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Here is a look at five Superman storylines that brand-new fans can read to get caught up on what they need to know about the DC Comics hero.
5) Superman for All Seasons
Superman for All Seasons is a four-issue miniseries released in 1998 by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. The series follows Superman through all four seasons — spring, summer, fall, and winter — and the art is reminiscent of Norman Rockwell paintings. What is interesting is that the stories here parallel the John Byrne Man of Steel series after Crisis on Infinite Earths. If anything, this was the Superman series that showed what Superman is supposed to be about.
Jeph Loeb wanted to showcase Superman’s grandeur, and he ensured the artwork conveyed how great he was. As for the story, Jonathan Kent narrated the first, about Clark growing up, and Lois Lane narrated the second, about Superman as a hero. Lex Luther narrated the third based on their rivalry, and Lana Lang narrated the fourth about their lost love. By showing four people’s points of view, it should give any new Superman reader everything they need to know about the DC Comics hero.
4) All-Star Superman
All-Star Superman is a 12-issue series that DC Comics released from 2005 through 2008. Grant Morrison wrote the series, with Frank Quitely’s art. For new readers, this is a way to follow Superman’s last days on Earth. This is an out-of-continuity series about his death, as Superman is dying thanks to his overexposure to the Sun. He then accomplishes the Twelve Labors of Superman.
There was a Death of Superman series in the 1990s in which Doomsday killed him, and the issue about his funeral was one of the greatest Superman stories ever written. However, for a complete story, Grant Morrison delivered a spectacular one here, showing how even Lex Luthor was affected by Superman’s death
3) “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?”
Released in 2001 from the creative team of Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke, and Lee Bermejo, Action Comics #775 featured the story, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” This was later adapted into a DCAU movie called Superman vs. The Elite, which showed how Superman is different from other, more modern, and more violent superheroes.
The Elite rises and becomes a powerful, violent superhero team that brutalizes their enemies and even kills criminals to ensure they can’t hurt anyone else ever again. Superman opposes the team killing criminals, but the public backs The Elite, whose approval rating is rising. The way Superman finally taught The Elite the lesson they deserved was brilliant, and it remains one of the best one-shot stories that shows any new reader what kind of hero Superman really is.
