Superman

PHASE 1 What if Disney owned DC and made Superman (2008)

Clark Kent is a gifted but reserved journalist working at the Daily Planet, hiding abilities he barely understands while trying to live a normal human life. Guided by his Kansas upbringing and a strong moral compass, Clark believes his purpose is to observe, not interfere. His closest connection at work is the fearless reporter Lois Lane, whose curiosity constantly pulls Clark into dangerous situations, and the eager photographer Jimmy Olsen, who provides both support and unexpected help in the field. While investigating a mysterious and rapidly expanding global corporation known as Star Industries, Clark joins Lois and the Daily Planet crew on a reportage mission to a remote desert facility, believed to be tied to advanced energy development. The company’s technology—marketed as revolutionary and humanitarian—appears far beyond anything on Earth. The investigation goes wrong when the group is kidnapped by heavily armed security forces and autonomous robotic enforcers, later revealed to be connected to an alien intelligence known as Brainiac. These machines react strangely to Clark’s presence, sensing something unfamiliar within him. With no chance of rescue and innocent lives at risk, Clark is forced into an impossible position: act—or let people die. For the first time, Clark secretly steps into action, using his abilities without revealing his identity. What the captives perceive as a mysterious guardian becomes an unseen symbol of hope in the chaos—Superman, though no one can yet prove he exists. Behind the scenes, the true power behind Star Industries is revealed to be its charismatic and authoritative founder: General Zod, an alien who arrived on Earth years earlier and quietly built a technological empire using Kryptonian technology. Zod’s true objective is not conquest—but finding Kal-El. Upon confirming Clark’s survival, Zod forges an alliance with Brainiac, trading Earth’s future for knowledge and control. As Clark returns to Metropolis, struggling with the consequences of his actions, he begins to understand that staying hidden may no longer be an option. With John Henry Irons, a brilliant engineer and moral counterweight tied to the defense world, questioning the spread of alien tech, and Lois growing closer to the truth, Clark must decide what kind of symbol he is meant to become.

Story added by dippy2 on October 23, 2022