This issue is almost entirely made up of retellings of bits of the Superman origin story. It's effective, but not terribly groundbreaking. Backup story is more Superman origin stuff, this time focusing on Jon and Martha Kent in the early years of their marriage and their struggles with infertility. It's generally good, although it very quickly goes down the path of "everything happens for a purpose" which is pretty much the least interesting thematic direction this could have been taken in.

I have mixed feelings about this issue. I liked Grant's script. Very smart ways of mixing up the mythology. Adding that the ship in which Kal crashed to earth has Kryptonian crystal technology was a nice touch. I'm not sure if Kubert's pencils are a good match for Grant's cosmic flair but they serve the story well in the quiet parts as well as the spread of Krypton exploding. It's a dense story worth re-reading. Liked the back up too, not great, but enjoyable.