Superman Comics Index (from 1986)


Background

In 1986, DC Comics did a major revamp of the Superman comics. Writer/artist John Byrne was hired to reinvent Superman based on the previously published comics, and also appearances in other media. The new version of Superman debuted in a 6 part mini-series published bi-weekly. This mini-series was followed by three more mini-series that provided further background to how the Superman storyline would develop.

THE MAN OF STEEL (1986)

Writer/Penciller - John Byrne
Inker - Dick Giordano
  • The Man of Steel #1 (October)
    From Out of the Green Dawn. Reboot of Superman. Introduction of Krypton, Jor-El, Lara, Smallville, Jonathan & Martha Kent, Clark Kent, Lana Lang, Metropolis, Lois Lane & Superman.
    As the emotionless and sterile planet Krypton explodes, Jor-El sends his son's birthing matrix to Earth. He is raised by the Kents and gains super powers as he gets older. He works in secret until a rescue of the spaceplane and Lois Lane reveals him and he must adopt the identity of Superman.

  • The Man of Steel #2 (October)
    The Story of the Century! Introduction of Perry White, The Daily Planet, Lex Luthor & Jimmy Olsen.
    As Superman battles street crime, Lois chases after him and eventually fakes an accident to get his story. She is beaten to it by the Daily Planet's newest reporter, Clark Kent.

  • The Man of Steel #3 (November)
    One Night in Gotham City. Superman meets Batman.
    Superman arrives in Gotham City to apprehend the mysterious vigilante, the Batman, but is forced to work with him to capture the murderous and insane thief Magpie. Superman disagrees with his methods, but accepts Batman's intention.

  • The Man of Steel #4 (November)
    Enemy Mine. Beginning of Luthor vs. Superman. Luthor reintroduced as a CEO & one of the richest men in the world.
    Clark and Lois are invited to a gathering on Luthor's yacht, where Lois rebuffs Lex. Terrorists attack & after Superman stops the attack, Lex says he knew it coming & wanted to test Superman. The Mayor deputizes Superman & has him arrest Lex. Lex vows to kill Superman

  • The Man of Steel #5 (December)
    The Mirror, Crack'D. Introduction of first Bizarro.
    As - Part of Lex's vendetta against Superman, he tries to have Superman cloned, so he will have his own Superman. The process is deemed a failure by, when a crystallized version is created. In battle with Superman, lifeless Bizarro is destroyed, but the dust from him cures Lucy Lane's blindness.

  • The Man of Steel #6 (December)
    The Haunting.
    Clark returns to Smallville & discovers he has embittered Lana Lang after revealing his secret & then leaving her. He is also visited by an image of Jor-El that imparts the knowledge of his origin & learns his rocket has been stolen.

The "Superman's World" Trilogy:

THE WORLD OF KRYPTON (1987-1988)

  • The World of Krypton #1 (December)
    John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Rick Bryant
    Pieces
    The world of Krypton is a world of emotion, culture, and science that has reach a pinnacle, where the use of clones has granted Kryptonians almost immortality. However, this use of clones has bought society to the brink of civil war between the pro- and anti-clone factions. When a woman uses her clone to be her son's bride resulting in her and the clone's murder at the hands of her son, the war seems inevitable.

  • The World of Krypton #2 (January)
    John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Rick Bryant
    After the Fall
    Kryptonian civilization lies in ruins. Kandor has been destroyed by a nuclear blast detonated by the anti-clone terrorist group the Black Zero. Van-L's love has turned against him and the establishment. Van-L, President of the World Council, seeks out the help of splinter groups to stop the latest threat from the Black Zero, the destruction of the planet Krypton itself.

  • The World of Krypton #3 (February)
    John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Rick Bryant
    History Lesson
    Jor-El reviews the history tapes of his ancestor Van-L in the final battle against the Black Zero a thousand centuries ago. Kan-Z is revealed to be the leader of the Black Zero intent on destroying the planet. Van-L apparently stops the process of destruction, but Vara is killed in the process. Jor-El is chosen to marry Lara and have a child to fill a vacancy on the register of citizens.

  • The World of Krypton #4 (March)
    John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Carlos GarzonFamily History
    >Superman gives Lois the exclusive story behind his being sent to Earth. A sickness strikes the long-lived Kryptonians. Jor-El's research reveals it is the result of the Black Zero's device detonated thousands of years before. He also learns the planet is about to explode. He removes his child from the gestation chambers and send him to Earth, where he will be a supreme being. Krypton explodes as he expresses his love for Lara.

