• Source: Superman (Earth-One)

The Superman of Earth-One is the incarnation of Superman that existed during the Silver Age and Bronze Age publications of DC Comics. He is also known by the following names: Silver Age Superman, Bronze Age Superman, and Pre-Crisis Superman.




History


In the mid-1950s, following the decline of superhero comics after World War II and the end of the Golden Age of comics, the editors at DC decided to revive some of their Golden Age superheroes with completely new origins and backstories. Starting with the Flash in Showcase #4 in 1956, new versions of DC's former heroes were gradually introduced as completely separate characters with no connection to previous incarnations. This concept eventually became canonized with the introduction of DC's multiverse in 1960s DC Comics.
With the introduction of DC's multiverse, it was retroactively declared that the version of Superman published between 1938 and the early 1950s lived in an alternate dimension called Earth-Two, while comics featuring Superman published since approximately the mid-1950s took place in a universe dubbed Earth-One. This was confirmed by the introduction of the Earth-Two Superman as a distinct character in Justice League of America #73 (August 1969). However, since Superman was one of several DC characters continuously published throughout the 1950s, there is no clear dividing line between the Earth-One and Earth-Two versions of Superman, thus leading to a gray area between the Golden and Silver Ages. This was in part due to how Superman by that time had several comic books with different editors, thus allowing for inconsistencies between titles.
This began to change in the late 1950s, when Mort Weisinger was made group editor of all Superman titles and made an attempt to create a cohesive universe around Superman, the "first serious attempt at a constantly developing continuity in comics history". This was in part due to the advent of annuals which often reprinted earlier Superman stories, allowing readers access to older stories and thus obliging Weisinger and his writers to create a consistent history for the character. This history/continuity (and with it the version of Superman that would go on to become the Earth-One Superman) effectively began in 1958 as Weisinger allowed for few stories prior to 1958 to be reprinted or referenced.
There were a few exceptions, though, as several stories published before the mid-1950s retroactively took place on Earth-One, such as Superman #78 from September–October 1952, the first appearance of the adult Lana Lang in Superman comics. Also, any Superman stories published before the mid-1950s that featured or mentioned Superboy also took place exclusively on Earth-One, as the Earth-Two Superman, per the earliest Superman comics, never had a Superboy career. The Silver Age/Earth-One Superman's first appearance in comics was, retroactively, in Superman (volume 1) #46 (May 1947), the first time Superboy was referenced in a Superman story. The Earth-One Superman's first appearance (in a flash-forward) in a Superboy story was in Superboy #1 (March–April 1949).
This version of Superman remained in publication through 1986. After the 1985-86 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Earth-One Superman was written out of continuity with the 1986 John Byrne miniseries The Man of Steel. However, the Earth-One Superman was given a send-off in the final, noncanonical-to-Earth-One "imaginary" story Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? in Superman #423 (September 1986) and Action Comics #583 (September 1986).




