Man of Steel's Fallout Has Damn Near Destroyed Superman's World

WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Superman #1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Alex Sinclair, in stores now.

Superman has relaunched with a new #1 and a bold new direction, and it much of said direction will be dealing with the fallout from the Man of Steel miniseries, as Brian Michael Bendis and Ivan Reis' first issue continues directly from where the previous mini's story left off. After a no holds barred battle in the streets of Metropolis, Rogol Zaar has been sent off into the Phantom Zone. Lois Lane and Jon Kent have gone with Jor-El into deep space. Now, Superman is left to clean up the mess left behind.

In Superman #1, Kal-El deals with the destruction of the Fortress of Solitude, the loss of Kandor, and many of his last remaining artifacts. Clark Kent continues his investigation of the mysterious fires. Superman also deals with the ramifications of his family leaving him behind. In the new status quo set up in this issue, Superman has yet to move on from the events of Man of Steel. However, before he can find his missing family, Superman will have to deal with his greatest enemy.

What is a Superman Without His Family

Rebirth continuity established Superman as a family man first and foremost. Not only was he married to Lois Lane, but the two had a son in Jon Kent. Up until now, much of Superman's solo adventures have revolved around the idea that the Man of Steel is stronger as a loving father and devoted husband. Now that Jon and Lois are out in space with Jor-El, though, that happy family the three had built together has been shattered, and Clark is left a broken man behind closed doors.

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On the outside, Superman and Clark Kent are still out in the world doing what they do best. Superman saves the day countless times, as is his duty, and Clark is still working at the Daily Planet. However, when he's alone, Kal-El has nothing left in his life. Entire pages devoted to him just sitting alone and thinking about his family hammers home the differences between Superman and other heroes, like Batman. In the end, the Man of Steel needs his family, he gains strength from his family, and he has purpose with his family. Clark knows that, and it's why he's so focused on finding them again.

Considering the only way he had to contact his family has been destroyed, he is desperate to track them down. He knows that Lois can take care of herself, but he worries nonetheless. After all, what husband and father wouldn't worry about his family if they were millions of miles away and unreachable? It also shows just how much he needs them around in order for him to continue being himself.

Tracking down his family may have been something Superman could have accomplished by now if his life in Metropolis wasn't so busy. He fights countless threats all in the middle of trying to have a simple conversation with the Martian Manhunter. When he's not being Superman, Clark is investigating stories and doing something as simple as making sure they can pay the bills. It's all left him with very little time to go out into space and find his family, and even if he did take the time, he has no idea how to find them.

Can't Keep a Good Villain Down for Long

Much of the plot in Man of Steel revolved around the villainous Rogol Zaar's singleminded hatred of all things Kryptonian. He comes to Earth to "cleanse" it from the "contamination" that Superman has brought to the world. Believed to be responsible for the destruction of Krypton, Rogol Zaar proved to be too powerful for Superman to defeat in combat. In the end, victory was only had over the bad guy by locking him away in the Phantom Zone.

While this was always meant to be a temporary solution by both Superman and the creative team, Rogol Zaar's turn is coming much sooner than most fans likely expected. In the closing pages of Superman #1, the Earth somehow gets transported into the Phantom Zone itself, meaning another confrontation with the warlord is on the horizon. The book even teases his return in the next issue, proving that Man of Steel was less of a standalone story and more of the opening chapter of a much longer tale.

Rogol Zaar forced Superman to confront Krypton's past in a very literal sense, but things could get even worse before this threat is finally neutralized. The Phantom Zone is home to the worst criminals in the history of Krypton, and if Rogol Zaar hasn't already killed them all, Superman is going to have his work cut out for him. Either way, the Man of Steel is about to collide once more with possibly his most dangerous foe in a battle to settle the life of the entire planet.