In July 1986, DC began publishing the six-part series “Man of Steel,” by the writer and artist John Byrne, which rebooted Superman, at least temporarily, as the sole survivor of Krypton. The theory was that the accumulated history of DC’s heroes had grown too convoluted to follow, which made it difficult for new readers to jump in. Whereas past writers had presented Clark Kent as the disguise and Superman as his true self, Mr. Byrne reversed that, making the hero the means to an end for Clark, Mr. Sanderson said: “He adopted the Superman persona to avoid the perils of publicity and celebrity.” Mr. Byrne also made clear that Clark was born on Earth. “It was no longer the story of the immigrant who comes to America and who is longing for the old country,” Mr. Sanderson said. “This is the immigrant who doesn’t care for the old country.” With this issue, Action becomes a team-up series, showing Superman’s adventures with other DC heroes. This format ends with No. 600, which includes a date with Wonder Woman.

Action Comics No. 601 (April 1988)