An 80+ year history of constant publication Superman has amassed a lot of stories. But not all stories are created equally. With that many stories, and the current run by Brian Michael Bendis being universally hated by readers, which ones are the good ones? What are the good Superman stories and who will tell us what are the best 30.
Fear not, good citizen! I have come to show the best ones I could find. But what of continuity, I hear you ask. Excellent question, good citizen. I have considered this and one of my ways of grading the best is the question “does this story stand alone?” (for this reason Peter J Tomasi’s recent work is not in the list). I will assume, as a baseline, that anything in the first two Christopher Reeves movies is well known and that you can work out that Brainiac is an evil space scientist.
Also, no Superman copies. Only officially released DC Stories about Superman.
30. Rocket Song/When Superman learnt to fly
Original publication: Action Comics (vol.2) 5 & 6
Creative Team: Grant Morrison (Writer), Andy Kubert (pencils)
This story does a lot. Grant Morrison was tasked duringthe New 52 to rework the Superman mythos from the ground up. This story is easily the most Grant Morrison I’ve read, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. The story tells of the rocket’s journey to Krypton, his growing up on the farm, his time with the Legion of Superheroes, a new back story for Kryptonite and the formation of the anti-Superman army. New characters introduced are typical for Morrison’s run on Action Comics, some of which are renamed on a whim (e.g The Kryptonite man is now “K-Man”). I do prefer the new back story for Kryptonite and think it makes more sense than the classic fragments of Krypton. Your mileage will vary more on whether or not you like how Grant Morrison writes Superhero comics rather than the details of the story.
(Suggested further reading) Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes: The Early Years
Original publication: Adventure Comics 515-520
Creative Team: Paul Levitz (writer), Kevin Sharpe (Pencils)
Is the Legion of Superheroes a separate thing? Or is it a expansion of Superman lore? I couldn’t decide so I didn’t have this one on the list even though it is worth talking about. This arc is an abridgement of the early Legion stories in a similar vein to Spider-man Blue or Secret Origins. This story arc is a useful jumping on point for anyone interested in Kal-El’s boyhood Superteam. It also focuses on the whole time travel aspect of the series and how they get around Superboy not knowing about his own future. A good read for anyone interested in Superman, Doctor Who and wants to ignore the problematic nature of Jim Shooter.
29. The Saga of Superman XX
Original publication: Action Comics 338-339 and World’s Finest 166
Creative Team: Edmond Hamilton (Writer), Curt Swan (Artist)
Stand-alone? Yep. This is a single story about the descendent of the normal Superman as he battles his arch-enemy, Muto the Menace. Fun, Silly and Silver-age.
The story takes place thirty years before the formation of The Legion of Superheroes for anyone that interested in continuity.
28. Superman For All Seasons
Original publication: Superman For All Seasons (mini series)
Creative Team: Jeph Loeb (Writer), Tim Sale (Art)
Story-telling is not Story. This graphic novel is beautiful but lacking on story. This is more a character study of four of Superman’s supporting cast; Pa Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor and Lana Lang. It’s more about seeing Superman from their different points of view.
27. To Tame a Titan
Original publication: Superman Annual 1 (1987)
Creative Team: John Byrne
Yes, I admit it. I love Titano. Sure, he’s clearly inspired by King Kong. But here’s the thing. The film was about how civilised man kills his savage instincts to stay in society. So, with Superman the most civilised Man of Tomorrow, you have to make a bigger ape.
But this version of Titano has more back story, with him being a lab animal cruelly experimented on. He wants to protect Lois Lane because she stood up for him when scientists were abusing him. But Titano is a beast. He doesn’t fit into society and with his newly increased height and mass has no idea of the damage he does to his surroundings.
Superman doesn’t want to hurt the giant ape but he can’t let him destroy Metropolis.
26. The Riddle of The Four Planets
Original publication: World’s Finest 130
Creative Team: Jerry Coleman (Writer), Jim Mooney (Art)
To quote comic book writer Marv Wolfman, “Superman in the 60’s was always just returning from a mission in space, and I always wanted to see that mission”. Well, DC heard him with this Silver-Age story. One of Batman and Superman’s few printed space adventures all about giant space-faring squids.
