Superman has always been the standard when it comes to comic books.

His clean cut image is the epitome of what a superhero should be and many other characters in the medium have tried to follow and/or redefine the template the Man of Steel developed.

With recent films like Superman (2025) taking the world by storm, it’s important to take time to understand where this character came from in the comics.

Though comic books may be harder to get into than in the past, these five storylines offer a great place to enter into the famed DC superhero. Any of these may be at your local library or comic book shop, though there are plenty of other methods to try.

With that, let’s jump into some great Superman comics.

All-Star Superman By Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

Contains: All-Star Superman 1-12 (2006-08)

Why not start with the series that gave inspiration to the 2025 hit?

All-Star Superman is widely regarded as the hero’s greatest story. It follows a dying Superman suffering the effects of solar radiation from Lex Luthor. In it, Superman sets out to accomplish tasks prior to death to set the world in a better place in his absence.

What makes this title such a good starting place is it is outside the normal DC continuity. This means there are a lot of creative freedoms Morrison and Quitely take. Furthermore, the goal of the All-Star imprint was to appeal to newcomers who want a taste of DC’s most iconic heroes so it is a perfect starting point.

Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu

Contains Superman: Birthright 1-12 (2003-04)

Superman’s origin story is well known, but it first appeared in 1938. That means a lot has happened since Superman entered the zeitgeist. It’s common for publishers to do a retelling of a hero’s origin story and Birthright is one of the better options for modern audiences, despite being over 20 years old.

Birthright starts with a retelling of Superman’s parents sending him away amid a destructing Krypton. The rest of the story follows Clark Kent as he leaves Smallville and moves to Metropolis to balance his life as a journalist and superhero. What makes this story unique is the focus on Clark’s embrace of his Kryptonian heritage.

This arc also provided some inspiration to the newest Superman movie as well as 2013’s Man of Steel. It’s mini-series status ensures that you will have a self-contained story that is sure to keep your interest.

Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson

Contains: Superman: Red Son 1-3 (2003)

DC’s Elsewords line is a lot of fun because it can get into some really unique storytelling as is showcased with Red Son.

The general premise is, what if Superman landed in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas? While this arc only has three issues, they push over 50 pages each, making this a complete story that dives into what the world would look like with a Soviet Superman.

It really is an interesting case study that dives into who Superman is as a person and how is morals hold up in a different setting. I particularly enjoyed this one because it was so unique and showed a different side of what many can see as a one-note hero.

The Death of Superman by various authors and artists

Contains: Action Comics 684-691; The Adventures of Superman 497-505; Justice League of America 69-70; Superman: The Man of Steel 18-26; Superman 74-83; Green Lantern 46. All issues published from 1992-93.

The Death of Superman arc is much longer than most of the stories on this list but it is well worth the read if you have the time.

This story is broken up into three parts: Doomsday!, Funeral for a Friend, and The Reign of Superman. The first part focuses on Superman’s fight with Doomsday that ultimately leads to the death of both. The second focuses on the direct aftermath while the third tackles the rise of four Supermen and the return of the original Man of Steel.

This arc is over 30 years old so finding a collected edition is the best way to go, but if you do read it issue by issue on DC Universe Infinite or some where else, here’s the reading order. Despite the title giving away the first part of the trilogy, this entire storyline tells a roller coaster of a tale that does a fantastic job at highlighting Superman’s place in society.

The Man of Steel by John Byrne

Contains: The Man of Steel 1-6 (1986)

John Byrne had the interesting task of rebooting Superman after the events of 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, which served as a hard reboot for the entire DC line. What Byrne did helped shaped Superman to this day.

Yes, The Man of Steel dives into the origins of Superman but does so in a way that makes for an interesting read. Each of the six issues covers a year during his early career. It also helps redefine some aspects of Superman’s origin that would remain in place until 2003’s Birthright.

This series is well worth your time because of the foundation it laid for future Superman stories. Furthermore, Byrne is a legend for his storytelling and that is on full display in this arc.

And there you have it. Five Superman comic stories to keep you busy for the next while. What makes this character so great is there are plenty more arcs that could make this list. Honestly, most Superman comics are worth your time to pick up. Just take some time at your local library to peruse the shelves and see if any others catch your eye.

What did we miss? Are there any Superman comics you would recommend to newcomers? What is your favorite Superman comic arc? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: DC Comics (via Collider)

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