Geek Punditry #165: I Like What I Like

March 6, 2026March 5, 2026 blakemp Geek Punditry DC Comics, superman, DC KO, Miracle on Ice, Olympics, Vince Gilligan, Miracle: The Boys of '80, Pluribus, Rhea Seehorn

Last week, for the first time in the three years since I started writing these “Geek Punditry” blogs, I missed a post, but I think you’ll forgive the reason. Thursday, while I was still brainstorming possible topics for pop culture effluvia to talk about, I got a phone call from my father to tell me my grandmother had passed away. It wasn’t a shock – she was 94 years old, after all – but just because something isn’t surprising doesn’t mean it isn’t painful. My grandmother was one of the most important people in my life, and I’m sure you’ll understand why I just wasn’t in the right headspace to go into some sort of lighthearted analysis over an episode of SpongeBob or something the next day.

I’m still not in that headspace, not really. On the day you read this we’ll be having her funeral and saying goodbye, and I’m still not in the mood to do any serious kind of dissection of the kind of stuff I usually write about here. But I didn’t want to go another week without a Geek Punditry, so I decided instead I would just spend this week’s post talking about a few things I’ve read or watched recently that I enjoyed. These are just short, capsule recommendations for pieces of media that have pleased me in some way, and that’s really the reason I started this feature in the first place. I wanted to talk about the things that I love and share them with other people.

So here we are, just a few short suggestions for things to watch or read.

DC KO

DC Comics’ latest crossover event (they have so, so many, the Big Two publishers) ended this week, and it ended in a spectacular fashion. In DC KO, the Justice League discovered that Darkseid – who had been presumed dead since 2024’s DC All In Special – was not, in fact, dead, but coming back more powerful than ever. The only way to stop him would be for one of them to claim the Heart of Apokalips, a powerful, sentient artifact that has been supercharged with Darkseid’s “Omega Energy.” Claiming the artifact would give the holder the power of the “King Omega,” and make them a match for Darkseid, capable of resetting the universe as they see fit. In order to claim the power, though, the heroes would have to prove themselves worthy of it by fighting one another in a tournament across the entire multiverse. And it gets even worse when the villains get wind of the plan and worm their way into the tournament as well.

The premise – and I’ll be the first one to admit it – is absolutely preposterous. It sounds like the setup for a video game or the kind of story a kid whips up in the backyard as an excuse to have all of his toys fight each other. It’s an excuse for huge, over-the-top fight scenes pitting hero and against hero (and occasionally villain), to transform our characters into variants of themselves from other parts of the multiverse, and to give them new, temporary costumes that will look really dandy as action figures and other merch. There was even a one-shot spinoff where they fought characters from OUTSIDE of the DC Universe, including Red Sonja, Vampirella, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Homelander from The Boys. It was an enormous, bloated, insane cash grab.

And damned if I didn’t love every minute of it.

For one thing, superhero fans love a good fight scene. It’s just inherent in the genre. And having the heroes fight one another is the kind of thing that fans like to bicker and debate – who would win in a fight between the Flash and Green Lantern, for example. But to explain why friends and teammates would fight one another usually requires some sort of contrived coincidence, mistaken identity, mind control, or other overused trope. DC KO bypasses all that and makes the contrivance the whole plot, and somehow, that made all the difference. Why would Green Lantern fight the Flash? Because they know that the only way to save the universe is for ONE of the heroes to beat all the others in a fight, so they’ve gotta give it their best.

But it didn’t stop there. Although KO was structured as a series of fight scenes, the writers still managed to do some excellent character work. There was a series of one-off issues in December featuring some of the marquee matchups: Superman Vs. Captain Atom, Harley Quinn Vs. Zatanna, Cyborg Vs. Swamp Thing, and perhaps the most personal of them all, Red Hood Vs. the Joker, the man who killed him that one time. And in each of these issues, the fights and the choices the characters made delved into who they really were and what they really wanted. Was it an excuse to see Superman and Captain Atom throwing down in a way that they usually don’t do, needing to hold back in fear of annihilating a city or something? Absolutely. Did it say something real, important, and powerful about who Superman is as a character? Dang right.

The series ended this week in a way that I found quite satisfying as well, taking a step towards meta-commentary about what the DC Universe actually is and where its soul comes from. And people who know how I feel about the DC heroes will not at all be surprised that I loved the conclusion this story drew. I felt great about what I read, and I’m looking forward to the next act of the larger story DC is telling (of which KO is, evidently, the end of Act I).

Pluribus

I know I’m behind on this one, but in my defense, I don’t have Apple TV+. I do, however, have a friend who has given me access to his Plex server, and he’s got Pluribus on his system, which means that I get to watch the newest show by Vince Gilligan, the man behind a couple of shows called Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. I’m four episodes in to the nine-episode first season, so I’ve still got a ways to go, but I’ve seen enough to be confident in saying that Vince Gilligan has got to stop hoarding all the awesome, because it’s not fair that one man gets to create one of the best shows on television THREE TIMES IN A ROW.

I’m not going to say very much about the story of this show. I think it’s the kind of thing that works best if you don’t really know much going in and just let the surprises hit you one at a time. In fact, prior to watching the show all I knew was:

The show is science fiction (and although he’s best known for crime dramas, don’t forget that Gilligan cut his teeth in the industry as a writer for The X-Files)
It stars Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn in the lead role (and she is FANTASTIC)
Gilligan made some statements about how much generative AI sucks while promoting the show (which has turned out to have some thematic resonance, but nothing plot-relevant, at least not as of episode four)

Although it is sci-fi, Pluribus has a lot of the same DNA as Gilligan’s other two acclaimed series. The shows are all about deeply damaged people who are pushed into a situation that quickly grows out of their control and they’re forced to make morally questionable choices for the sake of survival. Tonally, I think it’s similar as well. Although Pluribus is probably the most serious of the three series, it still has a lot of moments of dark comedy that help you make your way through it.

Basically, if you like what Vince Gilligan has done so far, you’re going to like this too.

Miracle: The Boys of ‘80

I am, as most people who know me will tell you, a total sucker for the Olympics. I love the games, and I spent the better part of two weeks recently absorbed in the snow and ice of lovely Milan and Cortina, rooting for Team USA. And to feed the hunger for people like myself, Netflix recently dropped a new documentary, Miracle: The Boys of ‘80. This film is all about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team and the journey that led to the moment called “the Miracle on Ice,” when they managed to defeat the highly-favored Soviet Union in the semifinal round of the games.

The Miracle on Ice is a story that, of course, has been told many times. This isn’t the first documentary about it, and Disney even made a narrative film about it starring Kurt Russell, Miracle, that was pretty good. But this particular film tells the story through the eyes of the players and people involved, mostly through interviews with them as they detailed the path they took from the inception of the team – a ragtag band of underdogs that couldn’t have been more dramatic if they’d been hired by a studio casting director – all the way through the games. I recently made one of my “LitReels” about the concept of sports as storytelling. I think the reason that sports are so important to a lot of people are because they are, in fact, stories that we attach ourselves to, as much as any book, TV show, movie series – even history and religion are important to us (I believe) because of their value as the stories that we internalize. This is a fine documentary that does a fine job in telling one of the greatest stories in the history of American sports.

There you go, friends, a few things to dig into between now and next Friday. Hopefully by then I’ll be a little more coherent, a little more capable of finding a topic to do a deep dive. Until then, be good to each other, and let the people you love know it.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. You can subscribe to his newsletter by clicking right here. He’s also started putting his LitReel videos on TikTok.

Superman Stuff #9: Reviews From Feb. 11-25

March 4, 2026March 3, 2026 blakemp Superman Stuff Absolute Superman, Action Comics, Adventures of Superman, Batman, Booster Gold, Carlo Pagulayan, Dan Slott, Darkseid, Dave Johnson, DC Comics, DC KO, Diego Olortegui, Doomsday, Eber Ferreira, Eddy Barrows, Edwin Galmon, Fico Ossio, Jason Paz, Javi Fernandez, Joe Quinones, Joseph P. Illidge, Joshua Williamson, Julio Ferreira, Lena Luthor, Lois Lane, Marcus To, Mark Waid, Milestone Comics, Morgan Hampton, New History of the DC Universe, Nikolas Draper-Ivey, Owlman, Patricio Delpeche, Pete Ross, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Prankster, Red Son, Ryan Sook, Scott Godlewski, Scott Snyder, Sophie Campbell, Starchild, Static, Stephanie Williams, Stephen Segovia, Superboy, Superboy-Prime, Supergirl, superman, Superman Unlimited, Tim Trapper, Ultraman, Valentine De Landro, Wonder Woman, World's Finest, Xermacio

Once again, it’s time to look into the reviews of some of the Superman-related comics that have dropped in the last few weeks, including some pretty massive events. Let’s get right to it.

DC KO #4
Title: Trial By Absolute
Writers: Scott Snyder & Joshua Williamson
Art: Javi Fernandez & Xermancio
Main Cover: Javi Fernandez

The Final Four have made their way through all comers, but before they can turn their attention to one another, four new combatants have entered the fray. Tainted by the energy of Darkseid, the combatants will be forced to fight the Absolute Universe versions of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman – as well as Booster Gold who has been possessed by Darkseid himself.

This event has promised us one throwdown after another, and there’s no way to argue that it hasn’t lived up to that promise. This issue is perhaps the most high-octane, brutal battle yet. The fight between the four remaining heroes and villains with their Absolute counterparts is scripted and drawn with incredible energy and brutality, but at the same time, Scott Snyder has not skimped at all when it comes to character and story. In fact, there are multiple twists in this issue that catch you off-guard and send the story spinning into new, unexpected directions. At the same time, the twists all fit the characters – a great twist is one that is a surprise without violating what you already know about the world you’re reading, and Snyder pulls that off.

For people who are into Superman (know anybody like that?) seeing “our” Superman face off against the Absolute Kal-El is one of the high points of the issue. Neither character is disrespected or nerfed in respect to the other, but there’s also no room for any doubt as to which of the two is the original. I am slightly disappointed at just how the Absolute characters were used, however. Similar to the surprise guest stars from the Boss Battle one-shot, the Absolute heroes are in and out rather quickly. It’s not even clear as to when, exactly, this story takes place in the Absolute timeline – Superman seems to know Batman here, whereas in their respective comics, they haven’t met yet. Although there’s definite promise here for future brushes between the two worlds, it feels like this encounter will mostly be a footnote for the Absolute characters, even as it sets up the conclusion for the Final Four.

