What do you think?
Rate this book
The Greatest Stories Ever Told
Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told, Vol. 1
The Greatest Stories Ever Told, Vol. 1 [Paperback]
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
103 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Siegel
620 books81 followersJerome "Jerry" Siegel, who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S. Fine, was the American co-creator of Superman (along with Joe Shuster), the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable icons of the 20th century.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 28, 2013
This second take on the Greatest Superman Stories divides the collection into two volumes. This first volume collects 10 Superman stories.
Most of these have been reprinted elsewhere either in Decade collections or in the previous version of the Greatest Superman Stories ever told, but that can also be taken as a measure of the quality of the work and that the compilers generally got things right.
The book begins with a somewhat dry introduction by Michael Uslan.
Next up is the origin of Superman from Superman #1 and the special Look Magazine Story from 1940, "How Superman Would End the War." Then from 1950, we have the fairly good story of "Three Superman from Krypton" which first introduces the concept of other Kryptonian Survivors.
Following this, the book moves ahead to 1962's, "The Last Day's of Superman" where Superman believes he's dying and prepares to get his affairs in order. This story is an obvious basis for, Grant Morrison's All Star Superman.
Next up is the fun story of "The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman" where Luthor challenges Superman to hand-to-hand combat on a planet with a red son. While I don't entirely buy into Luthor issuing the challenge, the results are fun and including some humanizing moments for uthor.
Moving to the Bronze Age, "Must There Be a Superman" is a 1970s story questioning if Superman could be doing harm by interfering too much and fighting battles that regular people should fight for themselves. It's a thought provoking tale.
Jim Steranko's, "Exile at the Edge of Eternity" seems to have been included merely because Steranko wrote and drew it in a style that's more like a picture book for adults than a typical comic story. It's an interesting and imaginative tale but it doesn't seem to fit into a "greatest stories ever told" book as it's not about Superman but about his descendants.
The first issue of Man of Steel, showing John Byrne's vision of Superman's origin is included and it's definitely a worthy addition to the book. Byrne's reimagining of the origin is very cleverly done and really did a good job of not only showing us where Clark Kent came from but developing him as a character.
"Return to Krytpon" features Superman returning to Krypton with Hawkman and Hawkwoman. He though his people were morally advanced but has a vision that shows an alternate future where Jor-el convinced many adults to flee to earth and the Kryptonians try to subjugate Earth.
While the story makes a good point about humility, this is a story whose appearance in this book I really question. It doesn't seem quite as epic and seems to have been included because of a well-known age silver age tale that has the same title.
Finally, there's, "Whatever Happened to Truth, Justice, and the American Way." While I'm normally not a fan of including recent stories (this one came from 2001) in a book like this, this is one story that belongs. It's about Superman facing down a new team of metahumans who have no compunction about killing and only practice a utilitarian morality.
The whole story has a cinematic feel to it. It feels like a comic book version of, "High Noon" with Superman as the one who would stand alone against some very dangerous baddies. While this story gets a little grittier than I'd like, the overall thrust of Superman and what he's all about comes through.
Overall, while there aren't a lot of "new stories" for those who've bought many Superman best of trades, the book doesn't really contain a bad story, but really includes some of the most influential stories in Superman's history making this book a winner for fans of the Man of Steel and a great buy for people who want to start reading great Superman stories.
Most of these have been reprinted elsewhere either in Decade collections or in the previous version of the Greatest Superman Stories ever told, but that can also be taken as a measure of the quality of the work and that the compilers generally got things right.
The book begins with a somewhat dry introduction by Michael Uslan.
Next up is the origin of Superman from Superman #1 and the special Look Magazine Story from 1940, "How Superman Would End the War." Then from 1950, we have the fairly good story of "Three Superman from Krypton" which first introduces the concept of other Kryptonian Survivors.
Following this, the book moves ahead to 1962's, "The Last Day's of Superman" where Superman believes he's dying and prepares to get his affairs in order. This story is an obvious basis for, Grant Morrison's All Star Superman.
