Help me pick a Superman story

noir_blood

Hey guys.

So with Christmas coming up, I'm starting to do my shopping. My gf revealed the other day that her favorite character is Superman, so I thought it would be a good gift if I could get her a trade paperback or two. Problem is, I know squat about Superman. So I come to you guys, hoping you could give me some of your favorite Superman stories.

She does enjoy comics(mostly whedon related stuff), so feel free to throw anything out there. Ideally I would like a story that captures the Superman essence, yet at the same time maybe gives it a new spin or shows how comics can evolve from "punch supervillain" set up.

Garlic Bread

Superman: Birthright is probably the best choice. It's an origins story, but it focuses on his immediate post-Smallville origins instead of his "krypton is about to blow up" origins

Hooraydiation

Having established that her favorite character is Superman, does she already have any Superman books?

Anyway, check out Superman for All Seasons.

Sentry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_man_who_has_everything

I've heard this one is really good as well. Unfortunately, for some reason, while there are a great many Superman and Batman stories I want to read, there isn't a single comic book shop in Northern Colorado that carries any.

>.<

Fortunately, they all have every trade of Ultimate X-Men... (weeps uncontrollably)

Garlic Bread

Sentry wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_man_who_has_everything

I've heard this one is really good as well. Unfortunately, for some reason, while there are a great many Superman and Batman stories I want to read, there isn't a single comic book shop in Northern Colorado that carries any.

>.<

Fortunately, they all have every trade of Ultimate X-Men... (weeps uncontrollably)

That's collected in the DC Universe: Stories of Alan Moore trade

Sentry

Keith wrote: »

Sentry wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_man_who_has_everything

I've heard this one is really good as well. Unfortunately, for some reason, while there are a great many Superman and Batman stories I want to read, there isn't a single comic book shop in Northern Colorado that carries any.

>.<

Fortunately, they all have every trade of Ultimate X-Men... (weeps uncontrollably)

That's collected in the DC Universe: Stories of Alan Moore trade

Keith, if I didn't hate you so much, you'd be my new hero.

Garlic Bread

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Having established that her favorite character is Superman, does she already have any Superman books?

Anyway, check out Superman for All Seasons.

I'd say Superman: Birthright, Superman for All Seasons, and Superman: Secret Identity are the best choices.

One of my friends (who doesn't read comics) borrowed Birthright off of me when we were driving down to Florida and he couldn't put it down

Nogs

All.

Star.

Superman.

humble

secret identity

its so good

Garlic Bread

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

Nogs

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

$13 on amazon.

Garlic Bread

Nogs wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

$13 on amazon.

i meant the content

Nogs

Keith wrote: »

i meant the content

maybe, but i think it is pretty much what she is asking for

noir_blood wrote:

Ideally I would like a story that captures the Superman essence, yet at the same time maybe gives it a new spin or shows how comics can evolve from "punch supervillain" set up.

Though I suppose, one might enjoy it more if one knew some charcaters/plots from previous superman stories.

bobgorila

My two favourite Superman TPBs are Secret Identity (which basically tells the story of Superboy Prime, had he never come into contact with the rest of the multiverse) and Red Son (what if Superman's Pod landed on a Soviet farminig commune and he grew up to become the Comrade of Steel?)

humble

fuck yea another secret identity vote

in your faces other superman stories

Munch

Secret Identity, Birthright, and All Star Superman, in that order, and as Keith mentioned, DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore, has two of the most recognized and lauded Superman stories ever, along with some cool Green Lantern and Batman stuff.

Algertman

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

$13 on amazon.

i meant the content

you're stupid

humble

Algertman wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

$13 on amazon.

i meant the content

you're stupid

i dont think its a good jumping on point for a superman background

Jordyn

Get her the S:TAS DVDs.

deadonthestreet

Kingdom Come? Maybe?

Algertman

humble wrote: »

Algertman wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

$13 on amazon.

i meant the content

you're stupid

i dont think its a good jumping on point for a superman background

you're stupid

delphinus

Keith wrote: »

Superman: Birthright is probably the best choice. It's an origins story, but it focuses on his immediate post-Smallville origins instead of his "krypton is about to blow up" origins

too true.
i recommend this title to ANY BODY and EVERY body.

it gets a little wordy, but the ending makes it all worth it.

humble

Algertman wrote: »

humble wrote: »

Algertman wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Nogs wrote: »

All.

Star.

Superman.

it might be a bit much

$13 on amazon.

i meant the content

you're stupid

i dont think its a good jumping on point for a superman background

you're stupid

you're a douche-fag

wwtMask

Yes to Birthright. Also, I now need to get Secret Identity.

ManonvonSuperock

i agree. birthright, even though it is not my favorite supes story, seems to be perfect for what you are doing.

it's really good and i could see chicks getting into it easily.

Servo

oh yes son snap

beef

oh hell man I didn't know everyone thought so much of birthright

It seemed too "what if Peter Parker was Superman?"

I'll throw a vote for Superman for All Seasons

Garlic Bread

beef wrote: »

oh hell man I didn't know everyone thought so much of birthright

It seemed too "what if Peter Parker was Superman?"

What?

beef

The man portrayed in Birthright did not seem like Clark Kent.

He seemed too hip, urbane, and mouthy. More like Ultimate Peter Parker than Clark Kent.

Algertman

beef wrote: »

The man portrayed in Birthright did not seem like Clark Kent.

He seemed too hip, urbane, and mouthy. More like Ultimate Peter Parker than Clark Kent.

I agree

Still think it's a great story

not for beginners though.

Garlic Bread

How is an origin reboot "not for beginners", yet All Star Superman is fine?

noir_blood

Thanks guys for all your responses. I was leaning towards Identity or All Seaons, but hadn't even thought about Birthright. I remember reading the first two issues when it first came out, and it didn't strike me as great.

Garlic Bread

well it is great

see317

I like Kingdom Come and Red Son.

This might make me a terrible person, but I'm ok with that.
Also, the sequel to Kingdom Come (The Kingdom) was terrible, and should be avoided at all costs.

Dex Dynamo

I will join in on Recommending DC Universe: Stories of Alan Moore trade, it has some fantastic stuff.

Htown

Kingdom Come is really good. Red Son is good but overrated.

NEITHER of them are great for a newbie.

see317

Htown wrote: »

Kingdom Come is really good. Red Son is good but overrated.

NEITHER of them are great for a newbie.

I assumed that as Noir is looking for a gift for a girlfriend whose favorite character is Superman, she's probably not a complete newcomer to the setting.

Don't really see why they wouldn't be for newbies anyway. They seem to be fairly self-contained stories and any additional details that aren't filled in for you can be wikied with little effort.

Hooraydiation

If she read comics, chances are she'd have already read every major story about Superman by now.

humble

i read comics and i havent

my favorite character is batman and i havent read every major story

ive never read knightfall

Hooraydiation

Superman's different. If you'll look at the thread, you'll see that everyone is just repeating the same handful of books again and again. It's a lot easier to read every good Superman story than every good Batman story because there just aren't that many exceptional Superman stories to read, and I imagine a fan of the character would know that and have gone over the best by now.

deadguydrew

All Star Superman has been praised as one of the best titles out their at the moment, though I haven't read much of it personally. I always liked Superman: Whatever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow, but Red Son was also fairly good for a Superman elseworld.