The Essential Beginners Superman List

[Xistel]

Hello!

I’m coming up with a fast track-ish list for first time readers of Superman. The basic idea is that it covers only a modern take of supes and the best/essential reads. I’ve only gotten the list up to new 52 and I’d love some input for the current list as well as what I should add from the new 52 onwards. Here’s the current list

Birthright
Superman: For All Seasons
Superman/Batman #1-6, #8-13, #19
For Tomorrow
(INFINITE CRISIS)
Up, Up And Away
Superman: Last Son
Camelot Falls
Escape from Bizarro World
Superman - Legion of Super-Heroes
(Final Crisis)
Braniac
New Krypton
World of New Krypton
War of the Supermen
(New52)

[JBatmanFan05]

I'm a bit reluctant to do such lists now, because a story like Morrison's All-Star Superman, which doesn't fit with most Superman comics continuity, is a best/essential read, and maybe the most best/essential.

It'd be on any attempted short list I would craft for new Superman readers.

[Xistel]

That works too! It doesn’t have to be only in continuity

[Vordan]

If someone wanted to get up to date on the mess that is Superman continuity these stories seem to form the basic building blocks of his past:
Secret Origin
Waid’s World’s Finest
Death of Superman/Reign of the Supermen
The Wedding Album
Electric Blue Superman
Morrison Action Comics
Jurgens Lois & Clark
Superman Rebirth
Bendis Superman & Action Comics
PKJ Future State Superman stories
PKJ Action Comics

And that would get you the basics for where we are. Otherwise I’d recommend Superman ‘78 by Venditti for fans of Reeve/Donner, Superman Smashes the Klan, Space Age by Russell, and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen

[kingaliencracker]

It's really hard for me to accept that the post-Crisis/Byrne/triangle era is no longer the "modern" take of the character.

[manwhohaseverything]

i would recommend only morrison's action,superman and authority,all star...etc basically anything with morrison is better than the rest.

[exile001]

Superman: Up in the Sky is my favourite Superman book in years. It is pretty much everything I love about Superman.

Also, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?) is the single most pure fun Superman comic we've has since.... the Silver Age? It's an insane ride.

[The Frog Bros]

Superman: Up in the Sky is my favourite Superman book in years. It is pretty much everything I love about Superman.

Also, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?) is the single most pure fun Superman comic we've has since.... the Silver Age? It's an insane ride.

Same here on Up in the Sky. And I'm not just saying that since King was just at my LCS where I had him sign my copy.

I told him that its my go-to for people who either don't get Superman or find him boring. He was pretty appreciative of the comment.

[bat39]

Call me crazy, but I'd still recommend Byrne's Man of Steel mini-series. It was the beginning of the modern Superman mythos, and in many ways it formed the template for Superman that is followed to this day. Its got a great introduction to all the key aspects of 'modern' Superman - the origin, Lois and Clark's relationship, the beginnings of the Batman-Superman relationship, first encounter with Lex Luthor etc.

I'd say What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way? should also be essential reading for new Superman fans, since it really addresses some of the common criticisms of the character (that he's not 'cool' enough or too 'soft').

[Johnny Thunders!]

Old Guy Chiming In:

Who Took the Super out of Superman
Action Comics 500
Superman 400
Superman Red Superman Blue
The Immortal Superman
Superman in Supertown
The Last Days of Superman

And the original Mongul/Warworld Saga by Jim Starlin

[Thor-Ul]

Tomasi and Gleason run. Specially Superman: Reborn.