Next up is the fun story of "The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman" where Luthor challenges Superman to hand-to-hand combat on a planet with a red son. While I don't entirely buy into Luthor issuing the challenge, the results are fun and including some humanizing moments for uthor.
Moving to the Bronze Age, "Must There Be a Superman" is a 1970s story questioning if Superman could be doing harm by interfering too much and fighting battles that regular people should fight for themselves. It's a thought provoking tale.
Jim Steranko's, "Exile at the Edge of Eternity" seems to have been included merely because Steranko wrote and drew it in a style that's more like a picture book for adults than a typical comic story. It's an interesting and imaginative tale but it doesn't seem to fit into a "greatest stories ever told" book as it's not about Superman but about his descendants.
The first issue of Man of Steel, showing John Byrne's vision of Superman's origin is included and it's definitely a worthy addition to the book. Byrne's reimagining of the origin is very cleverly done and really did a good job of not only showing us where Clark Kent came from but developing him as a character.
"Return to Krytpon" features Superman returning to Krypton with Hawkman and Hawkwoman. He though his people were morally advanced but has a vision that shows an alternate future where Jor-el convinced many adults to flee to earth and the Kryptonians try to subjugate Earth.
While the story makes a good point about humility, this is a story whose appearance in this book I really question. It doesn't seem quite as epic and seems to have been included because of a well-known age silver age tale that has the same title.
Finally, there's, "Whatever Happened to Truth, Justice, and the American Way." While I'm normally not a fan of including recent stories (this one came from 2001) in a book like this, this is one story that belongs. It's about Superman facing down a new team of metahumans who have no compunction about killing and only practice a utilitarian morality.
The whole story has a cinematic feel to it. It feels like a comic book version of, "High Noon" with Superman as the one who would stand alone against some very dangerous baddies. While this story gets a little grittier than I'd like, the overall thrust of Superman and what he's all about comes through.
Overall, while there aren't a lot of "new stories" for those who've bought many Superman best of trades, the book doesn't really contain a bad story, but really includes some of the most influential stories in Superman's history making this book a winner for fans of the Man of Steel and a great buy for people who want to start reading great Superman stories.
December 30, 2016
Funny to read this after Homo Deus because what is Superman but a sort of Homo Deus. There's even one story that serves as less of a Superman saga than a sort of exposition on what could happen if Superman were to proliferate so that humankind could become better in his image. The humanist Jesus, basically.
April 27, 2015
The best story in the whole book, by far is the very first story. Superman takes Hitler and Stalin to the World court.
February 26, 2024
Superman has yet to have a good live-action screen adaptation. That the majority of this collection does not contain a generic set of Vs. Stories, that Superman's greatest are often much more introspective than that, points to why.
He does 'Fight' Lex Luthor and Manchester Black here, but in both cases the setup is bait, both times the villians surprising us with introspection or a thematic twist on the rationalization of violence. "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" alone earns this collection 5 stars.
But throughout there's plenty to play with, a story where Superman discovers he is going to die has him prioritize cosmic storms approaching man from across the universe, renovations to agriculture tech, sustainability - again throughout these collected issues we see these concerns more often than a Brainiac or Bizarro brawl, a reminder that Superman soars above all that.
He does 'Fight' Lex Luthor and Manchester Black here, but in both cases the setup is bait, both times the villians surprising us with introspection or a thematic twist on the rationalization of violence. "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" alone earns this collection 5 stars.
But throughout there's plenty to play with, a story where Superman discovers he is going to die has him prioritize cosmic storms approaching man from across the universe, renovations to agriculture tech, sustainability - again throughout these collected issues we see these concerns more often than a Brainiac or Bizarro brawl, a reminder that Superman soars above all that.
June 29, 2015
Since I've mostly bee inundated with Batman, Superman seemed kinda boring, but the early comics were hilarious, and the later ones were really interesting. It was a good overview since I had never read a Superman comic before. And I learned lots of stuff!