Fictional biography


The Earth-One Superman's origin story was retold in various times; the most prominent retellings were in Superman #146 (July 1961), Limited Collectors' Edition #C-31 (November–December 1974), and Action Comics #500 (October 1979). Comic book magazine Amazing Heroes also provided a overview of Superman in the Silver and Bronze Ages.
As recounted in these retellings, Superman was born Kal-El on the planet Krypton to the illustrious El family whose genealogy had been manipulated for centuries by the Guardians of the Universe in the hope of one day creating the perfect hero. Krypton, however, was unstable and despite the best attempts of the Green Lantern of that sector they were unable to save the planet nor were warnings of Kal-El's father, Jor-El heeded. Determined to at least save their son, he and wife, Lara Lor-Van, sent Kal in an experimental rocket to Earth moments before the planet exploded. Unlike other versions of the character, his parents did not place him in the escape rocket as an infant but as a toddler and he was thus old enough to remember his parents and seeing them die with the planet.
Landing outside of the town of Smallville, the three-year-old Kal-El was found by elderly farming couple Jonathan and Martha Kent who sought to adopt him. To avoid questions as to where they had found the baby, the couple here left him on the doorstep of an orphanage and returned the next day. They formally adopted him and named him Clark after Martha's maiden name.
This version of Superman developed his full range of superpowers within minutes of arriving on Earth thus becoming "Superbaby". The Silver Age version of the character is widely regarded as one of the most powerful. While Silver Age writers initially used "Superbaby" as a joke, later writers commented on his early development of superpowers by saying that the Kents made a point of raising their son to be a hero from the very day he arrived on Earth. However, on seeing the sheer power that his son possessed (even to the point of being able to destroy planets as a toddler) and that the boy, despite that power, had a child's level of restraint and maturity, Jonathon Kent began to fear his son and had nightmares of him taking over the world. He and his wife soon lost that fear on seeing their son cry at the death of a dog on account of his being able to see the life force of every living thing. That night, an eight year old Clark Kent donned his red and blue uniform for the very first time and swore an oath never to kill and to preserve life in all its forms, and that if he should break that oath, renounce his power forever.
Soon after Clark Kent made his first public appearance as Superboy. Whilst there had been adventurers such as the magician John Zatara, Kent was still world's first superhero and it led to an uproar and fear. After telling his origin to reporter Perry White and meeting with the President of the United States, however, Superboy was granted American citizenship.
By this time, Clark had started school and his parents had sold their farm, moving into Smallville, where they opened a general store where he had a part-time job stacking shelves for his father. During his childhood, Superboy first met Lana Lang and Pete Ross. He was also reunited with his Kryptonian dog Krypto whom Jor-El had placed in a test rocket whilst preparing the vehicle that would take his son to Earth.
Superboy also first met in Smallville the boy who would become his main archenemy, the criminal genius Lex Luthor. They were initially friends but after Superboy unintentionally destroyed one of Luthor's science experiments, the young scientist grew bitter, thus leading to a rivalry and eventually a grudge that turned into a life of crime. Other foes Superboy encountered included the Kryptonite Kid, and various foes from his membership in the 30th century's superhero team, the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Superboy made Smallville famous but always saw it as a training ground for his eventual career as Superman, something he was aware of due to having used recovered Kryptonian technology to see the future. To that end he sought out and met the boy who would one day become his best friend and fellow heroes, Bruce Wayne (Batman). He also met Arthur Curry/"Aquaboy" who at the time was Earth-One's only other superhero and. He also met other teens who would later be heroes such as young Hal Jordan and Barbara Gordon.
Shortly after Clark's high school graduation, both Jonathan and Martha Kent died of natural causes, though not before Jonathon made his son swear to use his powers for good as Superman. With no surviving family and nobody aware of his secret, he was alone. He, as Superboy, then bid goodbye to Smallville and as Clark Kent left to attend Metropolis University to earn a degree in journalism. His failure to save the people he loved the most despite all his power, had a profound effect on Kent and while in college, he even considered abandoning his heroic career. After realizing the good he had done, however and the good he could continue to do, ultimately forgave himself and changed his name from "Superboy" to "Superman".
After graduating from college, Clark obtained employment as a reporter with The Daily Planet though editor-in-chief Perry White was initially reluctant to hire him and even after giving him a job was still leery of Kent. Stories detailing that also state that already established reporter Lois Lane, stood up for him, taking his side against White.
It was shortly after getting his job at the Daily Planet that Clark Kent began a relationship with Lois Lane, though unlike other versions of the characters, Lois initially hated Superman seeing him a conceited showoff. Instead, she was attracted to Clark Kent appreciating the rookie reporter's journalism skills and modesty, and they began dating. When Superman saved her, despite having lost his superpowers, her feelings reversed. Clark Kent did like Lois and hoped to start a relationship but found it awkward to compete against himself.
He also met and befriended photographer Jimmy Olsen in both his identities.
It was in this early phase of his career as Superman when he, who up til then only had American citizenship, was awarded honorary citizenship by the UN in each and everyone of its member countries in honor of all his heroic deeds on behalf of the whole world. Though the exact time was not specified, it was written as the climax of an origin story and thus presumably happens early on.
Superman's high school sweetheart, Lana Lang, who had followed him to Metropolis University reentered his life, as a TV reporter. She was a friendly rival to Lois for Superman's affections but while he loved both women, a recurring theme in Silver Age stories was his refusal to marry either one for fear that his enemies would take revenge on him by killing a non-super spouse. Another theme was the two women seeking to prove that Superman was Clark Kent and Superman "proving" that he was not.
It was at the very start of Superman's adult career, Lex Luthor, who plagued the hero as a youth in Smallville, returned and repeatedly faced him to prove his superiority over the hero by any means necessary. He was not the only foe Kal-El faced; new villains included the supervillain android Brainiac who stole and shrank various Earth cities. Superman freed those cities—and cities from other worlds such as the Kryptonian city of Kandor. He kept the bottled city in his Fortress of Solitude and sought repeatedly to restore it to its proper size.
