Superman Comic Recommendation

I want to start reading more superman comics but don’t really know where to start. Any recommendations for arcs, runs, or issues? Something I can jump into and not be too confused.
Also any recommendations that dive into more of his “Clark Kent Side” and his family (ma and pa) and upbringing. They don’t have to though. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

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All-Star Superman, Superman for All Seasons, and Superman: Birthright.

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The easiest introductions are Superman: Birthright and Superman For All Seasons. Plenty of Ma & Pa Kent in both.

Birthright: https://www.dcuniverse.com/comics/series/superman-birthright/4dbd1eaf-245e-45aa-85b6-7e7e6d78cb50

For All Seasons: https://www.dcuniverse.com/comics/series/superman-for-all-seasons/d4bebaf0-71d1-4a21-a847-9c271352944b

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Superman: Secret Origin

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Man of Steel (the ‘80s one, not the 2018 one), Superman: Secret Origin, and Superman: For All Seasons are great. As for a longer-running series, I’d recommend 1996’s Superman Adventures. Good, timeless, iconic, one-and-done Superman books.

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While All-Star Superman is undoubtably the best, I wouldn’t recommend reading it until you feel fairly familiar with the Superman mythos.

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I am always blown away by just how knowledgeable the people here are. These are awesome suggestions, as always. :smiley: I’m thoroughly impressed by everyone who jumped in to help.

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Where to Start Reading Superman Comics
Joshua Lapin-Bertone
Tuesday April 23

Look,up in the sky! It’s a bird
It’s a plane! No, it’s a
humongous collection of
Superman comic books! Now
that DC Universe has expanded
its digital library to over 20,000
comics, there are enough
Superman issues to fill the
Fortress of Solitude. If you’ve
always thought about reading
the Man of Steel’s adventures.
but have never known where to
start, we’ve got you covered. Here are some recommendations to get you
started on your journey with the
Last Son of Krypton.

The Man of Steel

THE STORY: In 1986.writer
arist John Byrne (of X-Men and
Fantastic Four fame) left Marvel
for DC and wrote and
illustrated a brand-new take on
Superman’s origin. Learn about
Clark Kent. his friends and his
enemies in the limited series
that reshaped Superman for the
Moden Age of comics.

Byrne also developed the evil
businessman persona of Lex
Luthor (conceived by
Adventures of Superman writer
Marv Wolfman), which has
become the character’s standard
interpretation, and reintroduced Jonathan and Martha Kent as living, vital presences in their son’s life. In the span of six issues, readers are given a crash course in Superman’s world as Byrne (ably assisted by inker Dick Giordano) sets up a new
continuity that would defıne the
character for the next two
decades, including the
generation-defining “Death of
Superman” storyline.

FOR FANS OF: If you’re a fan of
the Christopher Reeve-starring
Superman movies, you’ll be
pleased to know that John
Byrne was too! Byrne took the
best elements from the Reeve
films (including Margot Kidder’s
sharp-tongued Lois Lane
in building a new mythology for
the Man of Steel

WHAT’S NEXT: lf you enjooy
John Byrne’s take on Superman
in this limited series, then check
out his run on the monthly Superman(1987) title that follovwed it. as well as
the concurrent Action Comics
(also written and illustrated by
Byrne) and Adventures of
Superman (written by Marv
Wolfman and illustrated by
Jerry Ordway).

WHERE TO FIND IT The Man of
Steel # 1-6

BONUS: TV’s Lois and Clark:
The New Adventures of
Superman ran from 1993 to
1997. Many aspects of this series, such as Clark Kent’s
persona, his parents designing
his suit and living to see him
marry Lois, and Lex Luthor’s
businessman characterization,
were inspired by the Man of
Steellimited series.

1996’s Superman: The Animated Series also took a number of its cues from Byrne.

