- I didn't think it was possible. That Superman... his wife and son... could repair what was broken! I'm not the only one. He didn't think Superman could do it either. Now... this? This changes everything. A new, existence-wide, single reality, rebuilt from two. A timeline and history both familiar... and new. With lives realigned. Consistent with the memories and experiences of all. Everything solidified. Locked in... so it fits.
- — Mister Oz
Action Comics #976 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 2017. It was published on March 22, 2017.
Synopsis for "Superman: Reborn, Part 4"
Superboy has accidentally resurrected the Superman and the Lois Lane from Prime Earth. Unfortunately, while these versions of Superman and Lois do remember playing Mr. Mxyzptlk's game, they have no memory of their son. Mxyzptlk admits that he did not modify Superman and Lois' histories; someone more powerful than him did that and Mxyzptlk only wanted to have fun with this situation.
Superman insists that he passed Mxyzptlk's test and now wants Mxyzptlk to fix their lives, just like he agreed on the contract. Unfortunately, Mxyzptlk says he is only bound to obey the contract as long as its terms are advantageous to him. He then tries to take Jon again and leave before the entity that reshaped the universe takes notice of his actions, but Superman and Lois do their best to protect Jon. Suddenly, Superboy comes across two spheres of glowing blue energy, which Jon quickly recognizes as the disembodied forms of his parents.
As Superman and Mxyzptlk fight, the Infinite Planet begins to crumble around them. In their energy forms, the Superman and the Lois of New Earth are able to hurt Mxyzptlk, forcing him to escape. Superboy receives instructions from his parents about how he can help them become whole again and begs the newly resurrected Superman and Lois to remember the lives they previously had, before Mxyzptlk, before the universe was reshaped by the unknown entity. At first, Superman and Lois are reluctant but Jon's parents connect with them and they are suddenly able to understand what Jon is talking about.
As blue and red energies surround them, Superman and Lois remembers the love they once had and the memories they had with their son. Husband and wife kiss as their son holds them in a loving embrace.
Mr. Oz can only watch from his base of operations how the love between the Kents unleashes a massive explosion that causes the entire dimension to vanish. Love has fixed what was once broken. Two histories have become one.
The Kents safely return to Metropolis. Superman, now finally complete, has obtained a new uniform and thanks Superboy for his help. With the universe saved and their love stronger than ever, Superman and his family return home.
Oz is amazed that the Kents' mutual love has fixed the fabric of the universe. Even so, the entity behind these cosmic events, now residing on Mars, will take notice of this and Oz is left to wonder what will happen next.
Appearing in "Superman: Reborn, Part 4"
Featured Characters:
- Lois Lane (Post-Flashpoint) (Merges with Pre-Flashpoint Lois Lane-Kent)
- Lois Lane-Kent (Pre-Flashpoint) (Also as a spirit) (Merged with Post-Flashpoint Lois Lane)
- Superboy/Jon Kent (Post-Flashpoint)
- Superman/Clark Kent (Post-Flashpoint) (Merges with Pre-Flashpoint Superman)
- Superman/Clark Kent (Pre-Flashpoint) (Also as a spirit) (Merges with Post-Flashpoint Superman)
Supporting Characters:
- Jor-El (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Jimmy Olsen (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Lana Lang (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Lara Lor-Van (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Martha Kent (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Perry White (Post-Flashpoint) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
Antagonists:
- "The Entity That Reshaped The Universe" (Behind the scenes)
- Mister Mxyzptlk/"Clark Kent" (Pre-Flashpoint) (Impersonates Pre-Flashpoint Superman)
- Mister Oz
Other Characters:
- Superman Villains (Post-Flashpoint)
- Bizarro (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Blanque (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Brainiac (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Cyborg Superman (Hank Henshaw) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Conduit (Kenneth Braverman) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Darkseid (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Doomsday (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- The Eradicator (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Imperiex (First appearance; unnamed) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Lex Luthor (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Metallo (John Corben) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Mongul (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Parasite (Joshua Michael Allen) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Silver Banshee (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Toyman (Winslow Schott) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Ulysses (Neil Quinn) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- General Zod (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Ghosts (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Post-Flashpoint Multiverse
- Earth 0/Prime Earth
- Earth
- Arctic Circle
- Fortress of Solitude (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- United States of America
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet (Flashback and main story)
- Smallville (Flashback only)
- Smallville High School (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Metropolis
- Arctic Circle
- Earth's Moon (Cameo)
- Krypton (Destroyed in flashback) (Cameo)
- Mars (Cameo)
- Earth
- Fifth Dimension
- Infinite Planet (In ruins)
- Earth 0/Prime Earth
- Pre-Flashpoint Multiverse
- New Earth (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Kryptonian Crystals (Flashback only) (Cameo)
Vehicles:
- Kryptonian Rocket (Flashback only)
- Mister Oz's Staff
Events:
- Death of Superman (Flashback only)
Concepts:
- The Eternal Return (Unnamed)
- Magic
Notes
- This is the fourth and final part of the "Superman: Reborn" storyline.
- The story continues from Superman (Volume 4) #19.
- In this issue, the timelines of New Earth and Prime Earth are merged into a new singular continuity both familiar and new where some events from both before and after the Flashpoint have happened.
- Doomsday still murdered Superman during his rampage;
- Jon Kent is born in the Fortress of Solitude in the new continuity instead of being born on the Blood Moon.
Trivia
- This story marks the second time that Prime Earth is rebooted after the Rebirth.
- The next reboot of the reality will happen at the climax of the Milk Wars.
See Also