The Man of Steel # 2 1986 VF

The Man of Steel #2, published by DC Comics on July 1, 1986 (with an October 1986 cover date), is a monumental milestone in Superman history. Written and penciled by industry superstar John Byrne and inked by Dick Giordano, this 6-issue miniseries completely rebooted and modernized Superman's origin story from scratch following the reality-altering events of Crisis on Infinite Earths.

While issue #1 reestablished Krypton and Clark Kent's childhood, Issue #2—titled "The Story of the Century!"—is famous for introducing Lois Lane and establishing the dynamic between Clark and the Daily Planet.

Core Plot & Synopsis

The issue shifts the narrative to Metropolis, where Superman has secretly been operating as an anonymous urban legend, saving citizens and stopping bank robberies away from the camera lens.

• Lois Lane's Obsession: Daily Planet star reporter Lois Lane is deeply frustrated that a mysterious, flying super-man is operating in her city and she can't catch him for a scoop. Desperate to secure an exclusive interview, Lois takes an extreme, calculated gamble: she intentionally drives her car off a Metropolis pier straight into the deep harbor water, knowing the hero will be forced to rescue her.
• The Rescue: Superman immediately flies in, dives underwater, rips the door off the car, and safely carries Lois back out. However, instead of sticking around for a lengthy interview, he drops her off safely and flies away, giving her only a few brief sentences.
• The Twist Ending: Delighted that she still has enough information to write the first definitive front-page profile on "Superman," Lois rushes back to the Daily Planet newsroom. When she arrives, Editor-in-Chief Perry White drops a bombshell: a completely unknown, unassuming freelance reporter from Kansas has just walked into the office with a fully complete, exclusive, firsthand interview with Superman. Perry hands Lois the morning paper, tells her she's been scooped, and introduces her to her brand-new coworker: Clark Kent!

Why It Matters (Historical Impact)

This issue redefined the core Superman status quo for nearly two decades (1986–2003): [1]

• A Capable Lois Lane: It stripped away the Silver Age trope of Lois being a damsel-in-distress who needed constant saving, instead framing her as a fiercely independent, aggressive, world-class investigative journalist who was willing to risk her life for a headline.
• Clark Kent is the Real Person: John Byrne flipped the dynamic—Clark Kent was no longer a clumsy disguise for Superman; Clark was his true identity, while Superman was merely the disguise he put on to help people. Scooping Lois Lane was Clark's genius way of instantly landing his dream career at the Daily Planet.