The best Superman Stories

[frostedone]

What is your favorite Superman stories? The most Iconic? What defines the character the most? What about showcasing his best villains?

For this list All Star Superman and Kingdom Come are already included.

I would add:

1. A Superman for All Seasons

2. Superman 247: Must There Be a Superman

What about you?

[JulianPerez]

Other people have their own explanations for the Superman/Clark Kent identity, but "Who took the Super out of Superman?" by Bates and Maggin provided the most developed explanation for who Superman is.

Also, I really liked Dan Jurgens's Superman #148, which featured a Post-Crisis Vartox. I think that one was true to the spirit of Superman for the following reasons:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Vartoxdcu1.jpg

1. It was a science fiction story and plot involving space travel and alien races, something that fell out of vogue (for baffling reasons) in the 1990s. Man, nothing bored me more in that time than Superman's earthbound and inconsequential tales of this era.

2. It involved Superman as someone with a fundamental restraint that sought solutions other than killing, and if a bunch of choices were offered and all of them were bad, he'd create his own option.

[Mat001]

Superman still traveled to the stars in the 90's. See Action Comics Annual #7, "Panic In The Sky", "Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey", "Superman Vs Aliens", Superman: The Man Of Steel #30, Superman #86, The Adventures Of Superman #509, Action Comics #696, Superman #128, The Adventures Of Superman #551 and the whole "The Trial Of Superman" arc.

[JulianPerez]

Superman still traveled to the stars in the 90's. See Action Comics Annual #7, "Panic In The Sky", "Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey", "Superman Vs Aliens", Superman: The Man Of Steel #30, Superman #86, The Adventures Of Superman #509, Action Comics #696, Superman #128, The Adventures Of Superman #551 and the whole "The Trial Of Superman" arc.

Amusing you should mention "Panic in the Sky," because while I really liked it, one of the more amusing parts about it was the weird way they insisted that Superman wasn't a space traveller, all while in a story that had Superman fighting in space.

There was even one scene where he angsts about it to Lois: "Oh, if only I had the space travel capacity of a Green Lantern..."

In many ways, Carlin leaving the editor position was probably one of the better outcomes possible for the character. That angst scene had the feel of lip service to an editorial edict.

"Okay, now that we've got that out of the way to placate my editor, we'll have Superman fight an army of alien gladiators on another planet..."

[Alex Smith]

I'd add Superman Birthright to that list for sure.

[Mat001]

Amusing you should mention "Panic in the Sky," because while I really liked it, one of the more amusing parts about it was the weird way they insisted that Superman wasn't a space traveller, all while in a story that had Superman fighting in space.

How is that odd? It just means that he doesn't go offworld that often.

There was even one scene where he angsts about it to Lois: "Oh, if only I had the space travel capacity of a Green Lantern..."

Yeah, so? At that point, he couldn't go unless he had the gear that Emil Hamilton supplied him with.

In many ways, Carlin leaving the editor position was probably one of the better outcomes possible for the character. That angst scene had the feel of lip service to an editorial edict.

"Okay, now that we've got that out of the way to placate my editor, we'll have Superman fight an army of alien gladiators on another planet..."

It wasn't lip service to the editor. It's following what Byrne and Wolfman set up when Andrew Helfner was editor. Maintaining continuity.


Anyway, in my list I'd include Action Comics #775 and Superman #82.

[Rawhide Kid]

All Star Superman #1-12. The definitive Superman story.

The Man of Steel #1-6. The story that defines the character. Please note, I didn't write defined.

Action Comics #775: What's so funny about Truth, Justice and the Amarican Way ?. The best Superman stories ask the right questions. Art by Manhke and Bermejo didn't hurt either.

[KandouErik]

Definately All-Star Superman.

And Jim Lee's "For Tomorrow" is good, if not a little different from most Superman comics.

[frostedone]

Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey

What is it about? Is it Doomsday's second appearance? After he killed Superman?

[marshal99]

Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey

What is it about? Is it Doomsday's second appearance? After he killed Superman?

Hmmm ? You know nothing about Hunter/Prey ?! Second major appearance of Doomsday. Story is about cyborg superman & Doomsday invading Apokalips and superman going to apokalips to help.

This was followed up later by Doomsday war where doomsday returned to take on (and thrashed) morrison's big guns JLA.

