When it come toSupermanandNightwing , I will always be a drive - or - die for their mullets . They ’re not just iconic — they’re a nostalgic mark of an era , showcasing that these two sub can extract off any look , no matter how questionable it might seem on others . But Superman ’s mullet is more than just a style option ; it ’s deeply tied to one of his most defining and transformative menses , add layer to his character that go far beyond the hair .
The wild , hardcore vibe his gray mullet gives him contrast crisply with his usual clear - cut , choirboy appearing .
The XC were one of the most character - defining eras for Superman . This period is stigmatise not only by his iconic grey mullet but also by two major events in Kal - El ’s chronicle . First , in 1992 , cameThe Death of Supermanby Dan Jurgens , where Superman ’s epic battle with Doomsday ended in his evident last .
This was followed byReturn of Supermanin 1993 , which introduced four new characters who in brief take up the Superman mantle before Superman returned to reclaim his character as Earth ’s protector . Clark ’s grey mullet is intricately tied to these events , playing a significant role in form this era .
Why Did Superman Have a Mullet in the ’90s?
Newsstand Edition CoverThe Adventures of Superman#505 (1993) – Art by Tom Grummett
There is a narration explanation for how Superman got his mullet — as it did n’t just appear out of nowhere . After his conflict with Doomsday , Superman was presumed utter along with the Kryptonian brute . However , as sports fan know , Superman was n’t really deadened . During his absence seizure , he expend calendar month recovering in a Kryptonian reanimation ground substance , which allowed his hair to grow outconsiderably . When he returned from the dead , he was sporting both a new costume — the iconic black Superman case — and a longer hairstyle .
The creative decision to give Superman long whisker served as a optic cuethat , while he had take back from the dead , thing would not be the same for the Man of Steel . This change was speculate not only in his hair but also in the darken hues of the bolshie and blueing of his suit once he give up the black suit . As Superman editor in chief Mike Carlin explained,“We wanted to show at least a slight change . Nothing as drastic as the four Supermen , but just a nod to the fact that something new was materialize . "
However , this does n’t fully explain why Superman ’s hairsbreadth was specifically style as a mullet , and that answer rest in an artist - specific stylistic choice . Initially , Superman was depicted with simply longer , grown - out haircloth . But over time , some of the pencilers commence to experiment with more sheer looks , including ponytails , lion - like mane , and mullet . The mullet quickly became a preferent , sticking around for a substantial amount of sentence . Ultimately , the gray mullet met its ending in belated 1996 , when Clark trench it for his marriage ceremony to Lois LaneinSuperman : The Wedding Album .
It Might Not Be a Mullet, But Superman’s Long Hair Has Officially Returned to DC
Main Cover by Rafa Sandoval & Ulises Arreola forAbsolute Superman#1 (2024)
I would honestly love for Superman ’s mullet to make a comeback , as it ’s one of my favorite looks for him . The wild , hard-core vibration it devote him contrasts sharp with his usual clean - cut , choirboy show . While there has been a real - world grey mullet comeback recently , I doubt mainstream persistence will bring us , mullet Superman , anytime soon . However , with the late launch ofAbsolute Superman , DC has once again given us a farseeing - haired Man of Steel , and I could n’t be more thrilled — I perfectly love the feel .
Much like the aim behind Superman ’s grey mullet in the ' 90 , Kal - El ’s long fuzz in the Absolute Universe seems to serve as a optic pool cue , set him apart from other iterations of the type and his Earth - choice counterpart . TheDarkseid - created Absolute Universeis define by darker , gamey origins for fan - favorite characters , leading to more hard-core interpretations . Thus , Superman with longer hair efficaciously signals to referee that this is not the same Man of Steel they know — he ’s definitely more hardcore . While I ’ll always yearn for the return ofSuperman’smullet , I ’m profoundly satisfied with Absolute Kal - El ’s long hair .