25. Crime Paradise
Original publication: Action Comics 101
Creative Team: Jerry Siegel (Writer), Win Mortimer (Art)
Published shortly after World War 2, this story is significant.This story redefines Superman and has him find his post war identity. I could almost call this the first Silver-Age Superman story. This was the first time we had the “Evil Superman”, an ongoing trope of The Silver-Age. Irradiated by an Atomic Bomb, Superman becomes a vandal destroying everything in site.
This story has Superman himself as an allegory for Nuclear weapons. In the right hands, Superman is a force for good. But, in the wrong hands, he’s the world’s biggest terror. The patriotism of the earlier era has dissolved and, instead, we have a more contemplative hero who is now questioning authority (in stark contrast to how he was portrayed in Dark Knight Returns).
24. The Team of Luthor & Brainiac
Original publication: Superman 167
Creative Team: Edmond Hamilton (writer), Curt Swan (Art)
Superman’s two greatest enemies team up to take him down. This story also first establishes the back story for Brainiac, making it the perfect introduction to the character. Especially as his first appearance (The Super Duel in Space by Otto Binder) has elements to Brainiac that aren’t seen in any other story, such as his pet cat.
23. Superman: Friend or Foe
Original publication: Action Comics 551
Creative Team: Marv Wolfman (writer), Gil Kane (Art)
The genius of this comic is seconded only to it’s simplicity. Two kids in Metropolis are dying of a rare disease and the only known cure is on the other side of the world in a war-zone that no one dares to cross. The cure can not be replicated in Metropolis so Superman is the only one who can save these innocent kids as more and more obstacles get in his way.
22. The Sightless Lois Lane
Original publication: Showcase 10
Creative Team: Jerry Coleman (Writer), Wayne Boring (Art)
Part of the pilot comic that lead to the infamous series “Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane”. This is one of the better Lois Lane stories, free from the plots of tricking Superman into marrying her. I think this story best illustrates how much Superman cares about Lois Lane (including performing an elaborate puppet show).
21. Superman Secret Identity
Original publication: Superman: Secret Identity (Mini-series)
Creative Team: Kurt Busiek (Writer), Stuart Immonen (Art)
“Superman in the real world” is probably the easy description of this book. It’s a deconstruction but not a tedious kind that hates Superheroes. It’s about some poor shmoe who has Superman’s powers and the name Clark Kent. He hates the constant jokes about his name but he still tries to use his powers to help people. Fortunately, most people will ignore Superman flying over their head and just think it’s a figment of their imagination.
20. Trinity
Original publication: Trinity (Mini Series)
Creative Team: Matt Wagner
I originally dismissed this as just a popcorn comic. However, I later realised that there is a lot more subtly hidden within it’s story of Ra’s Al Ghul, Bizarro and Artemis teaming up to take over the world and accidentally forming the Justice League. There is a story of how Superman inspires the other two heroes to be more trusting and better people.
19 Krypton Dies Again
Original publication: Action Comics 489-491
Creative Team: Cary Bates (Writer), Curt Swan (Art)
The evilness of Brainiac in this story is to be admired. Forcing Superman to watch the destruction of his home planet, just to see what will happen.
18. Return to Krypton
Original publication: Action Comics 600 & Superman 18
Creative Team: John Byrne (writer), Mike Mignola (Art)
Action Comics 600 contains 3 stories in it. The first two are about Superman and Wonder Woman teaming up. This issue ended the era of Action Comics being Superman’s team up book. But the better story is the one that leads into Superman 18. Superman is losing control, breaking down and crying in a cave where he is found by Man-Bat. A subversion of ideas where the mutated being is comforting the hero later leads to a team up with Hawkman and Hawkwoman.
The second part of the story is the titular return to Krypton with the whole planet being Kryptonite. This was the cause of Superman’s breakdown. While exploring the planet in a lead-lined spacesuit, Superman hallucinates. He imagine’s what would’ve happened if the Kryptonians had listened to his father Jor-El and left their dying planet. He imagines them trying to enslave the inhabitants of earth and Jor-El becoming the Saviour leading a resistance against his own people.
17. The Saga of the D.N.Aliens
Original publication: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen 133-138
Creative Team: Jack Kirby
This story might be remembered for being the first appearance of Darkseid but it has a greater merit to it. There are two layers to it. The first is its plot about experimentation with cloning. The second is the relationship between Superman and Jimmy Olsen. The two are in conflict but neither one is the bad guy. It’s more a failure to communicate, Jimmy thinks Superman is holding him back and Superman is just looking out for his pal knowing that Morgan Edge has lead Jimmy into a trap.
