Superman: The Men of Tomorrow (Comics) | Review

What if Superman wasn't alone anymore in the universe? What if another hero existed with comparable powers, a similar origin story and the exact same burning desire to save humanity from itself? That scenario becomes reality when Ulysses suddenly arrives on Earth.

Writer Geoff Johns (Flash: Rebirth, Green Lantern: Rebirth) teams with legendary artist John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man: New Ways to Die, Wolverine: Enemy of the State) in his highly anticipated DC Comics debut for this storyline spanning Superman issues 32-39, bringing Marvel's iconic visual storyteller into DC's world.

The collaboration brings one of comics' most legendary artists into DC's world while Johns explores one of Superman's core themes: what happens when you finally find someone who truly understands your burden, only to discover they see the world very differently than you do.

This arc directly sets up the "Truth" storyline where Superman's secret identity becomes public knowledge. It introduces the solar flare power that plays a crucial role in future New 52 stories and establishes Jimmy Olsen's billionaire status that permanently changes their dynamic going forward in unexpected and very meaningful ways.

Neil Quinn's scientist parents worked at Ulysses Research Lab, searching for habitable alternate dimensions where humanity could escape Earth's violence. When reality-eating strange matter threatened their facility, they sent infant Neil through a dimensional portal to save his life.

Neil crashes into the Fourth Dimension, landing on the Great World where peaceful beings adopt him and name him Ulysses. The inter-dimensional energy permanently infuses his cells, granting flight, superhuman strength and energy manipulation abilities that make him physical equal to Superman in every measurable category.

Ulysses returns to Earth twenty-five years later chasing Klerik, a Fourth Dimension criminal threatening both worlds. He teams with Superman to capture the villain and Clark recognizes their parallels: sent away by loving parents, gained incredible powers, chose heroism.

Superman introduces Ulysses to his birth parents, Peter and Bridget Quinn, who survived the strange matter incident but lost all research to retrieve their son. The reunion seems perfect until the Machinist appears, selling advanced weaponry and mind-control devices throughout Metropolis using innocent people as his puppets.

The Machinist manipulates Ulysses with mind-ticks, forcing him to attack Superman before Neil breaks free and kills the villain. Superman discovers the body was an innocent man, with the real Machinist controlling everything remotely but the damage to Ulysses' psyche is done.

Ulysses explores Earth while staying in Clark's apartment, witnessing humanity's capacity for violence, corruption and self-destruction firsthand. The Machinist's weaponry reveals how pervasive conflict is across the planet and Neil questions whether his adoptive parents were right to raise him away from this doomed world.

Convinced Earth is doomed by moral decay and corruption, Ulysses offers six million humans transportation to the Great World in the Fourth Dimension. He frames this as salvation but his true plan involves using these humans as a power source to fuel the Great World's civilization.

Superman and the Quinns confront Ulysses about treating human lives as expendable resources, arguing Earth's imperfections don't justify abandoning billions to die. The confrontation fails when the Great World is destroyed, with Ulysses blaming Superman for the loss of his adoptive home and everyone he loved.

Grief-stricken and enraged, Ulysses attacks Earth in retaliation for what he believes Superman caused. The battle tests both heroes' limits as Neil's powers rival Clark's in every category, creating a stalemate neither can win through strength without catastrophic damage.

Superman unleashes his newly developed solar flare power, releasing all energy stored in his cells in one explosion that subdues Ulysses but leaves Clark powerless. The ability proves devastatingly effective but comes with serious consequences: Superman loses all powers temporarily while his cells recharge solar energy.

While recovering, Clark visits imprisoned Ulysses and tries convincing him he genuinely attempted saving everyone. Later, Superman reveals his secret identity to Jimmy Olsen, trusting his closest friend as he processes everything that happened with Neil and questions his role.

John Romita Jr. brings his distinctive blocky, kinetic style to Superman, creating splash pages emphasizing raw power during action sequences. His character designs for Ulysses capture the visual parallel to Superman while maintaining distinct features and his storytelling excels during quieter moments between Clark and Neil.

Klaus Janson (Daredevil: Born Again, The Dark Knight Returns) inks Romita Jr.'s pencils with heavy shadows grounding sci-fi elements in gritty realism. The collaboration creates a street-level aesthetic, though some find the style too rough for Superman's cleaner presentation.

Geoff Johns crafts a compelling exploration of Superman's loneliness and desire for peer companionship, using Ulysses as a mirror of what Clark might become. His characterization of Neil as pragmatic rather than purely evil adds moral complexity, making Ulysses a tragic figure corrupted by witnessing the worst of humanity.

The Machinist sub-plot feels underdeveloped despite introducing an interesting antagonist with mind-control technology. Johns never explores the villain's motivations, using him as a plot device to corrupt Ulysses rather than developing a standalone threat worthy of attention.

Superman: Men of Tomorrow delivers a thought-provoking examination of what separates heroes from villains when both possess godlike power and genuinely believe they're saving humanity. Johns understands that Superman's greatest strength isn't invulnerability but his unwavering faith in humanity's potential for good.

John Romita Jr.'s artwork divides readers based on style preference but his storytelling shines during emotional beats. The visual parallel between Superman and Ulysses reinforces their connection and the solar flare sequence makes the power feel catastrophic and costly.

The resolution feels rushed considering the buildup spent establishing Ulysses as Superman's equal and potential greatest ally. The Great World's destruction happens off-screen with minimal explanation, robbing the climax of any emotional weight and leaving readers confused about what really destroyed his adoptive home.

For Superman fans invested in New 52 continuity, this provides essential context for the Truth storyline and introduces the solar flare power. Superman's loneliness adds meaningful development, while Ulysses represents a complex antagonist Superman faces during this era.

Superman: The Men of Tomorrow is collected in a single trade paperback and hardcover edition from DC Comics. You can find physical copies to purchase at local comic-book shops and online retailers. Digital editions of the collection are also available on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology, DC Universe Infinite and other e-Book platforms.