Best Superman tpbs?

[Dr. J]

I just came into some X-Mas money, and my bookshelf is woefully free of Superman. So, what are the best Superman trades? Old, new, whatever.

Thanks in advance.

[Super Monkey]

some great ones:

Classic Superman

Showcase Presents: Superman
Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told
Superman in the Fifties


Modern Superman

Superman: Secret Identity
Superman / Madman Hullabaloo!
Superman: Birthright

[Harry]

Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow? is my personal favourite. For more recent stories, Red Son is a good read.

[Adem]

Showcase Presents: Superman
Superman:Red Son

[Lurker]

Seconding Red Son & Birthright!!!

[megladon8]

These two are the best I have ever read...


http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1401204511.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1840239204.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


I have yet to read Birthright, but it's coming up next, along with Superman For All Seasons.

[JulianPerez]

Whoa, Steven Seagal wrote a Superman TPB? That's hella cool. There hasn't been a more famous writer since that issue of WEIRD WAR TALES written by Albert Einstein.

"Steven T. Siegle?" Why am I getting flashbacks to Michael Bolton from OFFICE SPACE?

As for great Superman TPBs, I recommend:

SUPERMAN IN THE SEVENTIES or SUPERMAN IN THE FIFTIES

SUPERMAN: RED SON (I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but it WAS pretty awesome)

I believe they have a good Superman story in DC UNIVERSE STORIES OF ALAN MOORE.

There's also a TPB of Imaginary Stories out, which is strongly recommended by me.

CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS VOL 2, in addition to having a few great stories by Gardner Fox and a few so-so but readable stories by Denny O'Neil, has the first meeting of the Earth-1 and Earth-2 Supermans. And it has them fight, too!

Avoid these lame-os:

SUPERMAN/DOOMSDAY: HUNTER PREY, or any TPB where Superman meets Terminators or Tarzan. DEATH AND REBIRTH is totally not worth however much it costs.

[xgeek52]

haven't read secret identity yet, but if it's busiek, i would...

[tony2074]

secret identity, birthright, red son, for all seasons, also i think ruckas run isn't too bad, but i cannot remember the names of them for the life of me.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Hmmm...

I haven't read "Red Son" yet, but it's in my list. The same for "For All Seasons" (although with the latest thing Loeb has written - namely Supergirl - I'm not too enthusiastic about getting For All Seasons. I'll get it nonetheless).

I'd recommned "Birthright" (EXCELLENT), "For Tomorrow" (EXCELLENT), Rucka's run on Adventures Of Superman (EXCELLENT - there are two TPBs out already, don't remember their names), Verheiden's run on Superman (EXCELLENT - whenever the TPB is out). "No Limits" is a very good read as well, and the same goes for "The Kansas Sighting" (perhaps the last story based on Byrne's origin) and "Superman/Darkness" (notice that I'm saying they are very good reads, not outstanding reads).

I'd also recommend "Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel". EXCELLENT.

[tony2074]

for all seasons is brilliant, back when loeb was brilliant. not saying he's awful or anything, just preferred him during the long halloween, dark victory, for all season, blue, yellow, gray etc than his actual runs on titles.

[Apathy Boy]

On January 11, DC is releasing DC UNIVERSE: THE STORIES OF ALAN MOORE (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=4713), which contains three awesome Superman stories. Two of those stories - "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything" - are widely considered to be among the greatest Superman stories of all-time.

Of course, when they're written by Alan Moore, that kind of goes without saying.

[dancj]

From best to less best (but still good):
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
Red Son
Secret Identity
The Dark Side
Birthright
The Return of Superman
A Superman for all Seasons

[666MasterOfPuppets]

On January 11, DC is releasing DC UNIVERSE: THE STORIES OF ALAN MOORE (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=4713), which contains three awesome Superman stories. Two of those stories - "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything" - are widely considered to be among the greatest Superman stories of all-time.

Of course, when they're written by Alan Moore, that kind of goes without saying.

