Superman: The Man of Steel #22

In "Steel [Reign of the Supermen, Part 2]," a grieving Henry Johnson—known to the world as John Henry Irons—transforms his grief into action after learning a weapon he helped design was used in a tragic death. Armed with a suit forged from his own ingenuity and fueled by a need for justice, he steps into the shadows to confront the criminals who’ve slipped through the cracks. Written by Louise Simonson and illustrated by Jon Bogdanove, with inks by Dennis Janke and colors by Glenn Whitmore, this 1993 issue captures the birth of a new hero in a world still reeling from the absence of Superman. The cover, by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke, perfectly frames the weight of that moment.