Reddit reviews Superman: Secret Identity

I personally don't think All-Star Superman is the best place to start for the character. I've seen new readers pick it up and enjoy it, but it probably won't live up to the praise due to unfamiliarity vs the book being a celebration of decades of Superman comics.

Going forward, here are some Superman modern essentials:

• The Man of Steel | #1-6 | 1986 | Byrne
  
• Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, For the Man Who Has Everything | Superman #423, Annual 11; Action Comics #583 | 1984-1986 | Moore
  
• The Death and Return of Superman | Death, Return | 1992-1993 | Jurgens, Stern, et al.
  
• Kingdom Come | #1-4 | 1996 | Waid
  
• For All Seasons | #1-4 | 1998 | Loeb
  
• What's so Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way? | Action Comics #775 | 2001 | Kelly
  
• Red Son | #1-3 | 2003 | Millar
  
• Birthright | #1-12 | 2003-2004 | Waid
  
• Secret Identity | #1-4 | 2004 | Busiek
  
• All-Star Superman | #1-12 | 2005-2008 | Morrison
  
• Kryptonite | Superman Confidential #1-5, 11 | 2006-2008 | Cooke
  
• Up, Up, and Away! | Superman #650-653; Action Comics #837-840 | 2006 | Busiek, Johns
  
• Last Son, Brainiac | Action Comics #844-847, 851, Annual 11, 866-870 | 2006-2008 | Johns
  
• Superman and the Legion of Superheroes | Action Comics #858-863 | 2007-2008 | Johns
  
• Secret Origin | #1-6 | 2009-2010 | Johns
  
• Action Comics (New 52) | #1-18 | 2011-2013 | Morrison
  
• American Alien | #1-7 | 2015-2016 | Landis
  
• Action Comics (Rebirth) | #957-ongoing | 2016-2019 | Jurgens
  
• Superman (Rebirth) | #1-45 | 2016-2018 | Tomasi
  
  When you're done with all that, revisit All-Star Superman. I'd be willing to bet you have a different opinion on it then.

I was going to create my own list but you have almost everything I would have listed, good job.

Ex Machina Vol 1 $5.49 in place of Chew

Walking Dead Vol 1 $5.79 for Fables (good but I think walking dead is more addictive.)

American Jesus $5.99 for Fables

Magneto Testament $10.99 in place of Strange Talent of Luther Strode (good but I think Magneto Testament is a better read)

New Total: $100.29

New Total: $100.49


EDIT: Changed Walking Dead since already on the list

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Not Part of my list but any way:


If you can find Superman Secret Identity read it (out of print) but it looks like they may be re-releasing it in April 2013

Superman: Red Son $10.37 from amazon

Superman: Secret Identity

I really enjoyed the Kingdom Come graphic novel as well as Superman: Peace On Earth. Although Peace on Earth is a Christmas story it is still really well done, and anything done by Alex Ross is worth picking up. Both show Superman pitted against his greatest enemy: the darker aspects of human nature.

Superman: Red Son is an interesting twist on the Superman story line, where Superman is raised in Russia instead of on the Kent farm.

The Superman: Man of Steel volume set by John Byrne is a nice introduction, but I personally feel it is really short and lacking in a lot of detail.

The Death of Superman is quite good too, and I would highly recommend picking it up; the final pages are really hard for me to get through, but that might just be me.

Superman: Secret Identity isn't technically about Superman, since it takes place on Earth-prime (a world where superheroes exist only in comics, kind of like our world), but I love how this graphic novel portrays humanity...

I hope that helps. If I can think of any more graphic novels I'll be sure to list them in an edit. Good choice on Birthright though, you won't be disappointed.

Also, I know you had mentioned that you wanted to steer away from the new 52 for now, but they are going to be coming out with volume sets here soon, so if you wanted to you could start off with Action Comics Volume 1. This way you could experience Superman as he becomes the greatest hero the world has ever known.

