Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (Deluxe Edition) by Alan Moore, Curt Swan, Rick Veitch, and Dave Gibbons (2020)
Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta) turned his considerable talents to the Man of Steel, envisioning a possible ending for the Kryptonian’s career and life. As is Moore’s wont, there’s some deconstruction going on here, but it’s clear that he has a real fondness for Superman and all that he stands for. This “deluxe” edition also contains a short crossover with Swamp Thing that envisions another mortal threat to Superman, this time in the form of an unlikely survivor from his home planet. However, the real draw is “For the Man Who Has Everything,” one of the all-time great Superman stories that was originally published in 1985 around the same time that Moore and artist Dave Gibbons were beginning work on Watchmen. I originally encountered the story via the excellent Justice League Unlimited animated series, which itself is a pretty faithful adaptation. The story begins with Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman traveling to the Fortress of Solitude for Superman’s birthday, only to find him under the spell of an alien organism that allows Superman to live out his greatest fantasies — which soon prove to be quite heartbreaking.
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