John Byrne Era (1986-1988, 1995)

In 1986, DC Comics finally decided who was to handle the long-discussed Superman reboot, now made possible by Crisis on Infinite Earths: John Byrne. As a writer and an artist, Byrne recreated the world of Superman based on concerns at the time as well as tradition, both comics and otherwise. The mini-series that launched this new direction was Man of Steel, published near the end of 1986.
The guiding principle of this revised version seemed to be that Superman was the last son of Krypton: gone were Supergirl, Superboy, the Super-pets, and the rarely-seen Superwoman. Superman did not materialize his powers as a boy. Perhaps the most effective change, however, was made to Lex Luthor: gone was the mad scientist, replaced with a brutal capitalist far more reminiscent of The Kingpin (primarily of Marvel's Daredevil) than the old Luthor.
The January 1987 issues of Superman's titles saw the Byrne revised version take control of the main titles: the new Superman title, started with a new #1 issue; Adventures of Superman, the former Superman series now renamed; and Action Comics, same as it ever was. Byrne would control the overall direction as well as write approximately two-thirds of the stories, including all of those in Superman and Action Comics until his last issue, cover-dated October 1988. Adventures of Superman would feature stories primarily by Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway -- stories that would, for the first year, rarely connect more than tangentally with the rest of the Superman tales.
Three Worlds of mini-series, designed to expand Superman's background, debuted with the cover date of December 1987. They moved through the three "worlds" of Superman in sequential order: Krypton, Smallville, and Metropolis. Each was given four issues each to further provide the background for the series begun in Man of Steel. The three mini-series concluded with the cover date of November 1988.
1987 and 1988 also saw the publication of a few annuals and a graphic novel, The Earth Stealers, by Byrne.
There is an important postscript to John Byrne's work. In 1995, DC's annuals all had the common theme of "Year One," and Superman's annuals, some of the best of the lot, further added to Byrne's background material. Indeed, the four annuals expanded (and altered) issues of Byrne's Man of Steel issues or were intended to be inserted between those issues. These annuals are thus included here where they fit into continuity.
The Superman film series, which had inspired Byrne's austere vision of Krypton, was ironically to end in the first year of the character's rebooted continuity. 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was a commercial and critical bomb. As if the convoluted plot and cheap villain wasn't bad enough, the film ran out of money, leading to some cheap and repetitive special effects.

IMAGE	TITLE	DESCRIPTION	STATUS
1. Man of Steel
Action Comics #584-590, Man of Steel #1-6, Superman (second series) #1-22, World of Krypton (second series) #1-4, World of Metropolis #1-4, World of Smallville #1-4: John Byrne script
World of Krypton (second series) #1-4: Mike Mignola & Rick Bryant art
	World of Krypton (second series) #1	"Pieces"; Krypton debates the rights of clones; cover-dated December 1987	0
	World of Krypton (second series) #2	"After the Fall"; Krypton begins a war over clone rights; the city of Kandor is destoryed by a terrorist	0
	World of Krypton (second series) #3	"History Lesson"; the Kryptonian civil war ends; a young Jor-El is featured	0
Man of Steel #1-6: John Byrne & Dick Giordano art; published biweekly
	Man of Steel #1	the first (post-Crisis) appearance of Superman; tells his origin from the destruction of Krypton (Jor-El & Lara appear) to Superman's public emergence; cover-dated October 1986	0
	Man of Steel #1 [alternate cover]	"collector's edition"	0
	Man of Steel #2	"The Story of the Century"; Clark Kent gets hired by Perry White at the Daily Planet because Clark writes the first Superman interview (during the first week after his emergence); cover-dated October 1986	0
Action Comics Annual #7, Adventures of Superman Annual #7, Superman Annual (second series) #7, Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #4: part of DC's 1995 "Year One" themed annuals
	Adventures of Superman Annual #7	expands and slightly modifies the story from Man of Steel #2; Maggie Sawyer becomes head of the special crimes department; Intergang is created; Dan Turpin defeats Kalibak; Karl Kesel script; Ron Wagner & Josef Rubinstein art; cover-dated 1995	0
	Man of Steel #3	"One Night in Gotham City"; Superman meets Batman and the two heroes defeat the villain Magpie in Gotham City; cover-dated November 1986	0
	Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #4	expands and slightly modifies the story from Man of Steel #3; tells the origin of the Justice League; Superman has his first encounter with other heroes (now more than just Batman, as was the case in Man of Steel #3); the meeting with Aquaman (told here) was told from Aquaman's perspective in 1995's Aquaman Annual #1; Louise Simonson script, Jean Paul Leon & Dennis Janke art; cover-dated May 1995	0
