Superman is known across the globe as a comic book icon, a pop culture mainstay, and a beacon of courage and hope. After making his first appearance in Action Comics #1 more than 85 years ago in 1938, Superman became a pop culture sensation and remains the archetype for all the heroes that have followed.
With David Corenswet’s Superman lighting the way in James Gunn’s new DCU, we thought it was the perfect time to take a look at Superman's most enduring tales. These are the stories that explore Superman -- or even the idea, concepts, and philosophies behind Superman -- to the fullest.
You'll notice there's no placement of stories that star the other members of the Super-family; these are restricted solely to stories about the Man of Steel himself.
30. ‘Kryptonite Nevermore’
As Seen In: Superman #233-238,240-242 (1971)
“A wise man once said that ‘Power corrupts… and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ How do we know Superman will be an exception?”
Denny O’Neil may always be best remembered for his contributions to characters like Batman and The Question, but he also enjoyed a brief yet influential run on Superman in the ‘70s. Here, 15 years before John Byrne’s Superman: Man of Steel reboot, O’Neil and his collaborators (including absolute legends like Curt Swan) first set about the task of trying to rein in Superman’s campier aspects and present a relatively more grounded take on the Man of Steel. It all starts when a massive explosion both weakens Kal-El and renders the world’s supply of Kryptonite harmless. This is also the run that transformed Clark Kent from newspaperman to TV reporter. If you’re interested in reading classic Superman stories but can’t really stomach the sight of Jimmy Olsen transforming into a giant turtle monster, this is a great place to start.
Buy Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore on Amazon.
29. Brainiac
As Seen In: Action Comics #866-870 (2009)
“Your greatest power isn’t being able to fly or see through walls. It’s knowing what the right thing to do is.”
In Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Brainiac storyline, the creators mined the Silver Age for kooky concepts and turned them into a focal point of the Superman mythology. Here, we learn that despite all of Superman’s battles with Brainiac in the past, he’s never come face-to-face with the one, true being that is Brainiac, but rather just incarnations of him. More importantly, this arc reintroduces the bottled city of Kandor to the Superman lore, which leads to the primary exploration of this tale: Superman rediscovering the culture of his home planet, but possibly at the expense of his humanity.
Johns and Frank develop a bond between Superman and his recently returned cousin, Supergirl, juxtaposed with a focus on his upbringing from the Kents. Johns angles the Brainiac story as a cycle of death and rebirth, as the story concludes with the double whammy of the re-emergence of Kandor – which would pave the way for the New Krypton saga – and the poignant death of Jonathan Kent.
Buy Superman: Brainiac on Amazon.
28. ‘The Mighty One’
As Seen In: Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth #29 (1975)
“Like the ‘Golden Fleece’ of ages past, the suit of ‘Mighty One’ awaits… waits for the return of its original owner.”
Jack Kirby’s seminal Kamandi series is fondly remembered for many things, but this tale of Superman as legend in the far future has to be one of the best. The first entry on this list that focuses on Superman as an idea rather than a character, Kamandi #29 found our titular hero and his companion Ben Boxer discovering a tribe of advanced apes who worshipped a legend they called, you guessed it, the Mighty One.
This is, of course, Superman, who never appears in the story save for comics-within-comics style drawings from the ape culture and the presence of his suit. What Kirby explores here is the mythical aspect of Superman, suggesting that, like our own cultural myths, the Man of Steel would be an inspiration even in the far future, only to be reinterpreted for new cultures and new civilizations.
Buy Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth by Jack Kirby Vol. 2 on Amazon.
27. ‘The Curse of Superman’
As Seen In: Action Comics #9 (2012)
“That’s it. The dotted line. You won’t regret this.”
The most recent Superman story to appear on this list, Grant Morrison and Gene Ha’s Action Comics #9 departed from Morrison’s regularly scheduled Superman tale in DC’s New 52 reboot and spun a surprisingly accusatory metaphor for the corporatization of the Superman ideal and the harsh treatment of his creators.
In this story, we’re taken to Earth 23, where President Superman meets a group of dimension-hoppers that inform him of how the Superman idea they’d created was co-opted by an evil corporation and watered down in order to have cross-market appeal. But Morrison doesn’t portray just DC’s history in a negative light, he also makes it perfectly clear that this problem comes from the fandom as well.
