The most well-known superhero in the world, an immigrant with God-like powers who tries to uphold the values of Truth and Justice. It’s amazing just how many writers screw this guy up. But here are ten Superman stories where they got it right.
- Superman for All Seasons– A four-issue mini-series (one for each season) with each issue narrated by a different character from Superman’s life. This series not only focuses on the core elements of the Superman Mythos but is an insightful look at how those around Superman perceive him.
- Superman: Birthright- I wouldn’t blame you for thinkingSuperman’s origin story has been done to death at this point. But Mark Waid mines some new emotional depth here and adds some interesting wrinkles to the canon.
- All-Star Superman- Widely considered to be the definitive Superman story. Morrison takes Superman through an emotional journey that touches every corner of the Man of Steel’s history. Nobility, self-sacrifice, compassion. In these twelve issues, Morrison shows that he has mastered the core essence of Superman in a way that few writers have over the decades.
- Last Son of Krypton– Wherein Superman becomes a parent to a boy who arrives on Earth in the same manner as himself. A cool bit of role reversal, an examination of all the things Superman can’t have, and the reintroduction of General Zod.
- Brainiac– Perhaps the best Brainiac story in the canon and one that explores Superman’s dual nature and has long-lasting repercussions for the Kent family.
- Luthor: Man of Steel– A great story in which the reader gets to see how Lex Luthor views himself, as the real hero of the story.
- Superman: Man of Steel– Following Crisis on Infinite Earths the whole DC Universe got a reboot. This is a great jumping-on point as John Byrne establishes Superman’s new status quo.
- Death and Return of Superman– Was it a cash grab? Sure. Was it so 90’s as to be painful? Absolutely. But a few decades of ridicule have made people forget that there is actually some good stuff here and that those four replacement Supermen were actually critiques of 90’s fads and the whole arc is meant to show that no passing fad can ever replace the true Superman. Definitely one to give a (re)read before passing judgment.
- Secret Identity: An inventive take that is pretty meta in its conception. A feel-good story filled to the brim with optimism.
- Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?- Look it’s a single issue, which I’ve been trying to avoid in these lists, but it’s Alan Moore and it’s so good you’re just going to go and try to read every Superman comic you can get your hands on after so I’m including it anyway.