I know I’m being deliberately vague here, by the way – I suppose it’s clear that Superman is one of the Final Four (as it should be) but I’m trying to avoid spelling out who else is in that group in case anyone is trying to remain spoiler-free. Considering just how this one ends, though, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep that up for the finale. So if you’re reading along with these reviews, I would highly recommend being up-to-date with DC KO when I drop my thoughts on issue five. Whenever that might be.

Superman Unlimited #10
Title: Die Laughing Part Two
Writer: Dan Slott
Art: Mike Norton
Main Cover: Dave Johnson

Intergang has set its sights on Metropolis’s new mayor, Perry White, and they’ve contracted the Prankster to take care of the problem. But Oswald Loomis’s nephew is trying to step into his uncle’s role and take over the family business, and the NEW Prankster isn’t quite as funny as his predecessor.

This is a solid issue. There’s something up with this new Prankster – in these two issues he’s appeared we never find out his real name, and there’s no explanation for his bizarre powers, something Uncle Oswald has never had. I feel like this is just part of a coming, larger story, even as these two issues work perfectly well as a couplet. I also like how a big part of the middle of this story isn’t about the power of Superman, but rather the investigative skills of Clark Kent. Not to say that Superman is entirely absent, but we see more Clark than we often do these days, and I appreciate that.

We also get a quick interlude with Jon, who’s been setting up the new Daily Planet office in Smallville, only to get an ominous warning from an unexpected source. Even more so than the Prankster stuff, this is explicitly setup, especially since DC has revealed their “Reign of the Superboys” initiative that’s going through all of the Super-titles after DC KO ends. If you didn’t know, Jonathan is going to take the reigns of this title for an indeterminate amount of time, and it looks like the groundwork is being laid here.

I’m still really digging Mike Norton’s Superman. I love the way his character works, with the kind of strong lines and clean character work that made so many of the Triangle Era artists stand out, and I hope we see more and more Superman from him in the future.

Superman #35
Title: Life Secrets (A DC KO Tie-In)
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Art: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Julio Ferreira
Main Cover: Dan Mora

The final instalment of this title’s DC KO storyline runs with the conclusion of issue #4 and leads straight into #5. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one of the storylines that’s been going through this book turns out to be crucial to the conclusion of the crossover. But that’s not the one that works best.

We’re following two intertwined threads here. First, the Doomsday/Time Trapper is reeling from the events of issue #4 and trying to gird himself for what must come next. After all, at least part of him is the creature that was created eons ago for the express purpose of destroying Darkseid, and it may be time for that charge to finally come due. Meanwhile, Lois and Superboy-Prime continue their faceoff with Darkseid’s Legion, and it is this latter part that is particularly revelatory.

From the moment he was introduced in this title, we’ve been building a redemption arc for Prime, and it gets center stage in this issue, where he is faced with choices that he’s made before and is given an opportunity to make better choices this time. I’m not in the business of giving out spoilers, but it should be pointed out that when “Reign of the Superboys” takes over the Superman titles next month, DC has revealed that Prime is going to be the start of this title for the time being.

There’s also a great face-off between Lois and Darkseid’s Saturn Girl. Just like prime, this series has hinted that the dark Legion may not be completely beyond hope, and that hope spot is further explored this month. I’m really anxious for the final issue of the crossover to drop…which I guess will be today as you read this. Holy cats, why are you reading this blog instead of DC KO #5? Have you lost your senses?

Action Comics #1095
Title: Pressure
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Patricio Delpeche
Main Cover: Ryan Sook

The adventures of Superboy in Action Comics continue, although Clark actually takes a back seat this issue. Last month, on a camping trip, Pete Ross happened to spy Clark Kent going into action as Superboy. This issue is Pete’s story, as he struggles with this knowledge and wrestles with whether to confront Clark with what he has learned – and ask why his best friend would ever keep such a secret.

I adored this issue. Mark Waid, human comic book encyclopedia that he is, is doing a phenomenal job of mining the classic tales of Superboy to bring the drama to this series. In the Silver Age this was the status quo – Pete knew that Clark was Superboy (even learned it the same way as he did in Waid’s story, if I’m not mistaken) and chose to keep that knowledge to himself. But as was so often the case with those Silver Age tales, there wasn’t an awful lot of thought given to the implications of this sort of thing. How would Pete feel about learning his best friend was keeping such a gargantuan secret? Doesn’t Clark know that he can trust him? Does anybody else know? And why would Pete choose to keep what he’s learned to himself instead of talking to Clark about it?

The answer to that last question is because it was the Silver Age, and if anybody in a Silver Age DC story had the ability to have a rational adult conversation about anything 95 percent of the stories would have ended on the second page. But Waid actually finds a way to justify Pete’s actions, draping his decision in a metaphor for a real-world issue and presenting it in such a way that makes perfect sense and somehow makes all of the characters – Pete, Clark, even Lana Lang – come across as behaving in a mature, emotionally intelligent way. How often could you say that back in the 50s?

Supergirl #10
Title: My Bloody Valentine
Writer: Sophie Campbell
Art: Joe Quinones
Main Cover: Sophie Campbell

It’s Valentine’s Day, and Kara has a date with the mysterious, long-haired, tattooed boy of her dreams. Her friends Lena and Luna, however, are following along, sensing something is amiss.

After last issue’s slight misstep, this one is more of what I’ve come to enjoy about this series. The “date” is mostly a setup for this issue’s fight scene, but Campbell isn’t having a fight just for the sake of a fight. In the midst of battle we get some good character moments and the ongoing storyline of Kara and her friends (particularly Lena Luthor, in this case) continues nicely. Lena made a mistake in the last issue for which she’s trying to mend fences, and while this issue doesn’t patch everything up in a neat little bow, it also doesn’t cause some insurmountable gap between the friends like books that lean on melodrama are wont to do. Kara and Lena both some some real emotional maturity here, which is particularly funny when juxtaposed against the “date” scene, which works mostly as a parody of gooey Silver Age romance comics tropes.

I have to point out, though, that the recent run of holiday issues is starting to strain credulity a little bit. Literally half the issues of this series have been holiday stories at this point (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and now Valentine’s Day) and while comic book time is naturally elastic, it does have its limits. As this issue begins, Lena and Luna are going to visit Kara on Valentine’s Day to try to make up for their screwup at the New Year’s Eve party – so it’s been six weeks since they spoke to one another? Nobody has made any effort to patch things up before now? I’m willing to forgive, because this really is a great book, but I’m crossing my fingers that next issue’s story (part of the “Reign of the Superboys” initiative) won’t be a visit to show us how they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Kandor.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48
Title: Day For Night Part One
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Marcus To
Main Cover: Dan Mora

Once again, Mark Waid has been let loose in his favorite playground, the DC Universe. In this issue we leave behind our pals Superman and Batman and instead visit their arch Earth-3 counterparts, Ultraman and Owlman, as they begin plans to expand their Crime Syndicate to unprecedented levels, with world conquest as their goal.

Waid is building out Earth-3 quite a bit here, introducing versions of DC heroes that I’m pretty sure have never showed up in a Crime Syndicate story before (although I could potentially be wrong about that – I’m certainly not the walking encyclopedia of comic book knowledge that Waid is). There’s a particularly amusing sequence that really puts the relationship between Owlman and Talon (his Robin analogue) into focus. All of it works up to a nice last-page surprise that seems poised to set up the rest of this arc. As per usual, I’m very excited to see where this is going to go next.

Adventures of Superman: Book of El #6
Title: The Warworld Engines
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art: Scott Godlewski
Main Cover: Scott Godlewski

This issue we at last return to Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra, Superman’s adopted children, who disappeared back in the first issue after Superman was abducted to the future. We also come across another clan wearing Superman-like sigils, while our hero is battered and beaten down.

I’m trying, guys, I REALLY am trying to get interested in this book, but it’s just not working. Having left behind the Green Lantern stuff (although future covers seem to indicate we’re not done with it yet), we’ve gotten back to Superman vs. Warworld, which was an era of Action Comics that, if I’m being honest, bored me stiff. Despite his power, “cosmic” Superman stories rarely work for me. The character is all about heart and how he deals with people, and throwing him into deep space against all-powerful entities and sci-fi clans that think he’s just a legend…it’s too far from the things that make me keep reading Superman comic books. It just isn’t connecting with me, no matter how much I wish it was.

New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident #1
Writers: Joseph P. Illidge, Stephanie Williams, Morgan Hampton, & Nikolas Draper-Ivey
Art: Valentine De Landro, Carlo Pagulayan, Stephen Segovia, Jason Paz, Fico Ossio, & Edwin Galmon
Main Cover: Diego Olortegui

Strictly speaking, I don’t feel obligated to review this book the way I do many of the other Superman appearances. He shows up in this book, but his appearance is brief and it’s not his story. That said, I liked this book quite a lot and I wanted to talk about it and it’s my own blog – dammit – so I’m gonna write about this if I want to.

Spinning out of last year’s fantastic New History of the DC Universe miniseries is this one-shot focusing on the heroes of the Milestone universe. As the previous NHOTDCU explained, the Milestone heroes (versions that are fairly close to their original incarnations from the 90s) have always existed in the current incarnation of the DC Universe, but they all vanished from the public eye after something referred to as the “Dakota Incident.” This issue delves into their history, showing the reader just how they fit into the DCU, and the events of the incident that led to their departure.

I’m impressed at how relatively easily they worked the characters into the DC Universe while still keeping their original stories mostly intact. There is one element that’s added to link the origins of many of the Milestone heroes to the DC Universe proper, but that addition doesn’t really change anything about who they are or how their adventures unfolded back then. The issue also places a heavy emphasis on Static, holding him up as perhaps the most significant of these characters. That makes sense – he’s certainly the most well-known and popular Milestone character among the general public (by virtue of his old cartoon show if nothing else), but it also fits with the character of Virgil Hawkins very well.

For fans of these characters, especially the original versions, this issue serves very well to integrate them into the DC Universe, explain their absence, and – most importantly – set the stage for their return. It’s already been teased in various places, not the least of which is the last page of this issue, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the heroes of Dakota rise again.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Superman Stuff #8: Digital MIA

February 25, 2026February 24, 2026 blakemp Superman Stuff Action Comics, DC Comics, dc universe infinite, Digital Comics, superman

Sometimes people ask me, “Blake, have you read every Superman story there is?” And I smile and laugh because I can totally understand why they might think such a thing. I’ve got a whole shelf of Superman toys and knicknacks, I own approximately 97 Superman shirts, socks, and other assorted articles of clothing, I spent an entire year of my life reading or watching a different Superman story every single day, and although I do not personally HAVE a tattoo, if I ever were to get one, you can probably guess what image I would choose. So you may be surprised when I tell you that the answer to the question “have you read every Superman story?” is a definitive NO.

