Superman (New 52 Version) Reading Order
This reading order is designed to give an outline of major storylines featuring the New 52 version of Superman (Clark Kent/Kal-El) throughout DC Comics. It may not encompass every one of his appearances, but is an outline of the major ones and the stories that affect them.
The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.
Note: This reading order is only for the New 52 version of Superman. For the main version of Superman see our “Superman Reading Order“.
New 52
At the beginning of the New 52, the DC Universe was reset. In this new continuity, almost every character’s history was wiped clean and they were reintroduced to the DC Universe. However, two distinct versions of Superman, one with a wiped history and one without, were introduced over the course of this era.
Throughout this time period, the majority of the focus was placed on the New 52 version of Superman, the one with a wiped history. This version was depicted as younger and more rash than Superman is traditionally depicted. In addition, a relationship with Wonder Woman, a new power, and a tumultuous “Final Days” story arc help define this version.
This version of Superman is introduced through the Action Comics series, which explains the revised version of his origin. From here, his adventures primarily play out through both Action Comics and Superman. He also has a starring role in the Batman/Superman, the Justice League and the Superman/Wonder Woman series and makes plenty of smaller appearances in other comics. Finally, Superman’s role in this era comes to an end in the Superman: The Final Days of Superman (Reading Order) crossover event.
Also make sure to see ComicBookWire’s full “Superman Reading Order“.
Essential | Extra | ||
Issue | Collection | Issue | Collection |
Action Comics #1 | Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel | ||
Action Comics #2 | |||
Action Comics #3 | |||
Action Comics #4 | |||
Action Comics #5 | |||
Action Comics #6 | |||
Action Comics #7 | |||
Action Comics #8 | |||
Action Comics Annual #1 | Action Comics Vol. 2: Bulletproof | ||
Action Comics #9 | |||
Action Comics #10 | |||
Action Comics #11 | |||
Action Comics #12 | |||
Action Comics #0 | |||
Action Comics #13 | Action Comics Vol. 3: At the End of Days | ||
Action Comics #14 | |||
Action Comics #15 | |||
Action Comics #16 | |||
Action Comics #17 | |||
Action Comics #18 | |||
Action Comics #19 | Action Comics Vol. 4: Hybrid (Review) | ||
Action Comics #20 | |||
Action Comics #21 | |||
Justice League #1 | Justice League Vol. 1: Origin (Review) | ||
Justice League #2 | |||
Justice League #3 | |||
Justice League #4 | |||
Justice League #5 | |||
Justice League #6 | |||
Justice League Reading Order: Justice League #7 - Green Lantern #14 1 | |||
Supergirl #1 | Supergirl Vol. 1: Last Daughter of Krypton (Review) 2 | ||
Supergirl #2 | |||
Supergirl #3 | |||
Superman #1 | Superman Vol. 1: What Price Tomorrow? (Review) | ||
Superman #2 | |||
Superman #3 | |||
Superman #4 | |||
Superman #5 | |||
Superman #6 | |||
OMAC #7 | OMAC Vol. 1: OMACtivate! (Review) 3 | ||
B: TDK #5 | Batman: The Dark Knight Vol. 1: Knight Terrors (Review) 4 | ||
B: TDK #6 | |||
B: TDK #7 | |||
Superman #7 | Superman Vol. 2: Secrets and Lies (Review) | ||
Superman #8 | |||
Superman #9 | |||
Superman #10 | |||
Superman #11 | |||
Superman #12 | |||
Superman Annual #1 | |||
Superman #0 | Superman Vol. 3: Fury at Worlds End (Review) | ||
Superman: H'el on Earth (Review) (Reading Order) 5 | |||
Justice League Reading Order: Justice League #13 - Justice League #20 1 | |||
Superman Unchained #1 | Superman Unchained (Review) | ||
Superman Unchained #2 | |||
Superman Unchained #3 | |||
Superman Unchained #4 | |||
Superman Unchained #5 | |||
Superman Unchained #6 | |||
Superman Unchained #7 | |||
Superman Unchained #8 | |||
Superman Unchained #9 | |||
Justice League Reading Order: Trinity War - Justice League of America #9 and Forever Evil #7 1 | |||
ToS: TPS #18 | ToS: TPS Vol. 3: The Crack in Creation (Review) 6 | ||
Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special #1 | Action Comics Vol. 4: Hybrid (Review) 7 | ||
Superman #18 | Superman Vol. 4: Psi-War (Review) | ||
Superman #19 | |||
Superman #20 | |||
Superman #21 | |||
Superman Annual #2 | |||
Superman #22 | |||
Superman #23 | |||
Action Comics #24 | |||
Superman #24 | |||
Action Comics Annual #2 | Superman: Krypton Returns (Review) (Reading Order) | ||
Superboy #25 | |||
Supergirl #25 | |||
Superman #25 | |||
Action Comics #22 | Action Comics Vol. 4: Hybrid (Review) | ||
Action Comics #23 | |||
