My friends April 18, 2018 is a big day if you’re a fan of Superman as I am. Not only is it the 80th anniversary of our beloved hero, but DC Comics is releasing the 1000th issue of Action Comics on this date. We’ll ignore that technically there have been more issues of that with the odd numbering changes over the years and just say-WOW! Do you think when Siegel and Shuster created that first issue in 1938 it ever occurred to them that there would be 999 more? Or that the character would become the icon he has?
So I wanted to do something special. I’ve talked about the movies to death. The TV shows need more love but that didn’t seem appropriate here. I have done articles on the comics discussing team-up’s and holiday stories but I never really discussed my favorite Superman comics that aren’t team-up’s or events. So to celebrate the 80th anniversary and release of Action Comics #1000, that’s what we’ll do today.
To be clear, these aren’t The Greatest Superman Stories (though a few sure apply) these are my favorites. The stories I love and have a read a million times. So as you might guess some obvious choices are going to be missing. Either because I didn’t like them or I never read them. I usually try to keep a decent date range in stuff like this but most of these are from the same era. I can’t stand the silver age stuff and I stopped reading twenty years ago so there isn’t to much recent that I can list here.
I know 20 is a lot but it could have been even more! As you might expect there were a few and I had to cut some to keep this from going forever. I am including all Superman titles not just Action Comics, and these will be in publication order. Course if I included his appearances in other comics….man there are a lot of stories out there!
Superman #247
Stupid cover aside, this is a good story about Superman questioning whether or not he has really done any good. As he impeded the progress of humans rather than helping? Issues like this weren’t raised in 1972 making this a unique tale. For some reason the Superman books seemed stuck in the silver age right through the 80’s with their tease covers and goofy stories.
Superman #330
Oh god, the 70’s! So the cover teases us (because every damn cover had to tease us back then!!) with the explanation of how Superman can fool people with his glasses into thinking Clark is a different person. How does it work? He has super hypnosis powers and basically when he looks as people he projects a hypnotic suggestion that makes them see Clark more frail and elderly than he is really. Sigh. Why is this here if I am bashing the concept? It’s one of the issues from that era I remember and felt it deserved a mention even if I remember it for how crazy it is (it feels like it belongs in the 60’s not 1978!)
DC Comics Presents #50
I pick on the Superman titles of the old days but I actually did enjoy DC Comics Presents. This was the team-up book and some issues are better than others but it was one of the first back issues I started collecting. This one came out in 1982 and has the silliness of the pre-Crisis Superman all over it. The reason for the split between Superman is Clark is a sci fi goofy thing that makes no sense (I said once before how comics in the late 70’s got way to heavy in the sci fi stuff). But once you get past that this is a great story about why Superman has to be Clark. Not only because Superman can’t do it all, but because being Clark keeps him in touch with his humanity. I also love we get some good Clark and Lois as reporters scenes, so often these issues forget that stuff.
Action Comics #546
I talked about this one once when I was saying how Gil Kane’s awful artwork ruined this for me. Yeah, I know he’s a legend but not a fan. However artwork aside this is a pretty exciting issue. It is smack in the middle of a huge Brainiac arc and Superman got help from the JLA and Titans. By the way I am leaving off the landmark issue that have us the “new” Brainiac and Luthor because, as I mentioned in my Lex Luthor article, that whole space thing was lame!
Superman Annual #11
Yeah I know, as if I haven’t talked about this one yet. Alan Moore is amazing and when I came across this issue the first time I absolutely loved it. Mongul gives Superman a look at the life that could have been. And it’s so well done. My favorite part is how Mongul is finally defeated, and it isn’t by the pissed off Superman wailing on him! I can’t be alone in liking this since it’s been reprinted a million times and not only turned into a Justice League Unlimited episode but also as the basis for an episode of “Supergirl”.
By the way Alan Moore also wrote another wonderful Superman story featuring The Swamp Thing. It’s a very well written issue. And I talked about “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” elsewhere which is great but not a favorite. It was an attempt to wrap things before the post Crisis Byrne era and while I have issues with things in the story I can’t deny it’s wonderfully written.