The thing to remember, friends, is that despite my age, Superman is considerably older than me. Earth’s greatest hero is coming up on his 90th birthday in two years, and I am not quite there yet. There are mountains of Superman stories that were published before I was born. And to be certain, I’ve read a lot of them. His first appearance in Action Comics #1 has been reprinted frequently, as have many of the most popular and memorable stories, stories that introduced important characters and concepts, and so forth. But the truth is, there are a lot of Superman stories – especially from the Golden and Silver Ages – that have never been reprinted. In this day of digital comics, one would think that it would be simple enough for DC to put them all on their DC Universe Infinite app, to which I subscribe and use almost daily. But if you go into the archives and start poking around, you see massive swaths of comics that simply aren’t there.

There are reasons for that, of course. It’s NOT as simple as just pushing a button and putting them online. Many of those comics, especially the older ones, have never existed in a digital form. They were drawn, colored, and printed on paper before the advent of computers, and to digitize them today would require someone to take the old prints, scan them in, and remaster them into a readable format, and that is assuming copies of the books are available (which is often not the case with Golden Age comics, especially the more obscure ones). If there are available copies it’s not an impossible task – a great many classic comics have been preserved this way – but it IS a time-consuming and sometimes expensive task, which is why those older comics that ARE available digitally are the ones that are the most popular and most significant.

All that said, I wish that DC would put more effort into preserving their older comics. On a whim, I went through the app and looked at the assorted Superman titles to see which ones have missing issues, and the results are, frankly, alarming. Of the 904 issues of Action Comics Vol. 1, DCUI lists 463 of them available digitally. (Actually, that number isn’t exactly accurate, as the 463 includes annuals and specials that DC places in the run of the main title, but the number is close enough to make my point.) As of when I checked the app on Feb. 23, the following issues of Action Comics are unavailable digitally: 106-251, 253-266, 268-283, 285-307, 360-363, 377-456, 458-520, 522-551, 560-582, 603-617, 627-642, 653-658, 660, 663-668, and, bizarrely, 729.

It’s interesting to note which books ARE available as well. There’s an enormous hole at the end of the Golden Age and beginning of the Silver Age, stretching almost completely from 106 through 360. In that run there are only three issues that pop up: issue #252 (the first appearance of Supergirl), issue #267 (an early Legion of Super-Heroes story with the first appearance of several key members), and issue #284 (I have no idea what makes this issue special enough to warrant inclusion).

Left: Worthy of digitizing.
Right: Somehow, NOT worthy of digitizing.

Also missing are most, but not all, of the Action Comics Weekly run, from issues #601-642. For those who don’t know, at this time DC experimented with changing Action from a monthly title starring Superman to a weekly anthology book with several ongoing stories, of which Superman was only one of them. What’s bizarre to me is that they have issues #618-626, which I have to assume contains some serialized story they deem significant enough to include.

Speaking of anthologies, it should also be noted that the early Golden Age issues of Action are incomplete. The series was originally an anthology before Superman (or his spin-off characters, like Supergirl) eventually took over the entire book, for but many of those anthology issues, ONLY the Superman story is online. Granted, that’s probably the part of the book of greatest interest, but that still leaves huge gaps in DC history. The same is true for the other Golden Age anthologies that are remembered mostly for their main character, such as the Batman stories in Detective Comics or the Wonder Woman stories in Sensation Comics.

Reading this period is going to be like rolling the dice.

I kept looking. Volume 1 of Superman is missing issues 25-27, 29, 31-33, 44-75, 77-121, 132-232, 239, 243-247, 249-256, 258-265, 267-304, 309-337, 339-364, 366-409, and 416-422. That series didn’t end there, but the title was changed to Adventures of Superman, which is missing issues 580-581, 599-607, 610-638, 640-641, and 643-649. During that time, the book ran concurrently with Superman Vol. 2, which is missing a relative few issues (178-185, 188-203), and Superman: The Man of Steel, which seems to only be lacking 121-129. The baffling thing is that these three titles, along with the post-Weekly era of Action Comics, were part of what fans fondly recall as the Triangle Era, that period in the 90s and early 2000s when the four Superman titles fed into each other week to week, essentially making one glorious serial. Anybody attempting to read this era in its entirety on the app will find bizarre and baffling gaps in the story.

These are the main Superman titles, of course, but the spin-off books have fared little better. Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane ran for 137 issues between 1958 and 1974. Of those, only issues #1-21 and, randomly, #93 are available digitally. Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen ran for 163 issues before the title was changed to Superman Family and it became an anthology with stories featuring assorted characters in the…well, the title makes it clear. Of the original Jimmy Olsen run, we have only the first eight issues, then issues 133-148, the seminal Jack Kirby run on the title. The series continued as Superman Family from issues #164 until it was cancelled with #222, but the only one available on the app is #182, again, for reasons I can’t fathom.

Finally, let’s talk about the Superman team-up book of the late 70s and early 80s, DC Comics Presents. This series has fared much better than many of the others we’ve covered here. Of the 97 issues in the run, only three are missing: issue #47, which guest starred He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and is therefore no longer available to DC due to licensing issues, and issues 70 and 71, which guest-star the Metal Men and Bizarro, respectively, and don’t seem to have any particular reason they should be discluded.

“By the Power of Lawyers! YOOOU CANNOT REEEEEAD MEEEEEEEE!”

This is not a comprehensive examination, of course. I haven’t checked in on most of the annuals, specials, or miniseries, although it should be noted that only the first issue of the Superman: The Secret Years miniseries from 1985 is included, which is totally perplexing to me. Why bother to digitize ONLY part one of a four-part story?

I should also note that this is not a problem unique to the Superman comics. If you go through the back catalogues of most DC books prior to the modern era, you’ll see similar gaps in the libraries of Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, etc. I also stopped looking after the New 52 reboot of 2011, at which point digital comics had become relatively common, and I feel mostly certain that everything one could reasonably expect to be available is so. But what I’ve laid out here should be enough to make it clear how big this problem is.

Again, digitizing the thousands of comics that have not been scanned would be a daunting task. It would be time-consuming and expensive. Some of the books – such as the aforementioned He-Man crossover – would run into rights issues that prevent them from being reprinted or added to the app. Others may cause some sort of confusion in terms of royalty payments to the creators involved. And a few – a scant few, but a few – books have been deliberately left out because one of the creators involved would later go on to infamy for reasons entirely unrelated to their comic book career. (If you don’t know what I mean, look up who originally wrote the 1990 Green Lantern title and Justice League Europe and you’ll quickly discover why those books are mostly off the DC website and out of print.)

And of course, DC Comics is a business, and it’s not likely that they will undertake all of these endeavors unless they see a profit in it. What would the profit be, then, in having employees spend thousands of hours scanning in and remastering the thousands of comics that are currently AWOL? Would they be able to sell enough collected editions to justify it? Would it draw in a mountain of new subscribers to the app? The honest truth is, even if it WERE as simple as hitting a switch that allowed DC to say “Every Superman comic ever is now on the DC Universe Infinite app!” it probably wouldn’t generate enough new users to fully justify the cost.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing.

DC Comics is a business, sure, but comic books are an art form, and art should be preserved. And increasingly, in this modern age, digital preservation for older comics, books, movies, music recordings, and other works of art is proving to be the best way to make sure that it is available to future generations. Public domain helps with this. Once a work is available to the public, there are a lot of people who have a vested interest in seeing that it is preserved. The first Action Comics issues – and by extension, the first appearances of Superman – will enter the public domain in 2034. Every year after that, a new batch will be added to that list. If DC doesn’t do it themselves, eventually somebody else will make these classic books available. There’s a comfort to that, but it also begs the question of whether that’s what DC really wants. Is it actually in their best interest to keep these things buried until everybody ELSE can get their hands on them and put them out there for the world?

I’m not speaking objectively, obviously. I want very much for all these missing works to be available there for me to read here and now, although I’m willing to wait for DC to do it right…provided they’re actually doing it. In the earlier years of the app, DC had a relatively regular schedule of adding older comics to the library, but that has largely dried up. Every Wednesday DC adds the most recent NEW comics to the app, but the older back catalogue hasn’t had a substantial update in a very long time. It’s a shame.

And it’s time DC did something about it.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Superman Stuff #7: Get Ready For Supergirl Day 2026!

February 18, 2026February 17, 2026 blakemp Superman Stuff DC Comics, Supergirl, superman, Superman Day

After years of DC celebrating an annual “Batman Day” in September, last year they FINALLY expanded their promotional offerings to do a day in celebration of their first hero, Superman. And it only took a reboot of their entire cinematic universe to do it. Superman Day 2025 was held on April 18th, the anniversary of the release of Action Comics #1, and it looks like they’re planning to stick with that April 18th date this year for their next go-round. But that’s not all. Superman Day 2026 is going to have a special guest star, the hero of her own movie hitting this summer – Supergirl.

These specials have really been exciting for me. Anything that pushes out DC’s characters to a new audience (the Superman family in particular) is fine in my book, and after last year I finally feel like DC is starting to give Superman his due. Some people may be upset to see him having to share his special day with Kara on just the second year of the promotion, but you know what? Superman himself would be perfectly okay with it.

As on the assorted Batman Days, Superman Day is going to have a series of special edition comics and new releases to commemorate the occasion. Among the things that have been announced are special “Superman Day” editions of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1, the series that the upcoming movie is based on, as well as special editions of the first issues of both the current volumes of Supergirl and Superman, which is great, because those books have been some of DC’s best since their respective launches. There will also be a new hardcover edition of Woman of Tomorrow, although the release from DC Comics that I read doesn’t say if this new edition will have any new content (such as behind-the-scenes sketches, commentary from the creators, etc.) or just a new cover. They also helpfully remind you that you can get the traditional trade paperback edition or their dandy “Compact Comics” edition, which is the one I recommend if you’re just trying to dip your toes into the DC Universe without breaking the bank. It’s the entire eight-issue series in a smaller format for only $9.99. I’m actually a huge fan of the Compact Comics format as a whole, honestly, and I wouldn’t really mind if it became the standard format for DC’s paperback editions moving forward.

But that’s not all! There will also be a preview comic with a story from the upcoming anthology Supergirl: The World. DC’s The World series, which has previously released volumes starring Batman, the Joker, and – yes – Superman – collects brand-new short stories of their respective characters with writing and art by creators from all corners of the globe, making for a very interesting mix of content and a wide array of different story types and tastes between two covers.

Still not enough? Well, younger readers can grab a Superman Day preview edition of Rob Justus’s young readers graphic novel Superman’s Good Guy Gang. Readers who want a taste of what I consider the Golden Age of Superman (the late 80s and early 90s) can get DC Finest Presents Superman: Time and Time Again #1, a preview book for a new collected edition of comics from that era with the same title. Finally, collectors can get special facsimile editions of the first appearances of Superman and Supergirl from Action Comics #1 and Action Comics #252, respectively.

Usually, on “Batman Day” and “Superman Day,” some of the books have been freebies. If the pattern stays true, I would expect the new versions of Superman #1, Supergirl #1, Woman of Tomorrow #1, and the preview editions of Superman: Time and Time Again, Supergirl: The World and Superman’s Good Guy Gang to be the giveaway books. The press release mentions that the two facsimile editions will each have a $3.99 price tag, but no prices are mentioned for the other books.

Finally, there will be special “Superman Day” hardcover editions (again, this most likely means new cover art) of the classic graphic novel All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, and Superman Vol.1: Supercorp by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell, the series that the aforementioned Superman #1 reprint kicked off.

I’m glad to see that DC is pushing Supergirl the way that they are. With the recent Puppy Bowl tie-in and the fantastic teaser trailers that they’ve dropped, they’re fairly well on pace for the same promotional push they gave her cousin last year. Considering how long they’ve been doing Batman Day, I feel fairly certain that they’ll keep the momentum going into next year for the release of Man of Tomorrow. Then 2028, of course, will be Superman’s 90th anniversary, and they’d be insane not to capitalize on THAT. So I feel optimistic that Big Blue is going to have his special day for some time to come.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Superman Stuff #6: New Releases-Jan. 28 and Feb. 6, 2026

February 11, 2026 blakemp Superman Stuff Absolute Superman, Amy Reeder, Batgirl, Bizarro, Bruno Redondo, Carmine Di Giandomenico, CRC Payne, Creeper, Dan Mora, Dan Slott, Darkseid, DC Comics, DC KO, Eber Ferreira, Eddy Barrows, Hawkman, Homelander, Ig Guarra, Jamal Campbell, Jason Aaron, Jeremy Adams, Jon Kent, Joshua Williamson, Juan Ferreyra, Kieran McKeown, Leah Williams, Legion of Super-Heroes, Lex Luthor, Livewire, Lois Lane, Pablo M. Collar, Paulina Ganucheau, Perry White, Rafa Sandoval, Ronan Cliquet, Rosi Kampe, Superboy-Prime, Supergirl, superman, The Boys, Titans, Travis Mercer, Valentine's Day

It’s time for another roundup of recent Superman comics. This week I’ll be reviewing the Superman and Superman-related releases that were released on Jan 28 and Feb. 6. Let’s get into it!

Superman Vol. 6 #34

Title: I, Superman (A DC KO Tie-In)

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Art: Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira

Main Cover: Dan Mora

In the arctic, the unusual trio of Lois, Superboy-Prime, and a Superman Robot are fleeing the Fortress of Solitude and the battle with members of Darkseid’s Legion. Meanwhile, the Final Four from the main tournament get a chance to look in on what’s happening back on Earth. It’s a pretty sparse recap, I admit, but the pages are PACKED here with character stuff.

The surprising redemption of Superboy-Prime continues this issue, as he finds himself confronting a Superman Robot that has many of the memories and personality of the original. The contrast between the two is marked and the way that Prime has to reckon with the way the REAL Superman apparently thinks of him…which isn’t what he expected, but is probably exactly what the reader would anticipate. I like Prime’s reactions quite a bit – he’s got an awful lot to cope with here, and for the most part, Williamson is handling it well. He may be going slightly too hard on the fourth wall-breaking dialogue, though. Prime is carrying around knowledge of the fact that he’s in a comic book universe, which is fine, but we don’t want it to go so far as to turn him into Deadpool.

We also spend time with the members of Darkseid’s Legion, who up until this point have come across largely as mindless stormtroopers wearing the faces of our friends. We get a different look here, a reminder that although they’re from a universe corrupted by Darkseid’s Omega Energy, they’re still fundamentally the same people, and perhaps the notion of redemption that Williamson is playing with here isn’t restricted to Prime himself.

I’m all about Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira’s artwork – bold, strong, and proud. They’re also pretty good about drawing a Prime that looks like an actual Superboy. Even at his most villainous, it’s important to remember that he’s still a version of Clark Kent, and there have been artists who occasionally forget that.

DC KO: The Kids Are All Fight Special #1

Writer: Jeremy Adams

Art: Travis Mercer

Main Cover: Bruno Redondo

The Justice League is strained at the moment, with many of their members caught up in the tournament for the Heart of Apokalips, and most of the others fighting to help evacuate Earth or deal with the dozens of other disasters cropping up all over the place. Jon Kent is given one of the most important duties of all: staying on the Watchtower and keeping an eye on some of the younger heroes, including the Boom, Fairplay, Quiz Kid, and Cheshire Cat. Of course, it would be a pretty short special if the kids just sat around and did what they were told, wouldn’t it? Naturally, they get loose, run into trouble against some of Darkseid’s minions, and Jonathan is forced to call on Cassandra Cain for help.

Jon has been in the last several issues of Titans, working with them as they spearhead the evacuation effort. In March, the book is scheduled to be retitled New Titans with issue #32, and the cover (with several characters in silhouette only) implies heavily that Jon will be a member of the new team. If that’s the case, I’m really quite satisfied with it. The character has been rattling around aimless, for entirely too long, and if making him a member of the Titans actually gives him something to do that makes sense, that’s the best we can hope for. What’s more, I like the group of kids that we see in this issue, the ones that Jon is protecting. I’ve wanted to see more of Boom since she first appeared in the Stargirl: The Lost Children miniseries a few years ago. Fairplay, too, is an interesting character, a very different take on Mr. Terrific that has a lot of promising storytelling avenues. Best of all, there’s a surprise guest-star in this issue that filled me with joy, and no doubt will have the same effect on a lot of other readers. It’s someone we haven’t seen in quite some time, but that DC has been teasing very heavily lately. I’m hoping that this character will stick around in New Titans as well.

Of course, none of that is set in stone. Jon is the only character in this issue whose silhouette appears on that New Titans cover. But covers – especially early solicits – can be deceiving. I don’t expect the heroes we see in this issue to be the new Titans team in its entirety, but I hope that Jon isn’t the only young hero that got a tryout in this issue, because I think there’s a lot to work with here.

DC’s Supergirl Next Door #1

Note: This is DC’s Valentine’s Day anthology for 2026. There are eight different stories in the book, but I’m only reviewing the Supergirl story.

Title: A Dream of Different Stars

Writer: CRC Payne

Art: Paulina Ganucheau

Main Cover: Amy Reeder

Allen is a new kid in Midvale, struggling to make friends and struggling to fit in. That is, until he meets another new kid in town, Linda Danvers. The two of them form a bond and she opens up to him, revealing just how deeply she misses her old home, and Allen decides to do something to help her.

Short and sweet, but that’s what this story is. It’s a lovely little tale of a couple of foundlings who find solace in one another. CRC Payne is a name I mostly know from her work on DC’s digital comics, such as Batman Family Adventures and Harley Quinn in Paradise. She’s brought the same kind, quiet, reflective tenor she uses in Batman Family Adventures to this story as well, crafting a tale that makes it easy to relate to the characters despite its brevity. Ganucheau’s art has a loose quality to it as well, befitting the more animated style we see in Payne’s other work and fitting very well for this tidy little love story. There’s real charm here that I appreciate.

DC KO: Boss Battle #1

Writer: Jeremy Adams

Art: Ronan Cliquet, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Kieran McKeown, Pablo M. Collar

Main Cover: Jamal Campbell

Seconds after the end of DC KO #3, the Final Four in the tournament for the Heart of Apokalips are poised for the battle of their lives, but World Forger manages to “pause” the game. They’re not ready, the need more Omega Energy, so he finds a way to generate some by briefly spending the heroes into neighboring realities to have additional battles and charge up, leading to fights against the wildest opponents yet: Sub-Zero and Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, Samantha Strong from Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Vampirella, Red Sonja, the murderous doll Annabelle, and – in the title fight that people have been wanting to see for YEARS, Superman versus Homelander from Garth Ennis and Darrick Robinson’s The Boys.

During the Year of Superman, I included Homelander in the week I wrote about “Superman gone wrong” – characters who are intended to be dark or even evil versions of the Man of Steel. To me, Homelander is one of the most insidious of those. He is what people who never understand Superman THINK Superman should be like. And knowing that Superman is one of the few superheroes that Ennis actually has respect for, from the minute this book was announced, I was looking forward to seeing our boy Clark finally giving Homelander the beatdown he so richly deserves.

The result is…okay.

Look, the concept of this book is fantastic. It’s utterly insane, and the matchups are crazy. (Joker versus Annabelle, anybody? COME ON!) But it’s just too short. It seems like nearly half the book is taken up just with giving each of the champions borrowed from other universes a page of introduction each, then the fights themselves are over and done with far too quickly. I have never said this before, but this is a crossover spinoff one-shot that probably SHOULD have been a crossover spinoff miniseries.

What’s more, it’s kind of inconsequential. It picks up just as DC KO #3 ends, and the final page promises that the story leaps from this book straight into DC KO #4, and it’s structured in such a way that people who are only reading that main book will feel like they haven’t missed anything. I get why they structured it that way, and I don’t begrudge that, but considering that this book is ultimately just a fun little sidestory rather than required reading (like so many of the books from “All Fight Month” were) just kind of makes me lament the fact that there wasn’t time for a little more fun.

Superman: Chains of Love Special #1

Title: Creepers

Writer: Leah Williams

Art: Ig Guarra

Main Cover: Yasmine Putri

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we get this one-shot. Livewire is being paroled from prison, but her years away have left her without her audience…until she stumbles into the Creeper, who finds a way to help her climb back to prominence. And then, with love in the air, the sparks fly.

It’s a cute enough story – questions of continuity aside (Livewire says early that she’s “from the 90s,” which feels a little meta), the two characters have an interesting chemistry that actually plays out in an entertaining way. Superman’s presence in the story is minimal however, mostly there for structure in the new environment that Leslie Willis finds herself in. But I guess DC (correctly) assumed that branding this as a Superman special rather than a Creeper/Livewire special would get more readers.

Title: Bill Zarro’s World

Writer: Dan Slott

Art: Rosi Kampe

Dan Slott and Rosi Kampe also come through with a back-up story in this issue. Bill Zarro is a lowly peon working at the Daily Planet. His boss is a jerk, his wife resents him, his kids disdain him…until one day he wakes up on Bizarro World, and everything changes. This is a short story that’s essentially an extended gag piece that builds up to an unusual and amusing punchline. The ending is funny enough to make the story worth recommending.