Indeed.

I wonder why hasn't DC convinced Moore to write an ongoing Superman book.

[SuperManny]

I wonder why hasn't DC convinced Moore to write an ongoing Superman book.

Moore's quite a weird fellow.....

Either that, or he is a bit miffed with DC for having creatively screwed him over the past 10 years.

Don't ask me to explain it, it's what I've been reading.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Moore's quite a weird fellow.....

Either that, or he is a bit miffed with DC for having creatively screwed him over the past 10 years.

Don't ask me to explain it, it's what I've been reading.

Yeah, I guess. But perhaps they could make an arrangement or something.

Wishful thinking, after all.

[Chad G.]

A Superman for all Seasons is one of the best stories that I have ever read, hands down.

Also, Superman/Batman Generations I and II are great stories.

And as has already been stated, Red Son is excellent.

[Kilgore Trout]

Actually Alan Moore did a GREAT Superman story that is now collected in TPB...

Well... Its almost Superman.

In any case, its been my favorite "Superman" story for years now... Its called:

SUPREME: The Story of the Year and for all intents and purposes it follows Superman's... err... Supreme's career without all the reboots/revamps and revisions... Or at least it explains them in a way that no one else at DC could ever touch...

I highly recommend it.

[Super Monkey]

Actually Alan Moore did a GREAT Superman story that is now collected in TPB...

Well... Its almost Superman.

In any case, its been my favorite "Superman" story for years now... Its called:

SUPREME: The Story of the Year and for all intents and purposes it follows Superman's... err... Supreme's career without all the reboots/revamps and revisions... Or at least it explains them in a way that no one else at DC could ever touch...

I highly recommend it.

I highly recommend it and the follow up.

Either that, or he is a bit miffed with DC for having creatively screwed him over the past 10 years.

That would be the reason.

[aukevin]

I second Superman for all Seasons. I loved that series. I like Sale as an artist as well.

[jaguarshark]

Originally posted by 666MasterOfPuppets
I wonder why hasn't DC convinced Moore to write an ongoing Superman book.

I love Alan Moore's work, but between his few Superman stories and his Surpreme run, he might have said all he wanted to say about the character. Even if he had a ton of Supes stories left in him, we would probably see them told with an analogue character, like Surpreme, because of his relationship with DC. As earlier posters have noted, Moore and DC are not exactly getting along. Apparently, IIRC, it started with a debate over censorship at the start of the 90's, continued with disputes about DC's control over the Moore work they already own, and was possibly topped off by the similarities between Kingdom Come and an unpublished story submitted by Moore. DC will continue to reprint all their existing Moore material for as long as we all shall live, but I doubt Moore will want to work for them again.

[dancj]

The latest thing in the whole business was when a DC representative said that Moore was excited about the V for Vendetta film (or something like that) when in fact he had washed his hands of the project and given all of his royalties to David Lloyd. That was the straw that made him leave ABC

Dan

[Cash Lone]

In the late 90's there was a Superman/ Batman mini series where each character would happen to meet once a year and the story was about how they eventually became friends.

Does anyone else remember this series? I cant recall the title or who worked on it - but I was hoping there was a trade of it. I think the series was 12 issues.

[666MasterOfPuppets]

I love Alan Moore's work, but between his few Superman stories and his Surpreme run, he might have said all he wanted to say about the character. Even if he had a ton of Supes stories left in him, we would probably see them told with an analogue character, like Surpreme, because of his relationship with DC. As earlier posters have noted, Moore and DC are not exactly getting along. Apparently, IIRC, it started with a debate over censorship at the start of the 90's, continued with disputes about DC's control over the Moore work they already own, and was possibly topped off by the similarities between Kingdom Come and an unpublished story submitted by Moore. DC will continue to reprint all their existing Moore material for as long as we all shall live, but I doubt Moore will want to work for them again.

WHOA. So that's the deal behind the Moore/DC thing...

