The Man of Steel by Brian Michael Bendis #[nn]

In a story that weaves past and present with quiet intensity, Superman grapples with the weight of legacy as he hunts two villains and investigates a fire that stirs painful memories. Flashbacks to Lois and Jon Kent linger like shadows, while a long-buried threat from Krypton’s history resurfaces through the warnings of Rogol Zaar and the secretive Circle.

In the wake of Krypton’s fall, Appa Ali Apsa and Gandelo weigh suspicions about Rogol Zaar’s role in the planet’s destruction. On Earth, Superman faces off against the Toyman amid another arson fire, while Daily Planet staff—Robinson Goode and Trish Q—search for answers about Lois Lane’s disappearance. Clark is haunted by a memory of a moment with Lois and Jon, and far beyond, Zaar learns of Superman’s existence from a distant alien bar.

In the wake of mysterious arson fires across Metropolis, Superman calls in Batman as the Fortress of Solitude is destroyed—its ruins scattered with the remnants of Kandor. With Supergirl at his side, Superman follows the trail of Rogol Zaar into the heart of the city, where the echoes of a forgotten past collide with a present under siege.

In the heart of Metropolis, Superman and Supergirl face off against the relentless Rogol Zaar, their bond tested as they fight to protect the city. After Zaar overwhelms them and vanishes, Green Lantern Hal Jordan arrives to find Superman shaken—and determined to uncover the truth behind Zaar’s chilling mission to erase all Kryptonians from the galaxy.

In the wake of a devastating battle that leaves Superman unconscious on the Moon, Melody Moore digs into a mysterious pattern behind a series of arson fires in Metropolis. As Supergirl and the Justice League respond to a new emergency, they uncover a connection that pulls them into a conflict stretching from Earth to the Moon—and into memories of a past that still echoes.

In a climactic battle that tests the limits of strength and resolve, Superman and Supergirl face off against the relentless Rogol Zaar, their bond strained by the weight of duty and legacy. Flashbacks reveal a pivotal moment in the past, as Lois and Jon Kent prepare to join Jor-El on a journey across the stars—driven by a belief that only the cosmos can shape Jon’s destiny.