Wes Craig returns Superman to his Golden Age roots in new DC Black Label series
A young Superman battles corruption in a 1938-inspired Metropolis as Wes Craig returns the Man of Steel to his Golden Age roots.
June 17, 2026
DC is taking Superman back to where it all began this September with Superman: The Stranger, a new six-issue DC Black Label series written and illustrated by Wes Craig.
Set in an Art Deco-inspired version of 1938 Metropolis, the series revisits the earliest days of the Man of Tomorrow while drawing inspiration from the original Action Comics stories and the iconic Fleischer Studios animated shorts. The project presents a fresh interpretation of Superman’s beginnings through a modern lens while embracing the character’s earliest foundations.
For Craig, the appeal lies in stripping Superman down to his most essential elements.
“Superman is my favorite hero. Always has been,” said Craig. “I grew up on Christopher Reeve and John Byrne’s interpretation, then his animated adventures and All-Star Superman as I grew older. His mythology always changing with the times. But the version I love the most and the one that I think, strangely, reflects our modern world best, is the ORIGINAL. You strip away the extra powers, you strip away Ma and Pa Kent, and Smallville and Krypton, you boil it down to that explosive first issue of Action Comics, and you have this vital, powerful myth of a brash young man with incredible powers fighting against a corrupt city. That’s the story I want to tell.”
The series follows Clark Kent at the start of his superhero career. By day, he’s struggling to get by in the growing city of Metropolis. By night, he becomes Superman, patrolling the streets and confronting the corruption, inequality, and suffering that plague the city.
As Clark works to improve the lives of those around him, he begins to question whether his efforts are making a meaningful difference. While he can stop criminals and save lives, larger systemic problems continue to persist, creating challenges that even Superman may not be able to punch his way through.
Joining Craig on the series are colorist Jason Wordie and letterer Tom Napolitano. The debut issue will feature variant covers by Dave Johnson, Goran Parlov, and Ethan Young.
Superman: The Stranger #1 arrives September 2, 2026. The series carries DC’s Ages 17+ designation and will be released under the DC Black Label imprint.
Que du beau !
Jim
Step into the Golden Age and witness the first adventures of Superman! During the day, Clark Kent does what he can to make ends meet in the bustling city of Metropolis, but when the sun goes down, he leaps into action to keep the city streets safe! As Superman, Clark fights for a better tomorrow, but he feels like he’s not affecting change. The rich keep getting richer, and the poor struggle to survive. Can Superman truly save the downtrodden? The next Superman epic brought to you by superstar creator Wes Craig!
Superman: The Stranger #1
Writer/Artist: Wes Craig
Colors: Jason Wordie
Release Date: September 2, 2026
Lent, sans surprise, mais joli et prenant. Wes Craig plonge dans les années 30 en pleine dépression, avec un Clark Kent qui n’arrive pas à se faire embaucher en journaliste mais qui devient assistant du concierge du journal. Il a peu d’argent, il galère, il ne sait rien de ses origines, il a été élevé dans un orphelinat et il découvre ses super-pouvoirs, sans les comprendre. Il protège la ville la nuit, en ayant constamment faim, mais il refuse de l’argent de gens qu’il vient de protéger car ils sont xénophobes et condescendants. En parallèle, Lex Luthor abuse d’un Sénateur pour son projet de faire enlever des scientifiques dans le monde pour son profit.
C’est beau. C’est intense dans le dessin, c’est prenant dans l’atmosphère, c’est fort dans l’ambiance… mais c’est quand même un peu vide. La voix-off est bonne, le propos est lourd et désespéré, et ça se lit bien même s’il n’y a guère de surprise ou de choc.
C’est bien, surtout beau, mais un peu trop classique.
ENTER: LOIS LANE! Clark’s crusade for the downtrodden has hit some walls. He wants to do the most good , but he feels the people who need him the most are the most invisible. All of that changes when he stumbles upon Lois Lane, an intrepid reporter who’s made it her mission to make the unseen seen. With information gleaned from her articles, can Clark begin to turn the tide in his mission to uplift the people of Metropolis?!
Superman: The Stranger #2
Written by: Wes Craig
Art by: Wes Craig, Wes Craig
Cover by: Wes Craig
Page Count: Comic · 32 pages · $4.99 · Card Stock Cover
Release Date: OCT 7, 2026
on dirait du Sale sur la dernière case.