February 5, 2016
Definitely liked this one more than the last one I read. I really liked the progression it showed of Superman's character over the decades and how he transformed to a wish fulfillment thug to the legend of truth and justice we know today.
February 25, 2020
If I could give no stars; I would. Superman is one of the worst written characters I've ever had the misfortune of reading. The creators back themselves into a corner, which is apparent more than ever in this anthology. If you, for some unknown reason, like superman: this books for you. If you enjoy well written characters that don't force retconning to Frankenstein together a story: avoid at all costs. I was neutral about Superman before reading anything about him. This book was hell. I cannot stress this enough; if you weren't already a fan of the man of steel, do NOT waste your time.
April 8, 2021
Interesting for historical purposes, though any collection like this has some inherent structural problems trying to condense over sixty years of stories into a coherent collection. each era represented here would be better spotlit by individual collections; the leaps made here from 50s sci-fi absurdity to bush era pop cultural cynicism don’t give either enough room to breathe.
February 22, 2023
Fantastic dive into every era of Superman. Not every story hit for me, but some were mind-blowing like Showdown and The Man of Steel.
I’m still processing “what’s so funny about Truth, Justice, & the American Way?” but it’s definitely one of the most impactful ones I’ve read regardless of my feelings on it
I’m still processing “what’s so funny about Truth, Justice, & the American Way?” but it’s definitely one of the most impactful ones I’ve read regardless of my feelings on it
July 30, 2025
Good book, but not amazing. Contains some pretty strong Superman stories, but also has a couple that made me wonder how they ended up in this collection of “the greatest stories ever told”.
Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend to a Superman fan.
Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend to a Superman fan.
December 31, 2017
Love me some Superman. Good variety of old and newer. Can't wait to read Volume 2
February 27, 2025
I've read a few of these anthologies before and, in my humble opinion, the choices here do not reflect the greatest stories ever told.
January 24, 2020
I assume that this is supposed to be a decent anthology in which the best Superman comics were collected. Most of them bored me while some were just great classics or modern geniuses.
Update 24 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. The original rating and review conform to the new rating system. I cannot recall in depth the contents of the book but a two star rating seems like the safe estimate. As the original review states, most of the comics bored me, which indicates a one star rating, but there were some comics that I do recall enjoying to the extent of a four star rating, highlighted in the original review: "some were just great classics or modern geniuses".
January 23, 2020
Update
I believe the comic that I have associated with a four star-rating is titled "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?". Meek memories come to me now, on the blandness (two star-rating) of the original first comic, "Three Superman From Krypton", "The Last Days of Superman!", the Smallville comic (not to be confused with the television series), one of the comics on Superman and Lois Lane's children, "The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman!", "Must There Be a Superman?", and the Superman and Hitler/Stalin comic. These eight comics make up eleven of the comics included in this volume. This volume is guaranteed a two star-rating.
Also, the full list of comics can be found through Peter Formiller'S review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
The abridged version here:
"2. The Superman #1 version of the origin story.
3. A two-page story produced by Siegel & Shuster for Look Magazine in 1940 has Superman grabbing Hitler & Stalin and taking them to the League of Nations for trial.
4. "Three Superman From Krypton" (1950).
5 & 6. Two stories written by Edmond Hamilton with pencils by Curt Swan, inked by George Klein, 1962 & 1963.
7. "Must There Be A Superman?" (1972) written by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Curt Swan, inked by Murphy Anderson.
8 & 9. From Superman #400 (1984): 10 pages of Steranko, a series of 5 2-page spreads telling the future history of Clark & Lois's descendants (similar to his best "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD" work), plus a pin-up by Moebus.
10 & 11. Two stories by John Byrne, from 1986 & 1988. Expanding on Superman's origins.
12. "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" (2001) written by Joe Kelly, art by many hands. Another update of the "Three Supermen From Krypton"/Superman II plot, where four superpowered punk antiheroes use "Dirty Harry" tactics and make Superman look like a bleeding-heart wimp."
