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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

And THIRTY YEARS AGO TODAY, Superman history was made when Clark Kent and Lois Lane were finally married in SUPERMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM. The triple spread page has Jerry Siegel officiating the wedding, with Joe Shuster and then-modern creators in the audience. (Many identified in the pencil layout)

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Adventures of Superman #519 (January 1994) "DEAD AGAIN!" Finale! Superman defeats Superbrainiac thanks to the power of bullying. Tumblr: superman86to99.tumblr.com/post/8298512... Patreon (free post): www.patreon.com/superman86to...

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Adventures of Superman #519 (January 1994)

Adventures of Superman #519 (January 1994) "Dead Again!," Finale! Finally! Superman vs. Brainiac! Exclamation marks! After making Superman spend a whole...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Going from comments by Lois and Luthor's assistant Pearl (wonder what happened to *her*) on Superman #1, the world is JUST learning that Superman is an alien. By Action #584, days later in the timeline, Wonder Girl already knows that Superman is vulnerable to kryptonite. Word travels fast-

Panel from Superman #1 by John Byrne and Terry Austin. Lex Luthor's assistant Pearl looks shocked as she informs Lex that Superman is about to be killed by someone called Metallo, who called Superman "some kinda alien being".

Panel from Action Comics #584 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Beast Boy and Wonder Girl of The New Teen Titans talk about how to contain the possessed Superman. Wonder Girl mentions he's only vulnerable to kryptonite and magic.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Action Comics #584 is ALSO ALSO 40! It's a... let's say, very "John Byrne" issue. Like commenter Yannick Belzil points out on @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social's latest post at superfanxl.com, that last panel with all the word balloons crammed in borders on self-parody. Plan ahead, John.

Panel from Action Comics #584 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. A possessed Superman holds The New Teen Titans' Wonder Girl by her neck as he calls her beautiful and threatens to torture her as revenge for being rejected by other beautiful women.

Panel from Action Comics #584 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Superman, having just recovered his body, gives a long speech to the disabled scientist who had possessed it about how it's not his body that made him a "cripple" but his mind.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Adventures #424 also introduces an uncharacteristically grouchy Professor Hamilton, who complains about having to live in a "hovel" because The Man's out to get him. I like to think this (and his upcoming prison stint) taught him humility; later on, Hambone willing lives in a messy Suicide Slum lab.

Panels from Adventures of Superman #424 by Jerry Ordway and Mike Manley. Clark Kent and Cat Grant visit Professor Emil Hamilton, who is in a bad mood and complains about the government trying to discredit him while ignoring his invention.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Adventures of Superman #424 is ALSO 40! Clark Kent has a meet-cute with new Planet reporter Cat Grant. I like how, upon learning that Cat sleeps with celebrities to get interviews, Clark's first reaction is "oh, um, let’s do an assignment together." Also, I wanna read his "scrumptious" novel.

Panels from Adventures of Superman #424 by Jerry Ordway and Mike Manley. Clark Kent and Cat Grant, having just bumped into each other in an elevator, think the other is "gorgeous". Later, Perry White introduces Cat to Clark and Lois Lane.

Panels from Adventures of Superman #424 by Jerry Ordway and Mike Manley. Perry White introduces Lois Lane and Clark Kent to Cat Grant. The dialogue implies Cat has sex with celebrities to get interviews. Cat thinks: "So that's Clark Kent. His last novel was... scrumptious."

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Superman #1 is now (over) 40! Right off the bat, Byrne establishes that this new Superman is capable of getting the crap kicked outta him. I'm obsessed with finding reverse echoes of "Death of Superman" and Metallo holding up the torn cape in the rubble while an anguished Lois looks on is a biggie.

Panels from Superman #1 by John Byrne and Terry Austin. Three panels of Lois Lane looking increasingly distraught, followed by three simultaneous panels of Metallo emerging from rubble while triumphantly holding Superman's torn cape.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Bronze Age Babies @bronzeagebabies.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

John Byrne and Dick Giordano - Man of Steel 3 (1986), page 17 original art.

Superman and Batman - collaborating, and going into action.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

40 YEARS AGO TODAY - Superman battles the Teen Titans in ACTION #584! This revisit was a lesson in how a story about disabled people that was probably told with good intentions in 1987 carries all kind of problematic connotations today. It's fun... and then YIKES! superfanxl.com/2026/10/02/a...

