Action Comics No. 5 explains Superman's origin in DC Comics' New Universe.
Images courtesy DC Comics. Click to enlarge.

I have been reading comics for a couple of decades, starting with The Death of Superman. Since then, I’ve gone back and read older stories from the ’80s and before. Though I quickly expanded my pull list to include other characters, my go-to has always been Superman. During the past 20 years of reading the Super-family of books, I’ve probably seen the flight of baby Kal-El 50 times. Sometimes it was nothing but a two-panel glimpse into the past, while other issues have devoted their entire 22-pages to retelling and/or tweaking the hero’s mythos.

To be honest, it can get kind of formulaic and boring to long-time readers. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt with the little S-shield on the front. But Action Comics No. 5, previewed exclusively on Wired.com and hitting stores Jan. 4, is something different. As the cover says, “It begins … again!”

This is the first time the DC new universe version has been told, and who better to tell this not-so-secret origin than superstar writer Grant Morrison and his equally super (see the pattern?) art team of Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang? Morrison has been steadily fleshing out the character’s beginnings since he first came on board with the Action Comics relaunch debut.

DC Comics’ move to reboot its entire line of books earlier this year met with mixed reactions, to be sure. No character was more affected than the Man of Steel. Though long-timers like myself have been hesitant to fully embrace these changes as a whole, the numbers don’t lie: Fans are enjoying this new iteration. Each issue continues to lay a foundation for another 20 years of Superman books.

As we have in the past, GeekDad and Underwire have teamed up to exclusively bring you the first preview pages for Action Comics No. 5. Below, you’ll find the first half. Check them out in all their Kubert glory, then click over to Underwire for the back half of the preview.

Most importantly, leave us your thoughts on the current super-books and Morrison’s take on Action Comics.

Stay super.

Action Comics No. 5, Page 1

Action Comics No. 5, Page 2

Read Pages 3 through 5 of Action Comics No. 5 on Underwire.