After Superman reached adulthood, other superheroes soon debuted, including the hero who would become his best friend in the superhero community, Batman. The two heroes would engage in regular team-ups over their careers (as shown in the title World's Finest Comics). Another ally of Superman is his cousin Kara Zor-El, another survivor of Krypton's doom, who came to Earth and became Supergirl. Soon after Supergirl's arrival on Earth, Superman became a founding member of the Justice League of America, Earth-One's most prominent superhero team.
In 1971 with the advent of the Bronze Age of Comics, Clark began working as the evening news anchor for WGBS-TV after his new boss Morgan Edge purchased the Daily Planet. Along with Edge, Clark soon gained as coworkers WGBS-TV sports anchor Steve Lombard and childhood friend Lana Lang, who became Clark's co-anchor.
It was during the Bronze Age that the Earth One Superman began to reevaluate his life and decided that he had neglected his identity as Clark Kent and that he should allow himself to be more assertive in that identity. This was because, unlike later versions of the character he regarded Superman as his real identity and that he was only "disguised as a mild mannered reporter". While he always identified primarily as Superman, he nevertheless reclaimed his identity as Clark Kent, becoming a celebrity for his role as a news anchorman. He also found fame as print reporter, with people taking his being the single most honest and reliable reporter at the Daily Planet for granted.
It was also at this time that Superman's purpose began to change. Whereas the more whimsical Silver Age uncritically showed him solving every problem he came across—no matter how small—and regularly raising billions for charity, writer Elliot S. Maggin addressed this in his "Must There be a Superman". There, the Guardians of the Universe (whose own Green Lanterns cannot directly interfere in mundane affairs) took note of all this and began to worry that he was robbing humanity of its initiative by solving every problem. They explained this to Superman who, on returning to Earth, saw that people actually were becoming dependent on him and so decided that, unless lives were at stake, he would no longer do for ordinary humans what they could do for themselves. This remained in place for the rest of the Bronze Age.
He also managed to restore the city of Kandor and placed it on people on an uninhabited world that was promptly named New Krypton.
He also began exploring the Multiverse with the Justice League. He learned of and met his Earth Two counterpart and the chief heroes of other dimensions as well such as Captain Marvel/Shazam. The most startling, however, was his finding Earth Prime, the "real" world in which he (and other DC heroes) were simply fictional characters. He learned of it from the Flash and found the idea that a world wherein everyone knows his secret identity strange and that could function without any superheroes even stranger. However, he overcame his initial unease and befriended the men and women at DC Comics including his most famous artist Curt Swan and his comic book editor Julius Schwartz. He was deeply touched by the idea that the people of the real world, despite only knowing of him as a fictional character still looked up to him as hero.
By this time, Superman managed to convince both Lois and Lana that he was not Clark Kent, but he ultimately broke off his relationship with Lois saying that while he did love her, his responsibilities to the world and to the greater universe had to come first. For her part, Lois decided that she had wasted a good part of her career by staying in Metropolis for Superman's sake and left. As both a journalist and as a woman, she had to get on with her life.
It was also hinted in conversations with his Golden Age/Earth Two counterpart, that the real reason he had never married his own Lois Lane was fear of commitment, rather that fears for her safety or that he would be too busy to be a good husband. Regardless, glimpses of the future, showed that this version of Superman would have eventually married Lois Lane
Other glimpses of the future showed that in the centuries to come, his legend would lead to a quasi-religion revolving around his deeds and those of other heroes; worshipers would dress as famous heroes and periodically attend conventions. Its chief holiday was "Miracle Monday" wherein celebrants would set aside a plate for Superman, hoping that he would visit and attend the sacred meal. In fact, whilst Superman would ultimately die, his descendants would continue the never-ending battle for truth and justice as they shepherded humanity in its exploration of the universe, intermarrying with mortals thus raising it to the next level of evolution.
The career of the Earth-One Superman came to an abrupt end, however, with the release of Crisis on Infinite Earths, an event meant to redefine DC's characters with the main villain Anti-Monitor attempting to destroy the universe but instead altering its history completely.
In 2011, however, years after it was published, Marv Wolfman revealed that just prior to the events in Crisis, which he wrote, that Superman was approached by a woman named Harbinger who explained to him that even if the Anti-Monitor was defeated, that the surviving reality would be left deformed. He was shown events of DC Comics ranging from the late 1980s to 2011 to show just how terrible the upcoming age would be. He saw his own death, his fellow heroes in an identity crisis, Wonder Woman summarily executing people on live TV, the Amazons attack, Batman betraying the Justice League, etc. She asked him if that was the fate that awaited it, was the DC Universe even worth saving; Superman said that, no matter what happened, life was still worth living and the future still worth saving. He would carry on.
In the Crisis, Superman led the other heroes of the multiverse in the struggle against the Anti-Monitor—though he found himself targeted by the villain above other heroes. In the end, Anti-Monitor was defeated and the remaining universes saved but many heroes died in the struggle including his friend the Barry Allen Flash and his cousin Supergirl. After the struggle, he took her body to New Krypton where he, along with her parents, buried her.
This version of Superman was given a send off with Alan Moore’s "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" where Superman de-powers himself with Gold Kryptonite and apparently freezes to death as atonement for killing Mister Mxyzptlk. The ending strongly implies that Lois' husband, Jordan Elliott is a de-powered Superman in disguise as their infant son squeezes a lump of coal until it becomes a diamond. Outgoing editor Julius Schwartz instructed this to be written as if it were the last Superman story ever—which it in fact was for the Earth One Superman as that version of the character was replaced by John Byrne's reboot in the next issue.
The Earth-One Superman was long thought erased but in the years since Crisis glimpses of parallel dimensions, alternate timelines, and the restored multiverse shows, that however remote, he and the Earth One universe still exist.