Update 24 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. The original rating and review conform to the new rating system. I cannot recall in depth the contents of the book but a two star rating seems like the safe estimate. As the original review states, most of the comics bored me, which indicates a one star rating, but there were some comics that I do recall enjoying to the extent of a four star rating, highlighted in the original review: "some were just great classics or modern geniuses".
January 23, 2020
Update
I believe the comic that I have associated with a four star-rating is titled "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?". Meek memories come to me now, on the blandness (two star-rating) of the original first comic, "Three Superman From Krypton", "The Last Days of Superman!", the Smallville comic (not to be confused with the television series), one of the comics on Superman and Lois Lane's children, "The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman!", "Must There Be a Superman?", and the Superman and Hitler/Stalin comic. These eight comics make up eleven of the comics included in this volume. This volume is guaranteed a two star-rating.
Also, the full list of comics can be found through Peter Formiller'S review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
The abridged version here:
"2. The Superman #1 version of the origin story.
3. A two-page story produced by Siegel & Shuster for Look Magazine in 1940 has Superman grabbing Hitler & Stalin and taking them to the League of Nations for trial.
4. "Three Superman From Krypton" (1950).
5 & 6. Two stories written by Edmond Hamilton with pencils by Curt Swan, inked by George Klein, 1962 & 1963.
7. "Must There Be A Superman?" (1972) written by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Curt Swan, inked by Murphy Anderson.
8 & 9. From Superman #400 (1984): 10 pages of Steranko, a series of 5 2-page spreads telling the future history of Clark & Lois's descendants (similar to his best "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD" work), plus a pin-up by Moebus.
10 & 11. Two stories by John Byrne, from 1986 & 1988. Expanding on Superman's origins.
12. "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" (2001) written by Joe Kelly, art by many hands. Another update of the "Three Supermen From Krypton"/Superman II plot, where four superpowered punk antiheroes use "Dirty Harry" tactics and make Superman look like a bleeding-heart wimp."
July 10, 2013
This one is another step along my personal journey to discovering what everyone says are the best Superman stories ever done. I had pooled resources and a few of the stories on everyone's lists appeared in this book, so I picked it up.
While I'm not anywhere near the encyclopedic knowledge I wish to have of Superman and his adventures, I've read a good many Superman stories... and I'm sad to say that this book does not have many of what I myself consider the greatest.
I mean, this book is a great way to see how far The Man of Steel has come over the years, but I was only really wowed by one story in the book. That story was the last and most recent entry, "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" The story focused on whether Superman and his moral compass were outdated in the harsh world we now live in. It was fantastic and should I ever get around to making MY short list of greatest Superman stories, it would more than likely be on it.
Bottom line: If you've got the yearning to become a guru of Superman stories or you want to see how Supes has evolved over the years, pick this up, but there are, for the most part, way better Superman volumes out there.
While I'm not anywhere near the encyclopedic knowledge I wish to have of Superman and his adventures, I've read a good many Superman stories... and I'm sad to say that this book does not have many of what I myself consider the greatest.
I mean, this book is a great way to see how far The Man of Steel has come over the years, but I was only really wowed by one story in the book. That story was the last and most recent entry, "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" The story focused on whether Superman and his moral compass were outdated in the harsh world we now live in. It was fantastic and should I ever get around to making MY short list of greatest Superman stories, it would more than likely be on it.
Bottom line: If you've got the yearning to become a guru of Superman stories or you want to see how Supes has evolved over the years, pick this up, but there are, for the most part, way better Superman volumes out there.
May 14, 2015
This is the first volume of a collected set of "best of" stories. From a neophyte's pov, it's cool to see what storylines are considered best/most important, and I'm really interested in reading more now (questions, I have them!). Superman is a lot more interesting than I gave him credit for being, and this is why reading is fundamental.
May 4, 2016
Feel sorry to give it just 3 stars but this book took me so long to read simply because I was bored throughout the whole thing aside from the last issue (What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, & the American Way). I understand that it's just because of my affinity towards the more modern age. I respect the history, I just don't enjoy it!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews