โ ย are you always so competitive?ย โ
โ ย are you okay? are you hurt?ย โ
โ ย are you sure you can do this on your own?ย โ
โ ย are you thinking what i'm thinking?ย โ
โ ย can you go take care of this, please?ย โ
โ ย can you show me how to fight?ย โ
โ ย can you tell me more about your adventures?ย โ
โ ย do you believe in ghosts?ย โ
โ ย do you ever think about anyone other than yourself?ย โ
โ ย does it really have to be like this?ย โ
โ ย don't you think you've already done enough damage for one day?ย โ
โ ย has no one ever given you a compliment before?ย โ
โ ย have i ever told you how beautiful you look in the glow of the moonlight?ย โ
โ ย have you noticed anything different about me lately?ย โ
โ ย haven't you ever wondered why i never talk about my childhood?ย โ
โ ย how can you just go to sleep like nothing happened?ย โ
โ ย how many more people have to suffer before you realize your madness?ย โ
โ ย is there anything else i can do for you?ย โ
โ ย is this really how you want this to end?ย โ
โ ย isn't it ironic?ย โ
โ ย what are your plans for today?ย โ
โ ย what else do you want me to say?ย โ
โ ย what else have you hidden from me?ย โ
โ ย what happened here? where is all that smoke coming from?ย โ
โ ย what has happened in your life that made you like this?ย โ
โ ย when were you going to tell me?ย โ
โ ย where are we supposed to go from here?ย โ
โ ย who will be able to stop them now?ย โ
โ ย why can't you just act like a normal person?ย โ
โ ย why can't you just leave me alone?ย โ
โ ย why can't you just stay focused?ย โ
โ ย why does everything always have to be so complicated?ย โ
โ ย why should i believe you now when you've told nothing but lies?ย โ
โ ย why won't you just tell me what i did wrong?ย โ
โ ย will it ever stop hurting so much?ย โ
โ ย will you go out on a date with me?ย โ
โ ย will you just shut up and kiss me already?ย โ
โ ย will you please text me when you get home safely?ย โ
โ ย you're completely out of your element here, aren't you?ย โ
this is why
โ if you have an opinion, maybe you should shove it. โ
โ might be best to keep it to yourself. โ
โ survival of the fittest. โ
โ you're either with us, or you can keep it to yourself. โ
the news
โ and i've got a war right behind my eyes. โ
โ every second our collective heart breaks. โ
โ i'm safe inside. โ
โ i feel useless behind this computer. โ
running out of time
โ didn't wanna show up to the party empty handed, but i ran out of time. โ
โ intentions only get you so far. โ
โ what if i'm just a selfish prick? โ
โ i hit the snooze on my alarms twenty times, but i was just so tired. โ
โ you know it's a lie. โ
โ i'm always running out of time. โ
โ it was on my list i swear i meant to get to it. โ
โ why we gotta be in a rush? โ
โ look i showed up early for once. โ
c'est comme รงa
โ in a single year, i've aged one hundred. โ
โ lucky for me i run on spite and sweet revenge. โ
โ i hate to admit getting better is boring. โ
big man, little dignity
โ don't mean to stare at you from across the room. โ
โ know you could get away with anything, so that's exactly what you do. โ
โ well, well, well, look at you, don't you clean up nice? โ
โ bet it feels good to leave the past behind. โ
โ i can't look away. โ
โ i memorized all your lies. โ
โ i fantasize your demise. โ
โ i should look away because i know you're never gonna change. โ
โ i keep thinking this time the end will be different, but it isn't. โ
you first
โ can't shake the devil sitting on my shoulder. โ
โ who invited you? โ
โ everyone is a bad guy, and there's no way to know who's the worst. โ
โ karma's gonna come for all of us, and i just hope she comes for you first. โ
โ i never said i wasn't petty. โ
โ you can bet i don't regret it for a second. โ
figure 8
โ all for your sake, i became the very thing that i hate. โ
โ i lost my way. โ
โ i don't know how to stop. โ
โ i won't miss the feeling. โ
โ i was only being kind but you mistook me for weak. โ
โ you'd be wise if you thought twice. โ
liar
โ i keep you safe from me. โ
โ oh my love, i lied to you. but i never needed to. โ
โ i lied to you, but you always knew the truth. โ
โ love is not an easy thing to admit, but i'm not ashamed of it. โ
crave
โ i can't wait to memorize this day. โ
โ i crave to do it all again. โ
โ i'm already missing it. โ
โ i romanticize even the worst of times. โ
โ just for a second it all felt simple. โ