The Curse of Superman is a metaphor for how diluted the message of Superman can become when held up against the struggle of sales and industry trends. Certainly not the most optimistic tale on this list, but an important one nonetheless.
Buy Superman by Grant Morrison Omnibus on Amazon.
26. The Warworld Saga
As Seen In: Action Comics #1030-1046, Action Comics 2021 Annual, Action Comics 2022 Annual, Batman/Superman: Authority Special #1, Future State: Superman: House of El #1, Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1-2, Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1 (2021-2022)
“We’ll find a way. But not at the cost of your lives.”
The Warworld Saga came at a time of major transformation for DC, including Superman’s teenage son Jon stepping in for his father in Metropolis. What was Kal-El himself up to? That’s a question that writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson explores in the sprawling epic known as The Warworld Saga.
The Warworld Saga is essentially Superman by way of John Carter of Mars. It casts the Man of Steel as a would-be savior of an enslaved alien race, forced to fight for his very survival in the gladiator pits of Warworld. As much a bloody fantasy saga as it is a superhero story. The Warworld Saga tests Kal-El and challenges his rigid moral code in ways few Superman stories ever have. That makes his ultimate triumph all the more satisfying.
Buy Superman: The Warworld Saga on Amazon.
25. Superman: Speeding Bullets
As Seen In: Superman: Speeding Bullets (1993)
“You can’t right wrongs with a fist or a sword, Bruce. It just doesn’t work that way.”
One of the best Elseworlds tales of the ‘90s, J.M. DeMatteis and Eduardo Barreto asked the question, “What if Kal-El’s rocket had landed in Gotham City and was found by the Waynes?” Here, Thomas and Martha Wayne raise a young Kal-El as Bruce Wayne, until Joe Chill takes their life one fateful evening in Crime Alley. Except this time, the murder of the Waynes is what sparks the appearance of Kal-El’s powers, incinerating Chill accidentally with his heat vision.
Speeding Bullets manages to blend together many different elements of the Superman and Batman mythologies, but it ultimately remains a tale about the Man of Steel and his purity as a symbol. Even when faced with these great tragedies in Gotham City, Kal-El ultimately finds his way to being a symbol of hope. Though Superman is “the Batman” for a majority of this story, Speeding Bullets teaches us the strength of Superman’s inherent moral compass and integrity.
Buy Elseworlds: Superman Vol. 1 on Amazon.
24. Superman: Last Son
As Seen In: Action Comics #844-846, 851, Action Comics Annual #11 (2006)
“Who’s Batman?”
“Someone you’re not meeting until you’re sixteen.”
“Who’s Wonder Woman?”
“Someone you’re not meeting until you’re eighteen.”
In 2006, Geoff Johns took over Action Comics alongside his longtime mentor and the man responsible for many of our mutual childhood memories of the Man of Steel, director Richard Donner. Along with artist Adam Kubert, the duo reintroduced General Zod in a way fans of Superman: The Movie would certainly appreciate.
More importantly, Last Son challenges Superman with the arrival of a Kryptonian boy who crashes on Earth with mysterious origins, essentially putting Clark in the position that his parents found themselves in so many years previous. Except this time, the boy’s arrival is public knowledge and is subjected to all manners of tests before Superman has to make the choice between what is right and what is legal, more or less kidnapping the boy from the clutches of the American government.
Though light-hearted in its first half, Last Son later explores the despair of the Phantom Zone (in a very creative 3D chapter) as well as the sad truth that no matter how much Lois and Clark might wish it, they’ll never be able to procreate and have a family (or so they think). Last Son is a sobering portrayal of Superman’s eternal struggle to fit in as a human being despite knowing it will never be possible.
Buy Superman: The Last Son Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
23. ‘On Our Special Day’
As Seen In: Superman #654 (2006)
“You save millions of people on a regular basis, so if I get to save you once in a while, it’s only fair.”
Though technically the first chapter of the epic Camelot Falls storyline, Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco’s Superman #654 is perfectly readable as a self-contained story and is overflowing with utterly fantastic characterization. Coming off his year-long hiatus, Clark is back at it as Superman and struggling to make both halves of his life work.
