Superman No. 700: a reminder of why we care

With "Superman" No. 700 marking a rare milestone - only "Action Comics," "Detective Comics" and "Batman" have been continuously published for that many issues - you would think the issue would be jam-packed with epic slug fests, classic villains, etc.

However, since the past few years have seen the Man of Steel engaged in universe-shattering battles on an almost continuous basis, DC has chosen to take the special occasion to look at the little things that make the iconic hero special, respected and admired worldwide.

There is a short story involving his relationship with Lois Lane that plays like an extended version of the classic scene in the original movie in which he flies with the very human lady he loves. Amazingly, this story is able to approximate the power of that scene on the printed page - and helps us truly understand the bond these two share.

There is also a by-the-numbers battle with the Parasite that lets us see Superman flex his muscles a bit, but not much is at stake.

The most powerful story in the book is the last one. Scripted by J. Michael Straczynski, it sets the stage for what the writer has planned for Superman for the next year or so - and does so masterfully. More details of the story and how it came to be can be found in Comics Guy's conversation with DC copublisher Dan Didio, below. Suffice it to say, the story reminds us why we care about Superman in the first place. It grounds him - and Comics Guy cannot wait to see how it unfolds.

Superman's 'Walk Across America' starts here

 

According to Dan Didio, the decision to launch the "Walk Across America" was the result of fortuitous timing.

"It was an interesting moment," Didio told Comics Guy. "We had an opening in the 'Superman' title and had just finished a long story line with big battles that had Superman off the Earth for a while. We wanted to connect him back to Earth, and Joe [Straczynski] came up with the idea of the 'Walk Across America.'