thick skull
โ i am a magnet for broken pieces. โ
โ i am attracted to broken people. โ
โ it looks like my fault. โ
โ it looks like i'm caught red-handed. โ
โ come on, give it to me. โ
โ only i know where all the bodies are buried. thought by now i'd find 'em just a little less scary. โ
โ might be easier, but you don't get used to it. โ
โ come on out with your hands up. โ
โ i'm coming out with my hands up. โ
SO โ you want to read Superman comics, but youโre intimidated by the near-century of history this character has. Or, youโve read a few comics with him, but you want to go back to the basics to understand his character and the mythology surrounding him. There are so many continuities, origin stories, and standalones โ where do you start? Wellโฆ
[Image ID: a cropped edit of the Supermanย โ78 #3 variant cover by Lee Weeks, showing Lois Lane sitting on the letters of the Daily Planet globe, and Clark flying above her in his Superman costume, reaching out to take her hand. Hand-written next to them is: "THE SUPERMAN STARTER READING LIST", and hand-written in the bottom right corner is: "by MYTHIC / superfam.tumblr.com". End ID.]
This list isnโt intended to be a full, comprehensive guide to Supermanโs decades of history, but a curated taster of Clark Kent in the comics medium. It aims to show you a variety of interpretations from different authors of different contexts, but with the broad goal of helping newcomers understand the heart of the character. Not every comic is able to sum up all aspects of Superman, and some could be argued to miss certain points, but each one has been selected for this list for the goal of conveying the history and breadth of his interpretations.
Itโs intended to be accessible to both long-dedicated comics fans and people who are new to the DC universe, or even the medium as a whole. As such, new fans are welcome to enjoy each story as a standalone interpretation.
Please understand that this list is built from my own experience with the character, and I donโt claim it to be better or worse than any other โ itโs just one way to approach his history. Essentially, Iโm attempting to create the sort of list I wish I had access to when first reading Superman comics. I highly encourage the reader to form their own interpretations of each work.
With all that out of the way, please enjoy!
[Image ID: An edit of Gary Frank's artwork from Superman: Secret Origin. A slightly battered Clark in his Superman outfit embraces Jimmy with his right arm and Lois with his left. All three are smiling. The background, which depicts a disaster scene and a defeated Lex Luthor chained to a building, is covered in a translucent blue overlay. Hand-written next to Clark is: "ORIGINS". End ID.]
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #1-6 (2009-2010)
Geoff Johns & Gary Frank
Just a couple years before the 2011 reboot of the DC Universe, a new definitive origin story was created for a Superman post-Infinite Crisis (a major event which had changed the status quo of the multiverse).
Secret Origin is only six issues long, and a great, efficient introduction to Clark Kent and Superman. It focuses on telling Clarkโs origins from his own perspective, as a hero but also simply as a person. It also does a good job of setting up important supporting characters including Lois, Jimmy, Perry, and Lex.
SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT #1-12 (2003-2004)
Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu & Gerry Alanguilan
Though replaced by Secret Origin only a few years later, Birthright was written as the definitive origin story to overwrite Byrneโs 1986 reboot of the character. It was intended to bring Superman into the new century, and be more consistent with his modern interpretations. It is also influenced by the popularity of the TV series Smallville.
Birthright is longer and covers aspects of the Superman mythos in further depth, including dynamics between Clark, Lex, and the city of Metropolis, kryptonite, and Krypton in general. Due to its extended length, it also covers more on Clarkโs relationship with his powers and heritage.
I highly recommend reading both modern preboot origins to experience different interpretations with different influences and intentions, even only a few years apart.
