DC Best Superman Comics For Beginners

Summary

• Superman has a diverse range of stories to cater to all types of readers, from superhero romps to sci-fi epics.
• Starting with iconic comics like Action Comics #1 can provide a deep dive into Superman’s origin and impact on the superhero genre.
• Anthology books like Superman: Red & Blue offer short stories for new readers to explore before diving into longer runs.

Superman is a character with over 85 years worth of history, which not only includes movies and television shows but thousands of comic books and graphic novels. This can make beginning reading the character a little daunting for first-time readers, especially since DC has been rebooted and retconned countless times over the years.

Thankfully, there is something for every kind of reader out there featuring Superman. They can be fun superhero romps, others can be period pieces that tackle action and drama at once, and others are epic science fiction stories that span across space and other dimensions, showing how diverse Superman’s stories can be.

Updated on December 25, 2024, by Melody MacReady: Superman is one of the most popular superheroes of all time, but there are a lot of casual fans of the genre who aren’t familiar with the Man of Steel. James Gunn has shown that the world is still interested in the character with his newest film: Superman. It’s the perfect time for new fans to get on board early and refresh their minds on some great Superman stories from the comics. With a rich history spanning across from his first appearance in 1938, there are countless comic tales to explore, ranging from comics in the main canon or Elseworld stories that explore the character in fresh ways.

14

Superman: Red & Blue

Different Creators Show Off Different Sides Of Clark

• Writer: Brandon M. Easton, John Ridley, Steven T. Seagle, Jesse J. Holland, Mark Waid, Judd Winick, Sophie Campbell
• Illustrator: Clayton Henry, Steve Lieber, Duncan Rouleau, Laura Braga, Audrey Mok, Ibrahim Moustafa, Sophie Campbell

Rather than a beginning to Superman’s story, Superman: Red & Blue delivers a taste of the character through a collection of stories told by various writers and artists. Every story’s art only features the colors red and blue, which gives it a unique look while delivering multiple stories, and, more than likely, at least one or two are going to appeal to someone.

An anthology book like Superman: Red & Blue is perfect for those not wanting to pick up multiple issues just to see if they will like a particular run. Instead, a new reader can simply read the multiple stories and if Superman interests them, after that, there are plenty more comics to enjoy out there.

13

Action Comics #1

The Comics That Changed Superheroes Forever

• Writer: Jerry Siegel
• Illustrator: Joe Shuster

There are very few better places to start with Superman comics other than the beginning. Way back in 1938, Action Comics #1 was not only considered the first appearance of Superman, but the start of the whole superhero genre as people know it today. Without Action Comics, then there would not be all the iconic heroes that fans know and love.

Action Comics #1 features a lot of different stories, but it kicks off with the classic origin story of Clark Kent, which is still holding up over 80 years later. As a child, he was sent to Earth to avoid his planet’s destruction. He becomes a hero and even still works as a reporter.

12

Superman For All Seasons

How His Friends And Enemies View Superman

• Writer: Jeph Loeb
• Illustrator: Tim Sale

Superman For All Seasons is a miniseries written from the point of view of Jonathan Kent, Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and Lex Luthor. Each issue covers a season and the book explores how those closest to the Man of Steel perceive him. It has a unique framing device, but that helps make it stand out as a unique anthology.

The story covers Superman’s journey from a young boy in Smallville to one of humanity’s strongest protectors. Serving as a case study of sorts for the Man of Steel’s character, Superman For All Seasons is a brilliantly written story for every superhero fan looking for something to make them smile.

11

Superman: Up In The Sky

A Simple Yet Meaningful Story About Saving A Child From Aliens

• Writer: Tom King
• Illustrator: Andy Kubert

It’s a fairly recent story compared to some of this list, but Superman: Up In The Sky takes nothing away from how amazing the story is for fans to start their Superman adventures. The story is about Superman venturing off Earth to find a girl who has been kidnapped by a mysterious extraterrestrial, creating a standalone sci-fi adventure starring the Man of Steel.

What is great about this tale is that it delves into what makes Superman the textbook superhero, the one who inspires many. Despite the fact he is not human at all, he is the most human out of everyone. It explores new and familiar territory for Superman and executes the story with the same love and care as Tom King did with Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow.

10

For The Man Who Has Everything

One Of The Saddest Superman Stories Ever Told

• Writer: Alan Moore
• Illustrator: Dave Gibbons

Alan Moore is known for taking DC heroes and giving them fresh stories that focus more on the characters themselves rather than the spectacle. For The Man Who Has Everything does just that, by having Superman locked in a perfect dream world, and he’s living happily without having to be a superhero. It’s a story so beloved that it was adapted into an episode of the Justice League animated series.

Some readers may need to bring tissues because it is one of the few times when Superman’s character is peeled back layer by layer. However, it also shows Superman’s strength as a person, willing to destroy his ideal fantasy to return to reality. It’s a showcase of how Superman may be a godlike alien, but in the end, he’s still a good man at heart.

9

Superman/Batman #1-6

Proof That Superman And Batman Are The Perfect Duo

• Writer: Jeph Loeb
• Illustrator: Ed McGuiness

Certain casual fans are much more familiar with Batman than Superman and a potential way to start with Superman stories is with a tale that features both Batman and Superman as the main protagonists. The first six issues of Superman/Batman are a famous storyline that was adapted into the animated film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

The premise of this story is that Lex Luthor, who is now the President of the United States, declares Batman and Superman as enemies of the state and offers a $1,000,000,000 bounty on their heads. It’s a truly epic story, which burgeoning Superman fans will love, especially as Batman and Superman prove to be the best partners, even if they banter and bicker like a married couple.

