Adventures of Superman (1987-2006)

[LastSonOfShaolin]

The first issue of this series is listed as #424. The numbering is a continuation of the original Superman comic. But why?

Unless this is also a continuation of pre crisis Superman. But I dont think it is. Not positive though.

And where was Action comics during all of this? I guess I just need help understanding all the Superman titles in the 80s post Crisis.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

For the Post-Crisis reboot in 1986, Superman got a new #1 while Adventures of Superman continued the original numbering.

Meanwhile, Action Comics continued its numbering until the next reboot during the New 52 in 2011, but then that numbering was restored when that reboot began to unravel with Rebirth in 2016. Meanwhile, the Superman title was renumbered three times with the New 52, Rebirth, and then when Bendis relaunched the book.

The actual issue numbers are largely symbolic. They don't really mean much aside from either showing off how long-running these titles are or that this is a fresh start for new readers to jump on for.

[Kuwagaton]

The first issue of this series is listed as #424. The numbering is a continuation of the original Superman comic. But why?

Unless this is also a continuation of pre crisis Superman. But I dont think it is. Not positive though.

And where was Action comics during all of this? I guess I just need help understanding all the Superman titles in the 80s post Crisis.

It's as said above. The original comic called Superman was retitled so that a new comic could use the name. The good thing is that if you go with the new hardcover collections of the beginning of that era, it's all collected in order so you don't need to worry about those issue numbers.

[Jim Kelly]

Once upon a time, we cared about numbers. Having ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN keep the numbering from the previous run of SUPERMAN was a way to satisfy those of us who had been buying the book for so long and looked forward to it reaching even higher numbers--500, 750, 1000, 2000 (if I lived that long). Same with ACTION COMICS--same also with WORLD'S FINEST COMICS, ADVENTURE COMICS, DETECTIVE COMICS and BATMAN. In fact, that's probably why a lot of us kept buying a title, even through the bad times, because we wanted to have all the issues of such long runs.

Numbers aren't just symbolic--they're useful in keeping track of which issues you have. It's easier to remember the first New Look Batman was DETECTIVE 327, the first Legion of Super-Heroes was ADVENTURE 247, the first so-called Silver Age Superman was ACTION 241 ("Super Key to Fort Superman"), the first Lexor story was SUPERMAN 164, the first Earth-Two crossover story was FLASH 123 ("Flash of Two Worlds"). I know these numbers like the back of my hand--and knowing them instantly brings up all kinds of other information about those comics. It's a lot harder when there are five different issues numbered 5 of BATMAN all from different years (but the original issue 5 does have "The Case of the Honest Crook"--I could not tell you what is in the other issues 5).

[LastSonOfShaolin]

It's as said above. The original comic called Superman was retitled so that a new comic could use the name. The good thing is that if you go with the new hardcover collections of the beginning of that era, it's all collected in order so you don't need to worry about those issue numbers.

Is this the series that followed the Man of Steel?

[madmodpoetgod]

Ah! The famous meta run of Joe Casey took place in the pages of Adventures... Good times.

[Kuwagaton]

Is this the series that followed the Man of Steel?

Yeah coming out of Man of Steel was Superman #1, Action Comics#584, and Adventures of Superman #424
There's a temporary change after AC#600 but it ends up a lot easier to follow than it sounds