[Image ID: An edit of Tim Sale's artwork from Superman: For All Seasons. On the right, Clark lies on his bed, looking to the left with a wistful expression and with a hand on his dog curled up next to him. The background, which is his cluttered bedroom in Smallville, is overlaid with translucent grey. Hand-written to the left of Clark is: "INTROSPECTION". End ID.]
SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN #1-3 (2019)
Gene Luen Yang & Gurihiru
This standalone story is set in 1946, and primarily draws upon the Golden and Silver Ages as inspiration. Itโs an adaptation of an episode of The Adventures of Superman radio series, โThe Clan of the Fiery Crossโ, which famously dealt a major hit to the KKKโs operations in America by influencing public perceptions.
The story follows Clark as well as siblings Roberta and Tommy, two Chinese-American kids who have recently moved to the Metropolis suburbs, as they uncover and fight a local chapter of the KKK. The story explores themes of immigrant identity and self-acceptance in Clark and the kidsโ narratives โ it presents important concepts from Supermanโs history, straight from the heart of his character, in a really effective way.
SUPERMAN: FOR ALL SEASONS #1-4 (1998)
Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale
This miniseries has four issues, each corresponding to a season and narrated by an important person in Clarkโs life (in order: Jonathan โPaโ Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Lana Lang). Tim Saleโs beautifully detailed and expressive art captures the complex emotions drawn out by having your life touched by Clark Kent, which works really well with the personal, confessional style of the narration. Itโs a very intimate work.
Itโs a great insight into both the triumphs and very personal struggles of Clark through the inner voices of some of the most important people in his life, and captures what makes his character work really well.
FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING (SUPERMAN (1939) ANNUAL #11) (1985)
Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
This is a single-issue annual from right before the DC universe was rebooted, and (unsurprisingly for Moore) explores some philosophical and ideological questions regarding the Man of Steel. On his โbirthdayโ, Superman falls prey to an alien organism called The Black Mercy, which feeds on its victims while keeping them complacent with vivid hallucinations of their greatest desires. Clark hallucinates a still-living Krypton, which he is a part of โ but perhaps not everything is perfect.
SUPERMAN: BRAINIAC (ACTION COMICS #866-870) (2008)
Geoff Johns & Gary Frank
Before retelling Supermanโs beginnings in Secret Origin, Johns and Frank collaborated on this story arc which massively changes the status quo, partially by reintroducing a variety of pre-Crisis concepts including the original Brainiac and the bottled city Kandor. If you liked Secret Origin, youโll probably like this one.
As this is our first story arc rather than self-contained story, it has more references to the ongoing continuity but is still easy enough to understand without that context. This story also prominently features Kara Zor-El as Supergirl and expands on some cosmic lore and Krypton in general.
SUPERMAN: UP IN THE SKY #1-6 (2019-2020)
Tom King & Andy Kubert
This is an accessible, self-contained exploration of the extent of Supermanโs moral fibre, following Clark as he attempts to save a single girl who was abducted from Earth and taken into space. Itโs quite abstract at points with the questions it asks about themes of compassion and commitment, which I think is conveyed particularly well in the panelling and artwork.
[Image ID: An edit of Frank Quitely's artwork from All Star Superman. Clark in his Superman outfit is flying with his arms outstretched. The top half of his face is cut off. The background is an abstract depiction of the heart of the sun, and has been overlaid with a translucent orange. Handwritten beneath Clark is: "INTERPRETING AND RE-INTERPRETING". End ID.]
THE K-METAL FROM KRYPTON (drafted 1940, restored 2004-2011)
Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster Studio
The K-Metal from Krypton is an unpublished and unfinished comic from 1940, written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel, and drafted by the studio of the other Superman creator, Joe Shuster. After being lost for decades, the story has slowly been recovered and restored by Superman fans.
Though this one is much more unconventional than the other items on the list, I think itโs extremely important to Supermanโs history and generally understanding him as a character. It comes from a time when creative control of their character was being taken from Siegel and Shuster, and though it is unknown why this story was unpublished, thatโs a major point of context to keep in mind.
