Superman: Birthright

Lead Up
Jor-El sends Kal-El to Earth.

Chapter One - "Secret Origin"
''As Krypton enters its final minutes, the surface bursts with raw gravitational entropy. Jor-El tried to warn the Science Council, but they wouldn't listen: the Planet is dying. Lara holds Kal-El as the skies turn red, holding him tight before the end. Jor-El readies the rocket, the carriage that will whisk away their child from certain death. Jor-El has found a planet suitable for Kal-El, one where he will be god amongst men. "Fear not my son, the spirit of our people lives on in you." Kal-El's rocket soars into the cosmos as Jor-El and Lara enter an final embrace.''

Krypton is gone, leaving one surviving son alone in the universe.

Jonathan and Martha Kent find themselves stranded on the side of the road as their truck collapses. Finding a nail embedded in the front tire, they reach for a replacement just as an explosion emerges from the nearby corn field. The couple inspects the disturbance, finding the infant Kal-El in his cradle. They take the child in as their own, raising him as Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas.

When Clark turns 15, he develops superpowers when saving Pete Ross and Lana Lang from an incoming car and pulling the unconscious driver from the fiery wreckage. Running away from his friends, Clark confronts Ma & Pa Kent over his origins. Jonathan shows Clark the rocket he arrived in, activating the console; sees the symbol of the House of El. Clark runs away, but comforted by Jonathan and Martha.

"We don't know where you came from Clark, but we know we were meant to find you. No matter what happens, you will always be our son, now and forever."

Chapter Two - "Metropolis"
Clark leaves Smallville, getting a job at the Daily Planet. He enters the Planet bullpen, meeting Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White.

While snooping in on lowlife Butch's criminal dealings, Lois is kidnapped by Boss Moxie. Clark attempts to save her, but is ridden with bullets. Jimmy witnesses Clark get up unscathed and is shocked. Clark takes Jimmy aside stating that he will explain things later but they need to save Lois.

Going back to his apartment, he opens his suitcase unveiling a cerulean suit marked with a golden shield and crimson S; the symbol on his ship. Putting on the costume, Clark goes after the mobster's car where they hold Lois. Superman apprehends the gangsters, freeing Lois and crushing Butch's car.

Lois writes an article for the Planet about the shining Superman who saved her, as Clark Kent recovers from the attack, claiming the bullets just happened to miss him by mere inches. Jimmy finds Clark, revealing that he knows his secret but agrees to keep it safe.

Billionaire Lex Luthor, intrigued yet infuriated by this superman, sees the crest of El on Superman's chest, and smiles.

Chapter Three - "Grounded"
Clark returns to Smallville for an off day to talk with his parents after his first outing as Superman.

LexCorp building is attacked by unleashed experiment that absorbs life force of people and then gets bigger & more powerful. Superman fights him but gets depowered after first contact. Superman thrown across foundation causing building to collapse. Supes, and MCPD stuck inside building with rampaging monster. Meets Maggie Sawyer. Strategically works with MCPD to trap Parasite and uses last bit of energy to heat vision pillars collapsing roof on villain.

As the sun shines through the wreckage onto Superman, he begins to levitate and rejuvenate, but is hit with a tank shell. Supes is captured by the US Military.

Chapter Four - "Bulletproof"
Flashback to crash-site, Emil Hamilton finds crest of El burned round destroyed crop field, and green rock.

Superman is interrogated by Lex Luthor and Emil Hamilton, with oversight by military officers General Lane, John Corben, Hank Henshaw, John Henry Irons. Irons startup tech company acquired by Lexcorp. Contract with Lane to make anti-superman weapon.

Luthor + Emil Hamilton experiments on Clark, discovering his weakness to green rock found in crash site 27 years ago. Symbol of house of el was also found burned onto crash site. Henshaw is fascinated, while Corben is super xenophobic. Lois is uber pissed at Luthor and her pops.

John Henry frees Clark while Lois and Jimmy distract them. Superman goes on the run; Lane mobilizes troops after him. Fight, but tank gets damaged and almost explodes, but Superman saves the troops inside. Corben wants to take superman down with him, activating grenades. Clark tries to save him, but is too weak, only able to save marines from explosion.

Luthor and Hamilton seize Henry Irons work, mad scientists, use Corben's body & Irons designs to augment with Corben with kryptonite heart. Metallo is born!

Chapter Five - "Up in the Sky"
Corben awakens, but knocks back the scientists in an insane rage. Wants to kill Superman.

Lana and Pete arrive in Metropolis, scooping Superman from the scene. They help depowered Clark they obviously know he is Superman.

John Corben attacks the daily planet, taking Lois hostage. Superman fights him, weakness to kryptonite, but daily planet staff, firemen, and policemen come to his aid. Kryptonite dislodged, and Clark dishes the final blow.

As the sun shines on Superman, he flies into the sky for the first time.

Landing in Smallville. Clark embraces his parents as Superman, with Martha Kent presenting him with a new version of the Superman suit.

Timeline

 * This event is part of Year One
 * This event is preceded by Batman Year One
 * This event is followed by Batman (S2)

Links

 * Full Reading Order
 * Superman Reading Order