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Superman was an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The second volume of the previous ongoing Superman title, the series was published from cover dates January 1987 to April 2006, and ran for 228 issues (226 monthly issues along with two specials 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, introducing the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths 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 Adventures of Superman starting with issue #424. Superman vol. 2 continued publishing until March of 2006. At that point, DC revived the original Superman series, giving Adventures of Superman its original title and canceling the second Superman series in the process.

Publication history

Because the DC Universe was revamped after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the previous continuity before that series (colloquially referred to as "pre-Crisis") was voided. Because of this, old established characters were given the opportunity to be reintroduced in new ways. Re-introductions of classic villains were part of the new Superman series' first year, featuring the first post-Crisis appearances of villains such as Metallo^[1] and Mxyzptlk.^[2] The historic engagement of Lois Lane and Clark Kent^[3] was one of the major events in the book's run. The hallmark of the run, however, was the storyline The Death of Superman. The actual death issue was published in this series' 75th issue,^[4] and would be a major media and pop culture event with the issue going on to sell over 3 million copies.^[5]

As the main series featuring the flagship character of the DC Universe, the series crossed over with a number of different line-wide crossover stories including Zero Hour: Crisis in Time,^[6] The Final Night,^[7] and Infinite Crisis.^[8]

Writer Jeph Loeb's run on the series introduced audiences to the post-Crisis incarnations of Bizarro^[9] and Krypto,^[10] and also introduced a controversial storyline in which Superman's arch nemesis, supervillain Lex Luthor, became the President of the United States.^[11][12] Loeb's run on the series also included the massive crossover event Our Worlds at War, which saw the destruction of Topeka, Kansas,^[13] serious damage to Clark Kent's nearby hometown of Smallville, and Superman adopting a costume of more somber colors to mourn the heavy loss of life during the event.^[14]

More attention was brought to the series when it was announced that superstar artist Jim Lee, who had recently concluded the highly popular Batman story arc Batman: Hush with Jeph Loeb, would be providing the artwork for a story by writer Brian Azzarello.^[15] The story, Superman: For Tomorrow, ran for twelve issues^[16][17] and received high acclaim, reflected in the publication of an Absolute Edition hardcover in May of 2009.^[18]

With the publication of issue #226 (May 2006), the series was canceled as part of the company-wide Infinite Crisis event. Adventures of Superman was returned to its original title, Superman, with issue #650 the following month.^[19]

References