"His father tells him if you're going to protect the world, you need to get to know it," Miller said. "It seemed natural, a kid from Kansas who joins the military. It's fun, seeing him lifting weights in boot camp that feel like air to him."

Volumes No. 1 and 2 are both presented as an expanded coming of age story. Miller describes his take on the superhero's origin story as one of filling in the significant gaps, "showing the twists and turns that Clark Kent traverses to eventually become Superman."

What does the SEAL community think of Miller's twist?

"I don't know how you can be mild-mannered Clark Kent if you're a Navy SEAL," former U.S. Special Operations Command honcho Adm. William H. McRaven (ret.), a Navy SEAL veteran, told Military Times in an email.

"I'm flattered," he said, "that DC would consider having Superman's secret identity be a Navy SEAL."

A Different Clark Kent Screenshot from Superman: Year One official trailer YouTube

This version of Superman, or more aptly Clark Kent, is not mild-mannered, at all. He is straining at the restrictions of his passive Kent upbringing. Miller describes him as being every kid in high school. The kid who sits quietly, secretly wanting to show people what he could really do, if only given the chance.

A childhood of being instructed to hold back and hide his abilities from others seems to chafe this Clark Kent. His rebellious streak also causes more than a little trouble during his military training. He spends more time cleaning toilets and garbage cans with his toothbrush than he does sleeping at Great Lakes.

Recent comic fans will tell you that Superman with an edge is the new norm. And most of this narrative can be attributed to teen angst, but this is still not the Superman of the 40s and 50s. It is also not the Superman of the movies. The great American hero is usually portrayed as reluctant and humble, a character who prefers to be seen as bumbling, forced to do battle for the greater good, but would prefer not to.

Do not confuse those versions with the new comic Superman.