Alright I'm currently in the game of reorganizing my current Superman titles and I have come across something that I've tended to ignore up to this point.  As of now I just cannot run from it any longer, for its very existence is gnawing at my brain.  It was something that appeared on major Superman titles from about January of 1991 to January of 2002.  I'm sure you all remember it too.  Recall those triangles that showed the year at the top and a specific number within its field? It eventually evolved into a S-crest by the time this numbering system finished.  It usually appeared at the top right or left corners of the comic front during this time and to this date I STILL do not understand why it was put into use.  Here's an image refresher if you don't get what I mean.  

 
    See? Up there under the Superman title, an Inverted triangle, probably to seem like the El Family crest, but with a "1991" and a "1." This numbering system seemed to be in place with the major Superman titles from 1991 to 2002 (i.e. Action Comics, Adventures of Superman, Superman, Superman: Man of Steel, Superman: Man of Tomorrow). It would start with number one in January for one title and end anywhere from 48-49 by the time December came around.  And these numbers irk me because I really do not understand what their point is.  Are they meant to determine what part of the month the issue came out since Superman had nearly 4-5 monthly running titles each month throughout the nineties?  If someone can try and explain it to me, that would be great.  I know more recently the Superman titles took on this numbering system with green and red inverted crests during the whole New Krypton/World against S story arcs but I could understand the point of those.  These numbered crests from 1991 to 2002 I simply DO NOT understand.  Someone with expertise, help!