9 Volume 8

Many years ago, decades before the last survivor of Krypton became Earth's guardian, another being of immense power fell from the sky. The role he played in the deadliest war in human history became one of America's darkest secrets. Years later, that secret resurfaces, and the super-soldier walks among men once more. Multiple forces contend over this secret: Superman, the Son of Steel; his archenemy Luthor; his confidante Lois Lane; Lois's ruthless father, General Sam Lane; and Ascension, a high-tech terrorist group with deep ties to the past. Meanwhile, there appears a super-alien "Ghost" stronger than Superman, and a mysterious Earth stone. The threads interweave into a tangled mystery. More crucially, when there exists in the world a being equal to or even stronger than himself, the stark contrast in how the two see and handle things becomes the story's core appeal. When the smoke clears, only the true Superman can break free. This is Volume 8 of the "1-9" series, corresponding to issue 8 of Superman: Unchained #1–9. It belongs to DC's New 52 era and is a commemorative work for Superman's 75th anniversary.