Superman: The Man of Steel


Superman: The Man of Steel is a monthly American comic book series that ran for 136 issues from 1991 to 2003, featuring Superman and published by DC Comics. As a result of introducing this series alongside its already existing titles, DC Comics was able to publish a new Superman comic each week. Included in these 136 issues were two special issues: #0 and #1,000,000, which were tie-ins to and DC One Million, respectively.

Publication history

The first issue was written by Louise Simonson and featured pencils by Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Bob McLeod, and Dan Jurgens. Inks were by Dennis Janke, Jerry Ordway, and Brett Breeding. Simonson wrote issues #1–56, 59–83, 86, #0 and Annuals #2, 4, and 6 from 1991 to 1999. Bogdanove pencilled issues #1–68, 75–82, 85, and #0 during the same period and returned for the final issue, #134, in 2003.
Issues #9 and 10 were part of the "Panic in the Sky" storyline in 1992. Issues #22 through 26 were a part of "The Reign of the Supermen" storyline which received the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for "Favorite Comic-Book Story" for 1993. After his introduction in The Adventures of Superman #500, Steel briefly became the starring character of the Superman: The Man of Steel series. Issue #30 had a variant edition packaged in a polybag. The logo and all cover copy were printed on the bag and vinyl clings were included for a do-it-yourself front and back cover. Writer Mark Schultz and artist Doug Mahnke became the new creative team on the title with issue #87. Schultz and Mahnke introduced a new version of Superman's Fortress of Solitude in issue #100.

Annuals

From 1992 to 1997, DC published six issues of Superman: The Man of Steel Annual. The stories tied into the crossover or themes that were featured in DC's annuals that year. These were:
In December 1995, a special Superman: The Man of Steel Gallery #1 was published. It features 22 pin-ups drawn by several artists.

Collected editions

The title, Superman: The Man of Steel, would be used again for a series of trade paperbacks collecting the early adventures of the post-Crisis Superman. The first volume collects and retitles The Man of Steel limited series.
VolumeMaterial collectedISBN
1The Man of Steel #1–6
2Superman vol. 2, #1–3; Action Comics #584–586; The Adventures of Superman #424–426
3Superman vol. 2, #4–6; Action Comics #587–589; The Adventures of Superman #427–429
4Superman vol. 2, #7–8; The Adventures of Superman #430–431; Action Comics #590–591;
Legion of Super-Heroes #37–38
5The Adventures of Superman #432–435; Action Comics #592–593; Superman vol. 2, #9–11
6Superman vol. 2, #12; Superman Annual #1; Action Comics #594–595; Action Comics Annual #1;
The Adventures of Superman Annual #1; Booster Gold #23
7Superman vol. 2 #13–15; Action Comics #596–597; Adventures of Superman #436–438SC:
8Action Comics #598–600, Superman vol. 2 #16–18 and Adventures of Superman #439–440
9Superman vol. 2 #19–22; Adventures of Superman #441–444 and Superman Annual #2; Doom Patrol vol. 2 #10