8

Superman: Birthright

Modernized Origin Story That Inspired The DC Extended Universe

• Writer: Mark Waid
• Illustrator: Leinil Francis Yu

Superman: Birthright is a modern retelling of the Man of Steel’s origins by Mark Waid. The book serves as an excellent jumping-on point for readers wanting to dive into a darker origin story of Superman but never loses its identity as it tries new ideas. It is a fun and wholesome run full of a lot of charm, epic battles, and Superman‘s path toward self-discovery.

It not only creates a more grounded and darker origin story for Superman, but it is the first time that the El family symbol that Superman wears stands for hope. This would go on to be an inspiration for Zack Snyder’s Superman in the DC Extended Universe, which featured the same concept.

7

Justice League #1

All Members Of The League Shine In The 2011 Reboot

• Writer: Geoff Johns
• Illustrator: Scott Williams, Jim Lee

Readers wanting a relatively new but still detailed read-through of Superman should consider starting at the New 52 Justice League. The New 52 was a reboot of the DC universe where every character started from scratch and to give a taste of every hero, the universe started with Justice League #1, featuring Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and more.

The New 52 version of Superman is controversial, with Superman not only being given a drastically different costume but being given a new personality. Instead of a humble kid from Kansas, he is a bit more arrogant and learns to become the symbol of hope over time, but comics such as Justice League and other New 52 comics have since become beloved runs in DC’s history.

6

Superman: Action Comics

New 52 Superman Was Not Perfect In His First Year

• Writer: Grant Morrison, Andy Diggle, Greg Pak
• Illustrator: Brent Anderson, Andy Kubert, Rags Morales, Jesse Delperdang, Rick Bryant, Sean Parsons

Though Grant Morrison is more famous for another version of Superman, they did not disappoint fans when they returned during the New 52 era with Superman: Action Comics. It takes a rather different approach to Superman, showing him as a younger man before he has his suit, and he is not perfectly adept at his powers yet.

The Batman: Year One-esque approach to Superman was refreshing, as most stories skip right to Clark being Superman, while Superman: Action Comics humbles the character. He makes mistakes, he has to learn to control his powers, and he is constantly evolving in terms of power and his looks. It also escalates slowly, starting more grounded before embracing more fantastical elements.

5

Kingdom Come

The Dystopian World Needed A Veteran Superman

• Writer: Mark Waid
• Illustrator: Alex Ross

While not directly a Superman story, he is arguably the most important character in this tale. Kingdom Come is an Elseworlds Superman story where Superman and the Justice League abandon their roles as protectors of Earth following mass unrest and unpopularity. They are overtaken by a new group of heroes led by Magog. Long story short, the world decays into chaos and Superman ultimately has to reclaim his role.

Kingdom Come is full of stunning artwork and exceptional storytelling and dives into themes such as angst, betrayal, tragedy, and desperation. This is a masterpiece every fan of the Man of Steel should check out, especially if they are a fan of darker superhero stories where heroes are far from clean and tidy.

4

Superman: Rebirth

Superman Being A Family Man Is The Perfect Change

• Writers: Patrick Gleason, Peter Tomasi, Dan Jurgens, Paul Dini
• Illustrators: Patrick Gleason, Doug Mahnke

Similar to New 52, the Rebirth era was a reboot that allowed people to jump in without needing any prior knowledge. Superman: Rebirth followed that format, but skipped the origins of the character, since most people know who Superman is. Instead, Clark is a family man married to Lois Lane, and he has a son named Jon, who he raises on the Smallville farm.

Wholesomeness is a big part of what makes Superman: Rebirth so appealing. Clark balancing life as a husband, father, and superhero is so much fun to witness, especially when young Jon Kent becomes the new Superboy, who inherits many of his father’s good qualities as a person and a hero.

3

All-Star Superman

What Happens When Superman Has One Year To Live

• Writer: Grant Morrison
• Illustrator: Frank Quitely

Arguably the greatest Superman story out there, All-Star Superman is a story where Superman has a year left to live. Readers get to see how Superman spends his final days on Earth. This is a very touching, emotional story that explores all the core values that make Superman who he is.

Thanks to the exceptional storytelling skills of Grant Morrison and the brilliant artwork by Frank Quitely, All-Star Superman is a quintessential Superman story. It delivers on as much spectacle as it does meaningful character development, including a heartwarming revelation about Lex Luthor and Superman saving a girl from taking her own life simply by being there for her.

2

DC’s The New Frontier

Proof That Superman Is More Than An American Hero

• Writer: Darwyn Cooke
• Illustrator: Darwyn Cooke

A common misconception about Superman is that he’s all brawn and no brains, but the Elseworlds story, DC’s The New Frontier, showcases Superman as both a powerful hero and a wise leader. In an alternate 1950s and 60s, superheroes are outlawed and while Superman is not the main character, he is an important one trying to find a middle ground between heroes and the government.

Given that The New Frontier is a completely standalone story set in its idyllic version of the DC Universe, newcomers don’t have to worry about continuity. Instead, they can just be invested in a story that deals with political drama combined with epic fantasy and sci-fi elements that borrow from the Golden Age and Silver Age of comics.

1

The Man Of Steel

John Byrne’s Run Is Still Influential In Superman Comics And Adaptations

• Writer: John Byrne
• Illustrator: John Byrne, Dick Giordano

Often considered the most revolutionary Superman run, John Byrne’s The Man Of Steel helped redefine the character by giving the story a fresh start. It went back to the beginning to tell a new version of the origin story while also quickly getting to seeing Clark Kent as Superman, meeting Lois Lane, and becoming the archrival of Lex Luthor.

John Byrne was already known for his work with the X-Men and Fantastic Four comics at Marvel, delivering stories that took themselves more seriously but maintaining the fun that comes from superhero comics. With only six issues, The Man Of Steel is a reboot that is perfect for anyone to pick up and enjoy.