The issue is bookended by a very special anniversary for Lois and Clark – the anniversary of what isn’t revealed until the very end – and lets us watch as Clark struggles to make it special for Lois while being called away constantly by Super-matters. In the end, it’s Lois who makes the day special for Clark as the two enjoy a romantic evening together. It’s a simple idea, but the spot-on characterization of Lois and Clark and their unique relationship is what makes this story so special; it’s impossible not to feel gooey inside by its end.
Buy Superman: Camelot Falls - The Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
22. Superman Reborn
As Seen In: Action Comics #973-976, Superman #18-19 (2017)
“Lois and Clark, Clark and Lois. No matter what, when or where, it’s always you two.”
While the New 52 era of Superman certainly has its fans, many chafed at the idea that so much of the Man of Steel’s history was thrown out in favor of creating an edgier, more grounded hero who was no longer married to Lois Lane. DC eventually relented by killing off the New 52 Superman and bringing back the pre-Flashpoint incarnation, complete with wife and son in tow. But that switcheroo created its own problems and continuity questions, prompting DC to settle things once and for all with the Superman Beyond crossover.
Mind you, Superman Beyond is much more than just a Doomsday Clock prelude or a Band-Aid on Superman’s convoluted history. It’s also a rousing epic that pits Clark against one of his oldest and most powerful foes, all while reaffirming the notion that his history and his family are crucial elements that make him who he is. It’s one of the true highlights of the creatively fruitful DC Rebirth era.
Buy Superman Reborn on Amazon.
21. Superman Beyond
As Seen In: Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1-2 (2008)
“To be continued.”
Superman Beyond was a two-issue tie-in series to the Final Crisis event, and though it’s a key aspect to the overall narrative of that story, the trippy tale in these two issues is great independent of the main story. Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnke devote these two chapters to a meta exploration of Superman that sneaks up on you just as you think you’re totally and completely lost.
With Lois dying, Superman is offered a chance to travel to the world of the Monitors and get elixir from the Bleed, which will heal her. Willing to do anything for his love, Superman accepts and is whisked off to Limbo, where he meets a variety of DC Comics characters from different Earths that have been tossed away and forgotten about.
While in this metafictional existence, Superman learns about the nature of his creation and uses that knowledge to win the day. At one point, he says, “This is my reason to be. My purpose is simply to stop him.” It’s a simple yet overwhelming idea, and one that Morrison uses to great lengths in the battle to come in the pages of Final Crisis, capped off with a knowing wink to the reader and a tombstone that reads only, “To be continued.”
Buy Final Crisis (New Edition) on Amazon.
20. Superman: The Man of Steel
As Seen In: The Man of Steel #1-6 (1986)
“You can’t arrest me. I’m Lex Luthor. I’m the most powerful man in Metropolis!”
“No, you’re not, Lex. Not anymore.”
John Byrne was tasked with retelling Superman’s origin for a new generation in a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths world. Gone was the Silver Age, and what Byrne did with Man of Steel was envision a far more technical and somewhat less idealistic version of Superman’s origin. In this incarnation, Kal-El was not yet an infant on Krypton, instead encased within a birthing matrix that “gave birth” to him when the Kents found him on Earth.
The Man of Steel mini-series goes through vignettes of key moments in the early days of Superman, from his days at Smallville High to his first team-up with Batman (which is far less jovial than the original one seen in Superman #76), his first encounters with Lex Luthor and Bizarro, and his first encounter with the ghosts of his past.
The most poignant moment, though, comes when Clark learns of the despair he’s caused his high school sweetheart Lana Lang. When he returns to Smallville a few years after becoming Superman, he learns how he upturned her life by revealing his secret to her – flying her around the world in a night – and then leaving for Metropolis. “You opened a door for me, Clark. And then you closed it again,” she tells him. It’s this moment that makes this new origin for Superman feel different; something that fit right in with the evolving nature of superhero comics of the time. Superman’s journey wasn’t simplistic anymore; he didn’t put on his costume, become a hero, and have everyone love him. Though the world was better off with him in it, it seemed it was often at the personal sacrifice of those he held dear – himself included.
Buy Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 1 on Amazon.
