What do you think?
Rate this book
Superman: The Triangle Era Omnibus #1
Superman: The Triangle Era Omnibus Vol. 1
The fan-favorite Superman stories that defined the ‘90s return in a massive omnibus collection!
The 1990s saw a new wave of creative vitality and fan interest in comics’ original superhero, with four tightly connected monthly series bringing the Man of Steel to new heights: Superman, Adventures of Superman, Action Comics, and Superman: The Man of Steel.
These four series, while continuing to retain their own distinct voices, worked closely in tandem with each other, telling a detailed larger narrative of Superman’s never-ending battle. In turn, DC added numbered triangle icons to each cover, indicating to readers exactly where in the story a given Superman issue would fall—ushering in what readers fondly remember as “the triangle era.”
Following years of demand, these revered stories return with Superman: The Triangle Era Omnibus Vol. 1, a comprehensive collection of the first year of these comics from creators including Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, Jon Bogdanove, Bob McLeod, and more. Stories include “Time and Time Again,” “Blackout,” and Clark Kent revealing his secret identity to Lois Lane!
This volume collects Superman #49-64; Adventures of Superman #472-486; Action Comics #659-673; Superman: The Man of Steel #1-8.
The 1990s saw a new wave of creative vitality and fan interest in comics’ original superhero, with four tightly connected monthly series bringing the Man of Steel to new heights: Superman, Adventures of Superman, Action Comics, and Superman: The Man of Steel.
These four series, while continuing to retain their own distinct voices, worked closely in tandem with each other, telling a detailed larger narrative of Superman’s never-ending battle. In turn, DC added numbered triangle icons to each cover, indicating to readers exactly where in the story a given Superman issue would fall—ushering in what readers fondly remember as “the triangle era.”
Following years of demand, these revered stories return with Superman: The Triangle Era Omnibus Vol. 1, a comprehensive collection of the first year of these comics from creators including Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, Jon Bogdanove, Bob McLeod, and more. Stories include “Time and Time Again,” “Blackout,” and Clark Kent revealing his secret identity to Lois Lane!
This volume collects Superman #49-64; Adventures of Superman #472-486; Action Comics #659-673; Superman: The Man of Steel #1-8.
1376 pages, Hardcover
First published December 17, 1991
26 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Roger Stern
1,556 books111 followersRoger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 15, 2024
Superman in the early '90s! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... MEDIOCRE!
SEE! Superman battle a host of dull, generic supervillains-- like Mr. Z, or the cyborg minions of Cerberus!
SEE! Comics that are structured like an endless soap opera, with a bazillion largely-unrelated subplots taking up space in EVERY ISSUE-- ensuring that nothing that happens in any of them ever feels all that significant!
SEE! The tedious overabundance of supporting characters and concepts-- like Professor Hamilton (the super-scientist), Thorn (the street-level vigilante), Gangbuster (the OTHER street-level vigilante), and CADMAS (the super-science headquarters filled with a bunch of OTHER characters you won't give a sh*t about, like Guardian and the Newsboy Legion)!
SEE! A corucopia of deeply problematic story elements-- like the introduction of authoritarian dirtbag Agent Liberty as unambiguously heroic; striking workers being presented as violent thugs; or Superman's discovery of an island native culture wherein the men are drawn as ape-like and inhuman, but the women are shamelessly sexualized and objectified!
Jesus Christ, this was a chore. There ARE good stories in here-- Lex Luthor's death, Red Kryptonite, Lex Luthor II, the return of the Eradicator-- but they're drowned out in a sea of nonsense and tedium, like Perry White meeting Clark's parents on a cruise ship, or the painfully long subplot about Jimmy Olsen becoming homeless (played exclusively for laughs!).
I swear, if I wasn't so in the tank for Superman, I never would have finished this thing.
SEE! Superman battle a host of dull, generic supervillains-- like Mr. Z, or the cyborg minions of Cerberus!
SEE! Comics that are structured like an endless soap opera, with a bazillion largely-unrelated subplots taking up space in EVERY ISSUE-- ensuring that nothing that happens in any of them ever feels all that significant!
SEE! The tedious overabundance of supporting characters and concepts-- like Professor Hamilton (the super-scientist), Thorn (the street-level vigilante), Gangbuster (the OTHER street-level vigilante), and CADMAS (the super-science headquarters filled with a bunch of OTHER characters you won't give a sh*t about, like Guardian and the Newsboy Legion)!
