Summary
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 Jul 16, 2025, 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.
14Superman: Red & Blue
Different Creators Show Off Different Sides Of Clark
Rather than a beginning to Superman’s story,Superman: Red & Bluedelivers 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 likeSuperman: Red & Blueis 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.
13Action Comics #1
The Comics That Changed Superheroes Forever
There are very few better places to start with Superman comics other than the beginning. Way back in 1938,Action Comics #1was 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 #1features a lot of different stories, but it kicks off with the classic origin story of Clark Kent, which isstill 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.
12Superman For All Seasons
How His Friends And Enemies View Superman
Superman For All Seasonsis 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’sjourney 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 Seasonsis a brilliantly written story for every superhero fan looking for something to make them smile.
11Superman: Up In The Sky
A Simple Yet Meaningful Story About Saving A Child From Aliens
It’s a fairly recent story compared to some of this list, butSuperman: Up In The Skytakes 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 withSupergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow.
10For The Man Who Has Everything
One Of The Saddest Superman Stories Ever Told
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 Everythingdoes 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 theJustice Leagueanimated 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.
9Superman/Batman #1-6
Proof That Superman And Batman Are The Perfect Duo
Certain casual fans aremuch more familiar with Batmanthan 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 ofSuperman/Batmanare a famous storyline that was adapted into the animated filmSuperman/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.
8Superman: Birthright
Modernized Origin Story That Inspired The DC Extended Universe
Superman: Birthrightis a modern retelling of the Man of Steel’sorigins 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’spath 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’sSuperman in the DC Extended Universe, which featured the same concept.
7Justice League #1
All Members Of The League Shine In The 2011 Reboot
Readers wanting a relatively new but still detailed read-through of Supermanshould 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 withJustice League #1, featuring Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and more.
The New 52 version of Supermanis controversial, with Superman not only beinggiven a drastically different costumebut 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.
6Superman: Action Comics
New 52 Superman Was Not Perfect In His First Year
Though Grant Morrison is more famous for another version of Superman, they did not disappoint fans when they returnedduring the New 52 era withSuperman: 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.
TheBatman: Year One-esque approach to Superman was refreshing, as most stories skip right to Clark being Superman, whileSuperman: Action Comicshumbles 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.
5Kingdom Come
The Dystopian World Needed A Veteran Superman
While not directly aSupermanstory, he is arguably the most important character in this tale.Kingdom Comeis an Elseworlds Superman storywhere Supermanand 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 Supermanultimately has to reclaim his role.
Kingdom Comeis 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.
