Superman: Return to Glory (Comics) | Review

Powerless heroes make for desperate times and the New 52 era loved testing Clark Kent's limits in ways traditional Superman stories wouldn't dare. Return to Glory picks up right where Before Truth left off, throwing a vulnerable Man of Steel into situations that should kill him.

Writer Gene Luen Yang (New Super-Man: Equilibrium, Shang-Chi: Family of Origin) teams up with Peter J. Tomasi (Black Adam: The Dark Age, Detective Comics: Mythology) across this ambitious collection spanning Superman #45-52 and Annual #3, bridging the controversial Truth storyline with what comes next in Rebirth.

This isn't your typical Superman saves the day storyline. Here's a hero stripped of his identity, his powers fading, forced to join underground fight clubs to survive. The collection bridges Before Truth and leads directly into The Final Days of Superman and DC Universe: Rebirth.

Everything Yang built in the Truth storyline comes to a head here. Vandal Savage emerges as the real puppet master behind everything, Hordr_Root reveals his true nature and Superman faces the kind of impossible choice that could potentially restore his powers but destroy something fundamental about who he is as a hero.

Life as Superman knew it is completely gone now. His secret identity exposed, his job at the Daily Planet lost, most of his powers drained. But he's still Superman and that means figuring out who orchestrated his systematic destruction before they finish the job permanently.

Superman's investigation leads him to Oakland and Mythbrawl, an underground super-powered fight club where gods and legends duke it out. Clark joins not for glory but survival, needing money while hunting down Hordr_Root, the crime lord who blackmailed him into exposure.

The Mythbrawl concept works surprisingly well. These aren't random brawls but mythological reenactments where fighters keep their legends alive. Superman battles alongside Haemosu, a Korean sun god, while uncovering connections between Mythbrawl and Hordr's operation. The fight choreography is gritty and brutally visceral.

Yang uses these early issues to rebuild Clark's relationships with Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane. Jimmy discovers the truth about Superman independently, leading to emotional confrontations that feel earned. Their friendship gets tested in ways the previous volumes only hinted at.

The real threat reveals itself gradually. Hordr_Root isn't the mastermind here but a creation of Vandal Savage, the immortal caveman who's been planning this takedown for millennia. Savage is after the comet that originally granted him immortality and he's orchestrated Superman's downfall to eliminate a major obstacle in his way.

This connects to Before Truth's reveal that the comet nearly struck Krypton before being deflected by Superman's ancestors. Savage sees reclaiming the comet as his birthright and Superman's very existence as an insult. The personal stakes elevate everything.

Savage's plan involves spawning powerful descendants across Earth who gain strength as the comet approaches. Superman faces an army of enhanced warriors while his powers continue deteriorating. The Savage Dawn crossover begins here, spanning multiple titles but remaining coherent when read through Clark's perspective.

Clark faces an impossible choice. Kryptonite radiation, the substance that weakens him, could potentially restore his powers through a dangerous form of chemotherapy. But the process might kill him and survival could fundamentally change what makes Superman who he is.

Wonder Woman plays a significant supporting role, their relationship tested by Superman's changing circumstances. She leads alongside him when assembling an army of gods and monsters to face Savage's forces. The mythological scale fits Yang's broader narrative about legends and what they'd mean to modern heroes.

The collection includes Peter J. Tomasi's Final Days chapters. These shift tone dramatically, becoming a race as Superman realizes his condition might be fatal. The pre-Flashpoint Superman appears thinking he can resurrect his counterpart using Kryptonian technology.

Tomasi's chapters feel quite distinct from Yang's work, functioning as both an epilogue and prologue. They wrap up the Truth saga while cleverly setting up Rebirth's reset of continuity. The emotional beats land hard, particularly Superman's farewell tour visiting friends and allies one final time before what he believes is the end.

Howard Porter (The Flash: Rogue War, The Flash: Year One) handles most of the Mythbrawl issues with kinetic energy that makes underground fights feel dangerous. His battered Superman sells the physical toll. Fight choreography explodes across pages with impact.

Mikel Janín (Justice League Dark: Death of Magic, Justice League Dark: In the Dark) takes over for the Savage Dawn and Final Days chapters, bringing refined detail and emotional depth to quieter moments. His Superman looks heroic even while dying. The contrast between artists works surprisingly well given the tonal shifts here.

Yang's writing reaches its peak with character work. The Jimmy Olsen scenes particularly shine, showing why their friendship matters beyond convenient plot devices. Yang understands these relationships define Superman as much as his powers do and he gives them proper attention.

Tomasi's contributions feel more traditional superhero storytelling, which works for the Final Days material. His Superman faces mortality with dignity and grace, making peace with friends while preparing for what comes next. The emotional resonance comes through even when the plot mechanics feel overly complicated at times.

Return to Glory works better than Before Truth but remains incomplete without reading Savage Dawn and Final Days crossovers separately. The Mythbrawl issues are excellent, showing Yang at his creative best. The crossover material gets messier with additional context needed.

What this volume does well is character work. Superman stripped of powers and identity becomes more human and relatable. Yang uses that vulnerability to explore what really makes Clark Kent heroic beyond the cape. The relationships feel authentic, the stakes personal, the emotional beats earned through careful buildup.

Vandal Savage works as a legitimate Superman-level threat. Yang treats him as mythologically significant rather than another superpowered bruiser. The Kryptonian history connection makes their conflict feel destined. Savage succeeds by attacking Superman's existence.

Read this if you enjoyed Before Truth arc, want to complete the Truth saga, or appreciate Superman stories that strip away power to focus on character. Skip if you need self-contained narratives or hate crossover complexity. This is essential New 52 Superman reading but works better as middle chapter rather than standalone.

Superman: Return to Glory is collected in a trade paperback and hardcover edition, both widely available through comic-book shops and major retailers. Digital readers can find the full storyline on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology, DC Universe Infinite and major e-Book platforms.