Is Superman Rebirth the Same Man from Death of Superman?

Superman, the iconic Kryptonian hero, has been through many transformations and story arcs in the history of DC Comics. One of the most significant and controversial reboots was the Death of Superman. Yet, after the events of DC Rebirth, a new era of Superman emerged. So, is the Superman from the Rebirth era the same hero as the one from the Death of Superman storyline?

Complexity of Superman's Evolution

The short answer is that the Rebirth era Superman is, to a great extent, the same hero, but with a significant history that intertwines with that of the New 52 Superman. This period complicates the narrative, as it involves multiple timelines and costume changes that affect the character's identity.

The Superman of the New 52 Era

The contemporary answer involves the characters that first appeared or reappeared during the New 52 event. However, it is crucial to understand that there is no character called 'Superman Rebirth.' What many refer to is the Superman featured in DC Comics from the DC Universe: Rebirth 1 special to the present.

During the Convergence event, which was a part of the New 52 era, the pre-Flashpoint era Superman, Lois Lane, and their son Jon were displaced by Brainiac to an alien world. Lois gave birth to Jon during this event, and they survived to relocate to the New 52 Universe a few years into that timeline.

Continuity and Change

While the New 52 Superman continued to star in Action Comics and Superman, the pre-Flashpoint Superman and his family starred in Superman: Lois and Clark. During this series, Clark adopted the pseudonym "White" and wore a black Superman outfit, working in secret.

The End of the New 52 and the Rebirth Era

The New 52 era ended with the death of the New 52 Superman. The Rebirth era Superman took over, wearing a costume closer to the classic Superman outfit rather than the New 52 armor. Initially, he was seen as a replacement from another timeline or dimension. However, the confusion was clarified in a storyline called Superman Reborn.

Restoration of Superman's History

Superman Reborn revealed that the mysterious figure, later identified as Doctor Manhattan, had separated the pre-Flashpoint Superman from the New 52 version and the Convergence version. This storyline ultimately led to the restoration of both Supermen with their histories merged. The Rebirth era Superman retained the pre-Flashpoint history with the addition of elements from the New 52, primarily the armored costume.

In the aftermath of this storyline, Action Comics and Superman revealed that Lois and Clark were living in Hamilton County and had restored their original identities. They eventually moved back to Metropolis, and Superman resumed wearing the classic Superman costume in Action Comics 1000.

Conclusion

Despite the significant historical and costume changes, the Rebirth era Superman is fundamentally the same hero as the one from the Death of Superman, albeit with an expanded and interconnected history. The complexities of these storylines highlight the rich and evolving narrative that has defined the character of Superman since his debut.