DC’s New Superman Was Inspired by a Taylor Swift Album

One could argue that Superman and the entire Super-Family is the last great American dynasty, as their legacy stretches all the way back to the origin of DC Comics with continuations and reimaginings still being added to Superman lore to this day. And now, an all-new addition to Superman’s ever-growing catalog of iconic stories is about to hit the shelves, one that was inspired by a Taylor Swift album.

No, this isn’t a hoax or an illicit affair. If anything it was an epiphany by the writer and artist behind the upcoming Superman: The Harvests of Youth, Sina Grace, during the pandemic, which – for many – felt like exile from society. Grace pulled the invisible string of their creative mind and found peace amid the chaos of the world during lockdown, as they crafted a Superman tale unlike any other. Superman: The Harvests of Youth by Sina Grace follows a young Clark Kent in Smallville during his time as a high school student. After the tragic loss of a classmate, Superman and his friends struggle with their feelings while also trying to solve a dangerous mystery and maintain their normal lives – and it was all inspired by Taylor Swift’s Folklore.

Sina Grace Explains Taylor Swift’s Folklore Inspiration for New Superman Book

In an exclusive Screen Rant interview with Sina Grace at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, the writer/artist of Superman: The Harvests of Youth was asked about the book’s overall aesthetic. Sina Grace’s response was as follows:

There was a little bit of an autumnal vibe in the book that I wanted to capture. I was listening to a lot of Taylor Swift’s Folklore, so I just, that sort of somber aesthetic played into every aspect of the book’s design.

Even with the few pieces of artwork and story details that have been revealed ahead of the book’s official release, it’s easy for readers to understand what Sina Grace is talking about here. The cover art and the color palettes used for the book’s internal panels alone convey the same feelings one experiences upon listening to Taylor Swift’s Folklore, which seemed to be exactly what Sina Grace was intending. Folklore is a heartfelt and story-driven era that delves into the artist’s more indie side, as opposed to the previous music genres she’s explored that were more in-line with pop, rock, or country. Like the stories Taylor Swift told through her lyrics in Folklore, The Harvests of Youth promises to be an emotional book with an undertone of melancholic rejuvenation, the mourning of happier times gone by, and an ode to what could have been.

Based on Sina Grace’s comments during Screen Rant’s exclusive interview with them at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, plus what readers can see for themselves from the promotional material that’s already been released, it’s easy to see how DC’s new Superman was inspired by Taylor Swift’s Folklore. Once Superman: The Harvests of Youth hits the shelves, both Superman and Taylor Swift fans alike will have to experience this genre-melding new story for themselves.