I am a big superman fan (so much so that my golf towel is a superman logo), and the way I got into him wasn't much like everyone did on here from what I can see. Normally before then I batted an eye at things superman since he seemed like a very generic character to me at the time, muscle bound men with capes who wear tights is a tad generic to the casual observer but then I found that Supes was more complex than that. I never really picked up a superman book, let alone read one, until I finished reading Superman: The High-Flying history of America's most enduring hero. Although not a graphic novel liker someone who wanted to get into the comics initially would do, it's basically a character bio depicting the events of what happened to the character, how DC comics was formed, and the lives of those that created him (Jerry Seigal and Joe Schuster). After finishing this book I was hooked, I wanted to know more about superman. I know it's not cannon but I got hooked on smallville, believing that it was canon for a short time given it's consistency starting out with the entire superman mythos in other media (grew up on farm, wasn't told he was an alien until well into his childhood etc). Now without further ado, I am going to run through some of the best superman stories and some of the worst (or comically amusing if you're looking for a laugh).

The Good

• Superman: Secret Origin : If you are looking for an origin story, and this one is considered to be the most modern and maybe the official origin story for the man of steel (although I could be wrong, somebody challenge me on this if I am) and frankly I am quite enjoying it. It has elements from the Smallville TV show even though the creative team that made it wanted it to stand alone from the TV show, even though there are some key elements that deviates it from the TV show. My only problem, The time in which the events transpired from issue to issue skip, one issue he could be in his pre-teens, the next he is a young adult working at the planet. If you are looking for such an origin story this one is for you.
  
  
• Superman: Birthright: Another origin story, it's not secret origin, and it has no familiar attributes like it either. Instead we are thrust into Clark's life as a journalist before he comes home to make the decision to help others and prepare his superman attire. I am still reading this one as well but I haven't had the time to finish anything. Anyway, be sure to give this one a try.
  
  
• Superman: Earth One: Another origin story, I am starting to set a pattern here. This Superman is a more complex and to many a much more satisfying take on the character since we get a version of Clark going through the motions of growing up and deciding what he wants to do with his life. Also some other things that revolve around the life of Clark Kent to become superman.
  
  
• Superman: Secret Identity: Last one, I promise. This book is neither in canon, nor does it strike any familiarity with other superman books. Instead we are thrust into a universe where Superman exists in comic books much like ours, and the book itself revolves around a kid named Clark Kent who is routinely picked on for sharing the secret identity for the man of steel. This book is interesting in the fact that it focuses more on Superman's secret identity as if it was given more focus and attention as his superhero career.
  
  
• Superman: Red Son: So, what would happen when Superman err Clark Kent was brought up and raised by the Soviet Union? Read this one to find out. The primary themes to this story are the topics of nature vs nurture, plus abuse of power.
  
  
• Superman: Peace on Earth: Alex Ross fan? Let's just say that whenever Superman decides to try to create peace on earth it doesn't always goes according to plan. This book explores superman's attempts to do just that but with resistance in his efforts. This book's primary message is that global issues are more complicated than they seem, much so that even a being like superman can't easily solve them.
  
  
• Superman: Kingdom Come: Superman and the rest of the justice league come out of retirement to stop the bad guys. Personally, I wasn't aware that superman aged until I was told about this issue.
  
  
• The Death of Superman: People are going to attack me in saying that this was only acclaimed and sold enormous amounts of copies because DC wanted to boost sales and that it occurred during an era where the comic book bubble was about to pop. From an investment standpoint the issues that make up this book might not be worth anything if you are a trader but many have found this one hard to put down
  
  The Bad
  
  
• Try reading the material for the flagship New 52 title, I dare you.
  
  
• DC Archives: Superman: I might be being cruel here but this book is a collection of the Golden age superman. It's definitely not the best thing you can read if you are getting into superman, but it's an amusing look into the character's publication past where he was a psychopath with Intermittent Explosive Disorder who always used violence to get his way. It carries very little narrative for an actual story but keep in mind that Joe and Jerry were highschool kids when they wrote and illustrated this.
  
  

In addition to the ones suggested by others. The following are origin stories and each are pretty good in their own right.

• Secret Identity - Brilliant story about a real life guy named Clark Kent who is sick of the comparison.
  
• Man of Steel Byrne remake - This is the Superman I grew up with. Super relatable. Limited power set.
  
• Birthright - Mark Waid's stab at updating and combining the origins of the silver age & byrne reboot.
  
