New action comic series features Clark Kent enlisting in the US Army, ushering in a darker era for Superman
A change of look for the Man of Steel
According to the official synopsis, the young Superman, still in his stage of Superboyit will be enlisted in the US Army lead troops in combat. The cover, by Ryan Sook, shows Clark with black tactical armorblue camouflage pants and the legendary “S” emblem embedded in a bulletproof vest. A radical change that is already dividing the character’s followers.
The person responsible for this risky reinvention is Mark Waidone of DC Comics’ most respected writers. His return to Action comics seeks to rewrite the hero’s first steps in the DC Universe, showing a more vulnerable, more human Clark… and trapped between his ideals and the interests of his country.
The army more present than ever
In this story, the army, having detected the presence of a superhuman being in Kansas, soon approaches the young Kent. The initial reaction is suspicion and fearbut they soon decide integrate him into their ranks as a strategic resource. Thus begins the moral dilemma: can Superman be a soldier serving a nation without betraying its universal essence?
The preview of the issue suggests this General Sam LaneLois Lane’s father will be the one who recruits Clark. Their relationship promises to be tense: While Lane sees him as a potential weapon, Clark begins to wonder if he made the right decision. “The government is preparing a contingency plan to eliminate the hero, if necessary,” the synopsis anticipates, a sentence that makes clear the dark tone of this new phase.
New paths for Superman
In recent years DC has explored different paths for the Man of Steel: from the versions of Superman: Red Son Yes The Kingdom come also cinematic revisitations like that of Zack Snyder one Man of Steel. However, this proposal from Waid seems to go further, bringing Clark Kent closer to the conflict bellicose and political unprecedented.
The first published illustrations show this Superboy surrounded and arrested by soldiersan image that symbolizes his loss of freedom and the tension between power and control. Far from being a symbol of hope, the young Superman now seems like a another piece in the American military machine.
Among fans, reactions were immediate: some celebrated DC’s audacity take the character into more complex and realistic territorieswhile others believe it is distorting the essence of Superman as a defender of the common good above flags or governments.
A criticism rather than support
However, Mark Waid has assured in previous interviews that his intention is not to turn Superman into an obedient soldier, but rather explore your internal conflict if seen as an instrument of power. The author has already played with similar dilemmas in The Kingdom comewhere the hero had to decide whether or not to intervene in the face of humanity’s mistakes.
This new approach fits the current trend of DC offerings more mature and psychological storieswhere even the most iconic heroes face their own moral limits. In this sense, Action Comics No. 1094 it could become one of the most debated arcs of recent years.
The comic will arrive in stores on January 14, 2026and promises to redefine the relationship between Superman and the American government, as well as offering a more introspective portrait of the young Clark Kent. If anything is clear, it’s this the era of the perfect hero is behind usand the Man of Steel’s future will be grayer than ever.