19. ‘22 Stories In a Single Bound’
As Seen In: Superman Adventures #41 (2000)
“To be honest, I am Superman. So are you, and all the people watching this.”
This is kind of a cheat, we guess, considering that we’re counting this as one story, though as the name suggests, it’s actually 22. For Mark Millar’s final issue of the comic based on Superman: The Animated Series, he went out in style, bringing aboard pencillers like Cameron Stewart, Ty Templeton, Joe Staton, Craig Rousseau, Darwyn Cooke, and Philip Bond to tell 22 one-page stories.
Some stand out more than others, of course, but as a collective whole, it’s at once a brilliant exploration of confined sequential storytelling as well as a remarkable portrayal of Superman and his vast cast of characters. It’s an homage to the Sunday newspaper strips of old while doing something bold with the modern format of a monthly periodical comic. Plus, it’s got Clark Kent admitting on live television that he’s Superman before he spins it into a clever (and inspirational) line.
Buy Superman Adventures Compendium One on Amazon.
18. Superman: Secret Origin
As Seen In: Superman: Secret Origin #1-6 (2009)
“I want you to stop looking for a great savior. Lex Luthor isn’t it. I’m not it. You are. All of you are.”
You’ll notice a great many tellings of Superman’s origin story on this list. Perhaps re-imagined more than any other superhero origin tale, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank revamped Superman’s origin in a way that paid full homage to the Silver Age concepts that had been lost in John Byrne’s Man of Steel revamp, in addition to incorporating the undying admiration of Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie. Not only does Frank draw Supes to be a spitting image of Christopher Reeve, but you’ll find more than a few Easter eggs that play to some iconic moments from that film, albeit with new twists.
But most importantly, Secret Origin brings a realism to Clark’s developmental years that we’d never really seen in the comics before, watching him develop his powers, fall in love, become an outcast, and later, an icon. It’s not so much that Secret Origin explores new ideas – though it does recast the Daily Planet in the realistic modern role of a fledgling newspaper propped up by Superman’s appearance – but it’s the celebratory spirit with which the material is handled that makes it such a joy to read.
The creators hit many familiar beats, but each is done with enough freshness, visual panache, and clever character moments that it never feels stale.
Buy Superman: Secret Origin (New Edition) on Amazon.
17. ‘The Mightiest Team on Earth’
As Seen In: Superman #76 (1952)
“I’ll just relax and forget crime, for a change!”
Certainly not the most exciting adventure that Superman and Batman have ever shared, but this story by Edmond Hamilton and Curt Swan does have the distinction of being the first. And, within a matter of 12 pages, the two characters become bros for life. There’s goofy fun to be had here as Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne are randomly assigned to be roommates on the same vacation cruise, only to have a jewel thief ruin their relaxation. The fun begins when the pair have to figure out how to change into their superhero alter egos with the other one in the room, ultimately unveiling their secrets to one another.
The blossoming bromance comes to fruition when the new buds cover for one another in order to keep their true identities a secret. It’s hard to believe that it took over a decade after their debuts for Superman and Batman to officially team up in a comic book (and two years until they would again), but the historical significance of this story is notable. Plus, it’s one of the earliest Swan-illustrated Superman tales.
Buy Batman & Superman World’s Finest: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 on Amazon.
16. ‘Must There Be a Superman?’
As Seen In: Superman #247 (1972)
“You’ll never solve the problem by handing it over to somebody else.”
This classic story by Elliot Maggin and Curt Swan is less notable for its characterization of Superman than it is for the interesting questions it poses. The title of the story, in fact, is a pretty good summation of what this story is about. On a mission in space, Superman encounters the Guardians of the Universe on Oa, who suggest to him that his intervention in human civilization is impeding humanity’s progress as a species. That we are becoming too reliant on him to fend for ourselves.
Superman ponders this idea on the way back to Earth, and arrives a somewhat changed man. He makes it a point to help others in need but let them do most of the heavy lifting – both physically and emotionally – themselves. In fact, Superman comes off like kind of a jerk, but the philosophical center of the story is sound. This is a tale that paved the way for stories like Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and Kingdom Come; stories that explore the idea of superheroes as a detriment to society rather than a boon. But most importantly, this reinforces the aspirational nature of Superman; his ability to inspire us to be our best, not his ability to solve our problems for us, even though he easily could.
Buy Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years on Amazon.
15. ‘The Race Between Superman and Flash’
As Seen In: Superman #199 (1967)
“We broke the tape simultaneously, just as we planned!”
The age-old question: who is faster, Superman or the Flash? Superman #199 finally tackled that head-on in this oft-replicated story in which the Man of Steel and the Scarlet Speedster go head-to-head in a friendly race to raise money for nations in need. Naturally, that cowardly lot of criminals is trying to make a quick buck on the outcome as well.
What ensues is just pure joy; a fun race that features frequent stops to help out citizens in need and goofy plots by the bad guys to try and sway the race in their favor. In the end, this is a Silver Age masterpiece that is just plain old fun.
Spoiler, though: it’s a tie.
Buy The Flash: A Celebration of 75 Years on Amazon.
14. ‘The Origin of Superman’
As Seen In: Superman #53 (1948)
“No, my husband. My place is with you. But our son… let him have his chance at life.”
Looking back on the history of Superman, it’s easy to forget that the origin story presented in Action Comics #1 isn’t the origin story that everyone – even people that don’t read comics – know so well. Though the basic elements were in Action #1, it was this issue that expounded upon them. Most of the details that we know as the definitive origin come from Superman #53 – ten years after his debut.
Written by Bill Finger with art by Wayne Boring, Superman #53 introduces Jor-L and Lora (who would eventually evolve to the Jor-El and Lara we know today), an exploration of the planet Krypton, and even the Kents (also appearing under different names, John and Mary) finding the orphaned Kal-L and raising him on a farm.
Previously, all that was known about Superman’s early days was that he was placed in an orphanage, grew up, discovered his powers, and became Superman. Though the Kents had appeared before this issue, Finger and Boring made them a crucial part of Superman’s upbringing and, in doing so, put the finishing touch on the most enduring superhero origin story of all time.
Buy Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years on Amazon.
13. ‘Up, Up, and Away’
As Seen In: Superman #650-653, Action Comics #837-840 (2006)
“I’ll always be there. Always. It’s not about the powers, not about the cape. It’s about standing up for justice. For truth.”
Geoff Johns, Kurt Busiek, Pete Woods, and Renato Guedes had the distinction of handling Clark Kent in the aftermath of the massive Infinite Crisis event, wherein all of DC’s main titles jumped ahead one year in time and saw some enormous changes. For Superman, as we’d discover in Up, Up, and Away, that change was the loss of his powers.
When we catch up with Clark, we see how great his life has become; how his marriage and friendships have become more fruitful and his career as a journalist more fulfilling. For the first time in his life, Perry White isn't screaming at him for being a flake. The other side of the coin is that, of course, Superman is a part of Clark as well, and we get to enjoy the complexities that come along with losing the power you’ve grown accustomed to having. But as his powers (and Lex Luther) start to return, we get to watch Clark not only come to grips with losing the normalcy of his powerless life, but also understand what it means to be Superman.
The story is particularly adept at showcasing the idea that Superman is far more than just his powers, as we watch Clark stick it to the likes of Luther and Intergang using little more than his investigative journalism skills. Plus, the tale reinforces the strength of Lois and Clark’s marriage in one beautiful scene where Lois realizes that his powers have returned, and it’s time for her to give her husband back to the city. In all, Up, Up, and Away is one of the most rewarding Superman stories in the last ten years.
Buy Superman: Up, Up, and Away on Amazon.
12. It’s a Bird…
As Seen In: It's a Bird... Original Graphic Novel (2004)
“That’s what Superman is all about. To remind us that we have hurdles, but as long as we keep jumping them, we’re in the race.”
Steven T. Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen’s It’s a Bird… is the book to hand to that friend who doesn’t “get” Superman. That friend who finds him unrelatable, old-fashioned, or bland. This semi-autobiographical graphic novel fixates on Seagle himself as a narrator who is handed the opportunity to write the world’s most iconic superhero in the Man of Steel. Cynical, overly logical, and oftentimes downright unlikable, Steven copes with his childhood memories while trying to reconcile the real world he lives in with the illogical heroism of a character like Superman.
It’s a Bird… is a personal journey for Steven that deals with his severe personal and professional shortcomings. But getting through all of those hardships while struggling to find an angle on Superman – a character he admits to having no affinity for or even understanding – we get to watch his understanding of the character blossom through thoughtful, experimental musings and from the consequences of the real-life situations he’s dealing with. This is a book that deals directly with many of the modern criticisms of Superman in an insightful and inspiring way.
Buy It’s a Bird (New Edition) on Amazon.
11. The Death and Return of Superman
As Seen In: Man of Steel #17-26, Superman #73-82, Adventures of Superman #496-505, Action Comics #683-692, Justice League of America #69-70, The Legacy of Superman #1, Green Lantern #46 (1992-93)
"They raised him to be a hero... to know the value of sacrifice. To know the value of life."
The sum total of this story is more impressive than its individual parts. Though frowned upon by some as an example of the problems of the comic book industry in the ‘90s, the fact is that Superman’s death was an epic event both inside and outside of comic books. The narrative of his death itself is actually pretty weak; Doomsday shows up out of nowhere, fights with Superman, and they kill each other (but at least the art is damn nice). But it’s what was done with Superman’s absence that allows the story to stand as one of the most influential.
Both in the universe and outside of it, DC toyed with the idea of a culture that had come to take the Man of Steel for granted. This was a time when heroes were getting darker and more extreme in their methods, and the style of the era didn’t seem to allow for a character like Superman to keep his relevance. By removing Superman from the equation, we – and the characters in the DCU – learned how important Superman was as an icon, and his return was all the more impactful. Plus, the Reign of the Supermen portion of the whole saga, in which four different entities show up in Metropolis claiming to be the one, true Superman (none of them are), was a great mystery ride to take.
You can scoff at its polybagged gimmickry or the returned Superman’s mullet hairdo, but the fact is that this storyline brought the real and fictional universes together in a stirring realization of just how much Superman means to our culture.
Buy Superman: The Death and Return of Superman Compendium on Amazon.
10. The Last Days of Lex Luthor
As Seen In: Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1-3 (2023)
“There’s that signature Superman compassion! The whole world’s going to be dancing in the streets at this news, but not you. And that… that is what I’m banking on.”
DC’s Black Label line is dedicated to telling standalone stories about DC’s iconic heroes free from the constraints of the publisher’s core continuity. The Last Days of Lex Luthor takes advantage of that fact by presenting a scenario wherein Superman’s greatest foe must grapple with his own mortality. Faced with no other option, Luthor demands that Superman find a cure for his terminal condition. And to the shock of the world at large, Superman agrees.
Not unlike All-Star Superman, The Last Days of Lex Luthor is set in an interesting version of the DCU that’s both thoroughly modern and inclusive of Superman’s campier Silver Age trappings. Most importantly, it acknowledges the idea that Lex and Clark were childhood friends in Smallville before becoming bitter enemies as adults. It uses that to tell an engaging story about their complicated dynamic and explore the depths to which Superman will go to save even the worst of us. Writer Mark Waid and artist Bryan Hitch have worked with Superman in other times and places, but The Last Days of Lex Luthor is among their best DC work.
Buy Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor on Amazon.
9. Superman For All Seasons
As Seen In: Superman For All Seasons #1-4 (1998)
“Because to understand the man in the cape who could fly, all I needed to know was Clark.”
Hot off their Batman masterpiece The Long Halloween, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale reconnected for a tale about Superman’s earliest years and gifted the character a refreshing sense of grandeur. The story is structured around the four seasons and narrated by four key characters in Clark’s life – Pa Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang.
For All Seasons is, at its core, a coming-of-age tale; it’s more the story of Clark Kent growing up and maturing and ultimately accepting his place in the world, both as Superman and as Clark. It’s not so much an origin story of a superhero as it is the origin story of a man who happens to be a superhero. It’s not a coincidence that Loeb wound up as a writer and executive producer of Smallville, a show that took many inspirations from this book.
Buy Superman For All Seasons on Amazon.
8. Superman Smashes the Klan
As Seen In: Superman Smashes the Klan #1-3 (2019)
“The men who did this want to keep their identities secret, and exposing secrets is our business.”
