DC Comics has announced Superman: The Stranger, a new six-issue DC Black Label series written and illustrated by Wes Craig. Launching on September 2, 2026, the series reimagines Superman's earliest days in Metropolis through a darker, politically charged lens inspired by Golden Age comics and the iconic Fleischer Studios animated shorts.
DC Comics is taking Superman back to the beginning with Superman: The Stranger, a new six-issue DC Black Label series written and drawn by Wes Craig. The series is scheduled to launch on September 2, 2026, and will present a darker, more mature vision of Superman's earliest days in Metropolis.
Set in an Art Deco-inspired version of 1938 Metropolis, Superman: The Stranger draws heavily from the visual language of Golden Age comics and the classic Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons. As part of DC's Black Label imprint, the series is aimed at readers aged 17 and above, giving Craig the freedom to explore a more mature interpretation of Superman's origin-era mythology.
Can one hero truly save a broken city?
Superman: The Stranger
Craig's approach strips the character back to his earliest incarnation. Rather than focusing on Krypton, Smallville, or the Kent family, the story embraces the spirit of Superman's debut in Action Comics, portraying him as a powerful outsider dedicated to fighting injustice, protecting vulnerable citizens, and challenging systems that exploit ordinary people.
In Superman: The Stranger, Clark Kent struggles to make a living in the bustling streets of Metropolis by day. By night, he becomes Superman, venturing into the city's darkest corners to defend those who have been forgotten. Despite his immense power, Clark begins to question whether his efforts are truly making a difference as corruption, inequality, and systemic problems continue to plague the city.
The creative team includes writer and artist Wes Craig, colorist Jason Wordie, and letterer Tom Napolitano. The debut issue will also feature variant covers by Dave Johnson, Goran Parlov, and Ethan Young.
The Fleischer Superman cartoons, which first appeared in theaters in 1941, remain among the most influential adaptations of the character. They introduced audiences to a richly animated version of Superman and helped popularize many elements now considered central to the hero, including his famous description as "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive," and his ability to fly.
With Superman: The Stranger, Craig appears to be channeling the energy of Superman's earliest adventures while reframing them for contemporary readers. The series looks back to the character's Depression-era roots while asking a question that remains relevant today: can one hero truly save a broken city?