This draft sets up the predecessor to kryptonite in the Superman comics โ โK-Metalโ โ and also contains a scene where Clark reveals his identity to Lois, and they agree to be partners in helping others. This is a major departure from the status quo of Clark keeping his secret from Lois as she tries to uncover it, which would continue for the rest of the Golden and Silver Ages.
The restoration effort can be read online: http://theages.superman.nu/k-metal/splash.php
THE MAN OF STEEL #1-6 (1986)
John Byrne & Dick Giordano
This limited series is the immediate post-Crisis origin story and reinvention of Superman. It wasnโt put in the Origins section because I think from a modern perspective it shouldnโt be an introduction to Clark, but rather something you read to understand the history of his character.
It originated major changes in the Superman mythology, some of which have become instilled in it (such as Lex Luthor and Lois Laneโs modern characterisations), and others which have been forgotten or discarded.
One major thing is the great effort this origin made to make Clark American over being Kryptonianโฆ Byrne has expressed great distaste of portrayals of Superman which emphasise his immigrant identity, and that should be kept in mind while critically reading this work.
ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #1-12 (2005-2008)
Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely
Arguably the most critically acclaimed Superman comic, this has been saved for late in the list as I believe itโs enhanced with more context of and experience with Clark. This is a series which explores the nature of storytelling and legacy, which was created with the aim of creating a timeless Superman story.
When Superman learns he will soon die, what does he reflect on? What does he change? This is heavily inspired by, and is a love letter to, Silver Age Superman.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF TOMORROW? (SUPERMAN #423 & ACTION COMICS #583) (1986)
Alan Moore, Curt Swan & George Pรฉrez
Written in the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths, this is another story about Superman โdyingโ, and is essentially a great mediation on and send-off to the Silver Age incarnation of the character. It refers to itself as an โimaginaryโ story, and can be seen as one concrete ending for this version of Clark Kent and the rest of the Superman characters, in a medium with few.
It can be found in a collection with For the Man Who Has Everything.
SUPERMAN: RED AND BLUE #1-6 (2021)
Various
To finish off our starter reading list, letโs move from Supermanโs end to his future. This is an anthology of short stories from various authors and artists, exploring a spread of visions of the Man of Tomorrow.
I think itโs an appropriate end for this starter exploration of Clark Kentโs many interpretations! As with all anthologies, it has its ups and downs in quality, but as a whole I truly believe it captures the heart of this character.
Thank you for reading all this way. I really hope this reading list helps you delve into the character of Superman and inspires you to read further beyond what Iโve suggested here.
Most of all, I hope it helps at least some people grow to love Clark Kent as much as I have.
A PDF version of this reading list is available here.
I donโt know how they managed to do this, but they somehow found a way to make the Leo flying/falling through a window trope even sadder and there wasnโt even a window this time. (Yes I cried)