If you need proof that Superman can be a real-world force for good, look no further than The Adventures of Superman radio show, which is credited with severely damaging the KKK’s reputation during the racially perilous 1940s. That storyline served as the inspiration behind Gene Luen Yang and Guirhiru’s Superman Smashes the Klan, easily one of the best Superman comics of the past decade.
This all-ages tale takes place in 1946, as Superman grapples with his own mysterious origins even as Metropolis faces a new rash of anti-immigrant sentiment. The series focuses heavily on the Lees, a Chinese American family pursuing the American dream in the face of bigotry and intolerance. This comic is a heck of a lot of fun, but it’s also an important reminder that Superman’s job is to stand up to bullies, no matter what form they take.
Buy Superman Smashes the Klan on Amazon.
7. Superman: Birthright
As Seen In: Superman: Birthright #1-12 (2004)
“’Are we alone in the universe?’ is a question man has asked since time began… and you’re the answer.”
The origin story that the Man of Steel movie draws from the most is Mark Waid and Leinil Yu’s Birthright, which is certainly a solid bible for how to tell a modern Superman story correctly. The first canonical revamp of the origin since John Byrne’s Man of Steel, Waid and Yu reinstated some of the Silver Age elements that Byrne removed.
More importantly, Waid went to great lengths to give us a more relatable Kent family, with a far younger Jonathan and Martha Kent and a Clark that was eager to help the world by any means necessary, be that journalism or his superpowers. Birthright also pays far more attention to the Kryptonian heritage, including introducing the idea that the S-Shield is a Kryptonian glyph that stands for hope and for courage.
All of that peaks at the finale of the story, where Superman – looking through a device in the middle of a battle -- appears ever so briefly to Jor-El and Lara across space and time, wearing their crest, letting them know that he arrived and was okay, as Krypton collapses around them.
Buy Superman: Birthright - The Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
6. ‘What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?’
As Seen In: Action Comics #775 (2001)
"Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us. And on my soul I swear... until my dream of a world where dignity, honor and justice becomes the reality we all share... I'll never stop fighting. Ever."
A problem that Superman has faced in the last couple of decades is that he’s too "old-fashioned"; his ideals too optimistic and out-of-date in today’s society. Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, and Lee Bermejo took that notion to task with this tale, presenting an Authority-esque super group known as The Elite, who deliver a much more violent brand of justice than Superman is accustomed to. As the group gains more popularity with the public, Superman is left to ponder his own relevance and even question his own ideals as a crusader for good.
Ultimately, the story underlines the idea suggested in its title; there’s nothing funny about “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” This tale portrays Superman at his finest, working diligently not to lead, but to show man that they have the power to lead themselves by standing up for what they believe in and never giving up hope for a better world.
Buy Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years on Amazon.
5. Kingdom Come
As Seen In: Kingdom Come #1-4 (1996)
“You can’t live forever in solitude.”
Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Kingdom Come is a massive tale, told in four issues, that explores a vast number of themes. However, Superman is the anchor – and just as the leader of Kingdom Come’s new breed of super “hero,” Magog, is a commentary on the x-treme characters of the 1990s – the Man of Steel is the champion of the old guard. Waid and Ross explore the relevance of the Superman ideal in an era where killing has become the answer.
Kingdom Come portrays an older, reclusive Clark Kent that’s secluded himself on a farm following the death of Lois Lane. He’s a man that’s nearly given up on his ideals until he’s coaxed to remerge by old allies and make the world right again. It’s a dark but inspirational tale of a world gone astray and the one man powerful enough to set them back on the right course, rediscovering himself in the process.
Buy Kingdom Come on Amazon.
4. Superman: Secret Identity
As Seen In: Superman: Secret Identity #1-4 (2004)
“In the comics, Superman gets charged up by the radiation of a yellow sun. So I tried recharging. Got as close as I dared. I got one hell of a winter tan.”
Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen’s Secret Identity is another Superman tale that’s not actually about Clark Kent. Well, not really. This is a story set in our own world – where Superman is a character in the comic books – that follows a boy named Clark Kent (a clever joke by his parents) as he learns that he’s got superpowers comparable to the fictional Superman.
