Recommended Reading: Superman

[Blindzider, Moderator]

This thread is for all group members to give suggestions on what stories they would recommend to people that are new to the group and/or to reading graphic novels. This particular thread will be about Superman.

The idea is to compile a list of books on each subject/topic from the group members and have a central thread that people can use to decide where to begin.

Preferably, the suggestions should be limited to stories that are available in some type of hardcover: Absolute, Omnibus, Deluxe HC, etc.

Make as many suggestions as you like, but do try to keep it to an "essential/best reads".

# of Votes / Title (through message 12)
4 / Kingdom Come by Waid/Ross
3 / Superman: Red Son
3 / All-Star Superman by Morrison/Quitely
2 / Superman: Secret Identity by Busiek/Larocca
2 / Superman for All Seasons by Loeb/Sale

[Blindzider, Moderator]

Kingdom Come
Superman: For All Seasons
Superman: Red Son
Superman: Birthright

I'm not a huge Supes fan and it's a little disconcerting that there aren't that many stories that come to (my) mind considering his history and legacy. I'll have to ponder some more...

[Relstuart, Mod+]

Kingdom Come
Superman For All Seasons
All Star Superman
Superman For Tomorrow

Have yet to read Red Son so cannot comment on that one.

[Blindzider, Moderator]

I had the same reaction to both All-Star as well as For Tomorrow: Both I started reading the first couple issues in singles and didn't care for them. Years later read the trades on both and did end up liking them, however, neither one really resonates with me. I know just about everyone likes All-Star but for me it never really transcended to the next level. Maybe it's because I don't have quite as much history reading Superman and it doesn't help that I'm not a fan of Quitely's art either (something else I feel I'm in the minority on.)

Maybe upon rereading, the Death of Superman needs to be on there.

[Jesse]

Kingdom Come
Superman: Secret Identity
Superman: Red Son
All Star Superman
Superman: Secret Origins
Son of Superman (Hoping for a Deluxe soon)
Superman: Last son of Krypton

[Jesse]

Red Son is the single greatest Superman story ever written (IMO)

[Relstuart, Mod+]

Blindzider wrote: "I had the same reaction to both All-Star as well as For Tomorrow: Both I started reading the first couple issues in singles and didn't care for them. Years later read the trades on both and did end..."

I know All-Star gets a lot of recommendations, perhaps more so than any other Superman book I see. For Tomorrow stuck me as being a thoughtful story and I loved the art. I liked it better than Superman Unchained. Like you, I wish there were more great Superman stories to choose from.

I don't think I've read What Ever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow but some folks have mentioned it as being good. Anyone have opinions on whether it should be listed here?

[Jesse]

I found Man of tomorrow to be overrated, but I'm not exactly in love with Alan Moore.

[Blindzider, Moderator]

It's been awhile since I've read it, and I don't recall it being particularly outstanding. I think it's worth reading though and I believe it is just a collection of different stories, not one long story.

[Saugata]

I am not exactly a Superman fan, but I can vouch for:
Kingdom Come
Superman: Secret Identity
Superman: Red Son

Heard good things about Superman: Birthright, is it worth investing time?

[Blindzider, Moderator]

Saugata wrote: "Heard good things about Superman: Birthright, is it worth investing time?"

I think it is definitely worth reading. It doesn't reach the level of say Kingdom Come, for example.

[XenofoneX]

I'm not a real fan of Superman, so I'll just agree with some earlier recommendations; I liked All-Star Superman enough to pick up Absolute All-Star Superman, and it deserves that larger format; it's the kind of series the Absolute format was made for. It's also one of Grant Morrison's best superhero stories, and Frank Quitely's art is spectacular.

I don't remember much about the plot -- something about a future DCU where everyone looks a bit geriatric -- but I really liked Kingdom Come. The painted art of Alex Ross is amazing. That's another book that seems to demand an over-sized Absolute edition, come to think of it...

[Blindzider, Moderator]

Updated the first post with total votes.