Absolute Superman #16

Title: The Never-Ending Begins Part Two: This Universe Will Break Your Heart, Kid

Writer: Jason Aaron

Art: Juan Ferreyra

Main Cover: Rafa Sandoval

This issue brings us the full introduction of a new Absolute Universe hero as Superman is approached by the mysterious Hawkman. This version of Carter Hall has been around for a long time, and initially doesn’t know what to make of this newcomer with all of the powers. We also see Lois as she tries to find a new direction in the wake of her departure from the espionage game, a new version of another classic character, and the recruitment of Lex Luthor continuing unabated.

Here’s something that I haven’t really said before about many of the Absolute comics: this issue is surprisingly funny. The first couple of pages in which Superman and Hawkman meet in midair are punctuated by Kal-El getting distracted by disasters both minor and major and then zipping off to deal with them and leaving Hawkman flapping his wings. The introduction to this new Hawkman works really well. It can be easy to forget that this “young” universe is still a universe, with a history all of its own, and Hawkman feels like a great opportunity to explore that a little bit more.

The Lois story has some humor as well. For a while it didn’t seem as though this book was going to brush much on the traditional Superman status quo at all, but here we’ve got Lois and Jimmy looking into being reporters, the introduction of the Daily Planet, and the debut of one Perry White. Even there, though, we see the influence of Darkseid on this world. The Planet ain’t the grand old dame she is in the main DC Universe, and although Perry has the same sort of grit you’d want from the character, it comes with more grime than one would usually expect. The way this is structured he may be a one-off character, but I really hope that’s not the case. I feel like there’s a lot of potential here, especially in having him interact with Lois.

Even the Lex Luthor scene is darkly comedic. The Absolute Luthor – with a proud shock of red hair and a burly beard, is a man utterly happy and content in his simple like. The difference between him and “our” Lex Luthor is perhaps more striking than any other Absolute character we’ve met yet, which is amusing, but at the same time, seems poised to bring him to a bitter, heartbreaking end.

Or not. Aaron has been surprising me a lot with this book.

Juan Ferreyra handles both the line art and colors for this book, and I really like his work. The flashback scenes, showing some of Carter’s adventures in the 40s, have a nice sort of archaic look to them. In the modern scenes, where he and Kal-El meet, he does this really interesting blur effect to show Superman zipping into action. It’s not wholly unique – I’ve seen similar effects from other artists – but his execution is great. I’m also a big fan of the monster designs from later in the issue, and his battle scenes look stunning.

We’re on the second issue of this new story arc, and it’s honestly shaping up to be my favorite from the series so far. It’s brighter somehow, and while that may be a deviation from the whole ethos of the Absolute Universe, I feel like that’s kind of the point. A Superman – a REAL Superman – should always be the bright spot in his world, no matter how dark the world itself may be.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Superman Stuff #5: Superman, Inc. (1999)

February 4, 2026February 3, 2026 blakemp Superman Stuff DC Comics, Elseworlds, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Steve Vance, superman

With the “Big Game” coming up this weekend, I thought a sports-themed story would be fun, so this week’s Superman Stuff is going to take us back to 1999 and the Elseworlds one-shot Superman, Inc. by Steve Vance and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez. I was pretty happy a couple of years ago when DC announced the return of their Elseworlds imprint, and for the most part, I’ve enjoyed how they’ve used it. Rather than a home for one-off stories and prestige format miniseries as we’ve had in the past, DC has been using it to actually build “worlds:” longer stories – six issues, twelve issues – and stories that serve as sequels to or spinoffs of other stories that fall under the Elseworlds aegis. When Elseworlds started, DC was still under the edict that the Multiverse didn’t exist anymore. Now that the Multiverse is back in full force, they’re using the Elseworlds imprint to populate it.

All that said, there was a charm to these one-off stories that modern Elseworlds – for all their positives – sometimes lack. Also, as is always the case, DC needs to scale back on the Batman stuff and give some other characters a chance.

So let’s see what Vance and Garcia-Lopez gave us 27 years ago.

Like many Elseworlds, there’s a single divergence point that the story starts from. Kal-El’s rocket lands in Kansas, but the baby crawls out on his own before he can be found by a kindly farming couple. He is found (run over, actually) by a drunk driver who takes him to a police station, and he’s eventually adopted by a young couple who gives him the name Dale Suderman. (It may be a trifle cutesy, but that’s how they did things in these stories.) The cutesy ends there, though – little Dale’s father dies when he’s only five years old, and a few years later when the boy discovers his ability to fly, his mother is so shocked that she falls down the stairs and is killed as well. The trauma gives Dale amnesia, blocking not only the memory of his mother’s death but also full access to his powers, and he begins bouncing from one foster home to another, finally ending up in a juvenile facility. His isolation continues until he discovers his natural talents make him a superstar on the basketball court, and he runs away from the juvenile home to find his own path.

Dale grows up and becomes an all-star not only in basketball, but every sport. Super Bowl MVP, a record-breaking home-run hitter, an Olympic Gold medalist in multiple disciplines – Dale Suderman is the world-famous Superman, sitting atop a global empire built on marketing, smiling for his fans in public and disdaining them in private. Lex Luthor, owner of the Metropolis Monarchs, tries to lure Dale to sign with his basketball team, seeing an opportunity to position the world’s most famous athlete as the crowning jewel in the new extravagant sports complex he’s building. Dale sweeps the rug out from under Lex, though, by announcing his own sports complex and a new expansion team, the Metropolis Spartans.

Dale’s empire grows with a new Saturday morning cartoon starring Superman as an all-powerful “super hero,” and the merchandise bonanza that comes with it makes him even richer. Lex, meanwhile, tries to lure Lois Lane to begin digging into Suderman to find anything less than heroic he can use against him. Reluctantly, she agrees to investigate. She is unable to dig up any dirt except for the fact that the team doctors have, for some reason, never been able to take a blood sample. Following the trail of data, Luthor uncovers a spacecraft in a Kansas field and releases the news – via the Daily Planet – that Dale Suderman is an alien. Dale goes after Luthor and the ensuing battle with Luthor’s guards winds up unlocking the true extent of his power and revealing it to the world.

Dale goes on TV to explain his side of the story, but a gunman shoots him with a bullet made of a glowing green substance. As he recovers in the hospital, Lois and detective John Jones visit him, and together decide that Luthor was behind the shooting. As Lois leaves, refusing to return to Luthor, Jones reveals himself to be an alien as well, and uses his powers to unlock the mental blocks in Dale’s mind. Dale leaves in solitude, but a lightning bolt in Kansas takes him down. He finds himself in the care of a farming couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent, who don’t follow sports and have no idea who he is. After weeks of learning from them, he leaves and releases a video to the press, vowing to leave Earth to search for his birth planet. In his absence, his “Superman Foundation” will use his fortune to benefit mankind. On the last panel, though, newly-minted journalism professor Lois Lane meets her newest student, a bespectacled behemoth calling himself Clark Kent.

There’s good and bad in this book. The bad – and really, “bad” is too strong a word, it’s more of an adherence to the tropes of the time – is the way that things all dovetail in the end to bring this world more in line with the main DC Universe. That’s how so many of these Elseworlds (and, in fact, Marvel’s What If comics) often went: if the world wasn’t all but destroyed, then circumstances were contrived to make things turn out the way they did originally. It doesn’t usually bother me that much, but this is a story where Dale Suderman was literally the most famous person ON THE PLANET. The notion that the Kents had never heard of him is ridiculous – even if they don’t own a TV, they’re seen reading the newspaper with a story about Luthor being indicted for the Superman shooting. And while I’m the first one to tell people not to worry about the glasses as a disguise, that disguise is kind of incumbent upon the idea that nobody is looking for Superman’s secret identity in the first place. Again, Dale is globally famous, and has a prior relationship with Lois Lane. It would be like Tom Brady putting on a pair of glasses and trying not to be recognized by Anderson Cooper.

What I like about this, though, are the parts of the story that diverge SIGNIFICANTLY from the standard Elseworlds of the time. The villain is still Lex Luthor, but we never get a hint of supervillainy. There’s no alien invasion, no hints about Brainiac or Mr. Mxyzptlk. Heck, there aren’t even any fight scenes in the book. It’s a story of somebody who has great potential working his way up towards unlocking that potential. It’s as though the entire issue is the first act of a standard origin story. As such, it’s very much unlike most other Elseworlds, and I enjoy that about it.

I also love the artwork. Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez is one of those truly iconic creators, having spent decades as the lead designer for DC’s merchandising department. For a large portion of the public, his depiction of the DC heroes is THE standard, and for a reason. He’s bold, he’s an excellent storyteller, and he’s CONSISTENT. You could pull out a Superman Valentine’s Day card from 1987 and put it next to this book and see the same Superman. The face, the smile, everything but the haircut is a perfect fit. There are far too few artists who can actually do that.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read this one, but I’m glad I revisited it this week. I’d forgotten what a joy it is, and I wouldn’t mind a return to this world to see what became of the former Mr. Dale Suderman.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Superman Stuff #4: January 2026 Update

January 28, 2026 blakemp Superman Stuff Absolute Superman, Action Comics, Adrian Gutierrez, Adventures of Superman, Adventures of Superman: House of El, Batman, Batman/Superman: World's Finest, Dan Mora, Dan Slott, Dave Johnson, DC Comics, DC KO, Fusion, Hawkman, Jason Aaron, Javi Fernandez, Joe Quinones, Joker, Joshua Williamson, Juan Ferreyra, Lex Luthor, Mark Waid, Mike Norton, Patricio Delpeche, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Prankster, Ra's al Ghul, Rafa Sandoval, Ryan Sook, Scott Godliewski, Scott Snyder, Sophie Campbell, Supergirl, superman, Superman Unlimited, Vicente Cifuentes, World's Finest, Xermancio

I don’t want every “Superman Stuff” post to be comic book recaps, hence last week’s post where I talked about the upcoming Spider-Man/Superman and Bizarro: Year None announcements. That said, one of the reasons I wanted to keep this going was so that I could keep talking about the NEW Superman comics as they come out. With that in mind, this week I’m going to give my feelings on some of the Superman-related comics that have been published so far in 2026.

Superman Unlimited#9
Title: Die Laughing Part One
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Mike Norton
Main Cover: Dave Johnson

A series of strange deaths strikes Metropolis, and although they could be accidental, there’s something that makes it feel like they’re linked to an old foe of Superman’s. (I realize I’m playing coy with who the villain is, and they name drop him on the cover, so I guess that’s a little pointless.) Meanwhile, Metropolis’s new Mayor Perry White finds himself a target, and at Steelworks, Jon Kent gets an important warning from a very unexpected source.

