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Help me pick a Superman story

noir_bloodnoir_blood Registered User regular
edited November 2007 in Graphic Violence
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.

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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    Garlic Bread on
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    HooraydiationHooraydiation Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Having established that her favorite character is Superman, does she already have any Superman books?

    Anyway, check out Superman for All Seasons.

    Hooraydiation on
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    SentrySentry Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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)

    Sentry on
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    wrote:
    When I was a little kid, I always pretended I was the hero,' Skip said.
    'Fuck yeah, me too. What little kid ever pretended to be part of the lynch-mob?'
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    Garlic Bread on
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    SentrySentry Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    Sentry on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    wrote:
    When I was a little kid, I always pretended I was the hero,' Skip said.
    'Fuck yeah, me too. What little kid ever pretended to be part of the lynch-mob?'
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    Garlic Bread on
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    NogsNogs Crap, crap, mega crap. Crap, crap, mega crap.Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    All.

    Star.

    Superman.

    Nogs on
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    humblehumble Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    secret identity

    its so good

    humble on
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    Nogs wrote: »
    All.

    Star.

    Superman.

    it might be a bit much

    Garlic Bread on
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    NogsNogs Crap, crap, mega crap. Crap, crap, mega crap.Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Keith wrote: »
    Nogs wrote: »
    All.

    Star.

    Superman.

    it might be a bit much

    $13 on amazon.

    Nogs on
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    Nogs wrote: »
    Keith wrote: »
    Nogs wrote: »
    All.

    Star.

    Superman.

    it might be a bit much

    $13 on amazon.

    i meant the content

    Garlic Bread on
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    NogsNogs Crap, crap, mega crap. Crap, crap, mega crap.Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    Nogs on
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    bobgorilabobgorila Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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?)

    bobgorila on
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    humblehumble Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    fuck yea another secret identity vote

    in your faces other superman stories

    humble on
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    MunchMunch Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    Munch on
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    AlgertmanAlgertman Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    Algertman on
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    humblehumble Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    humble on
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    JordynJordyn Really, Commander? Probing Uranus. Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Get her the S:TAS DVDs.

    Jordyn on
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    deadonthestreetdeadonthestreet Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Kingdom Come? Maybe?

    deadonthestreet on
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    AlgertmanAlgertman Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    Algertman on
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    delphinusdelphinus Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    delphinus on
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    humblehumble Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    humble on
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    wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Yes to Birthright. Also, I now need to get Secret Identity.

    wwtMask on
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    ManonvonSuperockManonvonSuperock Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    ManonvonSuperock on
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    ServoServo Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2007
    Supermansmetropoliscover.jpg

    oh yes son snap

    Servo on
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    beefbeef Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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

    beef on
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    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?

    Garlic Bread on
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    beefbeef Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    beef on
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    AlgertmanAlgertman Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    Algertman on
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    How is an origin reboot "not for beginners", yet All Star Superman is fine?

    Garlic Bread on
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    noir_bloodnoir_blood Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    noir_blood on
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    Garlic BreadGarlic Bread i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a bitch i'm a Registered User, Disagreeable regular
    edited November 2007
    well it is great

    Garlic Bread on
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    see317see317 Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    see317 on
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    Dex DynamoDex Dynamo Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    I will join in on Recommending DC Universe: Stories of Alan Moore trade, it has some fantastic stuff.

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    HtownHtown Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    Kingdom Come is really good. Red Son is good but overrated.

    NEITHER of them are great for a newbie.

    Htown on
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    see317see317 Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    see317 on
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    HooraydiationHooraydiation Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    If she read comics, chances are she'd have already read every major story about Superman by now.

    Hooraydiation on
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    humblehumble Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    i read comics and i havent

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

    ive never read knightfall

    humble on
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    HooraydiationHooraydiation Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

    Hooraydiation on
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    deadguydrewdeadguydrew Registered User regular
    edited November 2007
    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.

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