All-Star Superman

FOR FANS OF: lf you loved the
2009 Batman & Robin series
then you’re in luck, because the
creative team of Morrison and
Quitely are behind this
masterpiece as well. Grant
Morrison’s offbeat Doom Patrol
comic inspired many of the
stories and characters in DC
Unjverse’s ljve-action Doom
Patrol series. So if you can’t get
enough of that, then you’re
going to love this

WHAT’S NEXT: lf you like writer
Grant Morrison’s take on the
Man of Steel. then check out his
run on Action Comic volume 2
(#1-18) in which he revamped
Superman for DC’s New 52
relaunch. and his celebrated run
on JLA which partners Supeman with DC’s other A-list champions,
including Batman and Wonder
Woman

WHERE TO FIND IT All-Star
Superman #1-12

BONUS: After you finish
reading the comic, check out
2011’s All-Star Superman
animated adaptation featuring
the voice of James Denton as
Superman.

Superman: Birthright

THE STORY: How did Clark
Kent go from farmboy to hero?
Award-winning writer Mark
Waid and artist Leinil F. Yu
present a fresh take on the Man
of Steel’s origin, as Clark Kent struggles to find his place
in the world while dealing with
his enemy Lex Luthor.

In Superman: Birthright writer
Mark Waid took the best pieces
from John Byrne’s 1986’s Man
of Steel limited series. and
added elements from his
encyclopedic knowledge ofthe
Silver Age while giving the
legend new relevence for the
21st century.

FOR FANS OF: If you love the
2013 Man of Steel flm. this is
the Superman origin for you.
Henry Cavill’s portrayal of
Superman’s beginnings,
including the line about S
standing for “hope” took some
of its cues from this series.

WHAT’S NEXT: If you love how
Mark Waid writes the
beginnings of Superman’s
career. be sure to check out
Kingdom Come, his tale
(illustrated by Alex Ross) of an
older Superman coming out of
retirement to fight a new
generation of villains.

WHERE TO FIND IT: Superman:
Birthright #1-12.

“For the Man Who Has Everything”

THE STORY: Wonder Woman.
Batman. and Robin arrive at the
Fortress of Solitude to celebrate
Superman’s birthday, but find
the Man of Steel in a trance.

Superman’s enemy Mongul has
trapped the Last Son of Krypton
with an alien plant known as the
Black Mercy. While under its effects, Superman imagines a
life in which Krypton never
exploded and he’s happily
married with children.

The bright fantasy, however,
soon turns dark, and Superman’s
friends struggle to free him. The
final act of this story features
one of Superman’s most
impressive battles as he
goes after Mongul with white-
hot fury… Writer Alan Moore
and artist Dave Gibbons, the
duo behind Watchmen, team up
to tell a Superman story that captivates after more than
thirty years.

FOR FANS OF: This is a great
tale for fans of DC’s Trinity
and Justice League Unlimited, as well as all who love the work of acclaimed writer Alan Moore
.
WHAT’S NEXT: If you loved the
battle between Superman and
Mongul, read DC Comics
Presents #27 to see their first
brawl. And be sure to read
Moore’s unforgettable two-part
tale of Superman’s battle in
“Whatever Happened to the
Man of Tomorrow?” (in
Superman #423 and Action
Comics #583) as well as his
Superman-Swamp Thing team-
up in DC Comics Presents #85

WHERE TO FIND IT: Superman
Annual #11

BONUS: This comic was
brilliantly adapted in the Justice
League Unlimited episode"For
The Man Who Has Everything

Superman For All Seasons

THE STORY: Writer Jeph Loeb
and artist Tim Sale come
together to tell a Superman
story focusing on family, home,
and heroism. Set during the
early days of Superman’s career,
readers learn how Clark’s childhood in Smallville
defined the superhero he would
becone in this beautiful
coming-of-age tale.

FOR FANS OF: Fans of the liveaction Smallvilleseries will love this Norman Rockwell-esque look at Clark Kent’s early years.

If you’re a Batman fan who
enjoyed The Long Halloween or
Dark Victory, you’ll love seeing
the team of Jeph Loeb andTim
Sale reunite for an equally
gripping Superman story.

WHAT’S NEXT:

Superman/Batman #26 reunites
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale fora
tale in which Clark reminisces
about a high school friend who
died of cancer. This emotional
story was written as a tribute to
Loeb’s late son Sam. Bring some
tissues, because you may find
yourself shedding a few tears…
Sale returns to Superman’s early
days once more in the
“Kryptonite” storyline featured
in the first five issues of
2007’s Superman: Confidential

WHERE TO FINDIT: Superman
For All Seasons #1-4

Superman #1

THE STORY: Experience how
the legend began. 1939’s Superman #1 reprints the Man of Steel’s first
appearance from June 1938’s Action Comics #1 along with issues #2 through 4 and new pages detailing his origins for the first time. See how writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster changed the
cultural landscape and defined a
genre of storytelling, as Superman meets Lois Lane and becomes a champion for the
oppressed.