= Allies

=
As the first prominent superpowered superhero of Earth-One, Superboy met few other peers his own age outside of his trips to the 30th Century to serve as part of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Earth-One's main other superpowered superhero during Superboy's era was the teenaged Aquaman (who called himself "Aquaboy"). After Superman reached adulthood, other superheroes made their debuts, including Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and the Martian Manhunter. The above group of heroes plus Superman decided to form the superhero team the Justice League of America.




= Fellow Kryptonians

=
Besides Supergirl, other Kryptonians were revealed as having survived the explosion of Krypton. These included the denizens of the bottle city of Kandor, Superman's pet dog Krypto, and the prisoners in the Phantom Zone.




Equipment


As an adult, Superman made prominent use of his Fortress of Solitude. An elaborate facility located in the Arctic, the Fortress traditionally could only be accessed with the use of a giant-sized key only Superman could lift.
Superman also made extensive use of Superman robots, robots that could pose as Superman (or Clark Kent) as needed, with a fraction of his abilities, but the robots became largely disused by the early 1970s.




Post-Crisis use of Earth-One elements






= Crisis on Infinite Earths

=
Along with the existence of his Earth-Two counterpart, Superman's Earth-One existence and history were erased from continuity, after the conclusion of 1985-86 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, following the destruction of the Pre-Crisis universe in that storyline. The Post-Crisis Earth would be an entirely new continuity, and the Post-Crisis Superman an entirely new person, but some aspects of the Earth-One version remained intact. However, Clark's career as Superboy, Supergirl, and Superman's tenure with the Legion of Super-Heroes were removed entirely from the new timeline. Writer John Byrne acknowledged that he intended to reintroduce several modified Silver Age aspects such as Superboy to the comics, but he was fired after two years due to "creative differences" with DC.




= Infinite Crisis

=
A year after the Infinite Crisis, a number of the Earth-One elements have been restored to the Post-Crisis Earth (dubbed "New Earth"). Although several Byrne aspects, such as his portrayal of Clark's football days and love interest in Lana, remain in continuity, the Kryptonian criminal Jax-Ur has been re-introduced into "Post-Infinite Crisis" canon in the "Superman: Last Son" story arc, and Clark is revealed to have been made an honorary member of the Legion of Super-Heroes during his late teens. According to Clark, he met Mon-El and wrongly assumed him to have been his long-lost brother from Krypton, based on their similar names, and Superman still has a Legion flight ring in his possession. He is shown to have been wearing glasses as far back as his adolescent Smallville years, and he has actively been saving lives in a low-profile.




Other versions






= Superman: Earth One

=

An original graphic novel written by J. Michael Straczynski and with art by Shane Davis. The story focuses on a young Superman's decisions to use his powers to help the world rather than use his powers for his own benefit. Due to the weekly series Trinity creating a new Earth One this may be part of the DC Multiverse, as J. Michael Straczynski said that it is not part of the main DCU.




= All-Star Superman

=
Grant Morrison's critically acclaimed All-Star Superman draws inspiration from this version of Superman in order to "strip down the Man of Steel to his timeless, essential elements". Among older classic elements of the character are things such as:

A career as "Superboy" and the death of Pa Kent being what motivated Clark to leave Smallville.
Luthor being primarily a mad scientist able to escape at will from prison.
Clark Kent being clumsy and timid.
Robot duplicates that exist to aid Superman.




= Superman: Birthright

=

Mark Waid's retold Superman's origin and restored various elements of the pre-Crisis/Silver Age version of Superman, namely he and Luthor having been friends in Smallville until a ruined science experiment left Luthor embittered and angry and that Superman has the power to see the life force of living things. Waid said that he regards the Superman novels of Elliot S. Maggin—Superman's chief writer in the Bronze Age—as being his textbooks on the character. He went on record as saying that Birthright was in inspired by Superman: The Movie—which was itself based on pre-Crisis/Silver age version of the character.




