The series includes the embryonic Kal-El rocketing away from the destruction of Krypton and his birth upon landing in Kansas when he emerged from the artificial womb, Clark Kent as a teenager in Smallville learning that he was found in a crashed space ship, him being hired at the Daily Planet in Metropolis, the creation of his secret identity of Superman, his first meeting with fellow hero Batman, and how he finally learned of his birth parents and from where he came.

After time had passed with no revision being granted the green light, executive editor Dick Giordano found out John Byrne was no longer under contract with Marvel Comics in May 1985.

The two different versions are referred to in stories soon after and by fans as "pre-Crisis" and "post-Crisis", per Crisis on Infinite Earths being the major dividing line across the DC Universe as a whole.

[19] The first issue chronicles the origin of Superman, beginning with his flight from Krypton to his arrival on Earth where he is discovered by his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.

His powers do not reach their peak until his late teen years; thus, Clark only adopts the Superman identity in adulthood and never was Superboy.

Objects held close to him, such as his costume (which attached to his skin), were protected from harm; his cape, meanwhile, could easily sustain damage in battle.

The emblem is an original design by Clark and Jonathan, and Byrne significantly increased its size so that it almost entirely covers Superman's chest.

Daily Planet managing editor Perry White assigns Lois Lane to get the full story on the new hero.

After a series of failed attempts to even encounter him again, Lois decides to take a gamble and plunges her car into the harbor to lure Superman into the open.

Lois finally has her scoop – the first sit-down interview with Superman – only to find out she's been beaten to the headline by the Daily Planet's newest reporter: Clark Kent.

In this series, Lois Lane was written as an aggressive reporter and personality from the start, and she never expressed a desire to find out Superman's identity or that he might have an alter-ego.

Rather than risk capture, Batman informs Superman that should the latter make any attempt to touch him, a signal will be activated triggering a hidden bomb that will kill an innocent person somewhere in the city.

This shift is reflected in Man of Steel, as it starts off with Batman and Superman initially at odds over their respective ideologies and approaches before just begin showing signs of developing a partnership, if not friendship.

Superman is then deputized by the mayor of Metropolis to arrest Luthor for reckless endangerment, who is released hours later thanks to his legal team.

The fight ends in a final blow, shattering the imperfect duplicate into a dust cloud which absurdly restores Lucy's sight.

Superman is still, at this point, unaware of his extraterrestrial origins, much as his Golden Age version did not learn the truth about his past until well into his adulthood.

As opposed to the earlier version, where others such as Supergirl and Krypto also survived, Superman is portrayed as the sole survivor of Krypton's destruction.

Instead, Clark reveals his abilities to Lana just before leaving Smallville, and, while she retains feelings for him, has come to terms with the fact that they will merely be friends, and no longer pursues him as she did pre-Crisis.

This version was unique in that it was actually all six issues of the Man of Steel mini-series with the spines trimmed and rebound with a new cover with a photocopied note that read: Congratulations!Your entry has been selected to receive a copy of the "MAN of STEEL" special edition-the entire six issue mini-series bound between two covers.Thank you for responding to our contest and your continued support of SUPERMAN and DC Comics.Sincerely,Dale A. Kanzler[25]In 1987 it was first released as a trade paperback in deluxe paper for the mass market with new cover art by John Byrne, with a cover price $12.95 US/$17.50 Canada.

It featured Stuart Milligan as Clark Kent / Superman, William Hootkins as Lex Luthor, Lorelei King as Lois Lane, Vincent Marzello as Jimmy Olsen, Garrick Hagon as Perry White, Shelley Thompson as Lana Lang, Dick Vosburgh as Jor-El, Barbara Barnes as Lucy Lane, David Graham as Fisher, Simon Treves as Metallo, Elizabeth Mansfield as Amanda McCoy, Burt Kwouk as Doctor Teng, and Jon Pertwee as Schwarz.

He removed all other forms besides the green variety, and made it an extremely rare element that came to Earth in one large rock with Superman's rocket.

[17] Lex Luthor believed early on that the radiation emanating from Kryptonite was within safe limits for humans, but was proved wrong in later stories.

[32] He created a storyline in his two books where the Legion travels back in time to confront the post-Crisis Superman to find an explanation on Superboy's apparent disappearance.

This made him "born" an American, a plot point that would be used in Armageddon 2001, a DC Comics storyline which explored possible futures, one of which featured Superman becoming President of the United States.

[35] The planet Krypton in this series is cold and emotionally sterile, an idea Byrne borrowed from the 1978 film Superman and later carried on by other writers.

Lara refused saying that the rocket was too small and might not make it to Earth because of her added weight, and she wanted to stay with her husband, an idea that was briefly touched on in Superman: The Animated Series.

After landing near Smallville, Lara would immediately succumb to a small chunk of kryptonite that was embedded in the ship's hull, introducing the dangers of the rocks.

Once Byrne officially signed on to write the story, however, he was informed that his Superman would need to be "up to speed" and an established hero by the time the relaunch of the monthly titles took place.

Later, Byrne stated that he wished he had kept Superboy to fill the role of Superman still "figuring it out", but this idea was used extensively in the Smallville television series.

The dystopian view of Krypton in the film is also heavily influenced by John Byrne's mini series in which they ruined their ecology and they don't have natural child birth.