SEE! A corucopia of deeply problematic story elements-- like the introduction of authoritarian dirtbag Agent Liberty as unambiguously heroic; striking workers being presented as violent thugs; or Superman's discovery of an island native culture wherein the men are drawn as ape-like and inhuman, but the women are shamelessly sexualized and objectified!
Jesus Christ, this was a chore. There ARE good stories in here-- Lex Luthor's death, Red Kryptonite, Lex Luthor II, the return of the Eradicator-- but they're drowned out in a sea of nonsense and tedium, like Perry White meeting Clark's parents on a cruise ship, or the painfully long subplot about Jimmy Olsen becoming homeless (played exclusively for laughs!).
I swear, if I wasn't so in the tank for Superman, I never would have finished this thing.
July 18, 2025
(Zero spoiler review) 2.25/5
Maybe I'm just a crochety old cynic. In fact, I'm fairly sure I am, but this seemingly had everything going for it and still I come away vastly underwhelmed. Collecting material from the early 90's, or the halcyon days for so many comics. And with a veritable who's who of content creators, this should have been THE Superman stories to finally get me into the character proper, and yet, nothing. I tried, I swear I tried to like Big Blue, but his E tier villains, the cheesy ass stories that feel like they are still buried in the bronze age. The art that was always serviceable, yet never spectacular. The sheer absurdity of so much of this kept pushing me away.
Two incredibly major things happen in this book, and yet they come and go within a few pages with barely a repercussion felt thereafter. I would put it down to the weekly release schedule and multiple creators working across a 'supposedly' ongoing narrative, but the execution was laughable at times. I will always like Clarke and Lois' relationship, and the day to day of their lives will forever appeal to me more than any Superman shenanigan's, but this just fell flat for me. And given what other titles and publishers were doing in the early 90's, this just seems trite and silly by comparison. If you're looking fore evidence why many comic book readers don't dig Superman, this is exhibit A. 2.25/5
OmniBen.
Maybe I'm just a crochety old cynic. In fact, I'm fairly sure I am, but this seemingly had everything going for it and still I come away vastly underwhelmed. Collecting material from the early 90's, or the halcyon days for so many comics. And with a veritable who's who of content creators, this should have been THE Superman stories to finally get me into the character proper, and yet, nothing. I tried, I swear I tried to like Big Blue, but his E tier villains, the cheesy ass stories that feel like they are still buried in the bronze age. The art that was always serviceable, yet never spectacular. The sheer absurdity of so much of this kept pushing me away.
Two incredibly major things happen in this book, and yet they come and go within a few pages with barely a repercussion felt thereafter. I would put it down to the weekly release schedule and multiple creators working across a 'supposedly' ongoing narrative, but the execution was laughable at times. I will always like Clarke and Lois' relationship, and the day to day of their lives will forever appeal to me more than any Superman shenanigan's, but this just fell flat for me. And given what other titles and publishers were doing in the early 90's, this just seems trite and silly by comparison. If you're looking fore evidence why many comic book readers don't dig Superman, this is exhibit A. 2.25/5
OmniBen.
April 24, 2025
I grabbed Superman: The Triangle Era Omnibus Volume 1 after enjoying the Superman: Exile and Other Stories Omnibus. That post-Crisis voice was strong, but the Triangle Era takes things further. It’s the blueprint for a serialized, shared Superman universe, showing up before Death of Superman and laying the groundwork for what came next. I was hoping for a nostalgia hit, and it delivered.
If you like single-issue stories, this isn't for you. If you're expecting standout writing from standout writers, this isn't for you either. The main draw is the continuity. Four titles -- one story. The triangle numbering made it easy to follow, and each issue built on the last. It’s not nonstop action; sometimes it’s just Clark living his life, balancing work, relationships, and the occasional time travel or demonic crisis.
I heard Superman at this time had a "newsroom" format for how DC planned out stories. This explains why the writing stays surprisingly unified across creators like Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, and Jerry Ordway. Each team brings a different focus, but the voice stays steady. Clark and Lois get time to grow. The supporting cast is everywhere, and their stories matter. Sometimes Superman takes a backseat, but it works because Metropolis feels real.
The art shifts more noticeably. Flip through the book and the style changes jump out -- some smoother than others -- but they still work in their own ways. The amateur art historian in me loves Jerry Ordway’s classical linework, while the kid in me enjoys Jon Bogdanove’s big, energetic, Image-style splash. It’s inconsistent on the surface but held together by steady character design and tone.
