Following the conclusion of the Flashpoint limited series (see Reading Order), the DC Universe has been reset to offer a new entry point to readers. Various changes were made in order to give new takes on familiar characters and attract newcomers.
What does it mean for Superman? We left behind Superman from the Modern era in favor of a younger and brasher version of the character. Superman from New 52 is not married to Lois Lane and his adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent have died. But somewhere still exist another version of Superman who will find his way back to us, helped by Convergence and Rebirth…
During the New 52 period (see the full Reading Order), Superman has been written by Grant Morrison (Action Comics), George Perez (Superman), Greg Pak (Batman/Superman, Action Comics), Charles Soule, and Peter Tomasi (Superman/Wonder Woman), but also Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Fabian Nicieza, Scott Lobdell, Frank Hannah, Mike Johnson, and Gene Luen Yang.
Beware, the New 52 Superman is not a very popular Superman among readers!
Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order
After the classic All-Star Superman, Grant Morrison is back on Superman to write a new origin story with Action Comics, establishing the character’s history in Prime Earth continuity.
- Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel
Collects Action Comics (Vol.2) #1-8 - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 2: Bulletproof
Collects Superman: Action Comics #9-12, 0 and Annual #1. - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 3: At the End of Days
Collects Action Comics Vol. 2 #13–18
Also Collected in Omnibus:
- Superman by Grant Morrison
Action Comics (vol. 2) #0–18, Annual #1
Superman is also part of the Justice League during this time (see the Justice League New 52 Reading Order). It all begins with Justice League Vol. 1: Origin, which was designed to be the first book to read in the New 52.
- Superman Vol. 1: What Price Tomorrow?
Collects Superman Vol. 3 #1–6 - Superman Vol. 2: Secrets and Lies
Collects Superman #7-12, Superman Annual #1.
The Superman family (with Superboy and Supergirl) go head to head with a powerful Kryptonian being known as H’el in the crossover Superman: H’el on Earth.
- Superman: H’el on Earth (event)
Collects Superman Vol. 3 #13–17, Superboy Vol. 5 #14–17, Supergirl Vol. 6 #14–17.- All Superman issues collected here are also reprinted in Superman Vol. 3: Fury at World’s End (which also collects Superman #0)
Written by Scott Snyder and penciled by Jim Lee, Superman Unchained is a mostly stand-alone story set during the New 52 era. As there is a reference to Superman Vol. 2 and Action Comics Vol. 4, you can read it here.
- Superman Unchained
Collects Superman Unchained #1–9
- Superman Vol. 4: Psi-War
Collects Superman Vol. 3 #18–24, Superman Annual Vol. 3 #2
This is mostly where the event Trinity War is launched, which will lead to Forever Evil (see reading order). This is an optional read.
In this era, Superman develops a relationship with Wonder Woman, as indicated in Action Comics Vol. 4. For those interested, it started in Justice League Vol. 2: The Villain’s Journey and will be explored in the title Superman/Wonder Woman.
- Superman: Action Comics Vol. 4: Hybrid
Collects Action Comics Vol. 2 #18–24, stories from Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine’s Day Special #1 and Superman Annual Vol. 3 #2
A new crossover in the Superman Family, Krypton Returns is a follow-up to the events of H’El on Earth. H’El has returned to Krypton’s past in order to change history.
- Superman: Krypton Returns
(event)
Collects Superboy Vol. 5 #0, 25, Supergirl Vol. 6 #0, 25, Superman Vol. 3 #0, 25, 23.3, Action Comics Annual Vol. 2 #2. All those issues can be found in other trades. - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 5: What Lies Beneath
Collects Action Comics Vol. 2 #25–29, stories from Secret Origins Vol. 3 #1 - Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Power Couple
Collects Superman/Wonder Woman #1–6 - Batman/Superman Vol. 1: Cross World
Collects Batman/Superman #1–4, Justice League Vol. 2 #23.1 - Batman/Superman Vol. 2: Game Over
Collects Batman/Superman #5–9, Batman/Superman Annual #1, Worlds’ Finest #20–21
You will find in some collected editions a few Futures End tie-ins, an eleven-month weekly comic book miniseries set five years in The New 52’s future. If you want to know more about that particular event, you can consult our reading order. The end of this event ties into Convergence (see below), but it’s more than optional.