There is a LOT of stuff going on in this issue. The main plot regarding Perry White is the through-line, but the story of Jon at Steelworks feels like there’s more going on than is readily apparent, and the ongoing story of the massive Kryptonite meteor that’s fallen to Earth is woven in through what happens in the other plots. What’s more, we also get to see a classic foe and a new collaborator show up here in ways that feel like there’s a lot of story to tell. The way this book is packed is honestly reminiscent of the way stories were structured during the much-missed Triangle Era, and as I read this I felt those pangs of regret that I’m going to have to wait a month for this storyline to continue rather than just one week.

Slott does some of the little character bits he’s so good at here. For instance, we see Clark Kent at a press conference by Mayor Perry White where he acts just like he’s asking questions to any random elected official, and Perry humorously reminds him that he doesn’t exactly have to introduce himself. It’s funny, but it also brings up the idea that it’s kind of unethical to send a reporter to cover a press conference when the guy at the podium happens to be godfather of the reporter’s son. Then again, Clark has been reporting on himself for almost 90 years now, so…

Mike Norton steps up for the artwork this issue, and it makes me wish we saw him drawing Superman more often. His lines are clean and bold, very reminiscent of the style we saw from the likes of Dan Jurgens or Jerry Orway back in the day. Having him on this book feels very, very right. I hope we get to see more of his work on Superman in the future.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #47
Title: The Merger Part Three: Truth and Consequences
Writer: Mark Waid
Pencils: Adrian Gutierrez
Inks: Vicente Cifuentes
Main Cover: Dan Mora

Fusion – the merged form of Superman and Batman – is in battle with Merger, the Lex Luthor/Joker mashup. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Merger has used Hawkman’s Absorbascon to learn the identities of our heroes and transmit that information all over the planet. Fortunately, Fusion has a whole Justice League to back them up.

I’ve loved this book since day one, because Mark Waid is clearly having a lot of fun playing around with all these classic pieces of the DC Universe. World’s Finest is set several years in the past, so when the secret is revealed we get to see some things that wouldn’t happen if this story were set today: a more villainous Poison Ivy going after Alfred, or a Lois Lane who is heartbroken to realize that Superman has been hiding under her nose all this time. Waid writes these moments very well, with compelling character work, especially in the Lois Lane scene.

That said, he’s walking a tightrope here, playing with what they sometimes call “Schmuck Bait.” It’s when a story (particularly in an ongoing franchise) teases a development that you know will not or cannot stick. In this case, we know with 100 percent certainty before the issue even begins that the secrets of Superman and Batman’s respective identities will go back in the box, so that lowers the stakes dramatically. The trick is to use this to milk good character beats that will retain their significance even once the actual plot is reversed. He manages to do that here, and even ends the issue with a new little wrinkle that could be brought back later, either in the pages of this book, or in other DC titles set in the current continuity. Either way, there’s potential there.

Supergirl Vol. 8 #9
Title: Resolutions
Writer: Sophie Campbell
Art: Joe Quinones
Main Cover: Sophie Campbell

Continuing the holiday kick this book has been on (the last three issues have been Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stories, respectively), it’s New Year’s Eve in Midvale, and Supergirl’s squad has been invited to a booze-free party to ring the year in. Lesla, unfamiliar with the effects of alcohol in the first place, is a bit disappointed to learn that it wouldn’t have any effect on her Kryptonian physiology. Lena has an idea for how to fix that little problem. Chaos ensues.

I have to admit, I didn’t see this issue coming. The first half comes across as Campbell trying to do an 80s style “very special episode” about the consequences of drinking, which would actually fit very well in what we’ve gotten from this series so far. The second half, however, takes a rather wild left turn when those consequences actually begin to stack. Stuff happens in this issue that drives a severe wedge in the family of friends Supergirl has built up around her, and I frankly didn’t see it coming. What’s more, Kara herself comes across as kind of cold in this issue – outwardly, at least. The reader gets to see her agonizing over the choices she makes and the way that she’s forced to push away her friends, but to those friends themselves she puts on a face of stoicism that’s really unexpected. Particularly in the case of Lesla, who is arguably a victim here, Kara doesn’t show the usual compassion that we get from her. I’ve been a big supporter of this book, but this is the first issue that feels like a misstep.

I’ve got no such complaints about the artwork, however. Campbell’s work on this title is great, but whenever she steps aside, they can bring in Joe Quinones to pinch-hit. I love his take on Kara and the rest of the cast, and I especially would like to see more of his version of Kandor.

Action Comics#1094
Title: Our Superboy at War
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Patricio Delpeche
Main Cover: Ryan Sook

This is an interesting one. The main story here is Superboy – in conjunction with his arrangement with General Sam Lane – being summoned to help with a military operation. Although that’s the A-plot, it’s also the least interesting part of the issue to me. That’s not to say that it’s not handled well – Mark Waid taps into the psyche of Clark Kent and has him go through this storyline in a way that feels very accurate for the character. The issue is that it’s very by-the-book. The beats are predictable, as are Clark’s reactions. I suppose that’s the thing about understanding a character really well – sometimes it can make certain stories feel very rote.

The b-plots in this issue are much more interesting to me. In the early part of the book, Clark has a study date (of sorts) with Lana Lang, and we’re teased with a strange animosity her father has for Clark. In the latter part, he goes on a camping trip with Pete Ross and laments the fact that there’s nobody he can share his secrets with. Both of these segments, to me, were far more satisfying than the A-plot. In each case, Waid is using established elements of the two characters to build them out a bit. For instance, Lana’s father being an archaeologist is a long-standing and well-known piece of the lore, but Waid seems to be using it here in a way that feels somewhat menacing, as though that status has a dark secret that’s going to cause trouble down the line. Pete, on the other hand, is famous for being the character who (in the Silver Age) knows that Clark is Superboy, but doesn’t tell anybody – not even Superboy himself. It definitely seems like we’re trending in that direction, but I trust Waid to do more with the concept than previous writers did. In the meantime, it’s really sad to see Clark upset about his big secret and the fact that there’s nobody else that could possibly understand what it’s like to have his kind of power.

Dang, if only he had some friends. If only he had a Legion of them or something.

Adventures of Superman: House of El#5
Title: I Am the Lantern in the Dark
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art: Scott Godlewski
Main Cover: Scott Godlewski

A Sun-Eater has been unleashed on Lanternholm, the world that serves as the haven for the Lightborn. Superman and Ronan Kent join the fight alongside Ronan’s sister, Rowan. The Lanternholm stuff has actually been the most interesting part of this series yet to me, and I’m glad to see it take center stage in this issue. The DC Universe, let’s face it, has a LOT of potential futures. Some of them are easily compatible with one another, others require a bit more shoehorning to fit in, and this future in particular is at best going to be relegated to an alternate timeline in which Superman never comes home because – come on, let’s be honest here – we know that Superman is going to come home. It’s another example of that Schmuck Bait I mentioned earlier.

But that’s something that could theoretically be used to the story’s advantage. It is impossible for this future to be the “real” future of the DC Universe, so why not take some wilder, braver swings with it? I’d like to know more about what happened to the Lanterns in this future. I’d like to know more about what happens afterwards, with Rowan’s new status at the end of this issue. I’d read a miniseries about that, I’d read a miniseries about her. I’d be excited for it.

Absolute Superman #15
Title: The Never-Ending Begins Part One: In Blue
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Juan Ferreyra
Main Cover: Rafa Sandoval

A new storyline kicks off this issue, although it kicks off in a very low-key way. After the huge win at the end of last issue, Kal-El is trying to settle in, taking over the Kents’ farm and running it the way they would have wanted while, at the same time, operating as Superman around the world. Of course, as the beginning of a new story, new threats are coming in as well, and we see the seeds for a few things planted here.

It’s nice to have something of a breather this issue, as we see Kal-El spending time with a lot of people, exploring his relationships with both Lois Lane AND Lana Lang, and interestingly enough, even Ra’s Al Ghul. There’s shoe leather to be expended here, building on who each of these people is to our new Superman. What I really like, though, is the direction this series is trending. Clark has traded in his Kryptonian suit for a uniform made for him by Martha, a uniform that speaks to a brighter future for the character. The Absolute Universe is one where Darkseid’s ethos reigns supreme and hope is the underdog…but despite that, Superman still acts as a symbol of that hope, and this issue continues to demonstrate that.

We also get the first appearance of the Absolute version of one of Superman’s oldest foes, and he’s taken in a very different direction. The Toyman has gone through several incarnations over the years. This one is different from any of them, but it suits the universe we’re living in and still fits the concept of the character fairly well. We also get a cameo by next issue’s big guest star, Hawkman, and recent comments by Scott Snyder that we’ll see a gathering of heroes in this universe sooner or later feel like they’re inching closer to fruition.

DC KO #3
Title: No Mercy
Writers: Scott Snyder & Joshua Williamson
Art: Javi Fernandez & Xermancio
Main Cover: Javi Fernandez

Following December’s “All Fight Month” event, the combatants in the KO tournament have been narrowed down to an “Elite Eight.” The remaining fighters are each given an opportunity to choose a partner to fight alongside in the next battle. However, the one fighter who generated the MOST Omega Energy gets a special prize – their partner may come from ANY level of reality…and that winner is the Joker.

Much as the “All Fight” issues were at their best when used as an examination of character, even the selection of the heroes’ partners serves that same purpose. Some of them are obvious, some of them are understandable, and some of them are baffling. All of them demonstrate something about the character who makes the choice, and it’s writing like that which has elevated DC KO from being just a mindless slugfest into one of the most compelling events the DC Universe has had in ages.

There’s a running commentary from the Heart of Apokalips throughout the story that focuses heavily on Superman as well – what’s going on in his head, how he’s dealing with the battle, how he handles the fact that he’s got to fight, kill, perhaps even use his friends. What’s more, from the beginning the idea has been that it was okay for the heroes to die or to kill in pursuit of winning the tournament, because whoever wins and gets the Omega Energy at the end will have the ability to reset the universe and fix everything. This issue Snyder really starts to explore what that would actually MEAN. Would anyone – even Superman – have the wherewithal to only turn the clock back to before the tournament, or would that temptation to make the world unto what he thinks would be paradise be too tantalizing?

Also, there are a couple of moments in this issue that are gonna make for great action figures.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Superman Stuff #3: Spider-Man and Bizarro

January 21, 2026January 20, 2026 blakemp News, Superman Stuff Marvel Comics, DC Comics, superman, Spider-Man, Kevin Smith, Bizarro, Brad Meltzer, Spider-Man/Superman, Bizarro: Year None

Last week brought us a pair of announcements about upcoming Superman books, both of which I’m happy about, although I’m slightly reserved about one of them.

