Superman #423

Published in 1986, Superman #423 served as the first half of the seminal two-part story 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?' This issue was conceived by writer Alan Moore and artist Curt Swan to provide a definitive conclusion to the Silver Age of DC Comics before the company rebooted the character's continuity following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. It represents a poignant, meta-fictional look at the character's legacy, acting as a farewell to the decades of whimsical storytelling that defined the hero prior to his modern reinvention.

The creative direction was spearheaded by editor Julius Schwartz, who invited Moore to craft a final send-off for the character he had shepherded for years. Curt Swan, often considered the quintessential Superman artist, was selected to provide the visual grounding, ensuring the story felt like a culmination of the character's history. Upon release, the issue was highly acclaimed for its emotional resonance and its respectful, heartfelt treatment of the vast mythology surrounding the Man of Steel, and it remains widely regarded as one of the most significant narratives in superhero comic history.