16. Strange Visitor
Original publication: The Adventures of Superman (vol.2) 16
Creative Team: Joe Keatridge (Writer), Mike Doyle, Brent Schnoover, David Williams, Tula Latoya, Jason Shawn Alexander and Jon Bogdanove
The Adventures of Superman Volume 3 is easily one of the most enjoyable Superman series. This is just one example of a story from the series. The mix of Silver-Age concepts with modern art and storytelling devices shows the timelessness of the character. This one is about a rocket ship that mysteriously disappears.
15. Must There be a Superman?
Original publication: Superman 247
Creative Team: Elliot S Maggin (Writer), Curt Swan (Art)
Do we need Superman or does his help hinder our progress? The Guardians of Oa ask Superman this very question and we learn Zack Snyder is wrong.
14. Superman: Unchained
Original publication: Superman Unchained (Mini series)
Creative Team: Scott Snyder (Writer), Jim Lee and Dustin Nyugen (Art)
With a rewrite, this would be in the top 5 but DC won’t let us have nice things. There are a lot of good elements to this but a few bad decisions (particularly at the end) ruin this story.
This story could almost be a masterclass in how to use Lex Luthor. It also features Superman battling the alien responsible for the destruction of Nagasaki. Superman solves his problems with his Super-intelligence and his powers while the military question his motives. General Lane calls Superman a coward because he won’t be the Armies weapon. Yet, despite being under this accusation, Superman sticks to his morals and remains a hero for the whole world. But it’s not just the U.S Military Superman has to deal with. A group of luddites called the Ascension want to destroy all technology.
SPOILERS Sounds good but the last issue ruins everything with an out of nowhere revelation that Clark killed someone as a teen and a un-rebuted monologue from Lex Luthor about how “Superman doesn’t stand for anything”. These are both completely unneeded and ruin a very good Superman story, especially as Lex’s monologue is to Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, both of whom should reply with “You don’t understand Lex. You never will because you’ve only ever thought about yourself”. I think Scott Snyder didn’t want to alienate his edge lord fans or DC have no idea how such things sour the perceptions of their great hero.
13. The World of Krypton
Original publication: The World of Krypton Mini Series
Creative Team: John Byrne (Writer), Mike Mignola (Art)
From the creative team that created Hellboy, this is a work of beauty. Mignola in the first part gets to show off his rarely seen Moebius influences to show the peaceful utopia that was Superman’s homeworld. Of course, the history of Krypton is not all peaceful poetry recitals. Explaining the Kryptonian clone-war (which would inadvertently destroy the planet) and how Kryptonians reproduce asexually, this explains what motivates Superman to be a hero and the influence his father’s genes have on him. Jor-El is Krypton’s last romantic and his son is following in his father’s footsteps.
12. The Boy of Steel
Original publication: Adventure Comics 0-3, 5&6 and Superman Secret Files 2009
Creative Team: Geoff Johns (writer), Francis Manapul (Art)
We’ve all seen in cartoons the idea of an Angel and Devil on somebodies shoulder. Well, Connor has that in his DNA. As the clone of Superman and Lex Luthor, he has the DNA of a hero and a criminal.
This story is all about how Connor wants to be like Superman and reject his other DNA. But, as the story continues, we find out how rotten Lex Luthor is to the core. Connor even debunks Lex’s claim “that he could be a hero if it wasn’t for Superman”.
11. Fortress
Original publication: Adventures of Superman (vol.2) 1
Creative Team: Jeff Lemire
Adult fans have forgotten what Superman’s really about so here are 2 kids who get it. (The shortest story on the list probably deserved the shortest analysis).
10. Emperor Joker
Original publication: Superman 160-161, Adventures of Superman 582-583, Superman: The Man of Steel 104-105, Action Comics 769-770 and Emperor Joker 1
Creative Team: Jeph Loeb, Joe Kelly, J.M DeMatteis, Mark Schultz and Yll Ekeoj (as Writers), Doug Mahnke, Ed McGuiness Mike Miller, Onak, Duncan Rouleau, Todd Nauck, Carlo Barberi, Scott McDaniel, EMC2 and Kano (as Artists)
Superman has gone sane in a world gone mad! Perfect tagline. In the world of Emperor Joker, rationality and scientific reason have been banned as the Clown Prince of Crime rebuilds the world to his design after stealing the powers of Mr Mxzptlkz. The story itself is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Silver Age, with references to Jimmy Olsen becoming a Turtle-man and an appearance by the Legion of SuperPets. If you’re not an expert on Superman comics, that might actually work to this stories advantage because its all about the world being weird.