No wonder why Moore is mad at them.

I hope that they'll manage to arrange things between them, though. It would be a hell of a loss for DC...

[666MasterOfPuppets]

The latest thing in the whole business was when a DC representative said that Moore was excited about the V for Vendetta film (or something like that) when in fact he had washed his hands of the project and given all of his royalties to David Lloyd. That was the straw that made him leave ABC

Dan

WOW.

I can't believe it. And why would that happen?

[Super Monkey]

WOW.

I can't believe it. And why would that happen?

Check out this site, everything is detailed there if you look for it:

http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/

[666MasterOfPuppets]

Check out this site, everything is detailed there if you look for it:

http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

[Watchman]

Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow is my personal favorite.

[dancj]

In the late 90's there was a Superman/ Batman mini series where each character would happen to meet once a year and the story was about how they eventually became friends.

Does anyone else remember this series? I cant recall the title or who worked on it - but I was hoping there was a trade of it. I think the series was 12 issues.

The book was World's Finest (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401200826/qid=1136551620/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2138059-9892606) by Karl Kesel and a few artists not to be confused with the superior World's Finest (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852864389/qid=1136551620/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/202-2138059-9892606) by Dave Gibbons and Steve Rude. IIRC it was 10 issues with the first and last issues being prestige format.

Dan

[Cash Lone]

The book was World's Finest (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401200826/qid=1136551620/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2138059-9892606) by Karl Kesel and a few artists not to be confused with the superior World's Finest (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852864389/qid=1136551620/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/202-2138059-9892606) by Dave Gibbons and Steve Rude. IIRC it was 10 issues with the first and last issues being prestige format.

Dan

Thats it. thank you!

[CAT-DAL]

Tell me,i need to know!

[The Sentry]

Trades :
Red Son.
Birthright.

OGN:
Son of Superman.

[Lurker]

Using the search function would do wonders for all these questions you have...

In no particular order:

Birthright (we've already discussed this one)
Secret Identity
Red Son
Kingdom Come
For All Seasons

[cactusmaac]

For All Seasons
Kingdom Come
Man of Steel v1
The Dark Side
Alan Moore Omnibus

not comics Superman per se but still very good:

Secret Identity
It's A Bird
The Kents
Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel

[Chris Thomas]

along the same lines: a question for the superman gurus:

which superman archives are the best?

[dancj]

Whatever Happenned to the Man of Tomorrow
Red Son
Whatever Happenned to the Man of Tomorrow
Son of Superman
Whatever Happenned to the Man of Tomorrow

[MicroZone]

along the same lines: a question for the superman gurus:

which superman archives are the best?

Superman V1
Man of Tomorrow v2
Man of Tomorrow v1
Superman v6
World's Finest v3

[Bicycle-Repairman]

I recommend the recent collection DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore. It collects various stories by Moore set in the DC Universe, including three starring Superman. They are:

-"For the Man Who Has Everything" (Superman Annual #11, 1985): This classic story inspired an episode of Justice League Unlimited. The evil Mongul ensnares Superman in the tendrils of an alien plant that causes the Man of Steel to imagine a fantasy world where Krypton never exploded. Art by Dave Gibbons.

-"The Jungle Line" (DC Comics Presents #85, September 1985) Infected with a deadly Kryptonian fungus that causes his powers to act erratically, Superman flees to a secluded area to die. He ends up in the Louisiana bayou, where he encounters Swamp Thing. Pencilled by Rick Veitch and inked by Al Williamson.

-"Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" (Superman #423 and Action Comics #583, September 1986) The last Superman story before his post-Crisis revamp, this "Imaginary Story" deals with the Earth-1 Superman's final battle against his greatest foe. Widely regarded as one of the best Superman stories ever. Art by George Perez, Curt Swan, and Kurt Schaffenberger.

The other non-Superman stories in the collection are pretty good too. Especially of note is the all-time classic Batman/Joker story "The Killing Joke" with art by Brian Bolland.