Speaking of the John Byrne era :
The Man of Steel
Do I really need to discuss this one? Here is a link to a whole article I did on it which goes into plenty of detail why this is one of my favorite comics ever :
https://nostalgiarush.blogspot.com/2012/12/comics-i-loved-as-kid-man-of-steel.html
Superman #10
So you get the idea, Superman was silly before the reboot in 1986. Those old stories often make me groan with their silliness. Byrne brought the hero into the modern era and I loved how Byrne made him more relatable. Oh sure at the time the purists cried foul, but since this was the first Superman I ever really read I didn’t have that baggage to lean on. I’ve talked about Superman #2 at length elsewhere and how that cover piqued my curiosity. So why pick this one in particular? It’s a good old fashioned Lex Luthor story, only in the modern era so rather than be in the crazy robot attacking Superman he’s manipulating things behind the scenes. I love the setup and the way Superman solves the problem. I’ll be honest, this could have been any issue from the first 22 of that run I just kind of chose this one.
Adventures of Superman #430
If you ever read The New Teen Titans you know how great Marv Wolfman as it making heroes talk and act like people. And it was great, there. I never cared much for his work on Superman. Superman should have problems of course but Wolfman makes him almost a chronic worrier. Here though, is a story a like. A lot of people didn’t agree with keeping Jonathan Kent alive when Byrne did but the dialogue here between Clark and his father over the nature of Clark wondering if he is so busy being Superman he is neglecting his life as Clark is just wonderful writing.
Superman:The Earth Stealers
This was a prestige format book that was a rejected annual apparently. I got it in 1988 for Christmas and still remember reading it for the first time. It was just a cool story. Perfect? No, probably not. But hey it was Superman having to literally move the planet Earth back into orbit after it had been stolen. How could you go wrong with that? I still have that copy to this day, probably read it a hundred times, and how could you go wrong with John Byrne writing and Curt Swan fantastic artwork? Yeah the villain is kind of stock and the situation resolved a little to easily….but I love it.
Actually there are few more books of this format I could have put on here, but this list has a ways to go.
Superman:Speeding Bullets
Only fair to mention the Elseworld’s stories. Some are good (Red Son). Some are very good (Kingdom Come). Some are just god awful (Superman at Earth’s End, Superman:Distant Fires). And while I think Batman has the market cornered on these, there were plenty featuring Superman. In this one, what is the rocket from krupton was found by Thomas and Martha Wayne? It’s really pretty good as far as these kind of stories go. It’s almost as if it was Batman with Supeman’s heart. By the way this was written by prolific writer J.M. Dematteis.
Action Comics #643
One name that often doesn’t get associated with Superman is George Perez. He did have a brief run that included this issue. This issue was the end of the “Superman:Exile” storyline that I did not like. It was to long and boring. But in the final he issue he returns to Earth and kicks ass. It was just nice to read knowing that the Exile stuff was finally done. Also, there was a point when Action Comics tried to be a weekly series with several anthologies. It failed, and this issue was also a return to form for the book as well as the character.
Superman #50
I’ve talked so much about Byrne that we can forget there were other great writers. Like Roger Stern and Jerry Ordway. Stern especially would redefine the hero for the 90’s. This is the Krisis of the Krimson Krptonite story line which ended with Clark and Lois finally becoming engaged. This was so great to see, especially since they way the relationship evolved in the post crisis era. It’s hard to believe but there was a time when Lois was a nosy pest who just kept snooping around and trying to marry Superman. In the modern era she hated Clark but loved Superman, but Clark was determined to gain her affection as Clark since that’s who he really is. And after several issues the relationship finally led to this engagement. Honestly, the engagement was a tad rushed. And the storyline about Superman losing powers was good but wish it had lasted a bit longer. It was the first introduction of Red K and we get to see Lex Luthor literally fight Superman, which was rare in the post Crisis world. It was good but seemed to be over before it really got going.
Action Comics #650
I almost cut this but the reason it’s here is because the story isn’t about Superman. Instead, we see things from the perspective of our supporting characters which is a nice change of pace. Including one bit where we see a cab driver’s idea of what Superman must do on his off time. It’s kind of funny, but I can see someone thinking that. Who would think he would just go home and quietly read a book? The ongoing story lines kind of intrude but overall this is a nice issue.
Action Comics #653
Ok I am cheating here, I said no team up’s so that means no talking about the excellent three part “Dark Knight Over Metropolis” story line with Batman. This issue is technically the first issue, unofficially. The best part is that the issue is also hot on the heels of another storyline where Superman became a Krypton Man (long story). So we spend time with Superman enjoying himself and just helping people which is rare to see believe it or not. Yeah massive battles and ethical dilemma’s are great, but sometimes you just wanna see Superman help a kid with his kite.
Superman #72
I get the feeling as the big Death of Superman was coming the creators decided to do some small done in one’s and small stories to lead up to it. This is however more than just another story, it’s very well written and really underrated. It deals head on with spousal abuse and how powerless Superman feels when he can literally do nothing. It’s really Lois and Clark who have to finally step in to help, and Superman is reminded yet again he can’t solve every problem.
