Originally billed as ongoing, the series launched in June 2013 to mark Superman's 75th anniversary, two days before the release of the feature film Man of Steel, and ran for a year and a half.

Johnston speculated that a series titled Man of Steel, written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Jim Lee would launch in 2013, to coincide with the film of the same name.

To celebrate Superman's 75th anniversary, the series was launched on June 12, 2013, two days before the release of the feature film Man of Steel.

Superman stops seven satellites from colliding into the Earth, letting an eighth object hit an abandoned military base.

When Clark Kent writes up an article about the event, Lois Lane informs him that all eight satellites attacks were successfully stopped.

After a submarine fires two torpedoes at Superman, General Lane is revealed to be working in a secret military installation, housing a superhuman who has been in the employ of the United States for nearly 75 years.

[12] Superman is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to combat a rogue construction machine that has been tampered with by Ascension.

To stop the Burj Khalifa from falling, Superman creates a whirlwind of water and freezes it beneath the skyscraper before it can collapse.

Superman then goes to the Batcave, where Bruce Wayne is testing a new suit that can manipulate the environment to render him undetectable by Kal-El.

After studying a piece of the eighth satellite, Batman has determined that another being with slightly more power than Superman was responsible for stopping its impact.

On top of that, Ascension concerns Bruce because they can access and control almost any technology and turn it into a weapon, like the construction robot from earlier.

At the MAW, a high-security prison off the coast of Metropolis, Lex Luthor constructs a suit of powered armor out of various pieces of a model city and escapes.

Superman uses his powers to destroy General Lane's weapons but is stopped by W.R.A.I.T.H who kicks him so hard that he is sent flying and lands in Colorado.

General Lane and W.R.A.I.T.H show Superman "the Machine", a research facility dedicated to understanding and implementing the equation technology W.R.A.I.T.H had brought them in the years since his arrival on Earth.

Lane argues that while Superman may save people such as the astronauts on the space station he is a mass murderer for not getting involved in political situations.

For instance, not toppling dictators and warlords in various countries around the world: "You're deciding to let people live in misery, die suffering.

W.R.A.I.T.H is excited to finally work alongside Superman, while a mysterious person using a crystal recovers Lois's plane.

Lois helps the man with the crystal to safety, after which he gives her the gem and tells her Superman won't be alive for much longer.

In a flashback that runs throughout the fifth issue, Clark Kent and Lana Lang are standing on top of a grain store discussing their astronomy teacher.

Back at his house in Smallville, Clark stumbles upon Jedidiah Colder, whose property he and Lana had been trespassing on, pointing a shotgun at his mother.

Ascension attempted to erase the work that Wraith's equation had done to aid humankind in progression, allowing them to develop on their terms.

Superman arrives freeing Lois and notices the Earthstone crystals are similar to the ones that make the Fortress of Solitude.

Superman lands with Lois trying to catch his breath, commenting on the fact he thought he heard a voice in the crystal.

[14] Comic Book Resources gave the first issue 4.5 out of 5 stars: "DC has found the right creators to make Superman great again".