	Superman Annual (second series) #7	Superman has his first encounter with magic, meeting Doctor Occult; occurs 4 months, 1 week, and 3 days from Clark getting the job at the Daily Planet (at the end of Man of Steel #2 / Adventures of Superman Annual #7); Roger Stern script; Chris Gossett, Pascoe, and Stan Woch art; cover-dated July 1995	0
	Man of Steel #4	"Enemy Mine"; features the first appearance of Lex Luthor (returning to Metropolis, after a year's absence, with rapidly-receeding red hair); tells the origin of the Luthor-Superman fued (Superman has the respected Luthor arrested); occurs 18 months after Clark got the job at the Daily Planet; cover-dated November 1986	0
	Man of Steel #5	"The Mirror Crack'd"; features the first appearance and the death of Bizarro (Luthor's attempt to close Superman); Lucy Lane's sight gets restored; cover-dated December 1986	0
	Man of Steel #6	"The Haunting"; Superman discovers his Kryptonian origins through a vision induced by his Kryptonian rocketship; cover-dated December 1986	0
	Man of Steel [original edition]	collects Man of Steel #1-6	0
	Man of Steel [cheaper edition]	printed on cheaper paper; the cover is the Superman sigil on a black background; cover-dated July 1993	0
	Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 1	collects Man of Steel #1-6; Jerry Ordway cover; published in October 2003	0
2. Newly Minted
Superman (second series) #1-3: John Byrne & Terry Austin art
	Superman (second series) #1	occurs three months after Superman discovered his origins in Man of Steel #6; features the first appearance and origin of Metallo (who is mysteriously abducted at the end just as he is about to kill Superman); also features the first appearance of Kryptonite; the world learns through Metallo's comments that Superman is an alien, a fact Superman affirms to Lois on the last page; occurs 3 monts after he discovered his rocketship was stolen; cover-dated January 1987	0
	World of Krypton (second series) #4	Lois interviews Superman about his alien heritage; the issue's Kryptonian tale, unlike World of Krypton (second series) #1-3, is narrated by Superman; cover-dated March 1988	0
Adventures of Superman #424-444: no writing or art data entered
	Adventures of Superman #424	contains the first appearance of Catherine Grant and Professor Hamilton; Luthor provides Lois with a serum, that must be used monthly and thus keeps her gratefully coming to him, to save her mother's life; Superman recieves a call from Action Comics #584's evil scientist (placing it shortly before that tale); cover-dated January 1987	0
	Adventures of Superman #425	continues from Adventures of Superman #424; Superman battles Qurac's machines and faces Professor Hamilton	0
Action Comics #584-590: John Byrne & Dick Giordano art
	Action Comics #584	the Titans battle Superman with a particularly bad justification (which is only revealed in last few pages and involves mind transferrence with an evil scientist named David Gundersen); the Titans know of Superman's alien heritage (placing this tale after World of Krypton #4); Luthor decides to investigate the connection between Superman and Clark Kent (leading in to Superman #2); cover-dated January 1987	0
	Superman (second series) #2	first appearance of Luthor's Kryptonite ring with Kryptonite taken (with the help of Dr. Happersen) from the heart of Metallo (who he kidnapped in Superman #1); Lana gets kidnapped and tortured by Luthor but escapes; investigator Amanda McCoy uses computers to deduce that Superman is Clark Kent, but Luthor fires her because no superior Kryptonian would masquerade as a helpless human	0
	Action Comics #585	Superman has his first encounter with the Phantom Stranger and battles Arathaza	0
Superman (second series) #3, Adventures of Superman #426, Action Comics #586: the three-part Legends crossover
	Superman (second series) #3	Darkseid and the Phantom Stranger appear (Superman recognizes the Phantom Stranger); New Genesis is depicted as having been destroyed (as if Jack Kirby's Hunger Dogs graphic novel was in the post-Crisis continuity, despite that it was treated as out of continuity by the New Gods series of the late eighties and early nineties)	0
	Adventures of Superman #426	Darkseid appears	0
	Action Comics #586	Superman battles Orion; Darkseid appears; Superman has his memory of killing for Darkseid wiped clean at the end	0
	Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 2	collects Superman (second series) #1-3, Adventures of Superman #424-426, and Action Comics #584-586; Jerry Ordway cover; published in October 2003	0
Superman (second series) #4-16, 20: John Byrne & Karl Kesel art
	Superman (second series) #4	Superman battles Bloodsport (who first appears here); classic shattered logo cover	0