In other media


The 1980s TV series Superboy, featured John Haymes Newton (Season 1) and Gerard Christopher (Season 2-onwards) in the role of the college-aged Clark Kent/Superboy. Like the Earth-One Superboy, he was depicted as being a peer (but not a friend) of fellow student Lex Luthor, who blamed him for the loss of his hair after he rescued him from a laboratory accident.
Superman: The Movie was based upon the Superman of this era, showing things such as Luthor being a terrorist/criminal rather than an evil businessman, Superman (not Clark Kent) being the dominant personality and his failure to save his adopted father being what led him to leave Smallville and eventually become a hero.
Both The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure and Super Friends featured a Superman based on this era's version of the character, namely he and Lex Luthor having been friends as children before the young scientist's turn to evil and his being best friends with Batman.
Injustice features an adaption of the Earth-One Superman by including an alternate universe Superman, who wears the classic costume in comparison to the main universe Superman who wears a more modern inspired costume. Mister Terrific, who had been mapping out the multiverse, claims that the alternate Superman is from Earth-9 while the main universe is Earth-1 only for the alternate Superman to say the opposite and that they are Earth-22.




See also


Superman (Earth-Two)
Ultraman (comics)
Alternative versions of Superman
History of Superman (Silver Age)
History of Superman (Bronze Age)




References

• Source: Superman: Earth One

Superman: Earth One is a series of graphic novels written by J. Michael Straczynski and illustrated by Shane Davis. The series is a modernized re-imagining of DC Comics' long-running Superman comic book franchise as the inaugural title of the company's Earth One imprint. Earth One's Superman exists with other revamped DC characters in Earth One titles, including Batman: Earth One and Wonder Woman: Earth One, as well as other graphic novels.
The first volume was published in the US in October 27, 2010 by DC Comics, and in the UK in 2011 by Titan Books. Superman: Earth One Volume Two was released on October 31, 2012. Superman: Earth One Volume Three was released on February 4, 2015, with Ardian Syaf illustrating the book instead of Davis.




Background and creation


Writer J. Michael Straczynski said the project was a dream come true, as writing Superman was among his plans which also included Babylon 5. Two years before its publication, Straczynski signed a contract with DC Comics. Before Straczynski's announcement, he had kept the project secret while he worked on the Red Circle characters and The Brave and the Bold.
Straczynski used his experiences as a journalist to add detail to the Daily Planet environment, for example, the character Jimmy Olsen, called Jim in the books, is depicted as stronger and smarter than his mainstream counterpart. Straczynski wanted to retell the beginning of Clark Kent's transition to Superman, and explore possible alternatives to Clark becoming a superhero. Straczynski said that "he [Kent] could have been rich as an athlete, researcher, any number of things. There's a flashback scene to when Martha Kent finishes his uniform and gives it to him as a gift, hoping he will go that way. He looks at it and says, in essence, 'Shouldn't there be a mask?' She says no, that 'when people see how powerful you are, all the things you can do, they're going to be terrified ... unless they can see your face, and see there that you mean them no harm. The mask ... is that what you're going to have to wear the rest of your life'". Straczynski introduced a new villain character with a connection to Krypton, who was used to explain its destruction.
Shane Davis removed the stereotypes associated with depictions of the civilian and superhero identities of Clark Kent. Davis drew the 20-year-old Clark wearing layers of clothing, showing that he is trying to blend in with his associates and differing from previous depictions of Kent wearing a suit, tie, and glasses, which Davis said, "didn't make sense". Davis also re-imagined Metropolis, which was historically depicted as an expanse of art deco buildings. Davis designed the city to look more realistic.