This isn’t about single big moments. It’s about momentum. The rhythm of weekly storytelling and character-first continuity is what sticks -- Clark revealing his identity to Lois, subplots simmering for months before paying off. At over 1,300 pages, it’s a lot, but it reads easy. I’d plan to read a couple issues and end up flying through five or six. If you liked Exile or want a more grounded, connected take on Superman, this is a solid place to dive in.
If you like single-issue stories, this isn't for you. If you're expecting standout writing from standout writers, this isn't for you either. The main draw is the continuity. Four titles -- one story. The triangle numbering made it easy to follow, and each issue built on the last. It’s not nonstop action; sometimes it’s just Clark living his life, balancing work, relationships, and the occasional time travel or demonic crisis.
I heard Superman at this time had a "newsroom" format for how DC planned out stories. This explains why the writing stays surprisingly unified across creators like Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern, and Jerry Ordway. Each team brings a different focus, but the voice stays steady. Clark and Lois get time to grow. The supporting cast is everywhere, and their stories matter. Sometimes Superman takes a backseat, but it works because Metropolis feels real.
The art shifts more noticeably. Flip through the book and the style changes jump out -- some smoother than others -- but they still work in their own ways. The amateur art historian in me loves Jerry Ordway’s classical linework, while the kid in me enjoys Jon Bogdanove’s big, energetic, Image-style splash. It’s inconsistent on the surface but held together by steady character design and tone.
This isn’t about single big moments. It’s about momentum. The rhythm of weekly storytelling and character-first continuity is what sticks -- Clark revealing his identity to Lois, subplots simmering for months before paying off. At over 1,300 pages, it’s a lot, but it reads easy. I’d plan to read a couple issues and end up flying through five or six. If you liked Exile or want a more grounded, connected take on Superman, this is a solid place to dive in.
February 4, 2026
This collection certainly isn’t without its highlights, but for how much love and nostalgia people seem to have for the Triangle Era, I found this shockingly mediocre.
More often than not, the stories found within have “monster-of-the-week” style storytelling where plot and action have more importance than interesting character work. If there is an attempt at character, it’s to a supporting character with a side-plot that never actually intersects into a main-plot and exists merely to fill pages. Perry White and the Kents going on a cruise trip that takes up what feels like 20 issues. Why should I care that Jimmy Olsen doesn’t have a job? Why can’t Superman be the most interesting character in his own books?
I can maybe count on one hand the number of stories I would want to revisit here. Hopefully volume 2 is better…
More often than not, the stories found within have “monster-of-the-week” style storytelling where plot and action have more importance than interesting character work. If there is an attempt at character, it’s to a supporting character with a side-plot that never actually intersects into a main-plot and exists merely to fill pages. Perry White and the Kents going on a cruise trip that takes up what feels like 20 issues. Why should I care that Jimmy Olsen doesn’t have a job? Why can’t Superman be the most interesting character in his own books?
I can maybe count on one hand the number of stories I would want to revisit here. Hopefully volume 2 is better…
October 18, 2024
A solid beginning to the 90's era of Superman. Superman's powers are turned against him pretty often, he goes to space, through time, punches A LOT of bad guys and manages to still have time for his journalism career.
Somehow none of his journalist colleagues question why Clark is always disappearing or why he's built like a tank. It's pretty silly but entertaining reading.
Somehow none of his journalist colleagues question why Clark is always disappearing or why he's built like a tank. It's pretty silly but entertaining reading.
January 10, 2026
This Post-Crisis era of Superman has really started to wear thin for me. None of the stories feel at all consequential and everything starts to just bleed together. With so many episodic storylines throughout four different titles, I can envision maybe enjoying this era if I was pulling these issues as they came out, but binging them through an omnibus doesn’t make for a great read at all.
October 20, 2025
I have a ootnof thoughts about this volume, but the one I'll express is:
SUPERMAN #64 should he required reading for any comics person who, at some point in their life, has said they don't "get" Superman.
SUPERMAN #64 should he required reading for any comics person who, at some point in their life, has said they don't "get" Superman.
Want to read
October 26, 2024Libro de historietas con ISBN propio. Primer tomo de esta etapa en edición Omnibus.
November 19, 2024
A fun collection of Superman stories from the early 90s. This is my favourite era of Superman so I enjoyed this thoroughly.
January 4, 2025
A fine read if you like Superman, I didn’t grow up with these stories though so this is my first time going into them. Feel like a lot of the praise comes from people with their nostalgia glasses on.
December 1, 2025
Inmenso listado de personajes correspondiente a Superman #49-64; Adventures of Superman #472-486; Action Comics #659-673; Superman: The Man of Steel #1-8. Listado en construcción.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews