WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Action Comics #1034 and Checkmate #3!
The Man of Steel has always tried to stop himself from overstepping in Earth’s political affairs, but now that Superman has finally crossed that line, it’s time for the Last Son of Krypton to find a new world to call home - at least for the time being. Politics have always been an area of which Superman tried to steer clear. After all, most evil Supermen start off by trying to get involved in international governmental affairs.
But even the real Superman has his limits, and it’s not like the Man of Steel to stand by when he sees a situation that needs his help. Clark has always had humanity’s best interests at heart even if the rest of humanity doesn’t. And recently, Kal-El’s morality has repeatedly gotten him into more than his fair share of political drama as readers of Action Comics #1034 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Christian Dulce have already seen.
With Atlantis and the United States on the brink of war thanks to an artifact called the Genesis Fragment, Action Comics #1034 sees the Man of Steel directly intervene in the conflict by separating the Atlantean and American navies. Going even further, Superman proceeds to burn a bridge with Atlantis’ Aquaman by taking the Fragment himself. As Clark removes the artifact, Arthur tells him, “I might not be able to stop you, Clark, but if you do this, it will change things between us.” And this isn’t the only political crisis in which Superman has involved himself recently. Checkmate #3 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev clues readers in to just how fed up with international law Clark really is when he violates Leviathan's sovereign airspace to rescue Talia al Ghul from Mark Shaw and the Metropolis Guardian. By ignoring Leviathan’s borders, Clark causes an international incident with an enemy he knows to be incredibly capable - he’s just too busy to care.
Readers of Future State know where these events are heading, but it’s interesting to see how things play out in real time as Superman has never been one to overstep in world affairs. With his time on Earth winding down, Clark is now more than willing to take riskier chances in the name of doing what he believes is right, regardless of the legality of his involvement. And with his son Jonathan stepping up to claim the Superman mantle, Kal-El doesn’t have to worry about a world without a Superman once he’s gone.
Clark has already been planning to leave the Earth in order to free Warworld’s slaves from the iron grip of Mongul, but his most recent actions really seal the deal. The fact that he’s leaving is probably what’s at least partially giving him the motivation to intervene in these sticky political situations. After all, these actions against Atlantis, Leviathan, and the United States are sure to cause quite an uproar - one that even Superman won’t be able to hear from the other side of the galaxy.
Superman will always be the world’s greatest hero, but sometimes that means doing something that will tick more than a few people off. Clark may have once tried to stay more politically neutral, but times have changed, and Superman has changed with them. Hopefully, the world will last long enough to have forgiven him by the time he finally makes it back.