First of all, Marvel Comics announced the creative teams for their half of the upcoming Spider-Man/Superman crossover. DC announced at the end of last year that Mark Waid and Jorge Jimenez will be doing the main story for their half, which comes out in March. Marvel’s side of the crossover will come out in April, and last week we learned that the main story will be by Brad Meltzer and Pepe Larraz, pitting the wallcrawler and the Man of Steel against Lex Luthor and Norman Osborn. I’ve been a fan of Meltzer for quite some time – I love his novels, I’ve shared his childrens’ books with my son, and I’ve always liked his comics. I was surprised, though, to discover that he’s done almost no work for Marvel in the past – save for a single page in 2019’s Marvel Comics #1000 special, I believe this will be his first Marvel work.

They also revealed the creators and characters that will appear in the back-up features. Dan Slott and Marcos Martin will team up the Golden Age Superman with Spider-Man Noir, Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman will pit Wonder Woman and the Jane Foster Thor against an army of symbiotes, Louise Simonson and Todd Nauck will turn John Henry Irons against the Hobgoblin, Joe Kelly and Humberto Ramos will chronicle a “campus crossover” between Gwen Stacy and Lana Lang, and Brian Michael Bendis will re-team with Sara Pichelli, with whom he co-created the Miles Morales Spider-Man, in a story where Miles meets Superman. The thing about that last one, though, is that I’m not actually sure WHICH Superman Miles is going to meet, Clark or Jon. The solicitation doesn’t make it clear, and there are variant covers featuring Miles with each of them. This is one of the many, many things that drives me crazy about aging Jon up, but I’m not going to belabor that point here. I’m excited about most of these stories, particularly to have Louise Simonson writing Steel again.

The second announcement that hit this week is for another project launching in April, a four-issue Bizarro: Year None miniseries, purporting to tell the “definitive, indefinitive” origin of Superman’s imperfect doppelganger. This one is going to be co-written by Kevin Smith and Eric Carrasco, with art by Nick Pitarra. I couldn’t think of a better team to do a Bizarro comic, and at the same time, I cannot help but be a bit trepidatious about this one. And anyone who’s familiar with Kevin Smith’s history in comics will know exactly why.

Look – I am a fan of Kevin Smith. I have been since 1999, when my buddy Jason introduced me to what was then still the “Jersey Trilogy” just in time for us to catch Dogma. And I’ve been into most of his comic book work too…when it actually gets finished. Once his film career was established, Smith broke into comics first with stories featuring his own characters, then on acclaimed relaunches of Daredevil and Green Arrow. In 2002, he came back to Marvel for a miniseries, Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do, which released three of six issues before it vanished. Smith got sidetracked on other projects, and it took three years before he came back and did the back half of that miniseries. But that’s nothing compared to Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target, a miniseries that also launched that year and never made it beyond a first issue. We’re sitting here 24 years later, and that story was never finished.

This became a bit of a theme for Smith. In 2009 he and artist Walter Flanagan (yes, that Walt Flanagan, if you’re a fan of Smith’s movies) produced the first six issues of what was supposed to be a 12-issue saga: Batman: The Widening Gyre. At the time, Smith promised that the second half of the story would be told after a brief hiatus. The hiatus is at 16 years and counting.

To Smith’s credit, he’s totally aware of the problems he had, and in more recent years he’s gotten a lot better about it. Whether it’s because of working with co-writers or just making certain that he has the scripts for an entire project finished before it’s even announced, his work in the past decade has not suffered from the George R.R. Martin-esque disappearances that plagued his comics back in the day. But as someone who’s still curious as to how, exactly, that gyre was supposed to finish widening, it’s hard to hear his name attached to a project without at least THINKING “here’s hoping he’s got all the scripts finished already.”

I think he has. All the same, the Bizarro miniseries is scheduled to run for four issues, starting in April. So here’s hoping we’ll have all four of them by the end of July.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!

Geek Punditry #159: Blake’s Five Favorite Biodocs

January 16, 2026 blakemp Geek Punditry Adam Nimoy, Arthur Hardy, Christopher Reeve, Disney, Documentary, Don Rosa, I Like Me, John Candy, Leonard Nimoy, Mardi Gras, Mr. Rogers, Spock, Star Trek, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, superman, The Scrooge Mystery, uncle scrooge, Won't You Be My Neighbor? Fred Rogers

Arthur Hardy is retiring. For the majority of you reading this, that probably doesn’t mean anything, but if you’re from the New Orleans area that name has resonance and the knowledge that his era is coming to an end probably makes you a little bit sad. Hardy is a local historian who, for nearly 50 years, has also been the publisher of an annual Mardi Gras guide that has become a significant part of local culture. This annual magazine contains not only the routes and schedules for virtually every Mardi Gras parade in Southern Louisiana (and for those of you who’ve never done Mardi Gras, I’m telling you now, there’s probably a lot more of them than you think), but also detailed, entertaining, and informative writing about the history and traditions of carnival and the various Krewes, significant figures, and all the collected effluvia that comes with the season. Much like every kid in America used to sit around waiting for the annual Sears Christmas Catalog every year, here in New Orleans it just wasn’t carnival season until Hardy’s Mardi Gras guide showed up on the magazine racks in local gas stations and drugstores.

Farmers have their almanac. We have this.

I bring up Arthur Hardy because in his final season as the unofficial king of carnival, the local PBS station has produced a documentary about his life and career, Arthur Hardy: Our Mardi Gras Guide. If you’re in New Orleans and want to watch it, it’s going to air on Jan. 22 at 7:30 pm on WYES, with additional airings to follow, and it will also stream on the app. I’m excited to learn about this, not only because Hardy is a figure of great cultural importance to the most quintessentially New Orleans tradition there is, but also because I’m a sucker for a good documentary.

I love movies in general, of course, it would be impossible to read more than a couple of pages on this blog without that becoming abundantly clear, but there’s something about a great documentary that can be really compelling. To tell a true story and tell it accurately is an art form that even the greatest narrative filmmaker can struggle to pull off. Finding those bits and pieces of a person’s life and assembling them into a story isn’t easy, especially if the subject of said documentary is someone that the audience will likely already be familiar with. What can you say about this person that hasn’t already been said? What can you show that the fans don’t already know? And can you take the stuff they do know and present it in a way that’s both compelling and entertaining?

In the case of these biographical documentaries, I particularly find myself drawn to those that focus on somebody I’m already a fan of. Films like Jim Henson: Idea Man , Music By John Williams, or To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story all scratch that itch for me, giving me a deeper dive into the life of someone whose work I adore. That said, it’s not a requirement that I’m already intimately familiar with the subject of a documentary for me to enjoy it. For example, I’ve never been a wrestling fan and I knew virtually nothing about the life of Andre the Giant outside of his participation in The Princess Bride, but the Jason Hehir-directed Andre the Giant documentary moved me to tears. I’m just more LIKELY to watch a documentary if it’s a subject I’m already familiar with.

So in anticipation of the Arthur Hardy documentary, today in Geek Punditry I’m going to talk about five of my favorite “biodocs” from the last decade or so, five films that delve into the life of an artist or actor whose work is meaningful to me and why the documentaries land so well.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

This is one of those moments where nobody who is even remotely familiar with my taste will find anything surprising. I am, of course, the biggest Superman fan that most people who meet me will ever meet, and I even made one of my (sadly) all-too-rare movie theater visits these days to catch this documentary during its limited Fathom Events screening when it premiered. I was born near the end of the 70s, reared in the 80s, and in my heart of hearts, Christopher Reeve is and always will be MY Superman.

The movie tells two stories in parallel: the story of Christopher Reeve from the beginning of his life through the growth of his career and his life as Superman, intercut with the story of the horseback riding accident that put him in a wheelchair and the unexpected direction his life took after that. The directors (Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui) go back and forth between these two periods, telling their individual stories more or less chronologically but bouncing between the two every few minutes. The result is the surreal experience of watching this young man – strong, talented, and determined – juxtaposed by the person he would become at his lowest point and how he managed to crawl back from that point to become something more. The story of him portraying Superman is presented side-by-side with the story of him actually proving what a real-world Superman can be.

The movie is, as is to be expected, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. It’s a beautiful tale that everybody knows from the beginning will have a tragic ending. The filmmakers don’t try to portray Reeve as perfect either – they spend time (especially in his early years) putting on display his faults and some of the questionable choices of a young man who is propelled to stardom. The movie also spends a surprising amount of its runtime focusing on Reeve’s relationship with Robin Williams. It’s common knowledge that the two of them were good friends, but until watching this documentary I don’t think I ever realized just how deep that friendship was. If you aren’t crying at that point already, get ready for the moment where Glenn Close (one of many actors interviewed for the film) speculates that if Reeve hadn’t died, Robin Williams would still be with us today as well.

Hell, you might be crying right now and you haven’t even watched the movie yet.

The film is currently streaming on HBO Max, which means if you want to watch it you should probably hit “play” in the next 15 minutes before they do something else stupid and remove more content from the service that absolutely should still be there.

The Scrooge Mystery (2018)

Don Rosa is one of the most globally popular comic book creators of all time, but far too many American fans have never heard his name. That’s because the bulk of his career was spent chronicling the adventures of Scrooge McDuck, his nephews, and the assorted characters that have sprung up around him in the world of Duckberg. Rosa spent decades writing and drawing stories of Scrooge and Donald Duck, and while they have been published and enjoyed here in America, they have achieved rock star status in Europe, where Disney comics are among the biggest pop culture outlets there are.

Rosa’s life and career is the focus of this documentary by filmmaker Morgann Gicquel, and through its two hours you’ll see the story of a young comic book fan who fell out of the artform and found his way back by carrying on the mantle of the great Carl Barks, Scrooge’s creator. Rosa talks candidly about his career, including his interactions with various publishers around the world, which ones treated him better than others, and his relationship with the company that actually owns the characters that he has made even more famous through works like his masterpiece The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck.

The movie is entertaining, filling in blanks in Rosa’s life that even comic book fans (like myself) probably wouldn’t know, since the lives of cartoonists are not nearly as heavily covered by the media as those of actors and directors. As Rosa gives the filmmaker a tour of his home – including a gargantuan comic book collection that will make anyone who loves reading deeply envious – he comes across as a little awkward and eccentric, but endearing in the process. You’ll also get to see Rosa at work and feel your heart crumble a bit as he describes his deteriorating vision and how it is one of the things that caused him to retire. To look at some of the amazing, meticulously detailed artwork he’s created over the decades and know that the man whose pencils made those lines now has to practically press his face against the page in order to keep drawing is truly saddening.

