| Issue | #674 |
| Published | May 2008 |
| Frequency | monthly |
| Cover Price | 2.99 USD; 3.65 CAD |
| Pages | 36 |
| Editing | Matt Idelson; Tom Palmer Jr. (associate) |
| Notes | This issue went on sale 2008-03-12 (on time). This issue was orginnally solicited to contain the comic book debut of the "Smallville" TV show character Chloe Sullivan, but DC decided to pull that (as a rights problem developed at the last minute) and have Kurt Busiek write a new story. This contents change was announced via a press release on 2008-02-26. The solicitation for the original (mostly-unpublished) story read: "It's a time of new beginnings for Superman as art sensation Renato Guedes joins the team! Plus, the superhuman mastermind Paragon is loose in Metropolis, Clark and Lois are hunting for a new place to live after the events of "Insect Queen," and worse, they've got relatives coming to visit — namely, a certain blonde cousin of Lois's from Smallville. It all sets the stage for a major new addition to the cast in next month’s anniversary issue! Can you say "Chloe Sullivan"? We thought you could..." |
| Characters | Superman |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Pencils | Renato Guedes (signed) |
| Inks | Renato Guedes (signed) |
| Colors | ? [as Jamison] |
| Characters | Superman; Lois Lane; Chris Kent [Lor-Zod]; Jackal (cameo); The Ray (cameo); Mon-El [Lar Gand]; Priest-Elders of the Protonic Flame; Perry White (cameo); Paragon (villain); Red Tornado (flashback, cameo); Wonder Woman (flashback, cameo); Firestorm [Ronnie Raymond] (flashback, cameo); Green Lantern [Hal Jordan] (flashback, cameo); Power Girl (dream, cameo); Fortress of Solitude |
| Synopsis | Clark shows Lois and Chris their rebuilt apartment, with many special features including a "door" to the fortress. Superman then experiments with a cure for Mon-El's lead poisoning, finding out more about Daxam from him. Later at the Daily Planet, Clark is kidnapped by Paragon, who has tracked his power signature, and feeds off Superman's power. Paragon wants revenge for being put away by the Justice League years earlier. They battle, but Superman leads him to the fortress, where Superman is about to strand him by using the red-sun watch. But they are interrupted by the Priest-Elders of the Protonic Flame from Daxam. |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Script | Kurt Busiek |
| Pencils | Renato Guedes |
| Inks | Jose Wilson Magalhaés |
| Colors | David Curiel |
| Letters | Comicraft |
| Notes | Story continues in the next issue. Paragon was created by Busiek and was introduced in Justice League of America (DC, 1960 series) #224 way back in March 1984. Alex Ross designed Paragon's new costume (per an interview with Kurt Busiek at the Comic Bloc website). "Special thanks to Fabian Nicieza, Helper Monkey of Krypton". Kurt later explained this credit (at the Comic Bloc website) this way: he rattled off a story to Fabian using him as a sounding board and editor-at-large. From this verbal plot, he typed up a "beat sheet" -- a page-by-page outline -- and that allowed Kurt to type up the actual plot faster. |
| Script | Cheryl Smith-Owens |
| Notes | Cheryl (Senior Pre-Press Artist) describes some of the workings of the production department. Ads for Superman #675, Green Arrow/Black Canary #6, Salvation Run #5, and Wonder Woman #18. Appears on page 34 in this issue. |
| Notes | House ads for: Final Crisis (Injustice), Titans (Together), Batman R.I.P., Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come Part 1 hardcover, and Justice League The New Frontier Special. Appear in various places in this issue. |
| Notes | Total of 7 one-page ads for: Justice League The New Frontier (DVD, Warner), Professor Layton and the Curious Village (video game, Level-5), abovetheinfluence (Partnership for a Drug-Free America), Lost Via Domus (video game, Ubisoft), New York ComicCon (comic convention, Reed Exhibitions), got milk? with Michael Strahan (milk), and Sweetarts Rope (candy, Wonka). Appear in various places in this issue. |