Plot summary






= Volume One

=
Clark Kent, a new arrival in the city of Metropolis, applies for various open jobs. His last stop on his job search is at the Daily Planet newspaper, where he meets Perry White, James "Jim" Olsen and Lois Lane. However, upon hearing that the Daily Planet and the wider newspaper industry are in decline, Clark decides not to apply and flies into space.
Clark thinks upon his history, and how his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, told him how they found him while hiking through woodland: they witnessed a spaceship crashing and found a baby boy in the wreckage, deciding to keep him. Shortly afterward, the U.S. government arrived at the crash site. The Kents kept a small fragment of debris from the ship and learned of its, and the child's, extraterrestrial origins. Back in the present, Clark visits his late father's grave and says he feels incapable of being a superhero. Instead, he decides to begin a career and hopes that his father would accept that.
The next day, Major Sandra Lee, a U.S. soldier studying advanced technology, revisits the crashed spaceship, which has regenerated its damaged and lost parts. Scientists under Lee there have found symbols inside the atomic structure of the ship. Clark discovers his apartment is on fire and quickly enters to recover the fragment of spacecraft and a red and blue outfit his mother made for him from the cloth he was wrapped in as an infant. Alone, he checks the fragment with his enhanced vision when he is hit with energy, becomes unconscious and falls from the sky. The fragment talks and connects itself back to the ship in order to download more information. Just then, an invading alien armada attacks Earth's major cities. The military fights back, but the aliens defeat them. Jim and Lois are almost killed in the attack. Clark, still unconscious, is shown the last moments of his homeworld, the planet Krypton.
Clark, born as Kal-El, is the son of Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, who waited until the last minute to dispatch him from Krypton so that the shockwaves of the planet's destruction would hide his escape. Tyrell, the leader of the alien armada, reveals himself to Earth but does not reveal his identity and purpose. He issues an ultimatum: Earth will be destroyed if someone Tyrell has been looking for does not surrender to him. Lee and the scientists agree that the person Tyrell is looking was in the crashed ship. Clark tries to attack the aliens without revealing himself, but Jim's photographs show a human-shaped red and blue blur. Clark goes for help at a research company that was about to employ him, but he finds that it is corrupt. Tyrell notices Jim taking pictures and almost kills him until Clark, who can no longer be a bystander, destroys a robot. Now aware of Clark's presence, Tyrell prepares to escalate his attack. Clark decides to wear the costume his mother made and reveals himself to the world as Superman.
Superman starts destroying the armada, and Tyrell reveals himself. He turns out to be from the planet Dheron, an enemy planet of Krypton; a mysterious man provided Dheron with a war machine designed to destroy Krypton's core. Although Krypton was destroyed, Clark survived, and Tyrell's mission is to find and kill him. Tyrell proceeds to activate several war machines to destroy Earth, and hits Superman with a red solar energy beam that pins him down. He proves to be Superman's physical match but leaves to make final preparations. Because Superman is the cause of the invasion, no one in Metropolis is willing to help. Lois and Jim get Superman out of the energy beam, making him regain his strength. He and Tyrell fight again; this time Superman gains the upper hand by burning Tyrell with his heat vision. Superman's ship becomes fully regenerated, takes off to find him and knocks Tyrell from behind. He then enters Tyrell's spacecraft and destroys it from the inside. Tyrell tries to stop him but is defeated. The invasion is over, and Superman flies away. At a government base, Lee contemplates Superman's motives. She is put in charge of researching Superman and his origin.
After his ordeal, Clark walks home. The boss of the research company finds him and offers him a job, but he declines. Instead, he purchases some new clothing and formulates a "Clark Kent disguise". He returns to the Daily Planet, which is more enthusiastic and successful because of its coverage of the invasion and Superman. Clark is hired because of an interview he claims he conducted with Superman, and he bonds with his new colleagues. Public opinion of Superman is mixed: some like him and see him as a hero, while others do not trust him, as he was the cause of the invasion. In the Arctic, Superman hides his ship in a secret cave, and its sentience activates and tells him his mission: to survive, use his powers wisely and to avenge the murder of his homeworld.




= Volume Two

=

The events depicted in Volume Two occur shortly after those of Volume One. Perry promotes Clark to write articles to help rebuild the Daily Planet's reputation. Lois is suspicious of Clark and the authenticity of his Superman article, so she decides to investigate his past. Clark later meets his neighbors Lisa Lasalle and Eddie Monroe; Lisa and Clark start dating.
Criminal Raymond Maxwell Jensen infiltrates S.T.A.R. Labs to destroy evidence of his crimes kept by an accomplice. Jensen is discovered by guards and while escaping is accidentally exposed to a high-energy neutrino that transforms him into an energy-absorbing supervillain called Parasite. Elsewhere, Clark learns that a tsunami is about to hit the island of Borada. He travels there to help as Superman, but the island nation's ruthless dictator, General Samsa, sees him as a threat and threatens to kill his own people if Superman does not leave; Superman complies. Meanwhile, Parasite feeds on the life force of innocent people, killing them, but is unable to satiate his newfound hunger. He decides that Superman might be powerful enough to feed him.
Distrustful of Superman, Lee proposes that the United States should develop countermeasures should he go rogue. Superman is lured to an incident at a power plant where Parasite attacks him and drains his energy, turning Parasite into a hulking beast with Superman's power. Weakened, Superman escapes while Parasite begins a rampage. Parasite's sister Theresa is informed of his actions but refuses to believe that it is her brother and takes a flight to Metropolis to see for herself.
In the Arctic, the artificial intelligence (AI) aboard Superman's Kryptonian ship has turned a cave system into the vast Fortress of Solitude. There, Superman researches a means to counter Parasite's power, and the AI offers to build a crystalline shielding warsuit. In the U.S., Lee responds to Parasite's rampage with military force; during the following attack, she realizes that Parasite is progressively weakening as the energy he absorbed fades. Parasite attacks the Daily Planet to draw out Superman; their fight leaves Superman drained and powerless, leaving him comparable to humans and capable of being injured. The next day, Superman's powers are restored and he returns to the Fortress. The AI completes the warsuit, but warns Superman that it will prevent him from using his heat vision, will block the sun's energy and that if Parasite breaches the suit and absorbs his power again, he will die.
Parasite again attacks the Daily Planet. With the warsuit, Superman fights Parasite on equal terms, but the suit gradually disintegrates as the battle continues. Theresa arrives and Parasite breaks away from the fight to hug her, accidentally absorbing her energy and killing her. Parasite blames Superman for her death and resumes his attack. Superman strikes Parasite with his full strength, incapacitating him; Parasite is taken into military custody. During a later telephone conversation with his mother, Clark hears Lisa scream from her apartment and finds she is being attacked. As Superman, he flies her attacker to Alaska and warns him not to go near her again. Lisa tells Clark that she is working part-time as a prostitute to earn extra money. Clark is heartbroken but the pair agree to remain friends.
In Borada, Superman instigates a rebellion against General Samsa, leading the country to democratic reform. He returns to his apartment and learns that Eddie has died of a heroin overdose. Clark writes an article about Eddie to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse. He receives a telephone call from a former teacher in Smallville and learns that Lois is investigating his past. In the epilogue, Lee recruits the wealthy scientists Alexandra "Lex" Luthor and her husband Alexander, to help find a way to kill Superman.




