2002 The Man of Steel issues 129 thru 131

The run culminates in issue #129 (written by Chuck Austen), a touching standalone story where Superman forges a genuine friendship with a brave Metropolis police officer—only to confront the heartbreaking limits of his powers when tragedy strikes, reminding him that even the Man of Steel "can't be everywhere at once."

This stretch mixes high-octane superhero action with more grounded, emotional character moments typical of early 2000s Superman titles.