Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #650
Published May 2006
Frequency monthly
Cover Price 2.50 USD; 3.50 CAD
Pages 36
Editing Matt Idelson; Nachie Castro (associate)
Notes This issue went on sale 2006-03-15 (on time). A second printing went on sale 2006-04-05 with a slightly different cover. A "1 Year Later" tie-in.

Cover Details - "Up, Up, and Away! Part 1"

Characters Superman (poster); Clark Kent
Genre Superhero
Pencils Terry Dodson (signed)
Inks Rachel Dodson (signed)
Colors Alex Sinclair (signed)
Reprinted in Superman: Up, Up and Away (DC, 2006 series) #nn [minus all text and the UPC]; in Superman: Rampage (DC, 2006 series) #81912-90-BK [minus all text and the UPC].

Cover Details - "2nd printing cover"

Characters Superman (poster); Clark Kent
Genre Superhero
Pencils Terry Dodson (signed)
Notes Alternate cover for second printing: pencils only with red shadings instead of full color for the title and the Superman logo.

22 page Superman story "Up, Up, and Away! Chapter one Mortal Men"

Characters Superman [as Clark Kent only]; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Lex Luthor; Perry White; Kryptonite Man [Dr. K Russell Abernathy] (intro); Supergirl [Kara Zor-El]; Jor-El (actor); Lara (actor); sunstone crystal
Synopsis A spaceship lands on Earth 68 years ago. Lois, Clark, and Jimmy watch "Superman: A Retrospective" in Metropolis Park, commenting on how the makers got several things wrong. Luthor gets cleared of all charges, but the people have lost respect for him, and he resents it, holding up a crystal (the sunstone). Perry White praises Clark's work over the last year. Dr. Abernathy experiments with Kryptonite on animals; one breaks away and causes an explosion that turns Abernathy into a Kryptonite Man. Clark finds a quiet corner, but instead of changing to Superman, sets off a signal watch that summons Supergirl, who defeats the Kryptonite Man. A couple of Luthor's goons grab Clark and take him to Luthor, who tells him "No more stories", and threatens Lois. Clark tells him "You're finished", as Luthor punches him out and kicks him down. Luthor and his goons leave a bloodied Clark behind, who has obviously lost his powers.
Genre Superhero
Script Kurt Busiek; Geoff Johns
Pencils Pete Woods
Inks Pete Woods
Colors Brad Anderson
Letters Rob Leigh
Notes Story continues in Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #837. The "68 years ago" is an homage to Superman's first appearance in 1938.
Reprinted in Superman: Up, Up and Away (DC, 2006 series) #nn [minus the title and credits].

1 page DC In Demand promo (ad from the publisher) "03.06"

Notes Promotion for "1 Year Later" and ad for Action Comics #837. Appears on page 34 in this issue; only in the first printing.

1 page DC Nation promo (ad from the publisher) "DC Nation"

Script Dan Didio
Notes Ads for Action Comics #837, JSA #84, Outsiders #35, and Superman/Batman #24. Appears on page 34 in this issue; only in the second printing.

Half page promo (ad from the publisher) "House Advertisements"

Notes House ads for: Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders, Seven Soldiers of Victory Vol. 1, and Batman: Hush Returns. Appears on page 23 in this issue.

11 page advertisement "Ads"

Notes Total of 8 one-page, 1 one-and-a-half-page, and 1 two-page ads for: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist Pack (trading card game, Konami), abovetheinfluence (Partnership for a Drug-Free America, two different ads), Teen Titans Pizza & Play Sweepstakes (game, Majesco Entertainment, 1.5 pages), Teen Titans (game, Majesco Entertainment), DragonBall Z Shin Budokai (game, Funimation Entertainment), Yu-Gi-Oh! Shadow of Infinity (trading card game, Konami), The Ultimate Eye Toy Challenge: Play 2/Operation Spy/Kinetic (games, Eye Toy, 2 pages), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (DVD, WB), and A Powerful Force Awaits: Solstice (car, Pontiac). Appear in various places in the issue.