As revealed in DC’s July solicitations, Superman is set to make his return after disappearing following the events of the epic DC K.O. event. But looks like the Man of Steel won’t have time to take it easy for the rest of the summer. DC has announced details for Kingdom of Zod, a new crossover storyline running through the four Super-Family titles in August and September.
Kingdom of Zod will see Super-Family face against the iconic Kryptonian military leader in the pages of the four ongoing Super-Family books. The creative teams involved on each title include writer Sophie Campbell and artist Joe Quinones on Supergirl, writer Mark Waid and artist Montos on Action Comics, writer Dan Slott and artist Rachael Stott on Superman Unlimited, and writer Joshua Williamson and artist Eddy Barrows on Superman.
Official details from DC’s press release:
The story begins on August 12 in Supergirl #16, when a mysterious military coup dangerously destabilizes the Kryptonite Kingdom of El Caldero. Supergirl assembles her own strike team—a Super-Force including Superboy-Prime, Conner Kent, Tomorrow Man, Steel, and more—to infiltrate the occupied territory. Fresh off the epic Reign of the Superboys storyline, Kara’s Superboy crew is shocked to discover this conquering force is Kryptonian in origin…and deadly. That same day, Action Comics #1101 sees Superman crash-land back into the present day after the events of Action Comics #1100 (no spoilers here!), only to find himself immediately drawn into the escalating conflict.
The Kingdom of Zod crossover continues on August 19 in Superman Unlimited #16, where Zod reveals the true scope of his plan and unleashes a dangerous Kryptonite infection that spreads across the world. The first month of “Kingdom of Zod” concludes on August 26 with Superman #41, as Superman, Supergirl, Superboy-Prime, and the Super-Family confront Zod in a battle that will reshape the future of the House of El!
The story continues through September with chapters in Supergirl #17, Action Comics #1102, Superman Unlimited #17, and Superman #42, bringing the Kingdom of Zod arc to its explosive conclusion in a one-shot,Superman: Kingdom of Zod Special, on September 30.
“Kingdom of Zod” brings together DC’s full Super-Family for a high-stakes battle against one of Superman’s greatest foes and features the return of the Man of Tomorrow at a moment when the DC Universe needs him most. Will the Super-Family be able to stand against Zod?
In the recent Kneel Before Zod series, the classic Superman foe formed his own Legion of Zod, a group composed of the worst alien criminals aboard a deep-space prison ark. As DC fans may recall, after the events of Absolute Power Lois Lane acquired her own Kryptonian super powers and took on the superhero identity and moniker of Superwoman. With the powers seemingly gone, her time as Superwoman has apparently come to an end. It was eventually revealed that her mysterious powers were in fact unknowingly stolen from General Dru-Zod himself. It remains to be seen whether or not the good general’s powers have returned. Writer Joshua Williamson first teased the return of Zod last year during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con and would presumably be picking up this longstanding plotline.
All four titles will feature connecting covers drawn by Guillem March. Variant covers will also be available featuring art by Noobovich, Stephanie Hans, Joe Quinones, Ariel Olivetti, Mike Choi, ACO, Taurin Clarke, Vincenzo Riccardi, and Christian Ward. Also most notably, all four titles will include foil variant covers drawn by none other than Mark Spears himself.
