Great classic Superman stories?

[shaxper]

It's recently occured to me that, while I love the classic Superman mythos, I've only read two "great" Superman stories in my life. So can someone recommend a tpb or even a general direction for where to find some excellent Superman stories? I own the recent Showcase volume, but black and white kills me so I haven't read it yet.

[benday-dot]

Hey Shaxper... I, being a mostly Marvel guy, was in the same position, when I really had a longing to get in to the meat of the mythos of the grandaddy of superheroes. So I picked up "The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told" TPB at my lcs a year or so ago. It is by no means perfect or comprehensive (I mean how could one volume be when it comes to Superman), but it is in colour and features tales both historic and iconic. The second appearance of Lex Luthor is historic (Superman 4, 1940), as is issue 123 which brings into the fold Supergirl and "Must there Be a Superman" from Superman 242 (1972) and the Alan Moore scripted classic "For the Man Who Has Everything" from 1985 are both pretty iconic. There are many more besides. A good mix of the old and new, the straight up and the strange. One of my favourite pieces is the reprise of Superman 129 (1959), when Superman ponders giving up his powers for the sake of the mermaid Lori Lemaris... no damn continuity to screw with, just heartfelt golden age fun. Comic books as the pure thing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0930289390/002-9264346-5401657?v=glance&n=283155

[Sir Tim Drake]

The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told TPB is a good start, but I recommend the original book by that title, not the new one, which has a worse selection. Also, almost any Superman story by Elliot S! Maggin will be worth reading, and any Superman story drawn by Curt Swan will be nice to look at, especially if it's also inked by Murphy Anderson.

Beyond that, here are some Superman stories I like. These stories aren't all of the same level of quality, and it's certainly not an exhaustive list, but I think they're all worth tracking down.

"When Superman Defended His Arch-Enemy!" -- Action Comics #292 (I don't know if this has been reprinted or not)
"Superman, You're Dead... Dead... Dead!" -- Action Comics #399
"Superman Takes a Wife" -- Action Comics #484
"The Miraculous Return of Jonathan Kent" -- Action Comics #507 and #508
"If Superman Didn't Exist..." -- Action Comics #554
Other issues of Action Comics in the #380s and #420s-450s are interesting primarily because of the Legion and Green Arrow backup stories.

"The Death of Superman" -- Superman #149, reprinted in Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told
"Superman's Day of Truth" -- Superman #176, reprinted in #241
The Sandman Saga -- Superman #233-235, 237, 238, 240-242
"Must There Be a Superman?" -- Superman #247, reprinted in Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told
"The Luthor Nobody Knows" -- Superman #292
"The Miracle of Thirsty Thursday" -- Superman #293
The Mr. Xavier saga -- Superman #296-299
"Let My People Grow" -- Superman #338
"The Living Legends of Superman" -- Superman #400
"The Last Earth-Prime Story" -- Superman #411
"The Einstein Connection" and "The Ghost of Superman Future!" -- Superman #416
"Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" -- Superman #423 and Action Comics #583
"The Day the Cheering Stopped" -- Superman Annual #10
"For the Man Who Has Everything" -- Superman Annual #11

"The Secret Revealed!" - Superman vol. 2 #2 (the John Byrne series)
"Metropolis 900 Mi." -- Superman vol. 2 #9
"Metropolis Mailbag" -- Superman vol. 2 #64

"Killers Come in All Sizes" -- World's Finest #236
"The Angel with a Dirty Name" -- World's Finest #238

"The Riddle of Little Earth Lost" - DC Comics Presents #3
"The Sixty Deaths of Solomon Grundy" -- DC Comics Presents #8
"The Jungle Line" -- DC Comics Presents #85

And finally, Alan Moore's run on Supreme is a Superman story in all but name. I recommend every issue of this.

[Chris Thomas]

And finally, Alan Moore's run on Supreme is a Superman story in all but name. I recommend every issue of this.


this last comic makes me believe in what you say (so to speak)--I thought the moore supreme run was the most amazing dissection? of superman/retcons, etc ever done.

now I'm gonna save your post and track these other down..

[shaxper]

Thanks for the tips!

I have the 1987 Greatest Superman Stories ever told on my shelf. Is this the one you recommend, Sir Tim?

I've also started pushing through the b/w Showcase volume. The quality sacrifice hurts, but the stories are still great.

I'll begin seeking out issues on that lengthy list, as well. I've already read and really enjoyed "The Death of Superman," (it's what prompted me to start this thread), so I know your recommendations are on the level :)

[Sir Tim Drake]

I have the 1987 Greatest Superman Stories ever told on my shelf. Is this the one you recommend, Sir Tim?

Yes, that's the one.