Death and Return of Superman
Oh man, now we’re talking! This was HUGE. It was all over the press and the issue where Superman actually died set the standard for poly bagging that would explode in the 90’s. I really really need to do a whole article covering this because there is a lot to unpack here. First of all, I wasn’t reading at the time so I missed the buildup. But the media attention was so much I HAD to get Superman #75, where he actually dies. Granted the “World Without a Superman” stuff was only ok, good stuff but kinda dull. Then when the whole Return arc started man was I on board. It was a great story and one I still enjoy reading. I think the reason it worked is because all four of the fake Supermen had real, true characters that we either learned to love (Superboy and Steel lasted a long time later) or really hate (The Cyborg Superman is one of Superman’s best villains-and I never saw that twist coming!!). It also worked because while they took the time to let the story grow for several months, it didn’t go in for an eternity like “Knightsend” or becomes a confusing mess like”Titans Hunt” did. It moved along swiftly and in the end, Superman was alive and back to full glory! I can’t say enough about this one.
Action Comics #719
I went back and forth about including this one. Because it involves Batman and not only did I promise no team up’s but I discussed the issue before. However, that hasn’t stopped me yet in this article. I decided I couldn’t leave it since this is quite the underrated issue. Joker pushes Superman to the limit when Lois’s life is on the line, and for once we see a desperate Superman. But just how desperate will he get? Good thing he has friend like Batman watching his back
This would also lead into an arc where Lois and Clark would break off their engagement. I didn’t read those stories. But I did have to pick up the issue where they finally get married!
Superman Special
The wedding issue, and the last comic book I bought for a long time. As stupid as the wedding was on “Lois & Clark” (really should talk about that someday) the comic pretty much did it all perfectly. Strong character moments and decent action, it was soured by the recurring story lines kind of interfering but that’s ok. In the end we got what we wanted, the two got married. The funny thing is how many times this has happened in comics, for real and imaginary, it was nice this one took. Until The New 52 anyway.
Superman:Day of Doom
Often when I find something in a comic shop I’ve never heard of, I’ll read it and not like it. This one I liked. It basically examines the events of the Death and Return of Superman years later and from the point of view of normal people. It’s not perfect, the villain is really lame, but there is some really good stuff in as Superman realizes just how his death and resurrection affected everyone. And not all in a good way!
Action Comics #775
I began with one I hardly read so only fitting to end with one like that. Besides I wanted something closer to present day (if 2001 can be considered that) and I see this one talked about all the time. I checked it out and it was pretty damn good. Comics have changed since my day which is one reason I don’t read to many recent stuff. And this issue doesn’t just acknowledge that it tackles it directly. With things in the world the way they are, is Superman growing redundant? That’s the question a new group of hard core vigilante’s ask. Superman proves he is still indeed relevant. My favorite part of this issue is a talk Clark and Lois have about the situation. I loved Lois knowing Clark was Superman it really added a wonderful dynamic since Superman had someone to finally confide in and talk to.
One last title to talk about, not on the official list for reasons that will soon be clear:
All-Star Superman is considered one of THE best Superman stories ever written. I only briefly looked through Grant Morrison’s story and I am not a fan of his writing. The main storyline turned me off. But after seeing it on pretty much every “Greatest Superman stories” I did give it another look. There is good stuff in it including the death of Pa Kent and how Superman handles a suicidal jumper, and it’s very well written but I just can’t get into it. But I decided the list would be incomplete without at least a token mention. And before anyone asks yes I know all about Geoff Johns excellent Brainiac arc, and maybe one day I’ll take a look at it, and the massive New Krypton arc of course.
It is kind of depressing that the oldest book on here is from 2003. Though there was that whole Electric Blue era which is so stupid I would have given up reading then if I hadn’t before. But aside from things I catch in collected editions I don’t really buy new comics much and then in 2011 this happened :
Damn New 52. Yeah this is not the Superman I want to read. I did read and was happy to see the changes made during the “Rebirth” story line. And as of this posting still have not officially read Action #1000 but I sure will.
As I indicated there were plenty more stories I could have mentioned. In fact if this wasn’t enough I did three other full lists of Superman stories I love. Weird ass Team Up’s, Batman Team-Up’s, and Halloween stories. So did I leave off your favorite? Comment and let me know!
Superman is iconic and no matter how he his being written or portrayed he will always be the best symbol of hope, truth, justice-and the American way! Congrats on 80 years and 1000 issues!
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