• Earth One vol 1 and 2 Cool other universe story. Shane Davis is fantastic.
  
• Secret Origin Geoff Johns's attempt at a soft reboot a few years after Waid's Birthright.
  
  The following are pretty good at diving into what makes the character great
  
  
• Kingdom Come - This is an awesome Mark Waid Elseworlds / What If kinda story that has a lot of different themes going on in it. Alex Ross at his best.
  
• Search for Krypronite - This gives a good example of the dynamic between Supes and Bats and Shane Davis's art is amazing.
  
• 'Til Death Do Us Part - Story's a little cheesy and the art is an acquired taste but this shows a nice peek into the Lois / Clark relationship
  
• Critical Condition - The first half of this book is awesome as Batman helps a sickly Superman find a missing Lois. Beautiful characterization. The second half is kinda lame.
  
  

Some standalones:

• Action Comics #775 ("What's so funny about truth, justice, and the American way?")
  
• Kingdom Come
  
• Red Son
  
• Secret Identity
  
• Trinity
  
• Superman For All Seasons

Welcome to the club! Of course the "required reading" (the best of the best) for Superman is All-Star Superman, Superman: Secret Identity, Superman: Red Son, Superman: Birthright, and Superman: Secret Origin. Those are the real creme dela creme. Happy reading!

I'm just returning to comics after several years' absence. Also, my tastes are...suspect.

1. Superman: Secret Identity (Kurt Busiek)
   
   
2. Blankets (Craig Thompson)
   
   
3. Catwoman: Volume I-III (Ed Brubaker, Darwyn Cook)
   
   
4. Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
   
   
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 (Alan Moore)
   
   
6. Batman: Long Halloween (Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale)
   
   
7. Batman: Bruce Wayne Murderer?/Fugitive (various)
   
   
8. A Superman for All Seasons (Loeb and Sale again)
   
   
9. Batman, Super Man, Wonder Woman: Trinity (Matt Wagner)
   
   
10. Batman: Tenses (Jim Casey and Cully Hammer)

For further reading of Busiek's stuff, I recommend either Superman: Secret Identity or Astro City: Life in the Big City. I have been a fan of his for a while now.

Check out Joe the Barbarian

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Barbarian-Grant-Morrison/dp/1401237479

Superman: Red Son

http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Red-Son-Mark-Millar/dp/1401201911

I Kill Giants

http://www.amazon.com/I-Kill-Giants-Joe-Kelly/dp/1607060922

Secret Identity

http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Secret-Identity-Graphic-Novels/dp/1401204511

I think all of these are great books for someone just getting into graphic novels. Out of the four, Red Son is the heaviest, but definitely a really interesting spin on the Superman folklore. That being said, I'm not a Superman fan, and yet I've recommended two Superman novels.

This sounds similar to the [Superman:Secret Identity] (http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Secret-Identity-Kurt-Busiek/dp/1401204511/ref=la_B001H6NFM6_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1341790788&sr=1-12) comic.

• Runaways Vol. 1
  
  http://marvel.com/comics/issue/15061/runaways_2003_1
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Runaways-The-Complete-Collection-Volume/dp/0785185585
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Runaways-Volume-1-Pride-Joy/dp/0785157328
  
  
• Superman: Secret Identity
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Secret-Identity-Kurt-Busiek/dp/1401204511
  
  
• Ultimate Spider-Man
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Spider-Man-Collection-Vol/dp/0785124926/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459087368&sr=8-1&keywords=ultimate+spiderman
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Miles-Morales-Ultimate-Spider-Man-Collection/dp/0785197788/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1459087368&sr=8-5&keywords=ultimate+spiderman
  

I second the Secret Identity thing and raise you Max Landis' Death & Return of Superman skit, his Regarding Clark video, and (If you have time which you probably don't but trust me it's worth it) his idea for a reboot of Death & Return of Superman he pitched to DC 2 years ago. I wouldn't say I was 100% on the Superman's-a-dick-bandwagon before seeing/reading these but I never really cared about him, much less thought of him as the most underrated comic book character today.
(P.S., when Landis shits on stuff you like, he's doing it for comedic effect. Honestly, he's probably more of a geek about it than you)