Superman debuted exactly 87 years ago this day. With decades of fighting for justice and truth under his belt, it’s safe to say that he knows what he’s doing. But come May 21^st and the debut of Superman Unlimited, the Man of Steel will be back at square one, learning how to operate in a world that’s vastly different than the one in which he lives now.

Written by bestselling writer Dan Slott, in his DC ongoing series debut, and drawn by Rafael Albuquerque, Superman Unlimited begins with a massive asteroid showering the earth with Kryptonite, making the previously rare mineral readily available to evildoers of all kinds, from the Man of Steel’s most powerful super-villains to the common thugs who menace the streets of Metropolis at night. With everyone that Superman comes into conflict with now packing Kryptonite bullets, how can the previously indestructible Man of Steel operate?

Superman fans got their first taste of Slott’s Kal-El this week in the just-released Summer of Superman Special #1 and will get their next in the DC All In 2025 FCBD Special Edition #1 hitting shops on May 3^rd for Free Comic Book Day. But it was Superman Unlimited itself that we were most curious about, and seeing how it’s Superman Day, we felt the time couldn’t be better for a little chat with Slott about just what we can expect from the Man of Steel’s first new ongoing title in years.

You're launching a new Superman series during what's undoubtedly the biggest year for the character since probably 1992 and The Death of Superman.

Nope. 1978.

You would say that?

Maybe 1938.

Maybe! So, what's it like releasing a new book in a year like this?

It's so good. I see the DC bullet and I'm like, "That's my DC bullet." I see a hopeful, energetic Superman with Krypto and Lois and Jimmy and I'm like, "Okay, this is the Superman I know and love. This is the Superman I grew up with. I know this guy." I can't wait.

The concept for Superman Unlimited is so strong that it's surprising it's not something that DC's already done. How much does is this kryptonite asteroid shower going to change things and can Superman still even operate once this happens?

When I was a kid, I worried if Batman or Green Arrow was going to win. But I never doubted from page one that Superman was going to solve everything by page 22. I never worried a second. The guy can lift an ocean liner over his head. He can change the orbit of the moon. He can do whatever the heck he wants. I was never worried he was going to lose.

From Summer of Superman Special #1 – Script by Dan Slott, Art by Jorge Jiménez

We're not taking anything away from Superman, Clark is still going to be able to do all the amazing feats that Superman's done throughout his entire legacy, but now he's going to have to sweat for it. He's going to have to work hard for it. His Achilles heel is way more exposed. He's in a world with far greater stakes for Superman, and people who know me and my work know that he might not win now. He's still going to be Superman, he's still going to be this character of great empathy and optimism and hope, but now he’d better hope he wins.

Does it change how the public sees him, having this hero of Metropolis who's suddenly vulnerable?

We have a scene in Superman Unlimited #1 where you see all these people in a plane and all the oxygen masks are coming down and everything's shaking, and all the captain of the plane has to say is, "Everybody look to the left." And there's a red streak coming by and everyone is immediately calm.

If you live in the DC Universe and you see that shield and that red streak, you know you're okay. He'll find a way. He'll do something. He'll come through for you. He's Superman. That's never going to change. Whether it's a mountain of kryptonite or a world of kryptonite, nothing stops him from being the Man of Tomorrow.

So people still feel reassured even when he's vulnerable?

Even when he's vulnerable. Because if anyone's going to come through for you, it's him.

From Summer of Superman Special #1 – Script by Dan Slott, Art by Jorge Jiménez

Along with everything that's happening to Superman, it sounds like there are also some big changes at the Daily Planet.

Huge.

Lois is now Editor-in-Chief and the Daily Planet is expanding. I'm curious, at a time right now where news organizations are struggling, was it a deliberate choice to have the Planet go global?

It's not just that they're going global. We live in a day and age where news is so accessible for everyone. It's so easy for everyone to create their own news channel to cherry-pick whatever news they want from any app. You can tailor your news to your own personal bias. What you're going to have in the Daily Planet is a return of the journalist as a hero. When he's wearing that cape and he's Superman, he's a superhero. When he's wearing that business suit with the red tie, he's a hero for the people.

Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Ron Troupe, they're fighting a never-ending battle for truth and justice. That's what you get when you go to the Daily Planet all over the globe. You have the Newsboy Legion using their apps to get stuff to you as quickly as possible, but it might be wrong. You have Jack Ryder using conspiracy theory websites to get what he thinks the story is out there. But when you read it in the Daily Planet, you know it's the truth.

Is it a fantasy that a man can fly? Absolutely. And we can take a salve in that when we open up a comic. It feels great to read a comic about a man that can fly. It's equally fantastic that a news agency around the world is going to bring you truth. But what a wonderful fantasy to open up a book to.

From Summer of Superman Special #1 – Script by Dan Slott, Art by Jorge Jiménez

What's a character in Superman Unlimited that you've never written before and that you're having a lot of fun with?

We have an all-new character who's showing up, who is doing the Daily Planet's IT, and that is Tee-nah. She is the goddaughter of Solovar from Gorilla City. So, we've got our gorilla girl at the Daily Planet. And there's another new Planet cast member who I'm not going to reveal, who you'll go, "Oh, you fit in perfectly into the world of Superman."

We have all-new takes on Superman characters that have existed that people might not have seen for a long time. Superman has some of the best rogues in the universe, but he's got some other rogues who we haven't seen for a while and it's going to be fun to see them get an upgrade and a new fresh coat of paint. And also some brand new villains too.

Sounds like you’re really aiming to make an impact with your first DC book in a while.

My take is if you go out and you see this movie, if you haven't read a DC comic in years, if you're someone who read my Marvel work but haven't been reading DC, or if you're someone who hasn't read a comic book in your life, you can start with Superman Unlimited #1. You can just jump in on the ground floor and this whole new world will be open to you with this character you just met in what I am absolutely positive is going to be one of the greatest motion pictures of all time. You will be able to follow the adventures of this hopeful new Superman.

You want to feel good, you want to have a quick break from reality for twenty minutes, half an hour, you buy a copy of Superman Unlimited and you'll be like, "Ah, I just had fun adventures in Metropolis and around the world."
 

Summer of Superman Special #1 written by Dan Slott, Mark Waid and Joshua Williamson, with art by Jorge Jiménez and Tomeu Morey is now available in print and as digital comic book. It can also be read on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Superman Unlimited #1 by Dan Slott, Rafael Albuquerque and Marcelo Maiolo will be available May 21, 2025.