10 Times Superman Just Quit

In 2010, Superman returned from a year away on the planet of New Krypton, where he tried to re-connect with the alien heritage he has lost. Upon returning to Earth, he finds that he no longer belongs here either - the public turned on him for being away, feeling that he no longer understands the people he once swore to protect.

Superman agrees, and makes a drastic decision: for the next year, he will stop involving himself in cosmic conflicts and beating up supervillains, and will walk across the United States, helping everyday people with their everyday problems, like a red, yellow, and blue cop.

And that's exactly what he does, helping with things like domestic violence and drug dealing. After a year of finding himself and leaving the world's safety in the hands of others, Lois persuades him that he is still needed and he returns to being Superman, in a rather flat ending.

The comic was not well received. The tone of writing is dismissive of any readers who don't 'get it' and would question why the hell Superman would do this, when he could be ending famines, or stopping wars, or anything else that makes better use of his power.