changes.

Ever since the pre-''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' Superman's return, he has been haunted by a mysterious man claiming to be Clark Kent, a Clark who was hidden away by ''ComicBook/TheNew52'' Superman but returned after his death at the end of ''ComicBook/SupermanSuperLeague''. However, things went completely dark when ComicBook/LoisLane, attempting to discover the deal with this Clark, ultimately blew him off when he attempted to propose marriage to her. The strain of it all has caused him to snap and remember who he was and he'll take everything the real Clark has...

* SpiritualSuccessor: To Creator/AlanMoore's 1986 "imaginary story" ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', that ''Reborn'' is almost like an attempt at a remake.

* ThePowerOfLove: As stated by Mr.Oz [[spoiler: Lois and Clark's love (for the partner and for their son) is so strong that has repaired what was broken]].

** [[spoiler:Mr. Mxyzptlk, especially his classic version, hasn't been seen since the end of ''ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis'', where he opted to abandon Earth and stay in the 5th Dim ension after Superboy-Prime's abuse. Justified because it's the same character, no matter the continuity or the medium.]]

* ArcWelding: [[spoiler:It's revealed that Mxyzptlk of all continuities - [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], ComicBook/PostCrisis, [[Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse DCAU]], [[BizarroUniverse Bizarro]], Franchise/{{LEGO}} - is the same Mxyzptlk. Previous stories had also established Mxyzptlk was aware of his existence as a fictional character. Interestingly, WordOfGod is quite mum if the Mxyzptlk that showed up during ''ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsActionComics'' is the same Mxy or not.]]

** [[spoiler:Mr. Mxyzptlk, especially his classic version, hasn't been seen since the end of ''ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis'', where he opted to abandon Earth and stay in the 5th Dimension after Superboy-Prime's abuse. Justified because it's the same character, no matter the continuity or the medium.]]

** [[spoiler:The pre-''Flashpoint'' Lois and Superman and the ''New 52'' Lois and Superman were actually two halves of the same actual pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman, split into two beings each for some reason. Mxyzptlk refuses to elaborate in favor of his sick and twisted game.]]

* UnexpectedCharacter: Nobody expected that [[spoiler:the fake Clark Kent was Mr. Mxyzptlk]].

* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Superman has a vision of a BadFuture in which an adult Jonathan kills him, saying he was never home for him.

The story encompassed the entire March 2017 Superman titles with aftermath effects through other titles starting with ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'' #8. The Aftermath storyline in ''Action Comics'' particularly focuses on the merger.

''Superman: Reborn'' is a four-issue ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' [[BatfamilyCrossover family crossover]] story arc to be published in 2017. It was told in the ''ComicBook/SupermanRebirth'' and ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' books, with Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason and Dan Jurgens as the writers. ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'' was also involved in the story. It was the first major Superman story arc in the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' event.

* [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil Covers Always Spoil]]: Look at that picture up there. Based on that, what do you think is the story behind the two Supermen? Your first guest is probably right.

* SpiritualAntithesis: To ComicBook/OneMoreDay. No really, think about it. Both mark the end of an era for their upstanding hero, but in vastly different ways. One More Day is a story about losing a marriage, a child, and is relatively simple in its execution of dealing with a supernatural being to accomplish this. Superman Reborn is about [[spoiler:keeping a marriage and a child]], and is pretty convoluted in its explanations with still a few questions left over after defeating [[spoiler: a supernatural being]] to accomplish this.

* CosmicRetcon: [[spoiler:When the Red and Blue Energies finally fuse into one]], it resets not only Superman and Lois, but changes their history and by extension, the history of the DCU. Shown is Clark revealing his identity to Lois, ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/SupermanTheWeddingAlbum'' back into continuity, the events of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Superman'' are undone as Clark and Lois gave birth in the Fortress and not the ''Flashpoint'' Batcave and restoring villains such as Imperiex and the Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman. ''Action Comics'' #977 ends up putting ''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin'' back into continuity and removing the Superman/Wonder Woman romance. The birth of Jon now taking place within the main DC Universe also removes the "five years" time span. An upcoming ComicBook/WonderWoman annual will address the doing-away of the Superman/Wonder Woman romance.

