WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Superman: Man of Tomorrow #17, from Stephanie Phillips, V Ken Marion, Emilio Lopez, and Clayton Cowles, now available digitally.
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman, became an iconic tale because of how it offered a more thoughtful, even sentimental approach to the typical Superman story. It's regarded as one of the warmest, most emotional Superman adventures as he spends his final days trying to heal the planet as he dies from solar radiation poisoning. The book's most powerful moment comes in 2006's issue #10 when Kal-El ends up saving a young teen, Regan, from comitting suicide, which to this day is regarded as one of the best Superman moments ever.
And now, Superman: Man of Tomorrow #17 matches the sentimentality of that moment with another scene of Superman at his most aspirational and inspirational as the Man of Steel deals with a prisoner who takes Metropolis General Hospital hostage.
The prisoner, Dax, escapes from jail and forms a psychic barrier around the establishment, only opening it to let Kal-El in. He's generated a hive mind with doctors and patients mind-controlled, guiding Superman to a room where Dax's mom is dying from cancer. She's terminal and Dax, clearly distraught and breaking down mentally, wants Superman to fix his mom. He's so delirious thanks to his grief, he doesn't know how it could be done but just assumes Superman has a way of preventing death, which the hero tells him isn't the case.
Dax yells at Superman it's not that he can't, but he won't and throws furniture and machines at him using his telekinesis. However, Kal-El takes the hits but shows his compassion and empathy, making it clear he knows about this pain as he lost his parents too. But he reassures Dax that he won't be alone in her last moments, with him and Superman embracing. As they speak, the Man of Steel comforts and reminds him this is all part of life. Dax wishes it were him instead and as he breaks the hold over everyone, Superman stays with him to the end in a heartbreaking exchange.
He listens to Dax talking about how he turned to crime to pay for her medical bills and even after she got angry hearing his career choice, she'd still visit him in jail, bringing cards to play rummy. It's really amazing to see Kal-El listening to his perspective and who he really is, showing why Superman's methods are often touted up more than Batman's "hit first and ask questions later" mentality. But again, it speaks to Kal-El's essence and spirit where no matter what, he believes in humanity.
The finale sees Superman visiting Dax in prison after his mom's death, which has become the same weekly ritual his mom had. Superman has a pack of cards and wants to play Go Fish as he can't beat Dax at rummy.
So while All-Star Superman created an amazing moment, Man of Tomorrow gives us a deeper bond that's followed up with a friendship which is changing Kal-El's life as well as he becomes more than just a temporary therapist.