Next-level Superman recommendations

[Kuwagaton]

Question: What's the difference between Action Comics, Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel and World Against Superman? Do they both just collect the first bit of Morrison's Action run?

World Against has 10 issues instead of eight, arranged in a different order. Which works because it is a nonlinear story.

[Vakanai]

World Against has 10 issues instead of eight, arranged in a different order. Which works because it is a nonlinear story.

So, is it less confusing than Men of Steel? Because that was...not great.

[Ascended]

I think we can consider the Tomasi/Gleason/Jurgens run an essential recommendation, right?

I think we can probably consider it essential reading for the current version. Whether it stands the test of time, whether Jon sticks around longer than some of the other "kids" who've come and gone.....time will tell on that.

I'd recommend the first year or so of Tomasi just because it was a real solid read until the Manchester Black stuff ended, but I dunno if it should be classified as "essential" yet.

[Ascended]

Are there any supplemental or books I need to read before Superman Last son?

No, you can jump into that without any build up. In fact, I think it actually works better as a stand-alone story.

Just finished All-Star Superman as my first Superman solo book and loved it. What would be the logical next read? Doesn’t necessarily have to be Morrison’s AC run.

I'd agree with American Alien. Whoever described it as "All-Star Clark Kent" was pretty spot on with that. Solid read, interesting take on Clark and Superman. Definitely worth checking out.

You also can't go wrong with the OG. The original, Golden Age stories are collected in a dozen different trades, shouldn't be hard to get ahold of. It's raw, real, and completely 100% different from the Superman we have today. Honestly, the first year or so of Golden Age Action stories are among my very, absolute favorites. It's just full of so much unrefined energy, and this was before Superman became a corporate icon, so the narratives dive into some stuff you never see anymore. Really interesting stuff.

BUT.....if you want to read a really weird take on Superman's whole life, check out Morrison's work. It's spread across different continuities, but Morrison writes it all like it's basically just one guy. The details dont line up, but its a pretty fascinating way to look at the character's journey.

You start with Morrison's Action Comics run, which gives you the origin and early years, then his JLA, making sure to read DC 1 Million when the narrative gets there, which basically covers the peek of his career. Then it ends with All-Star, which you've already read.

[Johnny Thunders!]

I know it's been mentioned before but I want the following stories more widely known and reprinted soon!: Superman 296 to 300. I think they are all Elliot S! Maggin, Cary Bates, and Curt Swan. I can't believe how much of this stuff is never re-printed. The fans will fade out soon won't they?

[AJpyro]

Whats a better get: Whatever Happened by Moore or Death of Superman?

[Vordan]

Whats a better get: Whatever Happened by Moore or Death of Superman?

Whatever Happened is a much more self-contained story, you need nothing besides a basic understanding of who Superman. Death is basically one giant fight scene between Doomsday and Supes. Of the two Whatever Happened has more “meat” to it so I’d recommend that.

[AJpyro]

Whatever Happened is a much more self-contained story, you need nothing besides a basic understanding of who Superman. Death is basically one giant fight scene between Doomsday and Supes. Of the two Whatever Happened has more “meat” to it so I’d recommend that.

Thank you.

[Ascended]

So only the first issue (out of 3) is out but right now I'm gonna throw "Superman Smashes the Klan" into the ring.

It's an adaptation of a story that ran in the 40's radio serial. It's set in the 40's, where a stand-in for the KKK tries to run a Chinese family out of Metropolis. Written by Gene Luen Yang.

It's a fantastic version of Golden Age Superman. It felt very much like a contemporary version of Fleischer, straight down to the red-on-black, yellow border "S" shield. It's fun and straightforward but has surprising, effortless depth and insight. It shows us, rather than tells us, who these people are.

If this 3 issue series remains as good as this first one, I might have to rank it up there with All-Star. As different as those two tales are, Smash feels like it might just be as definitive a story.