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A first issue that's also the 424th issue? Lex Luthor propositioning Lois Lane? The introduction of Cat Grant, who looks at Clark like she's a cartoon skunk and he's a cat with a white stripe on his back? It all happened 40 years ago today! superfanxl.com/2026/09/25/a...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Our latest old post to get the expanded remaster treatment is Adventures #426, the issue where Superman takes a memorable hot tub bath with Amazing Grace. Check out @donsparrow.bsky.social's take on her! Tumblr: superman86to99.tumblr.com/post/5818071... Patreon: www.patreon.com/superman86to...

Artwork of DC Comics villain Amazing Grace by Don Sparrow.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Jerry Ordway @jerryordway.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Here’s an in-progress shot of inks on a portion of a page by Dan Jurgens for the Superman 30th Anniversary Wedding special, out in a month from DC Comics! Fun to do finishes over Dan again!

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

40 YEARS AGO TODAY - It's a new Issue 1 for SUPERMAN as he has his first encounter with Kryptonite and learns someone has been looking into his origins. And the new, more dangerous Metallo debuts! superfanxl.com/2026/09/18/s...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I've been reading that Metal Men mini and it's surreal seeing something that completely looks like peak Jurgens/Breeding but is also fundamentally misguided. Thinking of doing a post about it.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

That's a great point! He always talks about his time dead like he was on vacation or something.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Kal-El, Son Of Krypton (The Art Of Superman) @kalelsonofkrypton.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

17 September 1992 - The first appearance of Doomsday in The Man of Steel № 17. #Doomsday #Superman #DCComicsCalendar #DCComics

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Oh right, the one that inspired "Red Son"! Completely forgot about the Skyboy part and now I'm wondering if Jurgens was referencing that.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Always thought the design for Skyboy, Superman’s young partner in the fight against crime and injustice, was TOTALLY RAD and it's a shame he only shows up in this issue. Both Don and I wondered if he's supposed to be Mitch from Death of Superman, who had an, at best, MODERATELY RAD costume later on.

Panels from Superman #96 by Dan Jurgens and Dick Giordano. A confused Superman looks at Skyboy, a long-haired teen in a blue costume with a yellow S on his chest and a dark red cape and boots, who claims to be "The late Superman's young partner in the fight against crime and injustice!"

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Forgot to mention my favorite panel in the issue, a panel so good, a bunch of European editions said "nah, THIS is the cover"

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Superman #96 (January 1995) "DEAD AGAIN!" Part 10! Brainiac makes Superman hallucinate a crapload of guest stars (Batman! Doomsday! All four "Reign" Supermen! Skyboy!!!) while hitting on Lois. Tumblr: superman86to99.tumblr.com/post/8279479... Patreon (free post): www.patreon.com/superman86to...

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Superman #96 (January 1995)

Superman #96 (January 1995) "Dead Again!," Part 10! Superman finally discovers the secret villain behind this storyline: Pa Kent! Wait, no, Batman! No,...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I wonder if part of the reason why Byrne's Superman only ever saw Lana as a friend is that on some subconscious level, he knew his mom was named LaRa and had kinda similar features (minus the eyebrows).

Panel from The Man of Steel #6 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. During a dream sequence, Superman sees his mother, Lara, for the first time. As he's pulled out of the dream, her face is replaced with Lana Lang's.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We are also introduced to Pa Kent's trusty shovel, which died after being used to disrupt Jor-El's hologram. It'll still be in the afterlife when Superman and Pa meet there in Adventures #500, where it'll repeat the trick. (Disappointed there's no "Pa Kent with Anti-Hologram Shovel" action figure.)

Panel from The Man of Steel #6 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Pa Kent hits Jor-El's projection with a shovel, causing it to disperse, as a surprised Superman looks on.

Panel from Adventures of Superman #500 by Tom Grummett and Doug Hazlewood. Pa Kent, dressed in Korean War soldier uniform, hits Jor-El's projection once again while he and Superman float on a cloudy, Heaven-like place.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

This issue establishes Superman's love of rhubarb pie and teaches him a powerful lesson: if you try to steal your mom's pie, a Kryptonian ghost will come haunt your ass.

Panel from The Man of Steel #6 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Superman, dressed in a bathrobe, is crouching in front of an open refrigerator, holding a partly eaten rhubarb pie.

