Best Superman Stories (Of the 21st Century)

[Auguste Dupin]

Crap forgot about Final Crisis.

Makes me think I really should buy it.

[Desaad]

Funny. I'd have never thought of New Frontier as a Superman story. I mean, the focus always seemed on the "Silver Age" Generation of the superheroes, like Flash or Green Lantern.

I thought that one would be controversial, but I think there is a real serious character arc playing out behind the scenes there, and it boils to the surface when Superman makes his speech and spurs the forces of earth to unite. It's about Superman moving from a government stooge during Vietnam, to a secret dissident when he stages the battle between he and Batman to protect Bats, and an outwardly unwilling agent of the government when he stops battling the giant robot to save the Challengers of the Unknown to a leader of men who transcends politics and prejudice and inspires a generation when he rouses the troops.

It is, to me, as much a Superman story as something like Kingdom Come was a Superman story, even if it wasn't as overt about it.

[Desaad]

That said, I would never argue that it is PRIMARILY a Superman story; it is first a JLA story, then a Hal Jordan story, then a Martian Manhunter story, then a Flash story, and then Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman all compete for next place.

[Auguste Dupin]

That said, I would never argue that it is PRIMARILY a Superman story; it is first a JLA story, then a Hal Jordan story, then a Martian Manhunter story, then a Flash story, and then Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman all compete for next place.

Fair enough (makes me think that I didn't even consider Kingdom Come in my list. Another day, I would have).

[Desaad]

Fair enough (makes me think that I didn't even consider Kingdom Come in my list. Another day, I would have).

Unless I'm mistaken, that was a 90s book so it is ineligible anyway.

But people often list it as a 'best superman story'.

[lovelikewinter]

All Star Superman
Superman: Last Son
Superman and the Legion of Superheroes
Superman and the Men of Steel

[Auguste Dupin]

Unless I'm mistaken, that was a 90s book so it is ineligible anyway.

But people often list it as a 'best superman story'.

Ho.Right. Forgot about the whole "21st century" thing, somehow.

[Burning Eyes]

Superman: The Return of Doomsday and Superman: The Reign of Doomsday were both incredible Superman stories, and not just because they were the last pre-new 52 Superman stories to be told.

[misslane38]

Secret Identity
All Star Superman
Up, Up, and Away
Camelot Falls
Superman: Brainiac
Action Comics #775
Superman: Birthright
Strange Attractors

[superlantern1987]

I'm going to do a top ten list of the my favorite storylines regarding Superman:

1. Camelot Falls
2. Braniac (Geoff Johns)
3. Up Up and Away
4. Superman/Batman - Supergirl
5. New Krypton
6. Death of Superman
7. Strange Atractors
8. Shadows Linger
9. All Star Superman
10. Omac Project

Honorable mentions: Justice, Kingdom Come and Final Crisis.

[toddx77]

My top 3 would be

Secret Origin
Birthright (loved the ending)
The entire Geoff Johns run of Action Comics

[Aquacatlungfish]

The lack of DKSA on these lists is disturbing.

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

A lot of repeats from others:

All-Star Superman
Red Son
Action Comics #775 (collected in Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told)
most of Johns' run (Up, Up, and Away w/ Busiek, Last Son and Escape from Bizarro World w/ Donner I thought were all good. Superman and the LoSH was meh to me...besides Gary Frank's art! Brainiac has its highs and lows.)
Superman #712 (Busiek's lost Krypto story)
Confidential: Kryptonite
Morrison's New 52 Action Comics
Secret Origin (I mean, Gary Frank's art is part of the story, right?)
For Tomorrow (lots of hate on this story on the Supes forums, except this thread for some reason. I had/have mixed feelings about it, but ultimately enjoy it.)

I really need/want to read Lex Luthor and all the other origin stories from the past decade besides the ones I listed.

Besides the ones mentioned, I liked Busiek's Superman run and Geoff Johns came up with a pretty fun story set on Bizarro-world with Eric Powell on art.

Yeah I was actually just recently thinking what the better Bizarro World story is - Morrison's on All-Star or Johns'. I actually think Johns'...

[lovelikewinter]

The lack of DKSA on these lists is disturbing.

This isn't a list of the most insane stories ever. DKSA is one of the worst stories ever for everyone, and Miller hates Superman at the best of times....

[Aquacatlungfish]

This isn't a list of the most insane stories ever.

Insane stories tend to be the most memorable, funniest and best. Which is what DKSA is.

DKSA is one of the worst stories ever for everyone,

Not for me. It's gained a cult following here. It's Miler's weakest Batwork but I'll take it over 300 and most of the Superman drivel in the past decade any day.

and Miller hates Superman at the best of times....

This has been debated over and over again on this forum but on his best day (the Dark Knight Returns) he didn't.