15 Years Ago, DC’s Greatest Writer Gave Superman the Best Book of a Hated Era (and It Still Holds Up)

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Superman is currently enjoying a strong position in the superhero landscape, but it’s been a journey to get here. His story is one of the most fascinating in comic book history. For many years, he was the most popular superhero, but Marvel eventually surpassed DC in popularity. The first significant changes to the character came with the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, and over the last 41 years, we’ve seen several different interpretations of Superman as DC has repeatedly revamped its universe. The biggest overhaul for both Superman and DC Comics in recent years happened in 2011 with the launch of the New 52.

When DC relaunched their universe with the New 52, Superman got a fresh start with a new backstory and world. We were all so excited! They put Grant Morrison – arguably their best writer – on Action Comics, which was supposed to be one of their biggest titles. It really felt like things were going to be incredible for the character and for us fans. But looking back now, knowing how things turned out, the New 52 is actually considered one of the weakest periods for Superman. Thankfully, Morrison’s run on Action Comics still holds up as one of the very best Superman series ever written.

Morrison’s Action Comics Gave the New 52 a Perfect Superman

As a lifelong DC fan, I have to say the New 52 just didn’t work. It feels like a legendary misstep, and honestly, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where it went wrong. It wasn’t a natural evolution, like the years of planning that went into Crisis on Infinite Earths. The New 52 felt rushed, a snap decision that created a lot of internal issues. There wasn’t a clear long-term vision, and you could really see that in the stories. Even with that messy backdrop, though, Grant Morrison still managed to deliver some incredible work with Superman – they always find a way to shine!

Grant Morrison, the writer behind the acclaimed All-Star Superman, is a lifelong Superman fan, making them an ideal choice to relaunch the character as part of a new DC Universe. Morrison aimed to blend the classic, relatable Superman of the Golden Age with the imaginative, sometimes bizarre elements of the Silver Age. Their 19-issue run on Action Comics featured quirky concepts like Fifth Dimensional imps, retro characters like Captain Comet and the Legion of Super-Heroes, and deep dives into Superman’s Kryptonian lore – including Krypto and the Phantom Zone – all woven together in unexpected ways.

Grant Morrison was a key innovator for DC Comics in the 80s and 90s, consistently finding ways to refresh classic characters. Their work on Action Comics successfully brought Superman back to the forefront of the comic book world. The story jumped forward in time – beginning with Superman’s early days as a hero and then moving to the present – but it always felt like a story about a young hero growing into their role. Through this run, Morrison explored what makes Superman special and his importance within the superhero genre.

Action Comics #9 (Volume 2) stands out as a truly unique Superman story. It reintroduced Calvin Ellis, a Superman inspired by Barack Obama from the alternate Earth-23, but its core theme was actually about how the Superman concept was taken from its original creators and used to promote ideas they didn’t support. Writer Grant Morrison openly criticized DC Comics and Warner Brothers, and was reportedly paid to do so. This 19-issue arc functions as one continuous, complex story that demands close attention, with a narrative that constantly loops back on itself. Ultimately, the entire run demonstrated that Superman could thrive in a modern context while maintaining a classic, traditional approach, and it did so perfectly.

Morrison’s Action Comics Is the Only New 52 Superman You Need to Read

While many periods of Superman comics are considered excellent, the New 52 run doesn’t rank among them. DC’s attempt to update the character lacked a clear creative direction beyond the ideas of Grant Morrison. The writers aimed to recapture the spirit of Superman’s classic Golden and Silver Age stories, hoping to find a fresh voice for the hero. Their work on Action Comics (Vol. 2) #0-18 successfully crafted a version of Superman that felt both modern and respectful of his history.

Most Superman fans don’t have many positive things to say about the “New 52” era. Since it ended in 2016, DC Comics has been working to make up for what many consider mistakes made during that time. It’s especially frustrating because Grant Morrison created a fantastic, updated version of Superman in their Action Comics run – a version with a lot of potential that could have been really developed. Instead, different writers took the character in numerous directions, none of which felt as strong or fitting as Morrison’s vision.

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2026-03-09 00:14