I was one of the original Kickstarter backers for this movie back when it was in production, so I got a Blu-Ray copy of the film upon its release, which I was lucky enough to have Rosa to autograph last year when he came to Fan Expo New Orleans. Those of you who don’t already own the film may expect to see it on Disney+, but the odds of that happening are pretty slim. (Spoiler warning: although Rosa had good relationships with many of the publishers he worked with over the years, he makes it abundantly clear in this film that his feelings about the modern House of Mouse itself are far from kind.) Fortunately, it is currently available on several free streaming platforms, including Pluto TV, Hoopla, and Tubi. If you’re interested in Disney, comic books in general, or the marriage of the two, this is a great film.

For the Love of Spock (2016)

So far this list has turned out to be a chronicle of my own personal fandoms, hasn’t it? First Superman, then Scrooge McDuck, and now Star Trek. There have been a great many documentaries made about Trek over the years (one of the best movie theater experiences I ever had was watching Trekkies in a room full of like-minded nerds), but as far as films focusing on the life of a single person, I think this one is the best.

For the Love of Spock looks at the life of Leonard Nimoy and his sometimes tumultuous relationship with the character he brought to life. The film discusses those years when he tried to distance himself from the role and how he ultimately came around to embrace it. These are things that Trek fans, of course, are already intimately aware of. What makes this movie special is its director: Leonard Nimoy’s son, Adam. This is a very specific subcategory of documentary – films made by the family of the subject – that I always find intriguing. Adam Nimoy, as one would expect, has a very personal and unique perspective on the life of his father and what exactly Star Trek means – not only to Leonard Nimoy himself, but to the world at large. There are a lot of people who could tell the story of Leonard Nimoy, but it is doubtful that anybody else would tell it the same way as Adam Nimoy.

Nimoy passed away in 2015, while this movie was in production, so in a way it also serves as kind of a “last word” on him and the character. At least, as much as there will ever be a “last word.” Star Trek isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and Spock is one of the signature characters of the franchise, so this movie is never going to not be relevant. But it will always be, to quote Nimoy’s signature character, “fascinating.”

Like The Scrooge Mystery, this one is currently streaming on Pluto TV, Hoopla, and Tubi, as well as the Roku Channel.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor (2018)

Morgan Neville directed this film about the life and career of Fred “Mister” Rogers, a man who probably helped raise most of the people who are reading this column right now. For over three decades, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood came into the homes of the children of America and showed us things about creativity, imagination, kindness, and life. The question someone on the outside would likely ask, then, is how much of that was an actor playing a character and how much of that was the man himself.

This film puts forth the thesis that, when it came to Mr. Rogers, ol’ brother Fred was doing very little acting. The sweet, tender, and understanding soul that entertained us in the mornings of our formative years was the same soul Fred Rogers carried with him in his day-to-day life. The movie uses interviews with actors and crew from the TV show, Rogers’ wife Joanne, and others that were touched by him over the years to paint a portrait of an intrinsically good and humble man who never wanted anything other than to show children kindness.

That said, the movie isn’t totally saccharine either. It delves into the struggles of the creating the show, those periods where the real world was too harsh and how Rogers struggled how to deal with it, and the sort of existential crises that truly good people sometimes go through. Rogers was human, and not without his doubts. Towards the end, after his retirement, there’s a segment about how he struggled when asked to come back and make a short video speaking to children after 9/11, and the pain as he tries to figure out what to say is palpable. On the other hand, whereas many movies of this nature spend time looking at the failures or vices of its subject, this movie struggles to FIND any vices to put on the screen. It is particularly telling when Joanne reports that, as Rogers’ life was coming to an end, he was worried that he hadn’t done enough good for the world he was leaving behind.

Good grief. If Mr. Rogers wasn’t good enough, what chance do ANY of us have?

But the takeaway here should be that the doubt was only in his mind, that it is only the truly good among us that would ever worry about such a thing. And I am using the adjective “good” here rather than “great” very deliberately – if you don’t understand the distinction, you need to watch more Mr. Rogers.

This one is streaming right now on Amazon Prime Video

John Candy: I Like Me (2025)

The newest film in my top five came out just a few months ago. Directed by Colin Hanks, John Candy: I Like Me is a sweet dissection of the life and career of one of the funniest men of the 1980s, and to a degree, about how the world failed him. Hanks interviews Candy’s friends, co-stars, and family to give us an image of someone who was deeply kind and generous, but at the same time, wasn’t without his own demons. Hanks does his due diligence by showing those things, but it’s all through the perspective of interviews with people who obviously adore Candy and are in the business of preserving his memory.

This is a case where I don’t think there’s anything in the movie that’s particularly revelatory, but in which we dig more deeply into things we already knew. For example, Macaulay Culkin (who co-starred with him at the advanced age of eight) mentions how Candy was one of the first people who seemed to notice the toxic and abusive nature of Culkin’s father, and how he went out of his way to check in on and shield the boy on the set of their film Uncle Buck. Conan O’Brien’s remembrances of Candy came not as the host of a popular talk show, but from when he met the already-famous Candy when he was a college student, and how his interactions with the man shaped his career.

The movie is awash with interviews with the likes of Bill Murray, Catherine O’Hara, Mel Brooks, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, and many other people who seem to be lining up to tell the world that John Candy was a beautiful, kind, and talented man. If you’ve ever been a fan of his, I don’t think there’s anything in this movie that you’ll find shocking. But by the end of it, as you wipe the tears from your eyes, you’re definitely going to find yourself wishing that we had been lucky enough to have more of him before the ride was over.

This one is a Prime Video original, so go stream it there.

As always with these “Five Favorites” columns, my choices are inherently subjective and may change at any moment. There are a dozen other documentaries I can think of that would have fit into this list, and on any given day, may have bumped one of the ones that made the cut. But I’m always interested in more. If you know of a great biodoc, particularly one about a creative type like the five I’ve listed here, drop your own suggestions in the comments. I’d love to watch another one.

Superman Stuff #2: Minifigures and Action Comics #342

January 14, 2026January 20, 2026 blakemp News, Superman Stuff Action Comics, DC Comics, Fan Expo, Krypto, LEGO, Supergirl, superman

Last weekend was Fan Expo New Orleans. If you recall, during the full Year of Superman last year, I wrote about the Superman-related stuff I found at Fan Expo 2025. And right now, let’s all be grateful that was last year and not this year, because this year’s Fan Expo – I’m sorry to report – was kind of a bust. The big cons have been shedding comic and science fiction participation for years, that’s nothing new. The shows are becoming more and more focused on anime and photo ops. And look – it’s not like I think that everything has to cater to me personally. I know, I’m an old man and people need to chase the money young people are bringing to the table. But there are full-on anime cons out there. The convention culture was built around comic book and sci-fi geeks, such as myself, and it feels very much like we’re the ones getting left out in the cold. All of this is to say, after a Saturday afternoon of prowling the vendor floor, I probably spent less money at this year’s Expo than I ever have before.

Seeing as how this is “Superman Stuff,” I’m only going to run through the few related finds I got. I knew even before I got there that I was going to hit up one of the booths that sells custom LEGO-style minifigures, because I’ve got a display of Superman-related figures in my classroom and I wanted to add to it. There was a movie version of Superman and Krypto that I added to my display, but sadly, those were the only two Superman characters they had that I didn’t have already. (I did, however, pick up the movie Fantastic Four, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the core Heeler family from Bluey, so I came away satisfied.)

The comics were an even bigger bust. I like to hit the bargain bins – the dollar comics, the weird stuff. But I found only two such bins in the whole show. and I’m pretty sure there were only four or five comic book vendors TOTAL. I walked away with a handful of old Archie comics and some 80s Marvel goodness, but the only Superman comic that fell into my hands was a battered reading copy of Action Comics #342 from 1966, which I’m digging into today.

In “The Super-Human Bomb,” Brainiac is prowling space, trying to think of some way to defeat Superman, when he finds himself under attack by another alien named Grax, whose 20th level intelligence is obviously way above Brainiac’s mere 12th level. Grax has a beef with Superman as well, and has come up with a scheme to destroy him, but he needs a force field and somehow Mr. 20th Level can’t figure out how to make one, so he steals Brainiac’s. Grax tricks Superman with a missile that attaches a bomb to the man of steel, a bomb he claims is powerful enough to annihilate Earth, and it’s rigged to go off if Superman tries to remove it. Oh yeah, and just in case he gets any smart ideas about flying into space, Grax put Brainiac’s force field around Earth, trapping him here, with a 24-hour timer on the bomb.

I have to admit, inability to invent a force field notwithstanding, so far Grax is making a solid case for being eight levels smarter than Brainiac. He never got this far.

Superman spends the next 24 hours trying desperately to stop the bomb, but everything fails. He even offers to let Grax kill him if he will spare Earth, but Grax refuses. Minutes before the explosion, Brainiac messages Superman and tells him how to defeat Grax: build an enormous magnet (shaped like a horseshoe, because theming) and use it to draw Grax’s ship against the force field, trapping him in the blast radius of the bomb. Superman gets into Grax’s ship and hits the switch for the bomb, just as – in the most dramatic moment in comic book history – I realize that this $1 reading copy I purchased is missing pages out of the middle, so I can’t see how the story ends.

Incredible!

The back-up story, fortunately, is complete: Supergirl stars in “The Day Supergirl Became an Amazon.” College student Linda Danvers is on a trip to the South Pacific to gather specimens for the school aquarium, when their ship is struck by a heavy storm. Supergirl secretly guides the ship to an island, where the students casually decide to begin collecting their specimens rather than wondering about, y’know, getting rescued. But the island turns out to be occupied by an Amazon tribe that would later be sued by Themiscyra for trademark infringement.

The Amazons put Linda and her classmates in slave girl costumes because fun, and that night Linda puts her Supergirl costume on a bird so people will see it flying around and assume Supergirl is on a mission, and that may be one of the most confusing sentences I’ve ever written. The Amazons feed the girls a “nectar of strength” which doesn’t appear to impact Linda’s classmates, but she pretends that the nectar has given her super powers and starts wiping the floor with the Amazons in trial after trial. Eventually, Linda does such a good job of building a pyramid with the stones from the Amazon’s homes that the queen gets fed up with her and lets the girls go. The story is an absolute masterpiece, assuming that you don’t stop to wonder why Supergirl dropped their ship on the island instead of taking them to a safe place in the first place, why she felt it necessary to put her costume on a bird, or what Linda’s major was and what kind of college sends three random students to the South Pacific in a hovercraft.

Blake M. Petit is a writer, teacher, and dad from Ama, Louisiana. His most recent writing project is the superhero adventure series Other People’s Heroes: Little Stars, volume one of which is now available on Amazon. Don’t forget, you can check out earlier blogs in the Year of Superman/Superman Stuff Archive! Got a request for a future “Superman Stuff”? Drop it in the comments!