[Kai "the spy"]

My favorite stories are

Birthright
It does a really good job in showing us WHY Clark Kent decided to become Superman, WHY he made Clark Kent a disguise. It's got one of the best Lex Luthors ever, and one of the most creative ways to use kryptonite. It has a kick-ass Lois, it has relevance to the modern audience, it has the right amount of Krypton and a fantastic Krypton it was. And it is a battle of ideals against cynicism, with the right amount of pathos to it. Too bad they didn't promote it the right way, so it was never accepted as Superman's new origin.

What's so funny about Truth, Justice and the American Way?
This is the one that changed me from a latent Superman fan to a Superman nut. It is the one that opened my eyes to the fact that Superman is not about powers, but about ideals. And it's very entertaining, too.

The Death and Life of Superman
I know, it's the obvious one, the one that is mentioned so often it's become a cliché. But it's still what it is. This one is just epic. It's huge. It's pathetic (in the good way). It made me cry. It made me cheer. It made me believe.
Although I like the Roger Stern novelization better than the comics. It just feels more self-contained.

[Alex Smith]

Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey

What is it about? Is it Doomsday's second appearance? After he killed Superman?

Ehh, it's nothing special. I'd avoid the story if at all possible, I thought it was pretty poor. Then again, I find most things involving Doomsday to be poor.

[superchick]

I don't get the fuss over All Star Superman. I was so disappointed when I read it. Episodic storytelling, Superman as a god and a culture based on futuristic hippies does not make for good stories. The only part I particularly liked was Superman's mini universe that contained Jerry Siegel.

[dancj]

Ehh, it's nothing special. I'd avoid the story if at all possible, I thought it was pretty poor. Then again, I find most things involving Doomsday to be poor.
The story is quite mediocre, but I thought the origin it provided for Doomsday was excellent.

[Armadillo]

I don't get the fuss over All Star Superman. I was so disappointed when I read it. Episodic storytelling, Superman as a god and a culture based on futuristic hippies does not make for good stories. The only part I particularly liked was Superman's mini universe that contained Jerry Siegel.

Currently read only the first TPB but was disapointed as well. It was cool and I really likes some issues (Olsen\Doomsday one, the one with the future's Supermen.) but overall I thougt the hype was'nt justified. Maybe the high expectation a bit ruined my enjoyment.

I still looking for good Supes' stories as I really like the character and the whole mythos.

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Any Superman story written by Alan Moore.

[Slaughter]

Where is one very good story:

The Ruin Saga:

A great, well-thought story arc by Rucka. Someone named Ruin is targeting Superman, his friends and allies. Crosses sometimes with Countdown to Infinite Crisis and Infinite Crisis itself, but rather than intrusive, the crossovers help understand the current situation, the players on this history and events.

Issues: Adventures of Superman 627 to 647. Sold in three TPBs, I believe.

[Mat001]

They're called "Unconventional Warfare", "That Healing Touch" and "Ruin Revealed".

[thawrecka]

What about the best Superman stories if you're really into the Clark/Lois relationship? Because that's the big draw for me but I'm kind of lost as to which trades to read.

[nomikeline]

A Superman for All Seasons thats for sure

[Mat001]

What about the best Superman stories if you're really into the Clark/Lois relationship? Because that's the big draw for me but I'm kind of lost as to which trades to read.

It's out of print, but if you can dig around on Amazon or E-Bay, you can find "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman". A trade released to tie into the show, back in 1994 at the end of season one. The trade highlights the key stories centered around their relationship. Adventures Of Superman #457 and 458, the two stories where they began dating full time. "Krisis Of The Krimson Kryptonite", the story where they get engaged. Action Comics #662, Superman #52 and Adventures Of Superman #476. That's where Clark reveals his identity to Lois. Superman #59 has the famous conversation between Lois and Clark atop Mt. Fuji. "Superman: The Wedding & Beyond" features the trade where they get married and go on their honeymoon. "Til Death Do Us Part" and "Critical Condition" are the stories that focus on their marriage. Greg Rucka's books mentioned by Slaughter feature Lois throughout.

[The Chief5425]

"Superman: The Animated Series." Pretty much every episode was what Superman should be, and is so rarely in the comics.

Seriously, why isn't Bruce Timm EIC at DC?