5 Greatest Eras of Superman in DC Comics

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Superman is widely considered the original superhero and remains incredibly well-known. He was once the most popular character in the world, and even today, most people recognize him, even if they haven’t read his stories. DC Comics has published Superman’s adventures for nearly 90 years, and these stories have served as the foundation for all adaptations of the character in movies, TV, and other media. Over those decades, Superman has gone through many different interpretations, each offering some of the greatest superhero stories ever told – and some of those eras have even fundamentally changed the world of comic books.

Superman’s history in comics is full of amazing stories and has dramatically shaped the character over the years, cementing his place as a top-tier hero. Here are five periods of Superman comics that stand out as particularly fantastic, offering readers incredible narratives and concepts.

5) Bronze Age Era

The Bronze Age of comics, lasting from 1970 to 1986, ended with the hugely popular Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline. Unlike the previous Silver Age, comics during this period aimed for a slightly older audience and tackled more mature and serious themes. This was true for Superman as well. Titles like Superman, Action Comics, and Superman Family presented a different, more thoughtful side of the character than fans had seen before. The collected editions of Superman in the Bronze Age showcase some of the era’s best stories, highlighting what made it special. This period also brought back the Earth-Two version of Superman and introduced the character Power Girl. While many writers contributed to the era, Elliot S! Maggin’s stories are particularly well-regarded. Fans should also seek out stories by Alan Moore, including Superman Annual #11, DC Comics Presents #85, and his landmark story, “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”, which marked the final tale of the Earth-One Superman.

4) Post-Infinite Crisis Era

The storyline Infinite Crisis reversed the effects of the original Crisis, bringing back many classic ideas from the Silver and Bronze Ages of comics, particularly for Superman. Immediately following this, Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek took over writing Action Comics and Superman, beginning with the team-up story “Up, Up, and Away!”. Their run on these titles led to some highly-regarded Superman stories, including “Camelot Falls”, “Last Son”, “Superman and the Legion of Superheroes”, “Brainiac”, Superman: Secret Origin, and the New Krypton storyline. This era of Superman comics lasted from 2006 until 2011, when the New 52 began. During this time, fans also enjoyed All-Star Superman, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, and Final Crisis itself, which heavily featured Superman. Notably, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3-D is considered one of the best Superman stories ever written.

3) The Early Triangle Era

Following the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event, the ‘Superman’ and ‘Action Comics’ series were expanded with ‘Adventures of Superman’ (which continued the original ‘Superman’ numbering) and ‘Superman: Man of Steel.’ This marked the beginning of the ‘Triangle Era’ in 1991, which lasted until 2002, with the years 1991-1995 considered its peak. This period is famous for iconic storylines like “Death of Superman,” “World Without a Superman,” “Funeral for a Friend,” “Reign of the Supermen,” and “Return of Superman,” forming one of the most celebrated chapters in Superman’s history. A talented team of writers and artists – including Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Roger Stern, Tom Grummet, Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Jerry Ordway, and Jackson “Butch” Guice – contributed to these compelling stories. Editor Mike Carlin played a key role in ensuring all four titles maintained a consistent narrative. The era significantly boosted readership and remains highly regarded by Superman fans.

2) Current Era

The last nine years of Superman comics have been excellent, especially since DC Rebirth reintroduced the classic version of the character. While the Rebirth and Bendis eras (2016-2021) weren’t perfect, the comics since then have been truly special. The storylines beginning with Superman and the Authority and continuing through the “Warworld Saga” are shaping up to be modern classics. From 2021 onward, both Action Comics and Superman have been consistently amazing, thanks to a fantastic lineup of creators including Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Daniel Sampere, and many others. We’ve also seen great stories in titles like Superman: Up in the Sky, Dark Crisis, Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum, the current Supergirl series, and various one-shots and collections. Overall, the last four years of Superman comics have delivered consistently brilliant storytelling for fans of the Man of Steel.

1) Silver Age Era

Many fans consider the Silver Age (1956-1969) the peak of Superman’s history. These thirteen years were filled with incredibly imaginative stories and introduced iconic characters like Brainiac and Supergirl. The era was known for its outlandish science fiction themes and featured talented creators such as writer Otto Binder and artists Wayne Boring and Curt Swan, who produced some of the most memorable Superman artwork. The popularity of the time also led to spin-off titles for supporting characters like Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane, and a distinctive style of cover art. While some aspects of the Silver Age haven’t stood the test of time, it remains a beloved period for Superman enthusiasts.

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2025-12-25 19:13