After 66 Years, DC Is Officially Destroying an Iconic Piece of Superman Lore

Forget the death of Superman; DC has officially teased the destruction of an iconic piece of Superman lore that will undoubtedly break the hearts of many die-hard fans. What is this iconic piece of lore, you ask? It’s none other than THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE. Its destruction marks not only a major blow to the Man of Steel but also to all DC heroes.

Set for release on September 4, 2024, the third installment of Mark Waid and Dan Mora’s Absolute Power crisis event witnesses the destruction of Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. As per the solicitation for Absolute Power #2, the Fortress had served as a rallying point for DC’s heroes after Amanda Waller’s total victory, which had stripped metahumans of their powers.

However, the synopsis for this issue also hinted that not even Kal-El’s arctic sanctuary was safe from “Waller’s blitzkrieg.” While somewhat vague, the solicitation for issue #3 has confirmed that the Fortress of Solitude has fallen, marking the end of an iconic piece of Superman lore.

The synopsis for Absolute Power #3 explicitly describes Superman’s headquarters suffering a “devastating attack” and being left in “ruins.” Therefore, although fans haven’t witnessed its destruction unfold yet, they now know for certain that the Fortress of Solitude is no more. Adding to this poignant revelation, a stunning yet tragic variant cover by John Timms depicts Superman watching his beloved sanctuary burn, further confirming the end of this iconic piece of lore. This variant cover captures a disheartening scene that foreshadows even greater emotional impact in the narrative. Thanks to this sneak peek, fans can begin mourning its loss in advance.

The Fortress of Solitude–distinct from the Secret Sanctuary or Secret Citadel–as fans know it today first appeared in Action Comics #241 in The Super-Key to Fort Superman (1958). Like its modern interpretation, it was Arctic-based and served as the Man of Steel’s sanctuary. With over 66 years of history, its destruction in Absolute Power is absolutely devastating. This raises the question of whether Superman will rebuild it once the events of Absolute Power conclude. There is also the possibility that the Man of Steel may create an entirely new fortress separate from the FoS or opt to forgo a headquarters altogether.

The destruction of the Fortress of Solitude has consequences far beyond Superman losing his sanctuary and the DC heroes losing a headquarters in their war against Waller. It also jeopardizes the survival of various species, as the FoS contained Kal-El’s elaborate game preserve with interplanetary animals, some of which were extremely rare or even the last of their kind. Additionally, the Fortress housed dangerous weapons that could easily be seized by those with nefarious intentions. Thus, the destruction of this iconic piece of Superman lore has far-reaching implications.

Absolute Power #3 will be released on September 4, 2024, from DC Comics!