Originally Posted by
bat39
Arguably, that idea was kinda 'adapted' with Superman Reborn, with the Post-COIE Superman taking over from the New 52 Superman after the latter's death.
Now, hypothetically, if they did go down that route back in 1986, I'd contend that they'd eventually have to find a way to make it work in the context of the new continuity, much as they eventually had to in the case of 'Superdad'.
Here's how I think it could have worked.
COIE would have ended with Kal-El dying. Following the battle at the Dawn of Time and the merging of earths, the older Lois of Earth 2 ceases to exist. Kal L then gets rid of the old-age makeup and grey hair and takes his place as the Superman of this new earth. He initially believes that he is simply impersonating the real Superman of this earth. The first few issues after COIE would have Kal L settling into his 'new' life. Initially, he finds it a bit strange to be interacting with a younger Lois Lane who seems to be interested in him romantically. Or to have to contend with a new younger bald Lex Luthor who's a corporate mogul seemingly beyond the law. And other newer versions of his old enemies, as well as new enemies. Not to mention, being a member of the Justice League. But he soon finds that things are getting a little strange. He looks up the old records and finds that there are reports of Superman being around in the 1940's, fighting alongside the JSA, even on this earth.
This would lead in to the Man of Steel miniseries. The framing device will be Kal L visiting the Fortress of Solitude - a new version in the Arctic reminiscent of the one from the Movie. Similar to what we eventually got in Rebirth, Kelex analyzes him and the timeline and explains to him his history following the Crisis.
In the new reality, Kal L arrived on earth in the 1910's and was raised by Johnathan and Martha Kent. Following their deaths, in 1938, he made his debut as Superman. He worked at the Daily Star newspaper and Editor George Taylor. During the 1940's he was an honorary member of the Justice Society of America. In 1951, the JSA disbanded. Superman remained the only major active superhero for a while, going on increasingly weird and whimsical adventures. But he ultimately decided to quit. Maybe he decided that the world needed a chance to evolve on its own without interference from superheroes. Maybe he felt that he just needed to get away from it all, especially the publicity of being Superman. Maybe he decided he'd be more effectively if he helped out from the shadows.
So Superman disappeared, and at some point, Clark Kent, now Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet, quit. Clark traveled the world, probably saving people secretely. He struggles to come to grips with his immortality, which sets him apart even further from the rest of humanity. Maybe he instinctively feels that there's something, or someone missing in his life. He moved back to Smallville at one point, pretending to either be the son of Clark Kent, or some other distant relative of the Kent family also named Clark. He befriended Lana Lang and Pete Ross, both probably related to kids he grew up with. Maybe he confides in them, or in Lana at any rate. He possibly pursues a relationship with her but doubts if it can possibly work out between them, given how much older he is chronologically and the fact that he's not sure he can be tied down to life in Smallville after all.
So he leaves again, maybe travels for a bit, and then returns to his old city, Metropolis. And that's when a crashing space-plan causes him to reveal himself to the world again. He rescues Lois Lane and in that moment, he feels like she's the one he's been waiting for all his life. He also realizes that now that the genie is out of the bottle again, maybe its time to stop running from his purpose. So he becomes Superman again. The world has only heard vague rumors and stories, and seen old newspaper articles and newsreel footage of the Superman from the 40's, so they don't now if its the same man or his son. But they embrace him nonetheless, and a new era of heroism begins.
We then see Clark and Lois gradually get closer over the next few years, and Superman fight various foes. He also comes into conflict with Lex Luthor, the son of Alexei Luthor, his old arch-nemesis. When he first meets Batman, he again gets a strange feeling of deja vu and is a bit shocked by Batman's initial hostility towards him. But he remains convinced that they are meant to be friends and close allies and works hard to build that relationship.
In the present-day, after reviewing these records, Kal-L realizes that he now is the Superman of this earth, and his history is intact. But he's puzzled by why he remembers marrying Lois and spending decades with her, or why he remembers working alongside Batman in the JSA. Kelex tells him that the Crisis upset time and space and that what he's remembering are 'echoes' of 'Elseworlds'...events that could have happened but never did, at least not in this reality.
Superman is now able to move on with his life, and he's determined, based on the vague memories he still retains of a reality where he met Lois in 1938 and eventually married her, to make the most of his relationship with Lois in the here and now.