Superman Comic Rec List (Movie Edition!)
Hi! I finally watched the new Superman movie and absolutely loved it, especially because of the clear love the movie had for the comics it draws from. So, I thought I'd put together a list of Superman comics that the movie reminded me of!
Some of these you should be able to find at your library, especially if your library has a Hoopla or Libby subscription that gives you access to comics. Otherwise, I recommend a good adblocker to go looking for comics online.
If I had to pick 3 . . .
Superman: Birthright
Why: A wonderful and touching origin story for Clark. It's a fantastic introduction to his character, world, and supporting cast, all the way from Krypton to Smallville to Metropolis. Great art and a good grasp on Clark's character. Also, if you liked the Kents in the movie, this is a great comic to get to see more of them!
Primary Themes: immigration, xenophobia, homesickness, hope, figuring out who you are
Superman Smashes The Klan
Why: Based on the 1940s Superman radio show's "Clan of the Fiery Cross" storyline, Superman fights the Klan. Explores Clark's background as an immigrant and how he feels about being different and other. The story itself centers on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese American girl whose family is being targeted by the Klan.
Primary Themes: racism, police brutality, identity issues, internalized racism
Action Comics #792
Why: If I was asked to choose just one Superman comic to be my favorite ever, it would be this one. A self-contained story that highlights Clark's skills as an investigative reporter and his connections to people, and his determination as Superman to save everyone, no matter their importance.
Primary Themes: the importance of life, hope, connection, community
More Superman Comics!
Superman Red and Blue
Why: An anthology of Superman short stories. Covers a wide variety of themes and times in Clark's life. There are some stories I like more than others present in this anthology, but they're all really enjoyable. Special shout-out to a particular Pa Kent story present in it.
Primary Themes: hope, what it means to be a hero
Superman: For All Seasons
Why: A quick 4 issue exploration of Superman as seen by various people in his life - Pa, Lois, Luthor, Lana Lang - in each season, at a pivotal moment in his life
Primary Themes: family, hope, community, connection
Superman: American Alien
Why: A 7 issue comic series following Clark at various points of his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood as he figures out who he is and where he came from.
Primary Themes: loneliness, figuring out who you are, alienation
Death of Superman + Reign of the Supermen + Return of Superman
Why: Great encapsulation of who Clark is as a character and what makes Superman Superman. Takes place during Clark’s comics death. Also, this is the first time that John Henry Irons (Steel) and Kon-el (Superboy) appear in comics! It's one of the best Superman stories ever written, especially in how it showcases Clark as a character. All of these are available as trades (collection of all issues of the arc) so are easy to find and follow!
Primary Themes: what it means to be a hero, legacy, identity
Trigger Warnings: exploitation, grooming (Kon does not have a good time here), major character death
Trial of Superman
Why: A great exploration of Clark and the impact he has on the world and people around him. It’s great fun, Clark gets kidnapped by aliens blaming him for Krypton’s destruction because of his distant ancestors and escapes.
You can find the reading order for this arc here
Primary Themes: justice, redemption, fairness
Trigger Warnings: police brutality, incarceration
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton
Why: Clark and Lois adopt Chris, Zod's son. This story meshes really well with the general Superman mythos around his adoption by the Kents and parallels it strongly. If you enjoyed Clark's relationship to Ma and Pa in the movie, you'll like how he emulates their parenting with Chris. Also digs into what Clois are like as a couple and as parents. Plus, Chris is a wonderful character.
Primary Themes: adoption, family, loss
Trigger Warnings: abuse (happens to Chris from his bio parents not Clois)
Lois Lane
Lois Lane (2019)
Why: A 12 issue series of Lois uncovering a story involving corruption, conspiracy, and murder. A great examination of what Lois does as a journalist and her belief in the truth.
Primary Themes: speaking truth to power, what is the truth
Superman: The Wedding Album
Why: Clois's comics wedding! Digs into their relationship a lot, especially how Lois feels about societal expectations around her getting married.
Primary Themes: love, joy, communication
But honestly, the best way to get to know Lois as a character and enjoy her is to read Superman comics - she's pretty much the co-protagonist in most stories, so almost any comic you pick up for Clark will have Lois there as well.
Kara Zor-El
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow
Why: Intrigued by the glimpse of Kara in the movie? This is a good comic to go from there! An exploration of Kara, from her kindness to her rage and grief about Krypton's destruction. Kara joins a girl on a mission to avenge her father's murder, taking them on an adventure across the universe on the trail of space mercenary. The art is absolutely stunning.
Primary Themes: grief, justice, revenge, loss, kindness, survivor's guilt
Trigger Warnings: see above
Kara is a character with a long history that I personally have only just begun to read, so I will refer you all to this reading guide for her if you're interested in more Kara after you finish Woman of Tomorrow.
If you're interested in more Superman comics beyond that, I highly recommend Triangle Era Superman - I have enjoyed it greatly. Especially if you wanted to see more of the Daily Planet staff - they really get a chance to shine here. And if you have any questions about other Superman characters, send me an ask and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction!
Interested in other characters from the movie? I'm not as familiar with any of them but some people who are have made some great rec lists of their own:
Angela Spica/The Engineer - she doesn't really have any rec lists on Tumblr for her but I asked a friend of mine who is an Authority fan and this is what he said:
so you like the engineer from the movie? cool! some things need to be made clear before you get into comics for her and the authority: wildstorm's the authority is a rated mature comic team as there are graphic depictions of violence and subjects that are triggering. as well, the engineer you see in the movie is both tonally and characterization wise different to the one in comics in every which way.
the engineer basic facts:
• her name is angela spica
• she's a professor from princeton university who graduated from there.
• she is a physicist and technologist.
• she swapped her blood for nine pints of liquid machinery in 1998 and now can use it to make things.
• she having met the previous engineer in his real life, was sent all his notes on nanotech from his time as the engineer when he died and started linking it with her work on human-machine fusion. her success with the notes and her work is how she became the engineer.
Comic to start with:
The Authority: Relentless
