The Man of Steel # 3 1986 FN/VF

The Man of Steel #3, published by DC Comics in November 1986, is one of the most historically significant issues of John Byrne’s line-wide Superman reboot. Inked by Dick Giordano, this issue—titled "One Night in Gotham City"—establishes the definitive, Post-Crisis first meeting between Superman and Batman.

Prior to 1986, Superman and Batman were depicted as seamless, smiling best friends who shared the World's Finest mantle. John Byrne completely revolutionized this relationship, introducing a tense, ideologically opposed dynamic that defined their interactions for decades to come.

Core Plot & Synopsis

Superman travels to Gotham City with a clear mission: to apprehend and arrest the Batman, whom he views as an unstable, lawbreaking vigilante running amok.

• The Confrontation: Superman easily tracks Batman down on a rooftop as the Dark Knight is pursuing a criminal. Before Superman can physically intervene or take him into custody, Batman halts him with a startling revelation: he has surrounded himself with a specialized force field.
• The Ultimatum: Batman warns Superman that if his force field is penetrated or if Superman touches him, a hidden transmitter will trigger a bomb somewhere in Gotham City, instantly killing an innocent person. Horrified by Batman's willingness to risk a life just to avoid capture, a disgusted Superman agrees to back off, but stays to monitor him.
• Teaming Up Against Magpie: The tension is temporarily sidelined when they are forced to work together to stop Magpie (Margaret Pye), a jewel-thief supervillain making her 1st historical appearance in DC Comics. Using Superman’s raw power and Batman’s investigative deduction, they successfully track down and defeat Magpie.
• The Twist Ending: Once the threat is over, Superman demands to know where the bomb is so he can dismantle it. Batman reaches into his utility belt, deactivates the signal, and calmly tells Superman that the "innocent person" whose life was on the line was himself. Batman knew Superman’s strict moral code would never let him take a risk that might kill someone. Stunned by the Dark Knight's tactical brilliance and sheer audacity, Superman leaves Gotham with a newfound, begrudging respect for Batman, though he warns him not to cross the line.

Why It Matters

This issue laid the concrete foundation for the modern "frenemies" relationship between DC's two biggest titans. It perfectly highlighted their contrasting operational philosophies: Superman is the daylight champion of hope and institutional law, while Batman is the dark pragmatist willing to manipulate anyone—even a godlike alien—to protect his city.