THE WORLD OF SMALLVILLE (1988)

  • The World of Smallville #1 (April)
    John Byrne, Kurt Schaffenberger, Alfredo Alcala
    Secrets
    Clark returns home for a visit and learns that his mother was married once before she married Jonathan Kent. She married a wealthy man in the town believing that Jonathan had been killed in World War II. Upon his return he learns that Martha's husband is dying of cancer and wants Jonathan to steal her from him.

  • The World of Smallville #2 (May)
    John Byrne, Kurt Schaffenberger, Alfredo Alcala
    Stolen Moments
    Dan Fordman dies. Martha had assured she was left nothing, but Dan left her 10 acres of land he knew she liked. Jonathan and Martha marry, but have three miscarriages. One night before a major snowstorm they find Kal-El's rocket. The snow prevents their return to town for five months and when they do, they claim the child is their own. They are surprised the town doctor doesn't question this.

  • The World of Smallville #3 (June)
    John Byrne, Kurt Schaffenberger, Alfredo Alcala
    Stolen Souls
    Clark and Lana discuss the activities of the Manhunters that resulted in her parents death and the subjugation of the youth of Smallville.

  • The World of Smallville #4 (July)
    John Byrne, Kurt Schaffenberger, Alfredo Alcala
    Return to Smallville
    Lana and the Kents talk about the time Lana spent in Metropolis and Smallville, while under the control of the Manhunters. Lana apologizes for the things she said to him, while under the Manhunters' influence. Clark explains that despite his feelings for Lois, he and Lana will always have a special relationship.

THE WORLD OF METROPOLIS (1988)

  • The World of Metropolis #1 (August)
    John Byrne, Win Mortimer, Frank McLaughlin & Dick Giordano
    A Reporter's Story
    Perry recollects how he returned from covering the war in South East Asia to find his best friend Lex Luthor has not only put the Daily Planet up for sale, but has had an affair with his girl, Alice. Perry convinces an international businessman and a group of other investors to buy the Planet, but he is forced to assume the position of Editor. He and Alice reconcile and marry, but there is an inference that the child is really Luthor's.

  • The World of Metropolis #2 (September)
    John Byrne, Win Mortimer, Sal Trapani & Dick Giordano
    "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"
    Lois recollects the story of how she won her job at the Daily Planet. When Lois was 15, she was able to sneak into Lexcorp and smuggle out some incriminating evidence against Lex.

  • The World of Metropolis #3 (October)
    John Byrne, Win Mortimer, Sal Trapani & Dick Giordano
    Mr. Kent Goes to Metropolis!
    Superman reflects upon his early days in Metropolis. After traveling the world, Clark arrives in Metropolis, where he settles in as a student at Metropolis University and short order cook, where he develops a relationship with a waitress. He also acts in secret to use his powers benefiting the City. After secretly saving a reporter named Lois Lane from some mobsters, he develops the idea of becoming a journalist.

  • The World of Metropolis #4 (November)
    John Byrne, Win Mortimer, Sal Trapani & Dick Giordano
    Friends in Need
    Following a rescue of him by Superman, Jimmy reflects on his early days as a copy boy at the Planet and how desperate circumstances involving the attempted suicide of a friend led Jimmy to invent his signal watch.


Superman Comics Index (1986-2011)

Introduction

Here is a listing of the regular Superman titles since the John Byrne 1986 mini-series Man of Steel up until the post-Flashpoint relaunch in 2011. For accuracy almost every entry is based upon actually looking in the issue, and not memory or another source.

This listing is done in the order for when a comic book issue was published.

Note: Remember, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic was on sale.

The Writer, Penciller and Inker for each issue is listed under the Comic's Title and Date.

CONTENTS:

1986/Revamp | 1987 | 1988 | 1989
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009
2010 | 2011
Annuals | Specials 1996-2003 | Specials 2004-
Prestige Format Mini-Series | Graphic Novels | Pin-up Books | Trade Paperbacks

Back to Comic Index Contents Page.

You can read reviews of all the Superman related comics (from October 1999 onwards) in the Mild Mannered Reviews section of this website.