FOR FANS OF: Pop culture history, Golden Age comics.and 1930s and '40s crime and adventure movies. As
well as all who fight for social
justice

WHAT’S NEXT: lf Superman’s
Golden Age persona appeals to
you, check out more of his
adventures in the early years of
Action Comics, Superman, and
World’s Finest comics

WHERE TO FIND IT: Superman
(1939) # 1

BONUS: Check out animation
producer Max Fleischer’s
Superman cartoons to see how
the Golden Age Superman was
first translated to the screen
Thecartoons are from the
1940’s, but they remain among
the most beautifully animated
films of all time. and mark the
first time that Superman flew
in any medium!

Superman: American Alien

THE STORY: This Elseworlds tale (one in a long-running series of “imaginary” stories feauturing DC’s heroes) focuses on a young
Clark Kent as he tries to make
his way in a world he wasnt
born on. When he’s too human
to be a Kryptonian, but too alien
to be a human., where does that
leave him? How does a confused alien teenager grow up to become Earth’s greatest hero?
Screenwriter Max Landis’s script earned him an Eisner Award nomination.

FOR FANS OF: This story will be
fun for fans of Landis TV shows
and movies, including the
superhero fable Chronicle. lt’s
also great for fans of alternative
Superman stories and
contemporary coming-of-age
tales.

WHAT’S NEXT: If you’re a fan of
DC Elseworlds stories.check
out Superman: Red Son.This limited series (written by Kick-Ass and Kingsman
creator Mark Millar) imagines a
timeline in which baby
Superman’s rocket landed in
Russia instead of Kansas.

WHERE TO FIND IT: Superman:
American Alien #1-7

BONUS: Max Landis is currently
developing a sequel titled
Superman: Agent of Batman.

"What’s So Funny About Truth. Justice & the American Way?

THE STORY: A new group of
super-powered vigilantes
known as the Elite have
captured America’s attention.
The group is led by Manchester
Black. who doesn’t share
Superman’s sense of morality.
Superman grows uncomfortable
with their violent methods and
questionable ethics, bracing the
group for a showdown. Can
Clark beat the Elite without
compromising his moral
compass? Has the world simply
outgrown Superman? Writer
Joe Kelly answers all these
questions in a comic that’s become of the best
arguments for the Man of Steel
ever written.

FOR FANS OF: This comic is
perfect for anyone who’s ever
questioned Superman’s
relevance. Have you ever
wished Superman was more like
Batman? Do you prefer violent
anti-heroes like Lobo?Then this
story might have you rethink
everything you thought you
knewabout the Last Son of
Krypton.

WHAT’S NEXT Want to see
what happens with ManchesterSt
Black next? See what happens
when he’s drafted into the
Suicide Squad in Adventures of
Superman #593.

WHERE TO FIND IT Action
Comics #775

BONUS: This issue was adapted
into the 2012 animated movie
Superman vs. The Elite, featuring George Newbern reprising his Justice League Unlimited role as the Man of Steel

Silver Age Superman

THE STORY. The 1950s and
'60s was the Silver Age of
comics, a time Superman ruled
the newsstands! His stories
blended science fiction.
adventure, comedy, and
sometimes romance into a
mythology that’s still with us. It
was an era that chronicled the
history of Krypton. That gave us
Red Kryptonite, Brainiac,
Superman’s mermaid love Lori
Lemaris, the Bottle City of
Kandor. That saw Lois Lane and
Jimmy Olsen receive their own
comic series. And that
introduced Supergirl and the
Legion of Super-Heroes-

  • Superman’s friends from the
    distant future.

FOR FANS OF: If you’re in the
mood for light, fun reading with
no continuity hassles, then
these are the stories for you. These stories are also great
for fans of the 1950s George
Reeves-starring Adventures of
Superman TVs series
.
WHAT’S NEXT: lf you love
Superboy with the Legion of
Super-Heroes, check out
their adventures together in
1973’s Legionof Super-Heroes, as well as the animated
Legion of Super Heroes TV
series.

