Superman isn’t just an iconic superhero: he’s the iconic superhero. Since his debut in Action Comics #1, the world has been captivated by the Man of Steel and his heroics. Clark represents the ultimate good in people, and that’s reflected in his stories.
Whether focusing on his unwavering compassion or his fight for justice, the best Superman comics tend to highlight what makes him stand apart. Even though his first appearance was more than eighty-five years ago, Superman remains the ultimate superhero, and these stories show exactly why.
2016’s Superman #7 Has One of the Funniest Endings in DC Comics History
Balancing work and life as Superman can be tough, and that challenge comes to a head in Superman #7, “Our Town.” Lois makes Clark promise not to run off as Superman and to simply enjoy a night at the fair. He mostly sticks to it, but he can’t resist stepping in to stop a robbery on the fairgrounds.
Lois finds out what Clark has done while she’s riding the dollar coaster, and her reaction is absolutely priceless. Even though the comic is a short one-shot, it’s a great glimpse into a funnier and more playful side of Superman that readers don’t always get to see.
Superman Adventures #41 Shows the Man of Steel’s Never-Ending Fight
Fans of Superman: The Animated Series should definitely check out Superman Adventures. It mirrors the show’s art style and maintains the same high quality. While it’s told plenty of great stories, Mark Millar’s run on the series stands out, especially his final issue, “22 Stories in a Single Bound,” which cleverly expands the world with each page telling a self-contained story.
The final page, “While You Were Sleeping,” shows everyone sleeping and dreaming except Clark. His bed is empty as the open breeze from the window moves through the curtain. Since Superman doesn’t need sleep, it’s a cute image, but it’s also more than that. It shows that Superman keeps going so that others can rest easy and dream of something better.
Superman: Red Son Features a Brilliant Twist on Superman’s Origins
Superman: Red Son offers a brilliant twist on Superman’s origins. While the comic famously has the Man of Steel land in Russia instead of Kansas, the real surprise is where the rocket came from. The ending reveals that Krypton is actually a dying Earth, and Jor-L sends Kal-El back in time, not across galaxies.
This idea actually dates back to one of Jerry Siegel’s original drafts when he was first pitching Superman. In that early version, Sam and Molly Kent discover a time machine, not a rocket. Red Son brings that concept back into play, and in a clever twist, the “L” in Jor-L stands for Luthor. It’s one of DC’s best Elseworlds tales and changes Superman while still honoring his roots.
Superman Smashes the Klan Is One of the Best Modern Superman Stories
Superman Smashes the Klan is one of the greatest comics of the last ten years and shows Superman exposing the people behind the KKK with the help of a great supporting cast, including two children, Tommy and Roberta. At the end of the story, Roberta joins the Daily Planet as a cub reporter.
It’s a comic that presents a hopeful vision of how people can rise up and work together to build a better future. Not only is it great to see Superman taking on the Klan, but the comic also shows that his actions make Metropolis a better place.
Superman: Birthright Is An Origin Story With a Perfect Ending
Superman: Birthright ends Clark’s origin story with something readers don’t see often: the El family. Right before Krypton is destroyed, Jor-El and Lara get a final glimpse of their son, not as the baby they sent into the unknown, but as a grown man. When Clark learns that Luthor managed to contact Krypton before its destruction, he uses the moment to send a message: “Mother, Father … I made it.”
It’s an emotional gobsmacker that gives credit to the Els for their act of faith. Facing certain death, they didn’t know what would happen to their baby. Seeing Kal-El alive, strong, and wearing the family crest gives them the reassurance they need. In their final moments, they know they made the right choice.
Issue #6 of All-Star Superman Gives Clark Kent Closure
All-Star Superman #6, “Funeral in Smallville,” centers around the passing of Jonathan Kent. Jonathan and Martha are essential figures in Clark’s life who shaped his moral compass and sense of compassion. The story unfolds in the past, as Clark is pulled away by the Superman Squad. Because of this, he misses his father’s final moments and doesn’t get to say goodbye.
The reveal that the bandaged member of the Superman Squad is actually present-day Clark is both brilliant and heartbreaking. Clark finally got to say goodbye to his dad, and that was all he wanted. The final image of Superman placing a flower on his father’s grave is somber and haunting. Despite all his power, Clark can’t save everyone, not even his loved ones.
Superman: Up in the Sky #6 Has a Heartwarming Ending
For Superman, every life is worth saving, and that belief is put to the test when he sets out to rescue a young girl who’s been abducted. After a grueling six-issue journey, he finally finds her. On the long journey back, he encourages her to ask anything she wants, and the exchange is incredibly precious.
Superman is asked to answer a lot of questions, and some of his answers are genuinely funny, like admitting he’d let Batman win in a fight. It highlights how great Clark is with kids and shows why they look up to Superman as a hero.
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Feels Like a Series Finale
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? feels like the series finale to Superman. Written by Alan Moore, it serves as a powerful send-off to the Silver Age, bringing together much of Superman’s supporting cast and rogues gallery. It’s a dark story that sees many Silver Age aspects become profound and terrifying as everything starts to crumble around Clark.
The reveal that Mister Mxyzptlk is the true villain and a fearsome enemy is an incredible twist. Superman has no choice but to kill him and is so shaken by the act that he chooses to give up his powers. Despite that, Clark does get a happy ending, settling down with Lois and having a child.
Death of Superman Is the Man of Steel’s Ultimate Battle
The Death of Superman remains one of the most iconic comic book stories of all time. Superman #75 features Clark’s greatest physical threat: Doomsday, a mindless force of destruction tearing through Metropolis. The battle doesn’t just change DC, but comics in general. Superman never hesitates, but his victory comes at the cost of his own life.
There are many heartbreaking pages showing the citizens of Metropolis and Clark’s parents, but the ultimate pain comes from Lois. She’s with him to the end and holds Clark as he asks whether Doomsday has been stopped. The story shows that Superman will do anything to save lives, and even as he stares at death, he’s still the hero everyone aspires to be.
Superman #750 Has the Best Speech in Comic History
Action Comics #775 should be required reading for anyone who thinks Superman is boring or too much of a Boy Scout. “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” was written as a response to that criticism. The story shows Superman at one of his lowest points as the public turns toward a new group, The Elite, who use deadly methods to deal with threats.
It rattles Clark, especially when children start admiring The Elite for killing their enemies, but he ultimately defeats them and shows the world why they’re wrong. When The Elite’s leader, Manchester Black, says Superman lives in a dream world, he gives the best speech in comics history.
“Dreams save us. Dreams lift us and transform us into something better. And on my soul, I swear that until I dream of a world where dignity, honor, and justice are the reality we all share, I’ll never stop fighting.” It’s a speech that explains exactly why Superman is the way he is, and it shows a jaded audience why everyone needs hope.
