A 'grounded' Superman takes cross-country trek

Decades ago, Green Lantern -- DC Comics' ring-bearing, space-faring superhero -- set off with fellow hero Green Arrow to explore America in an old pickup.

Now it's Superman's turn to tour the country -- not in a truck, but on his feet.

The Man of Steel, who could fly or race around the globe in seconds, is walking across the United States. His trek, which began in Philadelphia in last month's "Superman" No. 701, is expected to take a year as he passes through Illinois, Iowa, California and other states.

The "Grounded" story, by writer J. Michael Straczynski, offers Superman the chance to reconnect with America -- and Earth, his adopted planet -- after living off-world on the now-destroyed New Krypton.

"While there is always a place for vast, sprawling, interstellar stories about distant worlds and other civilizations, the farther Superman travels from America, from Earth, from us, the more he begins to lose focus," Straczynski told DC Comics' blog, the Source.

He also reminded readers that in Superman's early days, he was "an avenger of the average guy," taking on wife-beaters, arsonists and others.

In the opening chapter of "Grounded," Superman teaches a lesson to drug dealers, offers the gift of hope to a suicidal woman and does a quick diagnosis on an ailing truck.

One reporter asks him, "Why aren't you flying?"

"I'm not flying because I'm walking," he answers. "Are you sure you're a reporter?"

But he also has a philosophical bent. Responding to a man who challenges whether he's a true hero, he responds with a quote from Thoreau.

Most readers appear to be giving the story thumbs-up on DC's message boards.

"A very compelling, human story," one reader posted. "It was moving. It was fun. It was a great Superman story."

"Ugh, I couldn't stand this issue," another reader posted. "It should have been called 'Superpreachy No. 701.'"

For those who fear a dozen issues of Superman rescuing cats from trees and serving as an impromptu auto mechanic, Straczynski assures that Superman "will also encounter threats and menaces and dangers that are far from average."