= Volume Three

=

The events depicted in Volume Three occur a week after those of Volume Two. After General Samsa's removal on Borada, the United Nations grows increasingly concerned over Superman. Dr. Alexander Luthor and his wife, Alexandra, play the footage of Superman's battle with Tyrell, revealing that Superman is vulnerable to red solar radiation. In an unspecified desert, an extraterrestrial ship lands. A mysterious humanoid figure appears and begins to develop powers under Earth's yellow sun. He then tests his powers on a group of soldiers that appear before him, killing them all with ease.
Meanwhile, Clark and Lisa celebrate, the latter obtaining a job as a model. Unbeknownst to them, Lisa accidentally drops one of her earrings on Clark's couch. At The Daily Planet, Clark and Jim discuss why Lois is investigating his past. Jim reveals to Clark that Lois is jealous of Clark's Superman coverage. Lois subsequently warns Superman that she learned from her uncle, a United Nations delegate, that the U.N. is developing fail-safes against Superman. Clark decides to confront Lois over what he found out from his family and friends. She reveals that she has ceased her investigation because she now sees Clark is a decent person of good character, and not the type of individual to fabricate a story.
Lisa has her landlord, Mr. Abrahm, open Clark's apartment door to find her earring. After she retrieves it, she finds Clark's costume in his closet, thus learning that he is Superman. She later tries to imply to Clark what she has learned, but he initially does not understand until later. When he later goes to the scene of a collapsing bridge, another super-powered being named Zod-El appears, claiming to be Superman's biological uncle. Zod claims that he has been searching for Kal-El since Krypton exploded. Though Superman is glad that he is not the only survivor of Krypton, he is skeptical of whether Zod is an ally. Elsewhere, Lois discovers melted rods from the bridge and then video footage of an unidentified flying man prior of its collapse.
Zod addresses the U.N., stating that the House of El caused Krypton to explode, and that Superman is a threat. He persuades the delegates that he is an ally and wants to help them kill Superman. Lois receives a phone call from her uncle and learns that Zod is responsible for the bridge's collapse, after which she tries to warn Superman. Zod reveals that he possesses a supply of kryptonite in his ship, from whose radiation his lead-lined skin-suit protects him. He intends to kill Superman, but Superman uses his knowledge of chemistry to cause Zod's suit to disintegrate, forcing Zod to retreat. Superman also discovers that Zod has convinced the world's governments that he is an enemy.
In the Fortress of Solitude, the AI reveals that prior to Krypton's destruction, it was in the middle of a civil war between Zod and his brother, Jor-El. Ultimately, forces loyal to the planet's Science Council defeated Zod, and in retaliation, he gave the Dheronians the weapon to destroy Krypton. Realizing that Zod intends to complete his revenge by hurting those he cares for, Superman arrives to his apartment building and fights Zod, but is no match for his uncle. Luthor and Lisa intervene to rescue him, but Luthor is killed and Lisa is critically injured. Luthor's red solar weapon greatly weakens Zod, allowing Alexandra to kill him. Blaming Superman for her husband's death, Alexandra vows to kill him as she did with Zod. She subsequently places her husband's corpse in suspended animation and takes Zod's kryptonite from his ship.
In the hospital, Lisa recovers from her wounds and professes her love for Clark. Clark reciprocates her affection and they become a couple. Clark subsequently takes her to Smallville, where he introduces her to his adoptive mother. At the U.N., Superman announces that although he is disappointed that they aligned themselves with Zod, it will not deter him from his mission to protect Earth. Seeing their fear and noting Lois' astute insights, Superman asks Lois to be his political conscience.




