If you’ll forgive an old man his preaching (turn down that metal-punk, you rascals!), few stories in comics signify that character deaths used to mean something quite like the “Death of Superman.” Before the afterlife had become quite the revolving door we recognize in comics today, “Death of Superman” captivated pop culture at large with a seemingly impossible tragedy.
One of DC Comics’ all-time best sellers, the early to mid 90’s “Death of Superman” trilogy (yes, there’s more to it than just the killing blow) has held fast as an iconic Superman story decades later.
Below you’ll find a complete reading order and issue by issue checklist for the death and return of Superman. The series began in late 1992 and continued for a full year until late 1993. As a result, there are plenty of crossover and tie-in issues, albeit a very manageable amount compared to the explosion of tie-ins seen in 2000’s comic book events.
Related Reading Orders:
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Collected Death of Superman Comics
The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus
Collects: Action Comics #684-692, Adventures of Superman #497-505, Superman #75-83, Superman: The Man of Steel #18-26, Justice League of America #69-70, Action Comics Annual #5, Adventures of Superman Annual #5, Green Lantern #46, Legacy of Superman #1, Supergirl and Team Luthor #1, Superman Annual #5, Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #2, plus excerpts from Action Comics #683, Adventures of Superman #496, Superman #73 and Superman: The Man of Steel #17
While it’s not the cheapest way to read the entire “Death of Superman” saga, the “Death and Return” omnibus is the most expedient way to get all relevant issues in one place. Please note that the issues collected in the omnibus overlap with the below issue by issue breakdown.
Death of Superman Issue by Issue Reading Order
Collects: Superman: The Man of Steel #18-19, Justice League America #69, Superman #74-75, Adventures of Superman #497, and Action Comics #684
Reading Order:
Superman: The Man of Steel #18
Justice League of America #69
Superman #74
Adventures of Superman #497
Action Comics #684
Superman: The Man of Steel #19
Superman #75
Collects: Adventures of Superman 498-500, Action Comics 685-686, Superman: The Legacy of Superman 1, 4, Superman: The Man of Steel 20-21, Superman 76-77
Note that the “World Without a Superman” collection has also more recently been collected by DC as Superman: Funeral for a Friend. These titles cover the same post “Death of Superman” era in Superman comics.
Reading order:
Adventures of Superman #498
Justice League of America #70
Action Comics #685
Superman: Man of Steel #20
Adventures of Superman #499
Action Comics #686
Superman #76
Legacy of Superman #1
Supergirl & Team Luthor #1
Superman: Man of Steel #21
Superman #77
Superman: Reign of the Supermen
Superman: The Return of Superman
Collects: Action Comics 687-691, Superman: The Man of Steel 22-26, Superman 78-82, Adventures of Superman 500-505, Green Lantern 46
Reading Order:
Action Comics #687
Adventures of Superman #500
Superman: Man of Steel #22
Superman #78
Adventures of Superman #501
Action Comics #688
Superman: Man of Steel #23
Superman #79
Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #2
Superman Annual #5
Action Comics Annual #5
Adventures of Superman Annual #5
It should be noted that all annual issues above are part of DC’s summer 1993 Bloodlines crossover event.
Adventures of Superman #502
Action Comics #689
Superman #80
Superman: Man of Steel #24
Adventures of Superman #503
Action Comics #690
Superman: Man of Steel #25
Superman #81
Adventures of Superman #504
Action Comics #691
Green Lantern #46
Superman: Man of Steel #26
Superman #82
Adventures of Superman #505
Superman #83
Action Comics #692
Next: Batman Knightfall
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Going by the ‘triangles’ and indicia, this is the release and reading order for the massive 1990s epic that saw the death and return of Superman. As a note, publication of Superman titles ceased for a couple of months to allow for a period of mourning and to build anticipation for the blockbuster, popcorn summer movie-esque return of the big, blue boy scout. Ahhh, the 90s.
DOOMSDAY
Superman: the Man of Steel #17
Superman #73
the Adventures of Superman #496
Superman in Action Comics #683
Superman: the Man of Steel #18
Justice League of America #69
Superman #74
the Adventures of Superman #497
Superman in Action Comics #684
Superman: the Man of Steel #19
Superman #75
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
Justice League of America #70
the Adventures of Superman #498
Superman in Action Comics #685
Superman: the Man of Steel #20
Superman #76
Justice League of America #71
the Adventures of Superman #499
Superman in Action Comics #686
Superman: the Man of Steel #21
Superman #77
Wizard Magazine Superman Tribute Edition (magazine)
Legacy of Superman #1
Supergirl and Team Luthor #1
Newstime (magazine)
REIGN OF THE SUPEMEN
the Adventures of Superman #500
Superman in Action Comics #687
Superman: the Man of Steel #22
Superman #78
the Adventures of Superman #501
Superman in Action Comics #688
Superman: the Man of Steel #23
Superman #78
the Adventures of Superman #502
Superman in Action Comics #684
Superman: the Man of Steel Annual #2
Superman Annual #5
Superman in Action Comics Annual #5
the Adventures of Superman Annual #5
Superman: the Man of Steel #24
Superman #80
the Adventures of Superman #503
Superman in Action Comics #690
Superman: the Man of Steel #25
Superman #81
the Adventures of Superman #504
Superman in Action Comics #691
Superman: the Man of Steel #26
Green Lantern #46
Superman #82
HE’S BACK
the Adventures of Superman #505
Superman in Action Comics #692
Superman: the Man of Steel #27
Superman #83
So, that’s a pretty exhaustive reading list. Some of the esoterica, early issues, later issues and annuals are not necessary to enjoy a complete story but I’ve included them in an effort to have a checklist of all of the stuff that was released during that crazy year.
Enjoy and happy hunting!
I have the death of superman 5 volume collection and I can’t find anywhere exactly doomsday wars take place in the DC/superman reading order
If I recall correctly, Doomsday Wars came a few years later and isn’t apart of this event.
Aaand Action Comics #692 comes before Superman (1987) #83. The former tells how Clark Kent is ‘rescued by Superman’ and in the latter the public already knows Clark is back.
Superman: The Man of Steel #26 comes before Green Lantern (1990) #46.
Superman: Man of Steel #24 comes before Superman (1987) #80. This is very very important because the destruction of a certain city and the death of a certain character who appears in Man of Steel #24 happens in Superman #80.
Adventures of Superman #502 should come before Adventures of Superman Annual #5. Rex and Roxy are introduced in AoS #502 and Aos Annual #5 and the latter references the bridge blowing up in Aos #502.
The order for “Funeral for a friend” is incorrect. Adventures of Superman #498 explicitly says that Justice League America #70 comes first.
There is a mistake in A World Without Supeman. Superman #76 is placed just before Adventures of Superman #499