''Superman'' was an ongoing
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
series featuring the
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...
of the
same name. The second volume of the
previous ongoing ''Superman'' title, the series was published from
cover date
The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unusu ...
s January 1987 to April 2006, and ran for 228 issues (226 monthly issues and two issues published outside the concurrent numbering). This series was launched after
John Byrne revamped the Superman character in 1986 in ''
The Man of Steel''
limited series Limited series may refer to:
*Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series
*Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered
*Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number of ...
, introducing the post-''
Crisis on Infinite Earths
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" is a 1985 American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics. The series, written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Pérez, was first serialized as a 12-issue limited series from April 1985 to March ...
'' version of the Superman character.
After that limited series, ''Action Comics'' returned to publication and ''Superman'' vol. 2, #1 was published. The original ''Superman'' series (volume 1) became ''
The Adventures of Superman'' starting with issue #424. ''Superman'' vol. 2 continued publishing until April 2006 at which point DC restored ''The Adventures of Superman'' to its original title and canceled the second ''Superman'' series.
Publication history
Because the
DC Universe
The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lant ...
was revamped after the events of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', the previous continuity before that series (colloquially referred to as "pre-''Crisis''") was voided. Previously established characters were given the opportunity to be reintroduced in new ways. Reintroductions of classic villains were part of the new ''Superman'' series' first year, featuring the first post-''Crisis'' appearances of characters such as
Metallo
Metallo () is a name used by multiple supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of Superman.
Metallo is usually depicted as a cyborg with a kryptonite power source in his heart, which he ...
and
Mister Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk (, ), sometimes called Mxy, is a character who appears in DC Comics' '' Superman'' comic books. He is usually presented as a trickster in the classical mythological sense. Mxyzptlk possesses reality-warping powers with which he en ...
and the introduction of
Supergirl
Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. The character made her fir ...
. The historic engagement of
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938). Lois is an award-winning journalist for ...
and
Clark Kent
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publish ...
was one of the major events in the book's run. Writer/artist
Dan Jurgens
Dan Jurgens (; born June 27, 1959) is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for his work on the DC comic book storyline "The Death of Superman" and for creating characters such as Doomsday, Hank Henshaw and Booster Gold. Jurgens ...
created a supporting hero named
Agent Liberty
Agent Liberty (Benjamin Lockwood) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, he made his debut in ''Superman'' vol. 2 #60 (Oct. 1991), and was later given his own solo adventure in ''A ...
in issue #60 (Oct. 1991). The series participated in such crossover storylines as "Panic in the Sky". The hallmark of the run was the storyline "
The Death of Superman
"The Death of Superman" is a Crossover (fiction), crossover story event featured in DC Comics' Superman-related publications. The crossover, which originated from editor Mike Carlin and writers Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry O ...
". The actual "death" story was published in this series' 75th issue, and would be a major media and pop culture event with the issue going on to sell over three million copies.
As the main series featuring the most prominent character of the DC Universe, the series crossed over with a number of different line-wide crossover stories including ''
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time'', ''
The Final Night
''The Final Night'' is a 1996 comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics that ran through a weekly self-titled limited series and a score of tie-in issues spanning most of DC's ongoing titles in the month of September 1996 (cover-dated ...
'', and ''
Infinite Crisis
"Infinite Crisis" is a 2005–2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, a ...
''. Superman received a new costume and new superpowers in issue #123 (May 1997).
In 1999, ''Superman'', along with the other three titles, were revamped with
Jeph Loeb
Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III () is an American film and television writer, producer and comic book writer. Loeb was a producer/writer on the TV series '' Smallville'' and ''Lost'', writer for the films ''Commando'' and ''Teen Wolf'', and a writer and ...
replacing longtime writer Dan Jurgens. During Loeb's run on the series he created
Imperiex
Imperiex () is a supervillain character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He was initially introduced as an adversary to the superhero Superman before becoming a main antagonist for DC Comics' the "Our Worlds at War" crossover.
...
, introduced a
Bizarro
Bizarro () is a supervillain/anti-hero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman, and first appeared in ''Superboy'' #68 (1958) ...
created by the
Joker in the "Emperor Joker" storyline, and also helped with a controversial storyline in which Superman's nemesis, supervillain
Lex Luthor
Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor () is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Lex Luthor originally appeared in ''Action Comics'' #23 (cover dated: Apr ...