The narrative follows Clark through his life, from child to old man, as he uses these powers for good, is set up on a joke date with a girl named Lois (but actually does fall for her), raises a family, and gets in trouble with the government. On their own, these characters and their predicaments are interesting. But as an exploration of Superman, Secret Identity is a shamelessly optimistic take on the character’s importance.
We see Secret Identity’s Clark gain superpowers and never question for a moment what it is he should do with them, inspired by the fictional Superman he’s so familiar with. Busiek and Immonen’s commentary on the inherent goodness of the Superman character is what helps Secret Identity place so highly on this list.
Buy Superman: Secret Identity - The Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
3. ‘Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?’
As Seen In: Action Comics #583, Superman #423 (1986)
“It’s only a bird, only a plane. Superman died ten years ago. This is an imaginary story… aren’t they all?”
Billed as the “last” Superman story, Alan Moore and Curt Swan sent the Silver Age incarnation of Superman off into the sunset after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, paving the way for the John Byrne revamp. In this “imaginary story,” Moore and Swan offer a definitive – if tragically bittersweet – conclusion to Superman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lana Lang, Perry White, Krypto, and many more key players. It’s told retroactively ten years after Superman’s “death” by a now married Lois in an interview for a Daily Planet Superman memorial issue.
Moore constructs a narrative that manages to incorporate all of the quintessential elements of the Superman mythology of that era. It’s an ominous and gloomy end for the predominantly light-hearted and zany adventures of the era it’s concluding, but it’s done with an affection for the characters and concepts that is illuminated on every page.
Watching Superman learn from his friends from the future, the Legion of Super-heroes, that his time is ending and then sharing a cry with only Krypto by his side in the trophy room of the Fortress of Solitude will never not break your heart.
Buy Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? The Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
2. ‘For the Man Who Has Everything’
As Seen In: Superman Annual #11
“You’re my son. I was there at your birth and I’ll always love you. Always. But… but, Van, I… I don’t think you’re real.”
Watchmen creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons paired for this Superman annual that featured Batman, Robin (Jason Todd), and Wonder Woman heading to the Fortress of Solitude for Superman’s birthday, only to find him under the trance of an alien plant called Black Mercy, which gives its victim the illusion of their heart’s desire. With the Black Mercy clinging to Superman, he imagines a life for himself on Krypton, had it not ever been destroyed; married with children and surrounded by family.
Though Moore and Gibbons give the other characters some great exploration – including Mongul, the uninvited guest responsible for Superman’s predicament – it’s the Man of Steel that is most interesting. The nature of the Black Mercy is to show what the victim wants most of all, and instead of world peace or a marriage to Lois Lane, Superman’s innermost desire is a life where he’s not Superman at all, but simply Kal-El living out a normal life with normal problems (or at least as normal as things get on Krypton). Yet, knowing his responsibilities, Superman is able to coax himself out of this waking dream – where he must face his fictional son and tell him he knows it’s only an illusion -- to return to reality and continue the fight against evil.
It’s a poignant tale that offers readers remarkable food for thought within only a single issue.
Buy Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? The Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
1. All-Star Superman
As Seen In: All-Star Superman #1-12 (2006)
“You’re much stronger than you think you are.”
The Superman story to end all Superman stories, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman is a masterstroke of not only celebrating Superman’s rich and enduring legacy, but an achievement in sequential storytelling in general. The creators tell an epic tale of Superman’s imminent death after being poisoned by intense solar radiation as he attempts to prepare for his end while accomplishing the 12 great feats he’s told he must accomplish before that time comes.
But All-Star Superman is more than just the overarching narrative; Morrison and Quitely present a timeless incarnation of Superman, free from the minutia of continuity or “re-imaginings,” and instead collectively explore every facet of the Superman mythology, his cast of characters, and most importantly, what makes him so enduring as an icon and symbol of belief.
From Superman’s reveal of his secret identity to Lois to his play date with Krypto to the revelation that an Earth without a real Superman would create a fictional one in his stead to his heartbreaking rescue of a young girl on the brink of suicide, All-Star Superman is a loving and affectionate celebration of everything that Superman stands for.
Buy All-Star Superman - The Deluxe Edition on Amazon.
Note - this story was originally published on 6/04/2013 and updated and expanded on 8/15/2025.
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