Panel from The Man of Steel #6 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. A projection of Jor-El appears in the middle of the Kents' kitchen, causing Superman to drop the rhubarb pie from the shock.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Man of Steel #6 is now 40! Though I'm so behind on these, it's practically 41. This is the classic issue in which Superman, a 28 year old man who can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes, realizes he’s an alien (up to this point, he thought he was an X-Men).

Panel from The Man of Steel #6 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. A holographic projection of Jor-El raises his hand over Superman's body in the middle of the Kent farm, as Superman crouches in anguish with his hands on his head while his mind is overloaded with information about Krypton.

Panel from The Man of Steel #6 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Superman flies over an icy landscape, thinking that he's just realized he's an alien and noting that until now, he thought he was "some kind of mutant".

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

40 YEARS AGO TODAY - MAN OF STEEL #6 has Superman at last discover his Kryptonian origins, Ma and Pa Kent discover Clark has a thing for Lois Lane, and Lana Lang discovers she's been banished to... The Friend Zone! superfanxl.com/2026/09/04/t...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Maaaaaaan, this would have been cool to see AND I'm sure this writing stuff would have made it meaningful to the overall plot.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

We get a do-over on SUPERMAN 64, but it’s just a game about Superman answering letters at Christmas

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I've been filling up my brain with Superman trivia since 1993 and had never, ever heard of this storyline before Jon's posts about it. Not totally convinced these strips aren't from another Hypertime reality.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Like @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social says at superfanxl.com, Lucy Lane's suicide attempt in this issue comes off as flippant. Another thing that always bugged me is that Bizarro #1 sacrificed himself for her, yet she doesn't even acknowledge this when Bizarro #2 shows up years later. Ingrate.

Panels from The Man of Steel #5 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. A previously blind Lucy Lane recovers her vision as white dust (formerly Bizarro) rains down on her.

Panels from Superman: The Man of Steel #32 by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke. Lucy Lane calls Bizarro a "monster" and Lois defends him.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I don't have much else to say about this issue, except that "dressed like Superman and Clark Kent at the same time" is still the greatest Bizarro look, as far as I'm concerned. They should have kept it in all further Post-Crisis appearances.

Panel from The Man of Steel #5 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. A surprised Superman says "Great Scott!" while looking at Bizarro, who's wearing Clark Kent-like glasses and a suit over his plainly visible Superman costume.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

This issue starts with a fake-out where they make you think Superman is holding Lex in his Pre-Crisis armor, but it turns out to be a goon. For me, reading this issue after getting into comics with "Death of Superman," the takeaway was "Oh hey, this is where the Lex-Men armors first showed up!"

Panel from The Man of Steel #5 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Superman holds a man wearing a green and purple armor (reminiscent of Lex Luthor's Pre-Crisis look) while saying "You're getting sloppy, Luthor!"

Panel from The Man of Steel #5 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Different view of Superman holding the armored man, who is clearly not Lex Luthor. Luthor (in his balding "Man of Steel" look) mocks the man, who is brain dead.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The Man of Steel #5 is now 40! Just like #2 sets the stage for the Superman/Lois/Clark triangle and #3 introduces him to Batman, this issue establishes another long-running relationship: Lex Luthor and cloning. Kinda fitting that he had some red hair in this issue (but no Aussie accent)...

Panels from The Man of Steel #5 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. A Superman clone emerges from a pod and a satisfied Lex Luthor calls him "Perfect!".

Panels from The Man of Steel #5 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. The Superman clone collapses and Dr. Teng explains that the cloning Matrix is rejecting Superman's alien DNA.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

All of Don's original artwork for the blog (plus the time lil Don appeared in a 1993 "Return of Superman" TV news item) can be seen here: superman86to99.tumblr.com/tagged/don%2...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Big Brain Brainiac by @donsparrow.bsky.social, from our latest post. Quite possibly the Brainiest Brainiac that ever Brained.

Artwork of Brainiac, in "Dead Again!" era big brain form, by Don Sparrow.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Jerry Ordway @jerryordway.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Examples of John Byrne’s pencils that are included in the Man Of Steel Absolute Edition. There are a few Dick Giordano-inked panels here and there so I guess editorial pulled those back to photocopy to send to me, 40 years ago.

