| Superman vol. 2 | |
|---|---|
 Superman vol. 2, #1 (January 1987), art byJohn Byrne. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing while in publication |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Publication date | January 1987 – April 2006 |
| No. of issues | 228 (#1-226 plus issues numbered0 and1,000,000) and 12 Annuals |
| Main character | Superman |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | List
|
| Penciller | |
| Inker | |
Superman is an ongoingcomic book series featuring theDC Comicssuperhero of thesame name. The second volume of theprevious ongoingSuperman title, the series was published fromcover dates January 1987 to April 2006, and ran for 228 issues (226 monthly issues and two issues published outside the concurrent numbering). This series was launched afterJohn Byrne revamped the Superman character in 1986 inThe Man of Steellimited series, introducing the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths version of the Superman character.
After that limited series,Action Comics returned to publication andSuperman vol. 2, #1 was published.[1] The originalSuperman series (volume 1) becameThe Adventures of Superman starting with issue #424.[2]Superman vol. 2 continued publishing until April 2006 at which point DC restoredThe Adventures of Superman to its original title and canceled the secondSuperman series.
Because theDC Universe was revamped after the events ofCrisis on Infinite Earths, the previous continuity before that series (colloquially referred to as "pre-Crisis") was voided. Previously established characters were given the opportunity to be reintroduced in new ways. Reintroductions of classic villains were part of the newSuperman series' first year, featuring the first post-Crisis appearances of characters such asMetallo[3] andMister Mxyzptlk[4] and the introduction ofSupergirl.[5] The historic engagement ofLois Lane andClark Kent[6][7] was one of the major events in the book's run. Writer/artistDan Jurgens created a supporting hero namedAgent Liberty[8] in issue #60 (Oct. 1991). The series participated in such crossover storylines as "Panic in the Sky".[9] The hallmark of the run was the storyline "The Death of Superman". The actual "death" story was published in this series' 75th issue,[10][11] and would be a major media and pop culture event with the issue going on to sell over three million copies.[12][13][14]
As the main series featuring the most prominent character of the DC Universe, the series crossed over with a number of different line-wide crossover stories includingZero Hour: Crisis in Time,[15]The Final Night,[16] andInfinite Crisis.[17] Superman received a new costume and new superpowers in issue #123 (May 1997).[18]
In 1999,Superman, along with the other three titles, were revamped withJeph Loeb replacing longtime writer Dan Jurgens. During Loeb's run on the series he createdImperiex,[19] introduced aBizarro created by theJoker[20] in the "Emperor Joker" storyline,[21] and also helped with a controversial storyline in which Superman's nemesis, supervillainLex Luthor, became thePresident of the United States.[22] Loeb's run on the series included the crossover eventOur Worlds at War,[23] which saw the destruction ofTopeka, Kansas,[24] serious damage to Clark Kent's nearby hometown ofSmallville, and Superman adopting a costume of more somber colors to mourn the heavy loss of life during the event.[25] Loeb's run ended with issue #183 (August 2002).
In 2004–2005, artistJim Lee, who had recently concluded theBatman: Hush storyline with Loeb, provided the artwork for a Superman story by writerBrian Azzarello.[26] The story,Superman: For Tomorrow, ran for twelve issues[27][28] and was collected in anAbsolute Edition hardcover in May 2009.[29]
With the publication of issue #226 (April 2006),[30] the series was canceled as part of the company-wideInfinite Crisis event.The Adventures of Superman was returned to its original title,Superman, with issue #650 the following month.[31]
From 1987 to 2000, twelveannual issues of the series were published. The first annual featured a post-Crisis retelling of the firstTitano story.[32] Beginning with the second annual, the stories tied into the crossovers or themes that were running through DC's annuals that year. These were:
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superman: The Man of Steel Volume 2 | Superman vol. 2 #1-3;Adventures of Superman #424-426;Action Comics #584-586 | November 2003 | 978-1401200053 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel Volume 3 | Superman vol. 2 #4-6;Adventures of Superman #427-429;Action Comics #587-589 | October 2004 | 978-1401202460 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel Volume 4 | Superman vol. 2 #7-8;Adventures of Superman #430-431;Action Comics #590-591;Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #37-38 | September 2005 | 978-1401204556 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel Volume 5 | Superman vol. 2 #9-11;Adventures of Superman #432-435;Action Comics #592-593 | November 2006 | 978-1401209483 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel Volume 6 | Superman vol. 2 #12,Superman Annual #1;Adventures of Superman Annual #1;Action Comics #594-595,Action Comics Annual #1;Booster Gold #23 | March 2008 | 978-1401216795 |
| The Death of Clark Kent | Superman vol. 2 #99-102;Superman: The Man of Steel #43-46;Action Comics #709-711; andSuperman: The Man of Tomorrow #1 | May 1997 | TPB978-1563893230 |
| Our Worlds at War[N 1] | Superman vol. 2 #171-173;Action Comics #780-782;The Adventures of Superman #593-595;Impulse #77;JLA: Our Worlds at War #1;Superboy #91;Supergirl #59:Superman: The Man of Steel #115-117;Wonder Woman #172-173;World's Finest Comics: Our Worlds at War #1; andYoung Justice #36 | June 2006 | TPB978-1401211295 |
| Godfall | Superman vol. 2 #202-203;Action Comics #812-813; andThe Adventures of Superman #625-626 | September 2004 | TPB978-1840239195 HC978-1401203764 |
| For Tomorrow Volume 1 | Superman vol. 2 #204-209 | August 2005 | TPB978-1401203528 HC978-1401203511 |
| For Tomorrow Volume 2 | Superman vol. 2 #210-215 | August 2005 | TPB978-1401204488 HC978-1401207151 |
Martin A. Stever reviewedSupermanSpace Gamer/Fantasy Gamer No. 83.[33] Stever commented that "Byrne has made Superman human enough that we can understand and like him. Thank you John Byrne for making Supermansuper again".[33]
For the second time in his history, Superman's self-titled comic saw a first issue...a new series was introduced...written and drawn by the prolific Byrne.
Literally millions of people who didn't usually buy comics wanted a copy ofSuperman #75, which had been shipped to comics shops on November 18, 1992 in a special bagged and sealed edition that also included a promotional poster and a black memorial armband.
National media coverage resulted in skyrocketing sales, and the 'Death of Superman' storyline was treated as if it meant the end of an American institution.