โ ย are we actually doing the right thing?ย โ
โ ย are you bleeding?ย โ
โ ย are you even sorry?ย โ
โ ย are you still mad at me?ย โ
โ ย are you sure youโre gonna be okay on your own?ย โ
โ ย canโt we just be friends again?ย โ
โ ย can we pretend this never happened?ย โ
โ ย can you help me with this?ย โ
โ ย didnโt you listen to what i just said?ย โ
โ ย did you ever even love me?ย โ
โ ย donโt you believe me?ย โ
โ ย do you trust me?ย โ
โ ย do you understand what that means?ย โ
โ ย do you want to talk about it?ย โ
โ ย havenโt you heard the news?ย โ
โ ย have you ever cared about anyone other than yourself?ย โ
โ ย how did you do that?ย โ
โ ย how will i ever be able to repay you?ย โ
โ ย is it my fault?ย โ
โ ย is there anything i can do for you?ย โ
โ ย was all of this just a lie?ย โ
โ ย weโre gonna survive this, right?ย โ
โ ย what are you doing here?ย โ
โ ย what do you want from me?ย โ
โ ย what have you done to them?ย โ
โ ย what makes you think iโm going to help you?ย โ
โ ย when was the last time you ate something?ย โ
โ ย when will it stop?ย โ
โ ย when will you ever grow up?ย โ
โ ย where were you last night?ย โ
โ ย who did this to you?ย โ
โ ย who the hell are you?ย โ
โ ย why canโt you just let it go?ย โ
โ ย why didnโt you tell me sooner?ย โ
โ ย why did you leave me?ย โ
โ ย why donโt you come home with me?ย โ
โ ย why would you do something like that?ย โ
โ ย will you call me when you got there safely?ย โ
โ ย will you please tell me what happened?ย โ
โ ย will you stop doing that?ย โ
๐ Pokemon teams for the Strawhats? Yeah? Yeah??
NJDNSAJDSA omg okay okay let me see
Luffy:
Fighting type expert, his is p straightforward. Also yes Infernape was the (very) obvious choice for him lol
Zoro:
I KNOW I know giving him two starters is cheating a little but like. Sceptile is perfect for him bc it has blades on its arms and is green. And Samurott is entirely self explanatory lol
Nami:
Money related and weather related! (Also Delphox in there bc she deserves a starter, Delphox is perfect bc it's elegant, a fox which are known for trickery, and. It learns Thief)
I will have to do the rest later LOL still brainstorming on them ;)
Gaze of Fate: Do your muse believe in Fate, Destiny,ย โEverything happening for a reasonโ, or similar concepts?
Hidden In Time: What is your museโs attitude towards their future? Is their outlook positive, negative, or neutral?
Spirit Warrior: Is your muse religious? How unshakable is their faith in their powers that be, if so? What do they think of religion and the religious, if not?
Premonition: Does your muse ever get gut feelings about people or situations? Do they often listen to those feelings or do they ignore them?ย
Boons of Change: What does your muse think about change? Is it good or bad? Are they comfortable where they are or would they like things to be different?
Glean Magic: Is your muse capable of any magical ability? Is it natural? If they have no magical ability, would it be something theyโd want to learn?
Treason of Tzeentch: Is your muse loyal or are they traitorous? What would cause them to defect, if they are loyal? What would keep them from treachery, if they are treasonous?
Arch-Manipulator: How socially in-tune is your muse? Are they skilled at influencing the people around them with their words alone?
Locus of Transmogrification: Is there something about your muse physically that theyโd like to change? If given the chance, would they actually change it?
Plague Shield: How often does your muse get sick? If they found themselves ill, how would they wile away the time until they were well again?
Survivalist: If your muse was tossed into the wild with no resources, would they be able to survive? If so, for how long? If not, what would eventually do them in?
Curse of the Leper: What is the worst illness, injury, or condition your muse has ever endured? Did they heal from it or is there lasting damage?
An Apple A Day: Does your muse often find themselves at a healer or doctor?
Rot Fly: Does your muse have or want any pets that would be considered unconventional?
Plaguefatherโs Oration: How verbose is your muse? Do they keep their speech casual and simple or do they tend to use large, complex words?
Rot-Eaters: What is your muses opinion onย โgrossโ animals such as flies, rats, roaches, ect. Do they kill these animals when they find them or let them be?
Life-Leeching: Is your muse independent? Do they rely on someone else to live? Would they ever mooch off of another person?
Doom & Darkness: How does your muse react to despair? Are they emotionally resilient or weak-willed when faced with adversity?
Willing Prey: Does your muse have any masochistic tendencies? Are they sadistic at all?
Monstrous Figure: Does your muse have unconventional or disturbing features? What are their opinions on them, if so? What about society at large?
Dark Seducer: How charismatic is your muse? What do they use to convince others into letting them get their way?
Driven by Lust: How lustful is your muse? How much time and energy do they devote to satisfying those desires?
Blissful Rapture: How does your muse express happiness? What do they look like when theyโre at their happiest?
Acquiescence: Is there someone in your museโs life that can easily subvert their wills and wants? How willing is your muse to cross the set boundaries of others?
Unmatched Beauty: How vain is your muse? If asked, what would they put forth as their most alluring feature?
Beguiling Brand: Does your muse have or want any tattoos? Do they have any other interesting scars/brands/marks/ect?
Smoke & Mirrors: How easy is it for your muse to get free if they find themselves in a sticky situation?
Phantasmagoria: How tight is your museโs grip on their sanity? Are they more realistic or do they suffer from delusions of any kind?