After going all-out fighting a brutal battle to stop Doomsday, Superman undergoes a transformation that puts the world and all those he cares about at risk in another Supes crossover in Superman: Doomed (reading order).
- Superman: Doomed (event)
Collects Superman: Doomed #1–2, Action Comics Vol. 2 #30–35, Superman/Wonder Woman #7–12, Superman Vol. 3 #30, Action Comics Annual Vol. 2 #3, Superman/Wonder Woman Annual #1, Supergirl Vol. 6 #34–35, Batman/Superman #11- All Superman/Wonder Woman issues collected here are also reprinted in Superman Wonder Woman Vol. 2
- All Action Comics issues collected here are also reprinted in Action Comics Vol. 6
- Superman Vol. 5: Under Fire
Collects Superman Vol. 3 #25–31. Most of the issues take place before Doomed, except for the last two. - Batman/Superman Vol. 3: Second Chance
Collects Batman/Superman #10–15 - Superman Vol. 6: The Men of Tomorrow
Collects Superman Vol. 3 #32–39 - Batman/Superman Vol. 4: Siege
Collects Batman/Superman #16-20, Batman/Superman Annual #1 And Batman/Superman: Futures End #1! - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 7 – Under the Skin
Collects Action Comics Vol. 2 #36–40, Action Comics: Futures End #1 - Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Casualties of War
Collects Superman/Wonder Woman #13–18
Superman’s secret is exposed in this new Superman crossover! Our superhero embarks on a journey across the United States, seeking to rediscover his heroic nature in Truth.
- Superman Vol. 1: Before Truth
Collects Superman #40-44 And The 8-Page Superman Story From Divergence: Fcbd Special Edition #1. - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 8: Truth
Collects Action Comics #41-47 And DC Sneak Peek: Action Comics #1. - Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 4: Dark Truth
Collects Superman/Wonder Woman #18-24 - Batman/Superman Vol. 5: Truth Hurts
Collects Batman/Superman #21-27
Convergence was a two-month event (full reading order here) spanning from April to May 2015, replacing DC Comics’ regular line of comics while the publisher moves their offices from New York City to Burbank California. The miniseries Superman: Lois and Clark is a follow-up to those events and an important prelude to the Rebirth era.
- Convergence (event)
Collects Convergence #0-8 - Convergence: Superman #1-2
Collected in Convergence: Flashpoint: Book One - Superman: Lois and Clark
Collects Superman: Lois And Clark #1-8
Following Superman’s showdown with Vandal Savage in the 2015 Superman Annual #3 and the event Truth, Kal’El has become desperate to regain his powers. Time is running out and his enemies are determined to destroy him, so Superman must try the unthinkable in Savage Dawn.
- Superman: Savage Dawn (event)
Collects Superman Annual #3, Action Comics #48-50, Superman/Wonder Woman #25-27 and Superman #48-50. All those issues can be found in other trades.
- Superman Vol. 2: Return to Glory
Collects Superman #45-52 And Superman Annual #3 - Batman/Superman Vol. 6: Universe’s Finest
Collects Batman/Superman #28-34 And Batman/Superman Annual #3 - Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 5: A Savage End
Collects Superman/Wonder Woman #25-31 - Superman: Action Comics Vol. 9: Last Rites
Collects Action Comics #48-52.
We are at the end of the New 52 era and this end of this version of Superman with his last story The Final Days of Superman. Before going in, you can read, though optional, the Darkseid War event, as the end leads directly into those final days. Also, events from Justice League of America: Power and Glory are referenced in Final Days.
- Superman: The Final Days of Superman (event)
Collects Superman #51-52, Action Comics #51-52, Batman/Superman #31-32 and Superman/Wonder Woman #28-29.All those issues can be found in other trades.
What to read after Superman/Action Comics New 52?
This is the beginning of a new continuity with Rebirth and the return of a more popular Superman, married to Lois Lane and father of Jon Kent, with Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s run (and Dan Jurgens on Action Comics).