* CosmicRetcon: [[spoiler:When the Red and Blue Energies finally fuse into one, it resets not only Superman and Lois, but changes their history. The full scope has yet to be fully revealed, so it isn't known how much of the ''New 52''-based stories were left in, but things like Lex Luthor going to school in Smallville, Clark revealing his identity to Lois, ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/SupermanTheWeddingAlbum'' back into continuity, the events of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Superman'' are undone as Clark and Lois gave birth in the Fortress and not the ''Flashpoint'' Batcave and restoring villains such as Imperiex and the Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman. ''Action Comics'' #977 ends up putting ''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin'' back into continuity. An upcoming ComicBook/WonderWoman annual will address the doing-away of the Superman/Wonder Woman romance.]]

The story encompassed the entire March 2017 Superman titles with aftermath effects through other titles starting with ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'' #8. The Aftermath storyline in ''Action Comics'' particularly focuses on the merger, showing, among other things, [[spoiler: Superman wore the New 52 high collar for a while even while married to Lois and having Jon, and the events of ''ComicBook/SupermanLoisAndClark'' were a way of the couple giving Jon a "normal" upbringing like Clark's -- in preparation for his superpowers developing.]]

The story encompassed the entire March 2017 Superman titles with aftermath effects through other titles starting with ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'' #8.

* CosmicRetcon: [[spoiler:When the Red and Blue Energies finally fuse into one, it resets not only Superman and Lois, but changes their history. The full scope has yet to be fully revealed, so it isn't known how much of the ''New 52''-based stories were left in, but things like Lex Luthor going to school in Smallville, Clark revealing his identity to Lois, ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/SupermanTheWeddingAlbum'' back into continuity, the events of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Superman'' are undone as Clark and Lois gave birth in the Fortress and not the ''Flashpoint'' Batcave and restoring villains such as Imperiex and the Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman. ''Action Comics'' #977 ends up putting [[spoiler:''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin'' back into continuity.]]. An upcoming ComicBook/WonderWoman annual will address the doing-away of the Superman/Wonder Woman romance.]].

* CosmicRetcon: [[spoiler:When the Red and Blue Energies finally fuse into one, it resets not only Superman and Lois, but changes their history. The full scope has yet to be fully revealed, so it isn't known how much of the ''New 52''-based stories were left in, but things like Lex Luthor going to school in Smallville, Clark revealing his identity to Lois, ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/SupermanTheWeddingAlbum'' back into continuity, the events of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Superman'' are undone as Clark and Lois gave birth in the Fortress and not the ''Flashpoint'' Batcave and restoring villains such as Imperiex and the Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman. An upcoming ComicBook/WonderWoman annual will address the doing-away of the Superman/Wonder Woman romance.]]
** ''Action Comics'' #977 ends up putting [[spoiler:''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin'' back into continuity.]]
** RetGone:

* {{Retcon}}: [[spoiler:When the Red and Blue Energies finally fuse into one, it resets not only Superman and Lois, but changes their history. The full scope has yet to be fully revealed, so it isn't known how much of the ''New 52''-based stories were left in, but things like Lex Luthor going to school in Smallville, Clark revealing his identity to Lois, ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/SupermanTheWeddingAlbum'' back into continuity, the events of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}: Superman'' are undone as Clark and Lois gave birth in the Fortress and not the ''Flashpoint'' Batcave and restoring villains such as Imperiex and the Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman. An upcoming ComicBook/WonderWoman annual will address the doing-away of the Superman/Wonder Woman romance.]]
** ''Action Comics'' #977 ends up putting [[spoiler:''ComicBook/SupermanSecretOrigin'' back into continuity.]]