About 10 years ago or so, I was in a bookstore that had one of those niche pop culture magazines on a stand and it had the greatest outer space superheroes of all time lost. Silver Surfer was #1, Green Lantern was #2 (both fair), and Superman was #19.
But Thor was #16.
I don't remember the rest of the rankings and was never able to locate that magazine again. But it got me thinking ... as an (allegedly) sci-fi character, Superman has had a lot of adventures in outer space.
Surely more than Odinson, right?
So let's construct the best of them in one comprehensive list, shall we?
Some ground rules:
1. No alternate universes. Has to be within one universe.
2. No other-dimensional realms. Hell (and any version of the afterlife) doesn't count.
That's it. Ok, I'll start us off with an extremely easy choice.
"Exile" (1988-1989).
Definitely the best Post-COIE Outer Space Superman story that I can recall.
We got Superman solidly dealing with the resulting trauma of willfully murdering the Pocket Universe Kryptonians.
We got the Post-COIE version of Mongul and Warworld.
We got an exceptional (IMO) reason for why ALL Kryptonians died.
Plus, Jerry Ordway and Dan Jurgens just hitting their artistic primes on this extended arc.
What other tales would make The Greatest Superman In Outer Space Stories Ever Told?
Results 1 to 15 of 15
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10-02-2022, 01:39 PM #1Legendary Member
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The Greatest Superman In Outer Space Stories Ever Told
Last edited by daBronzeBomma; 10-02-2022 at 01:56 PM.
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10-02-2022, 02:44 PM #2The Spirits of Vengeance
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10-06-2022, 07:06 AM #3Astonishing Member
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Up in the Sky, Tom King
“Look, you can’t put the Superman #77s with the #200s. They haven’t even discovered Red Kryptonite yet. And you can’t put the #98s with the #300s, Lori Lemaris hasn’t even been introduced.” — Sam
“Where the hell are you from? Krypton?” — Edgar Frog
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10-09-2022, 07:33 AM #4Legendary Member
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The 1996-ish "The Trial Of Superman" storyline counts, I think.
Last edited by daBronzeBomma; 10-09-2022 at 07:36 AM.
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10-13-2022, 08:03 AM #5I'm at least a C-Lister!
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I will never get over how awesome this page is!
Originally Posted by K7P5V
It's 20 years and I still get a shiver of excitement remembering when I first read it.
1149629-owaw_supes_sun.jpg"Has Sariel summoned you here, Azrael? Have you come to witness the miracle of your brethren arriving on Earth?"
"I WILL MIX THE ASHES OF YOUR BONES WITH SALT AND USE THEM TO ENSURE THE EARTH THE TEMPLARS TILLED NEVER BEARS FRUIT AGAIN!"
"*sigh* I hoped it was for the miracle."
Dan Watters' Azrael was incredible, a constant delight and perhaps too good for this world (but not the Forth). For the love of St. Dumas, DC, give us more!!!
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10-14-2022, 09:48 AM #6Astonishing Member
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Panic In The Sky was pretty epic in some places, most especially the build up with New Gods and Superman gathering the heroes.
Superman In Exile was awesome
OWAW was uneven but the scribes that dug in and really highlighted the impact of War in a personal sense created stellar stories. Most notably PADs Supergirl tie-in and Phil Jimenez WW tie-in
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10-14-2022, 10:08 AM #7Ultimate Member
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^^^Well this would have been my choice, for sure. Originally Posted by daBronzeBomma
So let’s try another…:
As a kid I read a Pre-Crisis story where baby Kal El lands on different planets and becomes a different type of hero on each one. I remember he was The Atom and Aquaman for sure. Maybe a Batman too?
It was called “The One Man JLA” or “The One Man Justice League” I think.
Anyway, it was a great space related story that always stuck w. me.
I’ve never found that story since, and have never turned up anything online. If anyone can tell me what book it was from, then score.
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10-15-2022, 04:26 PM #8Legendary Member
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Does The New Krypton Saga count?
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10-16-2022, 08:39 PM #9Incredible Member
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I second Panic in the Sky. That story was amazing! I think Exile is the all-around best though.
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10-16-2022, 10:45 PM #10Jewish & Proud Feminist
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I’m reading Exile right now.
Comic-Watch Reviewer
Titles:
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10-31-2022, 08:41 AM #11Father Son Kamehameha <
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Superman #243 is just plain one of my favorite comics with that B-movie, "Swanny" character design. Like an old Star Trek episode committed to panel
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11-01-2022, 11:54 PM #12The Spirits of Vengeance
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Originally Posted by magha_regulus
I know, right?! Clark's reasoning for choosing Slade to lead the squad always fascinates me...
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11-02-2022, 09:57 AM #13Jax City/Kill The FIremen
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Billy looks twenty-years in and coming out of retirement. Originally Posted by exile001
Last edited by DABellWrites; 11-02-2022 at 09:19 PM.
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11-03-2022, 10:40 AM #14Retired
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Yes, it felt very Star Trek. See this week's All-Planets, posts #833 and 834. Originally Posted by Kuwagaton
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11-27-2022, 11:05 PM #15OUTRAGEOUS!!
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Can we include the last Warworld saga? I would say than added a lot of ideas to the character.
"Never assign to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity or ignorance."
"Great stories will always return to their original forms"
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