Ready for the Summer of Superman?DC Comics is

Playing off of the big screen film set to debut this year, DC Comics is launching its comics line into the Summer of Superman.

The last son of Krypton leads the way

Superman is setting up to have a big year, with a feature film that’ll lead the way for the entire new DCU shared universe. But before we get to that this July, there’s a lead-in of sorts to discuss, and it’s ensconced firmly within the hero’s original medium, comics.

Superman Day is coming up on April 18th, but that’ll be happening right in the middle of a whole bunch of new Superman comics releases. The day will have some (sorta) new books all to itself as well, as the publisher will be releasing a series of facsimile editions and new collections, all of which will feature some of the hero’s biggest moments and story arcs.

Those include the Action Comics #1 variant that you see in the header, featuring Superman’s new movie costume, as depicted by Dan Mora.

Available at participating booksellers, mass market and online retailers:

• All-Star Superman Deluxe Superman Day Edition hardcover (new dust jacket featuring art by Frank Quitely)
• Superman Unchained Deluxe Superman Day Edition hardcover (new dust jacket featuring art by Jim Lee)

Available exclusively at participating comic book shops:

• All Star Superman #1 Special Edition by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
• Superman For All Seasons Book One Special Edition by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
• An excerpt of the upcoming young adult graphic novel Jimmy Olsen’s Supercyclopedia by Gabe Soria and Sandy Jarrell
• Action Comics #1 Golden Age–Size Facsimile Edition featuring an homage cover by superstar artist Dan Mora

DC Comics press release

As mentioned though, the actual Superman Day is just a part of what the summer will hold. You might be aware of the new Superman Unlimited ongoing series that begins on May 21st, but there’s much more coming that’ll feature the Man of Tomorrow. Along with Action Comics #1085, the rolling event that DC calls the Summer of Superman will arrive in April.

That month will usher in the Summer of Superman Special #1, with Dan Slott, Joshua Williamson, Mark Waid, and Jorge Jiménez all attached. The one-shot will be anchored by the wedding of Lana Lang and John Henry Irons, but as comics fans well know, superhero weddings don’t usually go off without a hitch.

The issue is just the beginning, as the same month’s Superman #25 will bring the return of arch-villain Lex Luthor. The action doesn’t stop there however, as June sees the arrival of Superman: The World, from Dan Jurgens, Lee Weeks, and a cadre of international talent. That will showcase the Man of Steel as a global hero, before July’s Superman’s Good Guy Gang brings a little something for the kiddos.

So with all of that, it’s sounding like fans have a Super-summer coming up. Scroll on down the page here, to check out the full details from DC.

Action Comics #1085 – April 9

“Superman Superstars” concludes on April 9 with the release of Action Comics #1085. Written by G. Willow Wilson and featuring art by Gavin Guidry, part one of this two-part story is a real job for Superman. Lois Lane sends the Man of Steel to a scientific outpost in the Arctic to investigate a new technology that promises to halt global warming. But when Superman arrives, he quickly finds out that the outpost has been plagued by a villain who plans to melt humanity’s hopes for survival. Featuring a main cover by Brad Walker, with variant covers by Davide Paratore, Cully Hamner and Danny Earls.

DC Comics press release

Summer of Superman Special #1 – April 16

Before making his big splash in the DC Universe with Superman Unlimited, acclaimed writer Dan Slott joins storytelling heavyweights Mark Waid (Justice League Unlimited, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest), Joshua Williamson (Superman, DC All In Special) and Jorge Jiménez (Batman, Super Sons) for the Summer of Superman Special, arriving at participating comic book shops and digital retailers Wednesday, April 16.

In this oversize issue, Slott, Waid and Williamson deliver a single story in three acts, highlighted by Jiménez’s dynamic art style that has made him a favorite of comic book fans worldwide. The wedding of Lana Lang and John Henry Irons (a.k.a. Steel) serves as the backdrop for an outpouring of love and support from family and friends. However, their big day will also be big trouble, as threats from the past, present and future will spawn major new conflicts for the Superman family.

Featuring a main and variant cover by Jiménez, this 48-page one-shot features additional variant covers by Alexander Lozano, John Giang, Mahmud Asrar, and Dan Jurgens, plus an adorable variant cover featuring Krypto, (Super)man’s best friend, by Chrissie Zullo-Uminga.

DC Comics press release

Superman #25 – April 23

Just as Superman and Superwoman are recovering from their battles with Time Trapper and Doomsday, the biggest problem of all returns when Superman #25 hits comic book shops on April 23. Lex Luthor makes his DC All In return and is ready to fight for control of Supercorp and Metropolis. Written by Joshua Williamson, this oversize (48-page) issue features art by series artist Dan Mora (Justice League Unlimited,Batman/Superman: World’s Finest), Eddy Barrows (Action Comics) and Eber Ferreira (Action Comics, Action Comics Presents: Doomsday Special) and celebrates the last two years of Superman, connects to Summer of Superman Special #1, and sets up a brand-new storyline featuring Superman’s greatest enemy. 

Mora provides the wraparound main cover for Superman #25, with variant covers from a who’s-who of comic book art giants, including Guillem March, Jeff Dekal, Rafael Grassetti, Dave Johnson, Laura Braga, and Fico Ossio, plus an April Fools’ Day variant cover by Dan Hipp.

DC Comics press release

Superman: The World – June 24

The Man of Tomorrow usually soars through the skies in Metropolis, but no matter where a cry for help comes from, Superman will always be there to save the day. In the tradition of critically acclaimed anthologiesBatman: The World and Joker: The World, witness what makes Superman an international symbol of truth, justice, and hope with the global release of Superman: The World on June 24. Renowned Superman storytellers Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks join a team of fifteen international creators to tell tales that highlight what makes Superman the greatest superhero of all. Superman: The World is scheduled to launch day and date in the following territories: Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Turkey, India, Cameroon, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, and Argentina.

DC Comics press release

Superman’s Good Guy Gang – July 1

The Summer of Superman also features the debut of Superman’s Good Guy Gang on July 1. The first in a multivolume series, this graphic novel is the perfect entry point for early readers ages 5–7 to discover the incredible world of DC’s Super Heroes. Superman’s Good Guy Gang is written and drawn by Death and Sparkles creator Rob Justus and introduces readers to an eight-year-old Clark Kent, and his super-powered friends Hawkgirl and Green Lantern Guy Gardner, as they test their abilities, grow together and maybe even earn some good guy points along the way. Future books in the series will include popular DC Super Heroes Batman, Wonder Woman, Mr. Terrific and more.

DC Comics press release