When we started seeing the images to the "New 52" relaunch and the different redesigns some of the characters will be undergoing, Superman ended up with two different look. For the Superman title by George Perez, we did see an update to his costume, most noticeably a lack of shorts on the outside. The cover to Grant Morrison's Action Comics gave us a different look, a cape, Superman t-shirt along with jeans and boots. What could this mean?
I mentioned on a podcast that perhaps the stories in Action Comics would be telling the early tales of Superman, hence the more farmboy-ish look. Is that something Grant Morrison would be put in charge of? Looks like now we have an answer.
Early this morning, the New York Post unveiled the actual cover to Action Comics #1 (seen here to the right). According to Grant Morrison, "This is a young Superman who still believes a better world for everyone is possible." It is mentioned that Morrison will be chronicling the Man of Steel's days as the world's first superhero.
It's also mentioned that the series will focus on his status as a street-level defender of ordinary man and woman as well showing how Clark got his iconic costume.
It looks like this could mean more down-to-Earth stories involving a younger Superman. It doesn't sound as if they'll be referring to him was Superboy. After reading All Star Superman, we know Grant is perfectly capable of writing great stories involving Superman in Smallville. It will be interesting to see what kind of threats he faces if this is during a time when he's the world's first superhero. Will there be other super-villains around? We'll find out in September.
Update
DC's The Source reveals some more information that is going to upset some readers.
== TEASER ==In the pages of ACTION COMICS, writer Grant Morrison and artist Rags Morales will present humanity’s first encounters with Superman, before he became one of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. Set a few years in the past, it’s a bold new take on a classic hero.
* This Superman is very much an alien, one struggling to adjust to his adopted home. In the series, he must come to terms with both the loss of his home world, as well as the loss of both of his adopted parents. He is more Kal-El from the planet Krypton than Clark Kent from Kansas. He’s a loner trying to find his place in the world.
* The series’ first storyline will explore the origins of Superman’s costume, as it evolves from a look that includes jeans and work boots to a new look: a suit of battle armor that pays tribute to his Kryptonian past.
* His great powers have limits. When the series begins, Superman can leap tall buildings, but his ability to fly is in its infancy.
And in the SUPERMAN ongoing comic book series, by writer George Perez and artist Jesus Merino, will be set in present day continuity and will unleash a series of new challenges for Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent.
* Clark Kent is single and living on his own. He has never been married.
* Lois Lane is dating a colleague at the DAILY PLANET (and his name isn’t Clark Kent) and she has a new position with the paper.
Timeless and modern, classic and contemporary, but younger, brasher and more brooding, this is Superman. The New Man of Tomorrow.
Before people grab their pitchforks over the marriage being nonexistent, I suggest reading the first few issues first to see if it matters.