DC’sSummer ofSupermanis nearly here, and this initiative is set to lay the groundwork for new titles and major changes in the Man of Steel’s world. One of the standout releases in this initiative is theSummer of Superman Special, which promises to shift the spotlight to a love interest other than Lois Lane.
Lana Lang played a crucial role in shaping Superman into the man and hero he is today.
Dan Slott and Jorge Jiménez recently sat down with AIPT Comics to discuss all things Superman. While the interview was filled with teasers, one comment from Jiménez aboutSummer of Superman Special#1 stood out in particular.
The artist shared how the script for this book gave him a new appreciation for Lana Lang, Clark Kent’s first love, and how he made it his mission to convey that newfound admiration through his art. His comments, which will be discussed in more detail below, confirm thatthis special will give Lana Lang some much-deserved focus; a recognition that feels long overdue for the character.
Summer of Superman Brings the Spotlight Back to Clark Kent’s First Love
Cover D Mahmud Asrar Variant forSummer of Superman Special#1 (2025)
TheSummer of Superman Specialwill set the stage for major events in DC’s upcoming Superman titles, releasing throughout the summer, with the special itself dropping on August 17, 2025. While much remains under wraps, its synopsishints at a Super-Family wedding, where John Henry Irons (aka Steel) and Lana Lang will exchange vows in front of notable DC characters, including Superman. This suggests that while Lana is returning to the spotlight, she won’t be Clark’s love interest but will instead embark on a new chapter with Irons. However, Clark and Lana’s evolving relationship will still be explored.
When discussing Lana and the special, Jiménez shared that reading the scriptmade him realize just how important Lana is to Clark’s personality. He praised Mark Waid for handling Clark’s teenage years, when Lana was central to his story, with such care. The artist then emphasized that Lana is not only a key character in this special but in Superman’s life as a whole. With this in mind, Jiménez made it his mission to visually portray Lana in a way that reflects how Clark sees her. This hints at Lana playing a significant role in the narrative, an exciting development for fans of Clark’sSmallville days and relationships.
Jorge Jiménez: When I read the script for the first time, I realized just how important Lana Lang is to Clark’s personality. And the way Mark, for example, portrayed Clark’s teenage years — with such care and sensitivity — was a real breath of fresh air for me. I thought it was brilliant. From the start, I understood that Lana Lang was not only a key character in this special, but also in Superman’s life. So I also knew that my mission here was to try and make all of you, when you read this, see Lana the way Clark has always seen her.
Summer of Superman SpecialWill Give Lana Lang the Appreciation She Deserves
Cover G 1:25 Dan Jurgens Variant forSummer of Superman Special#1 (2025)
Jiménez’s statement about Lana being an integral part of Clark’s personality and her role in the narrative will surely have many Lana Lang fans celebrating. Lana’s influence on Clark and the hero he became is often criminally underrated. While Lois Lane is iconic and will always be Superman’s greatest love interest, her popularity tends to overshadow Lana, who played a crucial role in shaping Clark into the man and hero he is today. Therefore, it’s both a relief and exciting to know that Lana’s influence and impact onSupermanwill finally get the appreciation she deserves in this upcoming comic.
Forget Kryptonite—Did DC Really Just Make Superman’s Greatest Threat Capitalism?
Superman’s greatest enemy has always been Kryptonite, but in a shocking turn of events, the Man of Steel has now been blindsided by capitalism.
Summer of Superman Special #1is available on July 12, 2025, from DC Comics!
