Superman is THE super-hero…THE comic book character…THE most iconic character to come from comic books (no valid arguments to the contrary exist…this is not a slam against Batman or Wonder Woman or Spider-Man or The X-Men or any other character you can name it is, quite simply, a fact) and there have been times when the stories crafted about him were worthy of his place in literary history. To wit, these stories I’ve chosen as my favorites:
“Superman for All Seasons” by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
A grand, subtle, heartwarming, beautifully drawn…Sale captures the odd combination of Clark Kent’s alien origins and Kansas farmboy upbringing better than anyone before or since…retelling of the Superman story and his place in the world.
“Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” by Alan Moore, Curt Swan, George Perez, and Kurt Schaffenberger (Superman [1st series] #423 and Action Comics # 583)
Alan Moore’s fond farewell to the “Silver Age” Superman…as the decks were being cleared for John Byrne’s reboot of the Man of Steel…with some lovely art by THE “Silver Age” Superman artist, Curt Swan.
“The Death of Superman” by Jerry Siegel and Curt Swan (Superman [1st series] #149)
Not the bloated, over-hyped story from the 90’s but the powerful “imaginary story” from the early 60’s that managed to tell a MUCH better story in a single issue.
“Kingdom Come” by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
There is a huge cast of characters in this powerful tale of super-beings run amok but at its heart this is a story of Superman…older and having isolated himself from a world that he no longer understood or fit into.
“Of Thee I Sing” by Garth Ennis and John McCrae (Hitman #34)
Superman’s impact as an American icon…a immigrant who came to this country and embraced its ideals with all of his considerable might…is ably explored in this surprising issue of an otherwise somewhat cynical series.
“For the Man Who Has Everything” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (Superman Annual #11)A great story that features Superman getting his heart’s desire…a Krypton that didn’t explode…through the malicious manipulations of one of his arch-enemies and finding, once again, that you should be careful what you wish for. It has great character bits with his friends Wonder Woman, Batman, and, especially, the Jason Todd version of Robin the Boy Wonder (arguably that recently resurrected character’s shining moment.)
“Faster…” by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman #1)Freed of the current continuity of the DC Comics universe, this story celebrates the expansive, gloriously over-the-top adventures of Superman and his arch-enemy, the mad genius Lex Luthor.
“Superman’s Return to Krypton” by Jerry Siegel and Wayne Boring (Superman [1st series] #141)
Superman’s co-creator crafts a moving story about Superman going back in time to his homeworld where he gets to know his parents, falls in love, and, of course, eventually loses it all again as Krypton succumbs to its fate.
“The Exile at the Edge of Eternity” by Jim Steranko (Superman [1st series] #400)
The legacy of Superman is explored into the distant future in this groundbreaking tale.
“What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, and Lee Bermejo (Action Comics #775)
Superman “old-fashioned” values are put to the test against the grittier, more “kewl” actions of more brutal super-heroes…such as The Authority…and they stand up to the challenge.
“Where No Superman Has Gone Before” by Len Wein and Jim Starlin (DC Comics Presents #27-29)
The “Silver Age” Superman goes on the most amazing journey of his life…to the very gates of Heaven itself…in a underrated story co-starring the Martian Manhunter, Supergirl, and The Spectre.
“Survivor” by Dave Gibbons and Ted McKeever (A1 #1/A1 Big Issue #0)Superman is never named in this delightful tale of a super-powerful alien who fights a battle for truth, justice, and the American way but it is, of course, about him just the same.
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