Your Top 7 essential Superman stories

**stargazer01** · 04-09-2020, 09:59 AM

What are those 7 or 10 essential Superman stories you enjoy and cherish the most?

Think about his whole history. It can be a Justice League story if Superman has a big role.

**bat39** · 04-09-2020, 10:18 AM

Is this restricted to comics only, or other media?

A large chunk of my Superman exposure has been other media so I'm going with that.

In no particular order:

Action Comics # 1: The character's a far cry today from what he was back then, but I think its important to read this to truly appreciate the Superman myth and where it came from - not to mention the origins of the genre as well.

Superman: The Movie: The movie pretty much defined Superman for a generation and more and continues to cast a long shadow on the character today, for better or for worse.

Man of Steel: The John Byrne miniseries. It defined the 'modern' Superman - a template that has mostly stood the test of time since then, barring the New 52.

What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & The American Way?: A key story that really drives home the idea of Superman being a Boy Scout and a 'nice guy' and presenting it as a symbol of strength, and not navel gazing.

The Death and Return of Superman: Be it the comics or any of the animated movies. I think its a crucial story that explores an interesting concept that, love it or hate it, has haunted the character ever since.

Superman TAS: Just a nice take on Superman that finds the perfect balance between 'classic' and 'modern'. Don't have a specific episode in mind.

Man of Steel: Now I'm talking about the Zack Snyder movie, which really reinvented Superman for a new generation without letting itself be constrained by the tonality of the Donner film and other more 'classic' takes.

**manwhohaseverything** · 04-09-2020, 10:19 AM

1)for the man who has everything
2)all star superman
3)kryptonite by darwyn cooke
4)action comics and superman comics runs of siegel and shuster .
5)action comics run by morrison
6)superman for all seasons
7)whatever happened to the man of tomorrow
8)birthright
9)who took the super out of superman
10)superman up in the sky,the amount lengths clark goes to save a child is something that reminds me of my late aunt.

**SiegePerilous02** · 04-09-2020, 10:28 AM

1. Action Comics #1
2. All Star Superman
3. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
4. For the man who has everything
5. Morrison's Action run
6. Jungle Line
7. Phantom Zone

**Kuwagaton** · 04-09-2020, 10:58 AM

Action Comics #451: not my first comic or anything like that, but about when I woke up to the craziness of Superman. And the best example of him just being the sweetest bro.

DC Special Series #5: between two other great stories I'll list here in terms of range and content. The best team up of the best two villains at the least.

Superman #400: really epic. I treasure plenty of other comics from this era but this was just the most overall complete issue. If the other one I mentioned defines the comic, this defines Superman within fiction for me.

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?: I think this is the only comic to make me misty eyed. All the beats that have been mimicked in the eras that followed don't wear out for me. Just haunting.

The Brainiac Trilogy: these are actually part of my first experience with Superman comics. Favorite villain, writer, and some great art.

Man of Steel #89: pretty much my favorite single issue, even if it's completely a part of a much larger story. Represents an all new look at Superman for me.

Bulletproof: obviously the whole run was strong and memorable, but these three issues with back ups are the most clever slice for me and the high point of what we've had post flashpoint.

**stargazer01** · 04-09-2020, 11:17 AM

Is this restricted to comics only, or other media?

Not restricted if you want to include other media. You can do 2 lists if you prefer, comics and other media.

Thanks guys for the replies, this helps me learn more and try to seek other great stories I haven't read.

I'm still really intrigued about the "Time and Time Again" Superman story. Also, "Superman Up in the Sky"

KC · 04-09-2020, 11:52 AM

Action Comics #1
For the Man Who Has Everything
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
All-Star Superman
Superman: Secret origin
Superman: The Movie
Superman II

**Kuwagaton** · 04-09-2020, 11:55 AM

If I think of other media...

Superman III
The Fleischer cartoons
Man of Steel
All Star Superman (movie)
Crisis on Two Earths
Superman vs the Elite
Superman TAS

Originally Posted by stargazer01

Not restricted if you want to include other media. You can do 2 lists if you prefer, comics and other media.

