| Superman: Last Son of Earth | |
|---|---|
 Cover toSuperman: Last Son of Earth #1, art byDoug Wheatley. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Format | Mini-series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | 2000 |
| No. of issues | 2 |
| Main character(s) | Kal-El Lois Lane Lex Luthor |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Steve Gerber |
| Artist | Doug Wheatley |
| Colorist | Chris Chuckry |
Superman: Last Son of Earth is a 2000 American comic book miniseries, published byDC Comics under itsElseworlds imprint. Written bySteve Gerber with art byDoug Wheatley, the two-issue storyline focuses on social commentary, particularlyxenophobia, cultural stagnation, and authoritarianism. The story is a reverse of the usualSuperman origin, with Kal-El being sent from Earth to Krypton and discovering aGreen Lanternpower ring. With the powers of a Green Lantern, Krypton's adopted son journeys to Earth, the planet of his birth, discover the remnants of a civilization struggling to survive amid both ecological adversities and a ruthless would-be dictator named Luthor. A sequel,Superman: Last Stand on Krypton was released in 2003.
The characters appeared in the story are from both elements and cast of theSuperman andGreen Lantern mythology:
Jonathan Kent is a scientific genius who discovers that ameteor is about to crash into Earth. He then builds a rocket to carry his wife and son into space, but his wife would rather stay by his side, and so their son is sent alone. The ship enters awormhole and eventually lands onKrypton. Clark Kent is adopted byJor-El and renamed Kal-El. Kal eventually finds aGreen Lantern ring and saves Krypton. He later uses the ring to recover his memories and he returns to Earth, where he meets his love,Lois Lane, and his greatest enemy,Lex Luthor. Due to Kal's body having adapted to the strongergravity of Krypton, he is a physical powerhouse when he returns to Earth (with superhuman strength, durability, and speed, much like the classic Superman in his earliest appearances), which he discovers when Luthor steals his ring in an attempt to access its power.[1]
The sequelSuperman: Last Stand on Krypton was released in 2003, also written by Steve Gerber and art by Doug Wheatley. The story picks up 10 years afterSuperman: Last Son of Earth.
The premise of Superman becoming a Green Lantern on Krypton was visited in mainstream continuity. InJLA #8-9, theKey traps theJustice League in dream worlds using a neural virus. In Superman's mind, he was born and raised on a Krypton that never exploded. One day he discovered the dying Green LanternTomar-Re crashed on Krypton. Tomar-Re gave Superman hispower ring and named him the Green Lantern of Sector 2813.[2]