What I want to know is this; why haven’t DC Animated made a version of this yet? The actual book is a little disjointed with a lot happening of panel (in a weird way, this can actually help the comic). But an animation team working on a straight to DVD movie van fix it. (Yes, I am aware there is an episode of Batman, the Brave and the Bold called Emperor Joker but its a flimsy abridgement).
9. The Man of Steel
Original publication: Man of Steel (Mini-Series)
Creative Team: John Byrne
Lots of Mini-series exist retelling the early days of Superman and this is the first to make a concise version. Geoff John’s Secret Origin is more a ticked off list of things he wanted to reintroduce and Mark Waid’s Birthright borrows too much from the Richard Donner movie. Lets not even mention the terminal stinkers that are Frank Miller’s Year One or Max Landis’ American Alien (because neither of those understand who Superman or Clark Kent are).
John Byrne’s mini series is all about Superman’s firsts, each issue is a different first. When he first left Smallsville. When he first met Lois Lane, Lex Luthor and Batman. The first time he fought a Supervillain who was as powerful as him (Bizarro). When he first found out he was an alien.
This is the set up for Byrne’s era where he “Marvellised” the series. The tropes and writing conventions of his 22 issues of Superman, 18 issues Action Comics and this mini-series practically scream Marvel. Superman fights a supervillain and an ongoing soap opera narrative happens in the background. Byrne is a lifelong comic fan who made a name for himself at Marvel and this mini-series reflects both these passions from him.
8. The Champion of the Oppressed
Original publication: Action Comics 1
Creative Team: Jerry Siegel (Writer), Joe Shuster (Artist)
The very first Superman Comic and it tells you exactly who he is. Of course, it’s the oldest on this list but it’s still one of the best. This story doesn’t hold back and it shows you exactly why Superman is the ultimate hero.
7. For the Man who has Everything
Original publication: Superman Annual 11 (1985)
Creative Team: Alan Moore (Writer), Dave Gibbons (Art)
The creative team behind Watchmen also made this classic. Superman has the fortress of Solitude filled with amazing treasures from around the world, the powers of a demigod and loyal friends. So what could he possibly want? Well, the answer is that he wants to belong. This idea was tackled by Jack Kirby in the latter half of his Jimmy Olsen run and also in Forever People, with Superman’s search for Super-Town (which turned out to be New Genesis). Superman is lonely on earth being the only person with his powers and what he really wants is a world that doesn’t need him to be Superman.
6. JLA: Age of Wonder
Original publication: JLA Age of Wonder (Mini Series)
Creative Team: Adisakdi Tantimedh (Writer), P. Craig Russell and Galen Showman (Art)
This is a Superman Elseworld story done right. There aren’t actually many. A lot of Elseworld’s don’t stick to their key premise. You’re supposed to change very few things and see how that effects the DC Universe. This changes one thing; what if DC’s heroes first emerged in the 1890’s. Red Son, in contrast, changes a lot from Themyscira’s relationship to the world, how Green Lantern rings work and how Krypton was destroyed (which causes many plot-holes in the story).
Superman and Lex Luthor start working for Thomas Edison as inventors, but with their skills and genius feeling under appreciated. Lex and Clark start their own company with Nikola Tesla. A science accident happens in their lab and Barry Allan becomes the Flash. The Waynes meet Superman at a charity ball and their son Bruce tells him that he wants to be an inventor like Clark. The Waynes are murdered by Luddites and Bruce swears revenge.
This 2 issue mini-series is a hidden gem. More JLA members get involved, all of whom get “downdated?” to fit the time, including versions of Plastic Man, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, whilst also staying consistent with their DC universe counterparts. And, of course, Lex Luthor turns evil when Lois Lane rejects him in favour of Clark Kent.
