EXCLUSIVE — Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? is also in the mix…
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QUICK NOTE: Super day of Facsimile news! Click here for another big surprise! — Dan
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February is going to be a helluva month: DC will be publishing SEVEN Facsimile Editions.
We have a LOT of EXCLUSIVE reveals coming for you this week, and we’re kicking it off with a Superduo: 1972’s Action Comics #419, boasting Neal Adams’ classic cover and the debut of the Human Target, and 1986’s Superman #423, the first part of the Alan Moore-written Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, are each getting the full-on reprint treatment come February.
Dig the solicitation info for both, which will be formally released by DC later this week:
ACTION COMICS #419 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by CARY BATES and LEN WEIN
Art by CURT SWAN and CARMINE INFANTINO
Cover by NEAL ADAMS
Foil variant cover by NEAL ADAMS ($6.99)
$3.99 US | 32 pages
ON SALE 2/25/26
A strange occurrence in space has explosive results for Superman, creating a dangerous chain reaction whenever his feet touch the earth! Now the Man of Steel must stop an audacious thief empowered by the same energy! Then, meet Christopher Chance—he’s suave, sophisticated, and willing to trade places with those who find themselves in deadly danger—for the right price! It’s the first appearance of the Human Target!
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SUPERMAN #423 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by ALAN MOORE
Art and cover by CURT SWAN
Foil variant cover by CURT SWAN ($6.99 US)
Blank sketch cover ($4.99)
$3.99 US | 36 pages
ON SALE 2/11/26
“Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” begins the final, farewell story of the Silver Age Superman, as told by legendary scribe Alan Moore. Acclaimed by many to be the finest Superman story ever written, this classic tale is a bittersweet love letter to both Superman and super fans alike.
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Several thoughts:
— I got Action Comics #419 wayyyyy back when it came out 53 years ago. I hung the cover — inked by Murphy Anderson, backed by a Jack Adler photo — on my wall. I bet it’ll look groovy in foil. No logo sketch cover is listed but that could change.
— Superman #423 is an interesting one. Word around Metropolis is that the second half — Action Comics #583 — isn’t on a schedule, as of now. DC does that sometimes, like last week’s Justice League of America #21. But who knows what could happen down the road?
— Coincidentally, it’s Alan Moore’s birthday. He’s 72.
— Obligatory Price Comparison #1: An unslabbed, VF+ copy of an original Action Comics #419 recently sold on eBay for $250.
— Obligatory Price Comparison #2: An unslabbed, VF copy of an original Superman #423 went for about $43.
— Like I mentioned, we have a bunch more really groovy DC Facsimile news this week, so come on back Wednesday, y’hear? For those keeping score at home, this makes three so far, including 1981’s Superman and Spider-Man.
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MORE
— WHOA! SUPERMAN VS. SPIDER-MAN Treasury Facsimile to Get ALEX ROSS Variant. Click here.
— SECRET ORIGINS of SUPER VILLAINS Set for TREASURY FACSIMILE EDITION. Click here.
November 18, 2025
This great, child friendly reading to share with children, grand children and in my case Halloween visitors come 2026. I can’t wait to learn what else DC will be giving us in February!
November 18, 2025
Just for the record: there have only been two facsimile issues of Superman (the original series) to date: #1 and #233. I’m not counting issues of Action (4) or Adventure (2). Contrast this with Batman, who’s had *29* facsimiles to date (including the faux-simile #428, and not counting Detective and various other Batman specials that have been reprinted.
Will this be a new trend of Superman facsimile issues? Beats me. It’s a curious gap in the facsimile line to date, although I admit that I’m struggling to think of key Superman issues that aren’t infamous Superdickery covers.
Anyway, I’m also hoping we get the second half of Whatever Happened To…? reprinted. That’s a colossal misstep if it’s not reprinted in tandem with #423.
November 18, 2025
Anyway, four more facsimiles? Hmmm. I’m betting that there’s at least one reprint in there, as that seems to be an increasingly common practice at the big two–there’s only so many exciting “new” facsimiles you can run.
Since 2026 is the 40th–eek!–anniversary of Crisis and the shift to the “post-Crisis” universe, which Superman #423 heralded, maybe Batman #400? That’s one of the last pre-Crisis Batman comics, and it’s a doozy.
Beyond that, we’re due for some more Limited/All-New Collector’s Editions. How about C-55, “Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes”? It’s the only ANCE we haven’t gotten yet that’s not about a reindeer or production photos of the Superman movie.
November 18, 2025
There are plenty of issues still out there for this child of the Bronze Age that I would love to see. I am also very interested in heroes other than just BATMAN and Superman. I would not say no to any covers by Adams, Aparo and Cardy. This is obviously my opinion and reflects my tastes. Every fan’s experience and memories/feelings are going to be unique. I just wish we live at a time that DC could afford runs of every fan’s “must-haves”.
November 18, 2025
I do find it interesting that there were not more Superman facsimiles printed this past summer in conjunction with the new Superman movie. It seem there were a lot of Superman releases in the Dollar Tree $1.25 line, albeit modern ( this century ) tales.
Incidentally this “wave four” release has at least four titles featuring books from the animated titles which were released while the Superman animated series was airing.
As for more Superman Facsimiles, the Imaginary Tales such as the Silver Age Superman Red and Superman Blue, the Death of Superman and Superman goes to Krypton issues would seem right for the facsimile line.
Staying in the Mort era, where is the Superboy issue featuring the first appearance of Mon-El , or some classic Legion tales from Adventure such as issue 300 and 312?
As for other Silver Age books; Robin dies at Dawn, the Adam Strange- Hawkman team up from Mystery in Space , Atom 7 with the mighty mite and pinioned paladin team up and any of the Showcase/Brave and the Bold books featuring the Justice Society characters? It would be nice to see these books released to the general public once again.
Plus, once again let me put in a plug for a Memorial Day release of the Brave and the Bold issue featuring ” Three Battle Stars.” I was very surprised to see how many copies of the first Sgt Rock facsimile went home with young trick or treaters last month.
November 18, 2025
>> the Imaginary Tales such as the Silver Age Superman Red and Superman Blue
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That is a favorite Silver Age story for me. I first read it in a ‘70s Superman 100 Pages volume (I think.) Was so excited when I purchased a copy of the original for the spinner.
November 18, 2025
Just looking at the cover reminds me – isn’t it about time we had a collection of the original Len Wein version of The Human Target? I don’t think it ever has been collected.
December 15, 2025
It makes no sense to release milestone 2-part issues like JLA 21 and this, and not also reprint the second issue for the complete story. A very frustrating decision!