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Reposted by Superman '86 to '99

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

40 YEARS AGO TODAY - Superman fights an unnamed but... bizarre imperfect duplicate of himself in THE MAN OF STEEL #5. Also Lex's Super Powers battlesuit makes a cameo, while Lucy Lane makes a surprisingly flippant suicide attempt. superfanxl.com/2026/08/21/t...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Superman: The Man of Steel #40 (January 1995) "DEAD AGAIN!" Part 9! 1995 is here (sort of) and so is Brainiac (sort of) (he's mostly in his short-lived "sexy lady with an exposed brain" form). Tumblr: superman86to99.tumblr.com/post/8255063... Patreon (free post): www.patreon.com/superman86to...

buttondown.com

Superman: The Man of Steel #40 (January 1995)

Superman: The Man of Steel #40 (January 1995) "Dead Again!," Part 9! 1995 is here, and so is Brainiac! Well, sort of. It's only 1995 if we go by cover date...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Just learning about this guy and he sounds even more despicable than the Mr. Z who's a Nazi

THE CANINE AND THE CROOKS

One day in Metropolis, Mr. Z, and two gunmen, try to kill a small dog, then later kidnap the dog. Then they also try to murder Lois Lane. Superman rescues Lois, and compels Mr. Z to reveal why he shot at and then stole the dog. It was because of an eccentrically-written Last Will of a wealthy relative of Mr. Z.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

LOVED how much "Reign of the Supermen" there was in the latest season of My Adventures with Superman, and how fresh it felt. Just a ton of cool concepts that stand the test of time and multiple interpretations, like Superman himself.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Green Lantern-Related Titles Round-Up (December 1994) This month: Guy vs. Deathstroke! Kyle vs. the Titans (again)! John vs. bureaucracy! Also, Guy blows up the Twin Towers to save Bill Clinton. greenlantern94to04.tumblr.com/post/8246872...

greenlantern94to04.tumblr.com

Green Lantern-Related Titles Round-Up (December 1994)

This month: Guy vs. Deathstroke! Kyle vs. the Titans (again)! John vs. bureaucracy! Guy Gardner: Warrior #26 President Clinton has been kidnapped by cybernetically enhanced pirates. Are you a bad...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Hey, excellent point! bsky.app/profile/dkvi...

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Since we never heard about this shaving method again (afaik), it's possible that at one point he asked himself the same question and felt dumb.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Luthor saying "One day ... you're going to die, Superman" in Man of Steel #4 always gives me a bit of a chill. Logically, I know Byrne didn't mean "...because a monster from ancient Krypton will beat the crap out of you while I pose as my Australian son" but emotionally I'm like "DOOMSDAY IS COMING"

Panels from The Man of Steel #4 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Lex Luthor tells Superman he will kill him but no one will be able to prove it.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

We need an update on little Robert Superman Ng. Did they call him "Supermang" in school? Did bouncers assume his ID was fake because of the middle name? Has any employer ever looked past the first line of his resume? There's no way this guy isn't a supervillain now.

Panels from The Man of Steel #4 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Superman walks out of a hospital thinking about a baby who was just named "Robert Superman Ng" in his honor.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I like that Byrne apparently decided this issue didn't have enough expository thought bubbles and crammed a bit more at the last minute, based on the different lettering in these panels (same lettering used in #6 when the space shuttle had to be renamed "experimental space plane" post-Challenger).

Panel from The Man of Steel #4 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Superman flies while carrying a large ship over his head, thinking about how things seem to weigh less when he's flying.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

This issue establishes that Luthor is a big horndog who's been married 7 or 8 times and relentlessly pursues Lois Lane. It's funny to me that this aspect of the character was completely dropped over the next 5 or so years as Lex focused all his attention on destroying Superman.

Panels from The Man of Steel #4 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Lex Luthor tells Lois Lane he "desires" her but she turns him down.

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Superman '86 to '99 @superman86to99.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The Man of Steel #4 is now 40! (And a week, because I'm behind on these.) This is the issue that fully introduced Post-Crisis Lex Luthor, but the most important part is the scene that finally reveals how Superman shaves his "super-tough bread." The answer is: very carefully.

Panels from The Man of Steel #4 by John Byrne and Dick Giordano. Clark Kent shaves by shooting heat vision at a small piece of metal from his Kryptonian rocket, which bounces back and hits his face.

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