Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!


Every hero has to start somewhere. For Superman, that beginning was an early career as a superhero in the rural community of Smallville. Action Comics Vol. 1: Boy of Steel is the story of Clark’s teenage adventures as Superboy, as narrated by his adult self. It’s an origin story, it’s a coming-of-age story and it’s a great reimagining of the Golden and Silver Age Superboy comics.

Boy of Steel was originally published in Action Comics #1087-1092 and kicked off a new era for the long-running DC title focusing exclusively on young Clark. Considering it’s set in the past, you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s a nonessential read, especially if you’re mainly concerned with the events of DC’s shared universe. However, you’d be missing out on some of the sharpest, most heartfelt superhero storytelling currently on the stands. Boy of Steel enriches your understanding of who Clark is as an adult hero by giving us a new glimpse of these early days as he was just coming to terms with his abilities. But don’t worry, you’re not too late to get in on the Action. The first collection is now available in softcover, meaning it’s easier than ever to get caught up.
 

THE PREMISE:

Before Metropolis, before the Daily Planet and before he was the most iconic hero on Earth, Clark Kent was a fifteen-year-old boy trying to find his way as a hero. He’s just starting to get the hang of his abilities, and he’s eager to use them to help his community, but he still has a lot to learn. For example, what are the limits of his powers? When is it ethical to use them? What should he do when the government asks him to cooperate?

Clark soon learns that being Superboy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as he faces a mysterious mentor with a hidden agenda, his first warzone and the challenges of leading a double life. Like any teenager, Clark makes his fair share of mistakes, but when you have the power to move mountains, your mistakes have bigger consequences. The journey from Superboy to Superman is filled with lots of trials and tribulations, but that’s what makes it so special and memorable.
 

LET’S TALK TALENT:

Boy of Steel is written by Mark Waid, one of the most consequential creators to ever write for DC. Waid is responsible for iconic storylines such as Kingdom Come, JLA: Tower of Babel, The Return of Barry Allen and numerous other classics. Clark Kent’s boyhood days have been explored many times in comics, television and film, but Waid manages to keep things fresh and finds new ways of looking at Superman’s youth. Waid is a DC Universe fan at heart, and there are lots of fun touches and homages throughout the story, which is a clear labor of love.

Boy of Steel is penciled by Skylar Patridge, an artist who is best known for his work on Wonder Woman and Aquaman: The Becoming. Patridge’s artwork finds a perfect balance between the grounded and the fantastical. For example, Clark’s Superboy suit looks homemade without compromising its original design. We see sci-fi elements like Captain Comet, but we also get incredibly real and vulnerable moments, like teenage Clark not knowing how to handle his attraction to Lana Lang. In the latter case, Patridge’s artwork does most of the heavy lifting, giving us the full depth of Clark’s teenage embarrassment. The storyline also features pencils from Cian Tormey and Patricio Angel, who each add a bit of personality and artistic moodiness to Clark’s teenage chronicles.
 

A FEW REASONS TO READ:

  • Boy of Steel feels like a blend of Young Sheldon, Smallville and Man of Steel. It’s adult Clark narrating the adventures of his teenage self, like Young Sheldon, while the origin aspect feels like a modernized version of other Superman backstories like Man of Steel or Smallville.
     
  • As an adult, Clark has a strong sense of morality and always stands up for what’s right. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see him as a teenager making mistakes and still trying to find his way. For example, when a corrupt banker threatens to wrongfully evict Smallville’s residents, Clark considers using his powers to scare the banker, or to steal documents that would save the town—two things that would be out of the question in his adult years.
  • Oh, and like many teenagers, Clark gets things spectacularly wrong. One of the best scenes in the book is when Clark is convinced that he has super-pheromones, which makes him feel incredibly guilty. Sorry Clark, just because a girl is talking with you, doesn’t mean you have alien pheromones.
     
  • There are a lot of references to the wider DC Universe here. We see Dr. Will Magnus and get some teases of his future creations. Sam Lane’s first encounter with Superboy also takes place in Boy of Steel, and Waid conjures up a creative way of having Lois give the hero his name without directly meeting him. Captain Comet, a Silver Age sci-fi hero, plays a surprisingly pivotal role, acting as a mentor and antagonist to Superboy. There’s also a great story from Pete Ross’s point of view, which is a modern take on 1961’s Superboy #90.
     

WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:

This isn’t the first story to look at Superman’s youthful days, or the first comic about a teenage superhero. However, Boy of Steel still feels remarkably fresh and vibrant, giving us a new take on a beloved character that has been around since 1938. It’s fun and refreshing to watch Clark learn and grow, as he does things like consider the ethics of using his powers to solve the town’s financial problems. Should Superboy play a role in our country’s military conflicts? There’s a lot to unpack, and the answers aren’t always clear.

Since it’s set in the past, you don’t need to be up to speed on Superman continuity or current DC events. In fact, this could be your first Superman comic. It’s a great introduction to the character, a fun coming-of-age teenage drama and the perfect choice for your next Weekend Escape.


Action Comics Vol. 1: Boy of Steel by Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge, Patricio Delpeche and Cian Tormey is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers as a softcover graphic novel. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.