Fans of the animated series Batman Beyond were given a treat in the spring of 2010 with the arrival of Superman/Batman Annual #4. Written by Paul Levitz and featuring the art of Renato Guedes, readers were greeted to not only the excited antics of the elderly Bruce Wayne and future Batman, Terry McGinnis, but we also got a glimpse into the future of Superman. Fans were ecstatic with this brave, darkened take on the character that showed Superman leaving his heroic ways after the deaths of everyone he loved, which lead to the takeover of Metropolis by an evil Lex Luthor.

Flash forward to the late summer of 2011 when we will see this beloved character, referred to as “Superman Beyond,” in a one-shot entitled Superman Beyond #0 written by Tom DeFalco and featuring the art of Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema on interiors with a stunning cover piece by Dustin Nguyen.

Check out the cover art here at right (click for larger, full view).

DC’s official blog refers to this as a one-shot, but after the success of the recent Batman Beyond mini-series that lead to an ongoing series, and the fact that the issue is numbered at zero, as opposed to just numbering it as a one-shot, I have no doubt in my mind that DC is set and ready to go for the same treatment of the Beyond Universe’s Man of Steel. The title is set to release in August, so make sure to go to your shops, or fill out your DCBS orders early so you don’t miss it!

But what do you all think of this announcement? Excited by the future Man of Steel? Sick and tired of alternate realities? Let us know in the comments section here below!

[Source: DC]