WHERE TO FIND IT Here are
fve stand-outs from that time:
Superman’s first meeting with
Batman in Superman #76,the
first appearance of
Superman’s cousin Supergirl
in Actions Comics #252, a
typically crazy scheme from
Jimmy Olsen in Action Comics
#340, the first appearance of
the Legion of Super-Heroes
in Adventure Comics #247 and
the first appearance of the Parasite in Superman #123.

BONUS: If you find Silver Age
Superman fun, then you’ll love
the Batman: Brave and the Bold
episode The Battle of the
Superheroes!" in which
Superman recreates some of the
most outrageous covers from
this era of comics.

Superman Secret Origins

THE STORY: After the reality-
altering events of 2005’s Infinite
Crisis, writer Geoff Johns and
artist Gary Frank teamed up to
give Superman a new origin
in this six-issue limited series.
Classicelements from the Silver
Age like Krypton’s culture and
Clark’s tenure as Superboy made their return. See Superman’s life story from his babyhood on Krypton to his teenage years in Smallville to his life in Metropolis as a Daily Planet reporter.

FOR FANS OF: This limited
series has the visuals of
Superman: The Movie, as well as
elements of the Silver Age
Superman, mixed in with the
best bits of John Byrne’s The
Man of Steel.

WHAT’S NEXT: If you love what
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank did
with Superman’s origin here,
check out how they handle a
modern version of the Man of
Steel in Action Comics #858-
863 and #866-870.

WHERE TO FIND IT: Superman:
Secret Origin #1-6

Superman: Secret ldentity
kurt busiek stuart immonen

THE STORY: Imagine what it
would be like growing up with
the same name as a famous
fictional character. Poor Clark
Kent finds himself the butt of
every Superman joke in this
Elseworlds tale. in which superheroes only exist in
comics. Soon, however, young
Clark finds he has the powers of
his fictjional namesake and
wants to use those abilities for
good. Writer Kurt Busiek tells
an inspiring tale exquisitely brought to life by Stuart Immonen’s photorealistic
art.

FOR FANS OF: Those who love
TV’s Smallville and the unique
flavor of superhero neorealism
found in Busiek’s Marvels and
Astro City will love following
Clark on his heroic journey.

WHAT’S NEXT: There are lots
more Elseworlds Superman
stories to reacd. For more of Kurt Busiek’s Man of Steel stories.check out his run on the
monthly Superman book, which
ran from Superman #650 to
#675.

WHERE TO FIND IT: Superman:
Secret ldentity#1-4.

BONUS: This story was inspired
bythe tale of “Superboy Prime”
(the “real world” Superboy)
found in DC Comics Presents
#87.

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John Byrne’s The Man of Steel (from 1986) is a good starting point in general as its the Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths origin of Superman.

If you want something focusing more on Clark, the debut issues of The Adventures of Superman (1987-2006) are a good place to start.

For a Pa Kent focus, there’s the Brainiac arc of Action Comics (issues 866-870).

The best starting points for the regular Superman title are John Byrne’s run on the 1986-2006 ongoing series (his run begins at #1 and ends at #22), as well as the 2016-2018 Superman series that’s part of Rebirth.

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Thanks for all the replies! All the suggestions are super helpful!

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Byrne’s Man of Steel gives you lots of Clark, Ma and Pa, Lois and --never to be forgotten–Lana.

Byrne’s run is really good. I’d recommend starting with Birthright by Mark Waid. It’s a really great origin story. The writing is topnotch. It does a really good job humanising superman for readers. Obviously one of the knocks on Superman is always that he’s too overpowered and unrelatable. Birthright does a great job making him relatable so if you want to really appreciate him as a character I’d suggest starting there. I didn’t, but I wish I had when I read it cos it definitely got my interested in reading more Superman whereas before I just wasn’t that interested.

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Action Comics (the 1938 series) has a good story in 855-857. It is a quick read about Superman facing Bizarro but has some good Clark and Pa Kent moments.
“Braniac” from Action Comics 866-870 is also a good one by the same writer.

I also second Man of Steel, a great read even today.

And if you want a great laugh read DC Comics Presents 81.

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Birthright.

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