Action #980 Answers a Major Rebirth Question for Superman

While most of this week's Action Comics #980 centers on the Superman Revenge Squad and their [...]

By Russ Burlingame

While most of this week's Action Comics #980 centers on the Superman Revenge Squad and their mission to recover General Zod so they can have a full team, the Man of Steel does manage to steal some time in his own book...and a question that's been lingering over the title since "Superman Reborn" is answered.

Action-Comics-980-Kent-graves
(Photo: DC Entertainment)

As seen in the image above, Jonathan and Marthan (Ma and Pa) Kent are dead in the post-Rebirth version of events, and their death appears to match the one from The New 52.

For much of Superman's publishing history, the Kents have been dead; it was following John Byrne's mid-80s reboot The Man of Steel that living parents became a part of Clark Kent's adult life.

Jonathan and Martha Kent played a key role in the '80s and '90s Superman titles, and both survived until Jonathan Kent died during the Geoff Johns-written Brainiac storyline in 2008. Martha survived right up until the events of Flashpoint rebooted the DC Universe again, but in The New 52, a young Clark failed to save his parents from an accident that claimed both of their lives.

Given the prominence of '90s comics stories -- many of which were written by Action Comics scribe Dan Jurgens -- in Superman's post-Rebirth history, some fans had speculated that the Kents may have survived the recent merging of the pre-Flashpoint and New 52 Supermen and their timelines. Not so much, it turns out, as Superman is seen visiting their graves and mourning his inability to save them in Action Comics #980.

You can get a copy of Action Comics #980 at your local comic shop, or buy a digital one here. The official solicitaiton text for the issue can be found below.

"REVENGE" part two! Both Superman and the Revenge Squad must traverse the deadly Black Vault in a race against time to reach General Zod! Amanda Waller's secret Kryptonian weapon reveals himself to the world, but Cyborg Superman and Eradicator move in to recruit him. Tying directly into the events of this month's Suicide Squad issues—and no matter who wins in this epic showdown, it spells certain doom for the Last Son of Krypton!

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