Reception


Volume One
Superman: Earth One received mostly favorable reviews. Before its release, various websites were given copies to review. Ain't It Cool News gave the book a positive review, and said: "Essentially JMS does what he does best; he delivers the "why" behind the what..". It also praised the attack on Earth for providing a reason for Clark to become Superman, and for being a magnified representation of the fear felt during the 9-11 event. iFanboy posted two reviews of the book, giving it a 3.5 and a 4 out of 5. Both reviewers concluded that the book was a competent retelling of the Superman origin story. David Pepose of Newsarama also gave the book a positive review, and called Earth One's version of Superman an "unconscious reaction to Grant Morrison's invulnerable, easy-going All-Star Superman". Pepose also said the artwork was an iconic and cinematic, and that Clark's scene at his adoptive father's graveside and his conflict with his Kryptonian birthright were some of the best moments. He also praised the creative use of an entirely new villain. It was ranked No. 1 on The New York Times' Hardcover Graphic Books Best Seller List.
Other reviewers responded negatively to the book. Dan Phillips of IGN gave the book a 'poor' rating, and wrote that it was "riddled with creative decisions that'll leave you scratching your head in disbelief", that Superman "becomes an angst-ridden cliché with a flimsy moral center and an eye towards vengeance", and that the new villain "ranks as one of the most forgettable and shallow Superman rogues in memory". Phillips also said of Davis' artwork, commenting that "this story is told in a dull and often times ugly manner, and even the splash pages fail to truly catch your eye". Doug Zawisza of Comic Book Resources followed suit. While praising Clark's search for a purpose, he objected to the idea that Clark would only become a hero due to the environment around him, and not as a personal choice. Zawisza also disliked Tyrell, the new villain, who he thought was possibly "one of the most underwhelming characters I have ever seen in comics. His appearance is a cross between Lobo and David Bowie, but without any of the positive qualities from either of them". He also saw the book as nothing more than a "pitch book" for the new movie.
The redesign of Superman in Earth One was also reviewed in a number of major news publications, such as the New York Post, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo!. However, the articles primarily focused on images of Clark wearing a hoodie as opposed to the Superman outfit, and compared the look to that of Robert Pattinson of the Twilight series.

Volume Two
Superman: Earth One Volume Two received a relatively positive response from critics and readers. IGN's Joey Esposito stated that while the sequel "still suffers from most of the same problems as it did the first time around, the positives are far more beneficial to the greater whole". Like its predecessor, it has also made into #1 on The New York Times' Hardcover Graphic Books Best Seller List.

Volume Three
Superman: Earth One Volume Three, like its predecessors, received mostly favorable reviews. Based on eight critic reviews, volume three received a 6.9 critics' rating out of 10 on the review aggregator Comic Book Round Up. Matt Santori-Griffith of Comicosity gave the book a very positive review, rewarding it with an overall score of 9.0 out of 10. In his review, Santori-Griffith said that the book was, by far, the best entry in the Superman: Earth One series yet. Following suit, Steve Lam of Bam Smack Pow also gave the book a positive review, writing that "this is definitely a Superman for the 21st century", and of Ardian Syaf's artwork said that it was "dynamic and complement[ed] the writing of Straczynski well ... [giving the reader] something that is clear and compelling".
IGN gave the book a mixed review, bestowing upon it an overall score of 6.0 out of 10. The review gave good sentiments towards Ardian Syaf's artwork and wrote that he "shows a greater ability to use body language and facial expressions to enhance his storytelling", while also stating that Superman was given a "more well-rounded portrayal" in contrast to the previous two books. The review called the book's antagonist Zod "the weakest villain of any Earth One book to date", and that "like the previous two volumes, Superman: Earth One [Volume Three] is a very flawed experience".
Comic Book Resources' Doug Zawisza gave the book a negative review, rewarding it with a two out of five stars overall rating. Of the story, Zawisza wrote that it was "clunky and appears to be driven by a series of boxes to be checked", and that "the leaps in storytelling cross from the script to the art and back again". In closing, Zawisza described the book as "painfully uneven", and that "[r]ather than forcing mediocre stories into a reliable schedule, this installment makes a strong case to look at the product and reconsider what it is that should make the 'Earth One' line exemplary". Superman: Earth One Volume Three also made into #1 on The New York Times' Hardcover Graphic Books Best Seller List.




In other media






= Television

=
In the television series Krypton, General Zod (Colin Salmon) is depicted as the uncle of Superman, similar to his version of Earth One.




See also


List of Superman comics




References






External links


Superman Earth One at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original).
Superman Earth One, DC Comics.

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