, became the
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...
. Loeb's run on the series included the crossover event ''
Our Worlds at War
"Our Worlds at War" was a comic book storyline, published by DC Comics in mid-2001. OWAW was a crossover storyline that spanned several different books, including several books starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, a ...
'', which saw the destruction of
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka ( ; Kansa language, Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the Capital (political), capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the County seat, seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the ...
, serious damage to Clark Kent's nearby hometown of
Smallville
''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar Gough ...
, and Superman adopting a costume of more somber colors to mourn the heavy loss of life during the event. Loeb's run ended with issue #183 (August 2002).
In 2004–2005, artist
Jim Lee
Jim Lee (Korean 이용철; born August 11, 1964) is a Korean American comic-book artist, writer, editor, and publisher. He is currently the Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics. In recognition of his work, Lee has received a Harvey ...
, who had recently concluded the ''
Batman: Hush'' storyline with Loeb, provided the artwork for a Superman story by writer
Brian Azzarello
Brian Azzarello (born August 11, 1962 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer and screenwriter who first came to prominence with the hardboiled crime series ''100 Bullets'', published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. ...
. The story, ''
Superman: For Tomorrow'', ran for twelve issues and was collected in an
Absolute Edition
DC Comics Absolute Edition is a series of archival quality printings of graphic novels published by DC Comics and its imprints WildStorm Productions and Vertigo. Each is presented in a hardcover and slipcased edition with cloth bookmark consisting ...
hardcover in May 2009.
With the publication of issue #226 (April 2006), the series was canceled as part of the company-wide ''Infinite Crisis'' event. ''The Adventures of Superman'' was returned to its original title, ''Superman'', with issue #650 the following month.
Annuals
From 1987 to 2000, twelve
annual
Annual may refer to:
*Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year
** Yearbook
** Literary annual
*Annual plant
*Annual report
*Annual giving
*Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco
*Annuals (band), ...
issues of the series were published. The first annual featured a post-''Crisis'' retelling of the first
Titano
Titano the Super-Ape () is a supervillain who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a foe of Superman. The character is a small chimpanzee named Toto who was sent into space for test flight, until an exposure of ...
story.
Beginning with the second annual, the stories tied into the crossovers or themes that were running through DC's annuals that year. These were:
* ''Annual'' #2 (1988) - "Private Lives"
* ''Annual'' #3 (1991) - "
Armageddon 2001
''Armageddon 2001'' was a 1991 crossover event storyline published by DC Comics. It ran through a self-titled, two-issue limited series and most of the annuals DC published that year from May through October ('' Legion of Super-Heroes Annual'' #2 ...
"
* ''Annual'' #4 (1992) - "
Eclipso: The Darkness Within"
* ''Annual'' #5 (1993) - "
Bloodlines: Outbreak"
* ''Annual'' #6 (1994) - "
Elseworlds Annual"
* ''Annual'' #7 (1995) - "Year One"
* ''Annual'' #8 (1996) - "
Legends of the Dead Earth
This is a list of ''Elseworlds'' publications from DC Comics, grouped by main character, and in alphabetical order by title. Each title was originally released as a one-shot comic book unless otherwise noted.
Batman ''Elseworlds''
*'' Batman: Th ...
"
* ''Annual'' #9 (1997) - "Pulp Heroes"
* ''Annual'' #10 (1998) - "Ghosts"
* ''Annual'' #11 (1999) - "
JLApe: Gorilla Warfare!"
* ''Annual'' #12 (2000) - "Planet DC"
Collected editions
Reception
Martin A. Stever reviewed ''Superman'' ''
Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer'' No. 83.
Stever commented that "Byrne has made Superman human enough that we can understand and like him. Thank you John Byrne for making Superman ''super'' again".
References
External links
*
''Superman'' vol. 2at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
{{Superman publications, state=collapsed
1987 comics debuts
2006 comics endings
Comics by Brian Azzarello
Comics by Dan Jurgens
Comics by Jeph Loeb
Comics by Jim Lee
Comics by John Byrne (comics)
Comics by Roger Stern
DC Comics titles
Superhero comics
Superman titles