5. Superman vs The Elite
Original publication: Animated Movie (based on Action Comics 775)
Creative Team: Joe Kelly (writer), Michael Change (Director), Hiroshi Nitta (Art Direction)
What’s so funny about Truth, Justice and The American Way? Superman vs The Elite is a great expansion of the original comic, improving on the original by Superman trying more than one method to correct the contract killers posing as heroes. The original comic suffers from being overly compressed but, in an animated movie, it has more breathing room. Maybe swapping out a giant monkey with a gun for the Atomic Skull is a downgrade in my opinion. However, both iterations have Superman showing the edgy new heroes (who are just terrorists) that his values are right. Superman may have to use their methods to show that terrorism is not the answer but some people deserve a taste of their own medicine.
4. Man and Superman
Original publication: Man and Superman (One Shot)
Creative Team: Marv Wolfman (writer), Claudio Castellini
Do you ever feel like you’re not living up to your own potential? Superman does in this story. He wants to help but he doesn’t quite know how. This Superman is philosophising over what is right and wrong. He stumbles, he makes mistakes, he’s human. He’s Superman, he’s not called demi-god. But what is important about Superman is that he tries to do good. Superman is not as perfect as he tries to look and this is set in the early days in his career. Also, Superman gives a lecture in this book that perfectly identifies his ideologies. It’s so magnificent, it gives me chills. The story is open-ended, which left me feeling slightly unsatisfied reading this, but the open end is to allow all the other Superman stories to exist.
Marv Wolfman claims this is the best Superman story he’s ever written but…
3. All Star Superman
Original publication: All Star Superman (Mini Series)
Creative Team: Grant Morrison (Writer), Frank Quietly
I can hear the cries of sacrilege from everyone now. All Star Superman made me a Superman fan. I didn’t like the character before reading this book and from there, I wanted to read all the adventures. I was first turned onto the book from being a fan of Grant Morrison. I read it and was blown away. For a long time, this was what I thought the pinnacle of comic book stories was.
All Star is unlike any other Superman story. It takes elements from all era’s and distills it into one story. This story is different. It’s about Superman dying. The book masters mixed emotions with the joy of Superman doing 12 great labours before his death (a nod to Hercules). But the muted colour scheme gives an air of sadness, reminding us that Superman is doomed.
I don’t want to say anymore about it other than read it.
2. Superman Smashes The Klan/Superman the Spy/ The Clan of the Fiery Cross
Original publication: Superman Smashes the Klan 1-3, Real life and The Adventures of Superman (radio series)
Creative Team: Gene Luen Yang (writer),Gurihiru (Art) Bud Collyer and the Anti Defamation League
After World War 2 and the constant threat of Nazi’s had finished, Bud Collyer wanted new enemies for Superman to fight on his radio show. Hearing about this, the Anti-Defamation League reached out to him and suggested that they do a story based on the findings of a spy they had placed into the Ku Klux Klan. The mainstream news media had refused to cover the story. So, with the ADL wanting to expose the KKK, they took a long shot with Bud. Collyer bought the idea and the radio serial “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” was written and produced. The Klan hated this, going so far as to disbar any member of the Klan who bought Kellogs cereal (the sponsors of the Adventures of Superman). The world didn’t know what the Klan really was until a radio play with Superman denouncing them as racist hate-mongers was made. That is how Superman in the real world told the world of the threat of the Klan. What’s Batman done that was anything like that?
Now, Superman Smashes the Klan is a comic book adaptation of this arc from the radio series but Gene Luen Yang has added to it. Yang has viewed Superman as an immigrant with his desire to belong in conflict with his desire to embrace his heritage. In this story, Superman doesn’t know how to fly until he learns to embrace his culture. Also, Jimmy Olsen asks a Klan member “Do you know how ridiculous you look with a pillow case on your head”.
1. If Superman Didn’t Exist
Original publication: Action Comics 554
Creative Team: Marv Wolfman (writer), Gil Kane (Art)
At long last, we’re at number 1. When I read this, I knew it was the one. For it to have appeared in an unassuming issue of Action Comics is astounding but it happened. This story has Superman erased from the universe by Vandal Savage. Not just Superman but everything he stands for. It’s imagining earth not just without Superman but without the archetypes that lead to him. Humans are cowards living in mud-huts, scowling at their neighbours for being different, unmotivated to invent anything new and stubbornly set in their ways.
This story is about how dreaming will save the world, how the imagination of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster inspires people to be better. Imagination is a much better commodity than cynicism and this Superman story spells out why.
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