Swamp Thing #20 | Swamp Thing Vol. 4: Seeder (Review) 8 | ||
Superman/Wonder Woman Reading Order: SM/WW #1 - 6 9 | |||
Batman/Superman Reading Order: Batman/Superman #1 - Batman/Superman #10 10 | |||
All-Star Western #27 | All-Star Western Vol. 5: Man Out of Time (Review) 8 | ||
Superman #26 | Superman Vol. 5: Under Fire (Review) | ||
Superman #27 | |||
Superman #28 | |||
Superman #29 | |||
Action Comics #25 | Action Comics Vol. 5: What Lies Beneath (Review) 11 | ||
Action Comics #26 | |||
Action Comics #27 | |||
Action Comics #28 | |||
Action Comics #29 | |||
Secret Origins #1 | |||
Red Lanterns #29 | Red Lanterns Vol. 5: Atrocities (Review) 12 | ||
Superman: Doomed (Review) (Reading Order) 13 | |||
Convergence #0 | Convergence (Review) (Reading Order) 14 | ||
Convergence #6 | |||
Convergence #7 | |||
Convergence #8 | |||
Supergirl #36 | Supergirl Vol. 6: Crucible (Review) 15 | ||
Batman/Superman Reading Order: Batman/Superman #12 - Batman/Superman: Futures End #1 10 | |||
Lobo #4 | Lobo Vol. 1: Targets (Review) 3 | ||
Superman/Wonder Woman Reading Order: Wonder Woman: Futures End #1 - SM/WW #17 9 | |||
Superman #32 | Superman: The Men of Tomorrow (Review) | ||
Superman #33 | |||
Superman #34 | |||
Superman #35 | |||
Superman #36 | |||
Superman #37 | |||
Superman #38 | |||
Superman #39 | |||
Action Comics #36 | Action Comics Vol. 7: Under the Skin (Review) | ||
Action Comics #37 | |||
Action Comics #38 | |||
Action Comics #39 | |||
Action Comics #40 | |||
Action Comics: Futures End #1 | Action Comics Vol. 7: Under the Skin (Review) 16 | ||
Deathstroke #9 | Deathstroke Vol. 2: God Killer (Review) 3 | ||
Deathstroke #10 | |||
Justice League Reading Order: Justice League #30 - Batman and Robin #33 and Batman and Robin #39 - #40 1 | |||
Justice League #41 | Justice League Vol. 7: Darkseid War Part 1 (Review) (Reading Order) | ||
Justice League #42 | |||
Justice League #43 | |||
Justice League #44 | |||
Justice League #45 | Justice League Vol. 7: Darkseid War Part 2 (Review) | ||
Justice League #46 | |||
Justice League: Darkseid War: Superman #1 | Justice League Darkseid War: Power of the Gods (Review) | ||
Justice League #47 | Justice League Vol. 7: Darkseid War Part 2 (Review) (Reading Order) | ||
Justice League #48 | |||
Justice League #49 | |||
Justice League #50 | |||
Secret Six #10 | Secret Six Vol. 2: The Gauntlet (Review) 3 | ||
Superman #40 | Superman Vol. 1: Before Truth (Review) | ||
Batman #35 | Batman Vol. 7: Endgame (Review) 4 | ||
Batman #36 | |||
Superman #41 | Superman Vol. 1: Before Truth (Review) | ||
Superman #42 | |||
Superman #43 | |||
Superman #44 | |||
DC Sneak Peek: Superman | |||
DC Sneak Peek: Action Comics | Action Comics Vol. 8: Truth (Review) | ||
Action Comics #41 | |||
Action Comics #42 | |||
Action Comics #43 | |||
Action Comics #44 | |||
Sinestro #18 | Sinestro Vol. 4: The Fall of Sinestro (Review) 3 | ||
Sinestro #19 | |||
Sinestro #20 | |||
Sinestro #21 | |||
Martian Manhunter #1 | Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Epiphany (Review) 3 | ||
Martian Manhunter #2 | |||
Doomed #4 | Doomed 8 | ||
Doomed #5 | |||
Doomed #6 | |||
SM/WW #18 | Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 4: Dark Truth (Review) | ||
SM/WW #19 | |||
SM/WW #20 | |||
SM/WW #21 | |||
SM/WW #22 | |||
SM/WW #23 | |||
SM/WW #24 | |||
Batman/Superman #21 | Batman/Superman Vol. 5: Truth Hurts (Review) | ||
Batman/Superman #22 | |||
Batman/Superman #23 | |||
Batman/Superman #24 | |||
Batman #43 | Batman Vol. 8: Superheavy (Review) 4 | ||
Detective Comics #45 | Detective Comics Vol. 8: Blood of Heroes 17 | ||
Detective Comics #46 | |||
Grayson Annual #2 | Grayson Vol. 3: Nemesis (Review) 18 | ||
Action Comics #45 | Action Comics Vol. 8: Truth (Review) | ||
Action Comics #46 | |||
Action Comics #47 | |||
Batman/Superman #25 | Batman/Superman Vol. 5: Truth Hurts (Review) | ||
Batman/Superman #26 | |||
Batman/Superman #27 | |||
Superman #45 | Superman Vol. 2: Return to Glory (Review) | ||
Superman #46 | |||
Superman #47 | |||
SM/WW Annual #2 | Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 5: A Savage End (Review) 19 | ||
Superman: Savage Dawn (Review) (Reading Order) | |||
DC Sneak Peek: Starfire | Starfire Vol. 1: Welcome Home (Review) 8 | ||
Starfire #12 | Starfire Vol. 2: A Matter of Time (Review) 8 | ||
Batman/Superman Reading Order: Batman/Superman #28 - Batman/Superman #30 10 | |||
Superman/Wonder Woman Reading Order: SM/WW #30 - SM/WW #31 9 | |||
Superman: The Final Days of Superman (Review) (Reading Order) | |||
Batman/Superman Reading Order: Batman/Superman #33 - Batman/Superman #34 10 | |||