10 Of Superman's Best Comic Book Arcs Of All Time, Ranked
Superman has been around longer than almost any modern-day superhero, making his debut before Batman and fighting crime for over 80 years. He has also changed a lot throughout the years. Superman went from being a powerful hero who fought mobsters to one of the world's most overpowered superheroes, fighting world-threatening villains.
However, through it all, the best Superman comic book storylines have the Man of Steel dealing with something more personal. It has him looking at his place in the world or the state of the world around him. Yes, there are some big supervillain battles along the way, but mostly, Superman is about showing the world how to become better.
10 Kingdom Come
Superman is just one of many characters in Kingdom Come, but he is the heart and soul of this entire comic book storyline. Arguably the best DC Comics Elseworlds comic ever made, Kingdom Come is a story by Mark Waid and Alex Ross taking place in the future that focuses on heroes who don't have the morals or scruples of the heroes of yesteryear, which brings the old-timers out to confront them, with Superman leading the way. Unable to accept the world in its current state, Superman forces a possible apocalyptic showdown.
9 For The Man Who Has Everything
On a small level, "For the Man Who Has Everything" shows Superman what his life could have been like if Krypton had never exploded. He has a family and is content and happy. Taking place in Superman Annual #11 by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, this is the machinations of Mongol. However, while Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman fight to free Superman from mind control, does the Man of Steel really want to give up his moment of pure happiness.
8 Red Son
Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson is another Elseworlds DC comic book storyline and an interesting premise. What would have happened if Kal-El landed in the Soviet Union rather than Kansas? Instead of having a kind American couple in the Kent's raise him, he is raised in the Communist nation and becomes their symbol of hope and advancement. What works best is that Superman, no matter where he landed or his ideology, remains a good man.
7 Superman: Secret Identity
Superman: Secret Identity was released as a miniseries by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen and is another Elseworlds story, this one focusing on Clark Kent, a young man who grows up in a world where superheroes don't exist.
However, one day, this young man with the name of a superhero ends up developing the powers of Superman. In a world with no other superheroes, he chooses to keep his superhero identity a secret from the world, as he still tries to do good.
6 What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & The American Way?
"What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & The American Way" is a Superman story that appeared in Action Comics #775 and was later turned into an animated movie called Superman vs. The Elite. It is similar in many ways to Kingdom Come, but in a modern-day setting.
Superman, always seen as a boy scout, faces a new superhero team with no problem killing bad guys. With public sentiment favoring the young heroes, Superman has to remind everyone why his way is always the best.
5 Superman: Brainiac
The Superman storyline from Action Comics #866-870 had a lot to love and changed so much of what Superman was about at the time. This was the "Superman: Brainiac" story that had the Man of Steel facing off with Brainiac and realizing that he had the city of Kandor in a small bottle aboard his ship. This is also the Superman comic book arc where Jonathan Kent died, and it all led to the "New Krypton" storyline.
4 All-Star Superman
All-Star Superman is a story about the Man of Steel's end and his journey to protect his adopted planet. Created by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, this is an Elseworlds comic book arc that takes place in the future and deals with the death of Superman.
Unlike "Death of Superman," which saw Superman beaten to death, this saw Lex Luthor finally win when he tricks Superman into absorbing so much solar energy that he ends up poisoned and dying. This series then shows the last year of his life as he tries to make everything right before leaving.
3 Superman: Birthright
Superman: Birthright was a Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu comic book arc from 2003 that was supposed to be an Elseworlds story but ended up as canon in the DC Comics universe. This was an origin story that changed things and ended up what DC used as his official origin, replacing the original John Byrne "Man of Steel" story arc. Birthright fleshed out Kal-El's parents, had him create his costume based on his heritage, and made him an even greater hero.
2 Death Of Superman
"Death of Superman" was a gimmick when DC Comics released it, and everyone knew it. The entire purpose was to sell as many comics as possible and then bring Superman back a short time later with a typical comic book resurrection. However, the entire comic book arc was one of the best in Superman history.
Get past the fight to the death with Doomsday, and the "Funeral for a Friend" issue was one of the best. Move into the arrival of the various replacement Supermen and then the Man of Steel's eventual return, and it was a landmark moment in comic book history.
1 Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow
The best Superman comic book arc of all-time was where DC Comics said goodbye to the hero after four decades and prepared to reinvent him after Crisis on Infinite Earths. This storyline was in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583 and took place 10 years after Superman's last appearance. Lois Lane then recounts the last days that Superman spent on Earth. It featured deaths, tears, and a hopeful outlook for the future. It was a perfect Superman comic book story arc.
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