Thanks guys for the replies, this helps me learn more and try to seek other great stories I haven't read.

I'm still really intrigued about the "Time and Time Again" Superman story. Also, "Superman Up in the Sky"

There were two stories called Time and Time Again. The later one is one of my favorites too, but for some reason I don't tend to think of the longer stories first. Feels like I'm just listing too much at once I guess.

**Superfly Frankenstein** · 04-09-2020, 12:39 PM

So many good stories.

The Man of Steel by Byrne
Action Comics 600 was fun and had great art in the first chapter by both Byrne and Perez.
Kase of the Krimson Kryptonite. Supes being de powered and Clark and Lois getting engaged.
Death and Return of Superman. Nuff said.
Action Comics Annual 3 (Armegeddon 2001 tie in). Superman as president was awesome.
Action 775. What so funny about... great story.
DC One Million. Shows just how important Superman is.

**Bored at 3:00AM** · 04-10-2020, 01:31 AM

Action Comics #1 by Seigel & Shuster

For The Man Who Has Everything by Moore & Gibbons

Man of Steel #2, 3 & 4 by Byrne

Birthright by Waid & Yu

All Star Superman by Morrison & Quitely

Superman Secret Origin #1 & 2 by Johns & Frank

Action Comics New 52 vol 1 by Morrison & company

**K7P5V** · 04-10-2020, 03:45 AM

**Lvenger** · 04-10-2020, 06:00 AM

In terms of strictly essential Superman comic book stories only:

All Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

Superman Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen

For The Man Who Has Everything by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Superman #400 "The Living Legends of Superman by Elliot Maggin et al

What's so Funny about Truth, Justice and The American Way by Joe Kelly and Doug Mankhe

Superman Birthright by Mark Waid and Lenil Yu

Superman For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

**Gaius** · 04-10-2020, 06:47 AM

"The Death of Superman" (Superman #149) - Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan

The Man of Steel - John Byrne and Dick Giordano

Superman for All Seasons - Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale

"22 Stories in a Single Bound" (Superman Adventures #41) - Mark Millar

Superman: Red Son - Mark Millar and Dave Johnson

All-Star Superman - Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly

Man and Superman - Marv Wolfman and Claudio Castellini

**Johnny Thunders!** · 04-10-2020, 07:07 AM

Such a hard topic but I was surprised how fast i made my list. My Top Ten would be about the same types of story, but I already regret my list.
Action Comics 385 The Immortal Superman
Superman 156 The Last Days of Superman
Superman 301 Solomon Grundy Wins on Monday!
Miracle Monday by Elliot S! Maggin
All Star Superman
DC Comics Presents 29 Where No Superman Has Gone Before
Superman 162 The Amazing Story of Superman Red Superman Blue.

Tough Sacrifices made!

i just saw there was a top ten option.
Adventure Comics 365 Escape of the Fatal Five (Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes)
Superman 296-299 Who Took The Super out of Superman (Seriously why do they keep reprinting Kryptonite Nevermore? Which is great but come on?)
Action Comics 500 The Life Story of Superman

**Ascended** · 04-10-2020, 06:39 PM

The original S&S Action Comics. When I need to rediscover my love for this medium, I grab that collection off the shelf.

Morrison's opening Action arc. It is utterly fantastic on every possible level, and I will fight you on that!

All-Star. Maybe one of the greatest "S" stories of all time?

Max Fleischer cartoons. Yeah, I have a Golden Age bias.

American Alien. One of the few stories that successfully makes "Clark Kent" as interesting as "Superman."

Superman Smashes the Klan. Not just because it's an excellent retelling of a great Superman story (both in real life and the fiction), but because it's a blueprint on how to handle Superman for kids. This is the kind of approach that will create life-long fans.

For the Man Who Has Everything. A great dive into Clark's head space by one of the masters of the craft. This is on everyone's list, and for damn good reason.

Thread: Your Top 7 essential Superman stories

Thread Tools

Display

Your Top 7 essential Superman stories

Posting Permissions