Superman is a character that I think very few writers can write well. It seems like many creators struggle to find a way to make interesting stories with him because of how powerful he is, so what we often get are mediocre stories as a result. But Superman is a very interesting character when the right writer is behind him. This is a list of some of my favorite Superman stories. There are others that I really like, but these are probably my absolute favorites.
Alan Moore wrote this brilliant ending to the Pre-Crisis Superman's story. I love his take on all the different characters in story.
This is another brilliant Alan Moore tale. Batman, Robin (Jason Todd), and Wonder Woman are heading down to the Fortress of Solitude to celebrate Superman's birthday. When they arrive they find him in a trance with a plant stuck his chest. Mongul gave Superman this plant, which has Superman believing that Krypton was never destroyed. Spot on characterization for the entire cast of characters. Superman's dream world is a very poignant one. This story was adapted into an episode of Justice League Unlimited, and it was a very good episode (but the comic definitely trumps it).
This is the story of what Superman would do if he found out he only had one more year to live. This "ending" for Superman is nearly as good as Alan Moore's ending for the Pre-Crisis Superman. This has a lot of great sci-fi action, as well as many moving character moments.
A lot of people thought this event was too gimmicky, but I loved it. A creature comes along that can finally beat Superman. Then when he does, the aftermath is just as interesting to read about, from the funeral and memorial service and different friends and colleagues reaction to Superman dying, to all the different Superman impostors that rose up to take his place. Then of course, it was very fun to see Superman himself return when he did. Also, it's funny seeing Lex Luthor with a head full of hair and a beard (which he has because he transferred himself over to a clone body and is pretending to be his own son, Lex Luthor, Jr.... but I digress).
This is an amazing storyline where Metropolis is in ruins. And of course it has to end with a climatic battle between Superman and some Kryptonian battle armor being controlled by Lex Luthor (who is currently a vegetable).
The three comics in this three parter are among the first comics that I ever read. I love all three of them. They are very well told stories that revolve around a kryptonite ring that Lex Luthor use to own and Intergang's plot to kill a reporter. This is the story that ends with the classic moment where Superman gives Batman the kryptonite ring.
Mxy forces Superman and Flash (Wally West) to race. It's a simple story told very well. This, like The Dark Knight Over Metropolis, was also among the first comics that I ever read.
This was a company-wide crossover, but it was very Superman-centric. President Lex Luthor mobilizes Earth's heroes against a threat to many worlds, including Earth, named Imperiex. Superman valiantly leads these heroes, but Luthor also makes alliances with people like Darkseid and Braniac 13, which complicates matters. It's a great story, though it may have been stretched out a little longer than it should have been, and it cost a pretty penny if you tried to collect the whole thing when it was coming out.
Great story written in a time when anti-heroes and killers were starting to grow more popular than the clear good guys like Superman. Though I do love a good story about an anti-hero, this is a really good and really entertaining response to that.
Superman vs. Doomsday, Round 2. Superman's fight with Doomsday allows him to get some closure, and he learns Doomsday's origin in the process. Describing it, it sounds kind of dumb, but I really enjoyed it.