	Superman (second series) #5	Superman battles H'v'ler'ni; Superman remembers Legends as if it only very recently happened; continued into Superman #6	0
	Superman (second series) #6	contains the first appearance of A'x'lar	0
	Superman (second series) #7	Rampage appears for the first time; continues into Superman #8	0
	Superman (second series) #8	the Legion of Super-Heroes appear; continues into Action Comics #591	0
Action Comics #591-600: no art entered
	Action Comics #591	the Legion of Super-Heroes appear	0
	Superman Annual (second series) #1	"Tears for Titano"; Titano first appears and dies in a story with overtones of animal rights; no data entered on the creators; cover-dated 1986	0
	Superman (second series) #9	Superman battles Joker	0
	Superman (second series) #10	Superman's powers go crazy	0
	Superman (second series) #11	Mr. Mxyzptlk makes his first appearance	0
	Superman (second series) #12	the origin of Lori Lemaris is given; Manhunters capture the Kent parents	0
	Adventures of Superman #435		0
	Action Comics #595	Silver Banshee makes her first appearance; occurs right after Adventures of Superman #435	0
Superman (second series) #13-14, Adventures of Superman #436-437, Action Comics #596-597: the six-part Millennium crossover
	Superman (second series) #13	Lana Lang is revealed to be Manhunter; Clark Kent's identity is almost exposed; cover-dated January 1988	0
	Adventures of Superman #436		0
	Action Comics #596	the Spectre appears	0
	Superman (second series) #14	Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) app	0
	Adventures of Superman #437		0
	Action Comics #597	Lana Lang meets Lois Lane for the first time	0
	Superman (second series) #15	first appearance of Skyhook	0
	Adventures of Superman #438	contains the first appearance and origin of (the post-Crisis) Brainiac	0
	Action Comics #598	contains the first appearance of the Checkmate organization	0
3. The Supergirl Saga
	Superman (second series) #16	first appearance of the Prankster -- and of Supergirl (Matrix)	0
	Adventures of Superman #439	tells a story about a Superman robot that Superman built (a skill basically ignored from this story on) which takes his place	0
	Action Comics #599	the Metal Men appear; includes a free Jimmy Olsen "bonus book" story	0
Superman (second series) #17-19, 21-22: no art entered
	Superman (second series) #17	Superman battles Silver Banshee (for second time)	0
	Adventures of Superman #440	Batman appears, and the two heroes deduce each other's identity	0
	Action Comics #600	Superman and Wonder Woman battle Darkseid; Man-Bat appears; George Perez entire? art; sets up plotlines Byrne was to use in his Wonder Woman and Genesis in the mid-to-late 1990s); following this issue, after a short delay in publishing, the title was changed to Action Comics Weekly and became a longer weekly anthology generally featuring only 2 pages of Superman story; 72 pages	0
	Superman (second series) #18	Superman returns to Krypton (which is regenerating); Hawkman & Hawkwomn appear	0
	Adventures of Superman #441	Mr. Mxyzptlk returns	0
	Superman (second series) #19	first appearance of Dreadnought and Psi-Phon; Supergirl appears	0
	Adventures of Superman #442		0
	Superman (second series) #20	Metallo returns; the Doom Patrol appears; Supergirl appears	0
	Adventures of Superman #443		0
Superman (second series) #21, Adventures of Superman #444, Superman (second series) #22: the Supergirl / pocket universe storyline dramatically resolves; Byrne's final, classic issues
	Superman (second series) #21	Superman travels to the pocket universe	0
	Adventures of Superman #444	battles the Phantom Zone villains	0
	Superman (second series) #22	Superman kills the Phantom Zone villains; last Byrne issue; October 1988	0
ACTION COMICS
	Action Comics Annual #7	takes place sometime during the Man of Steel mini-series; Superman has his first trip into outer space; featurs H'Tros, who attack organic life; no data entered on creators; cover-dated 1995	0
	Action Comics #587	a time-travel story featuring (Kirby's) the Demon	0
	Action Comics #588	Hawkman appears; continues from Hawkman #10; continues seperately into both Hawkman #11 and Action Comics #589	0
	Action Comics #589	the Green Lantern Corps appears	0
	Action Comics #590	the Metal Men appear; Superman battles Chemo	0
	Action Comics #592	Big Barda appears; continues into Action Comics #593	0
	Action Comics #593	Superman seems to have been magically forced to have sex with Big Barda	0
	Action Comics Annual #1	Batman appears and the two battle vampires together; no data entered on creators; cover-dated 1987	0
	Action Comics #594	Booster Gold and Batman appear; refers to Action Comics Annual #1 as "recent"; continues into Booster Gold #23	0
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
	Adventures of Superman #427	Superman battles the nation of Qurac	0
	Adventures of Superman #428	features the first appearance of Jerry White; occurs just after Adventures of Superman #427	0
	Adventures of Superman #429		0
	Adventures of Superman #430		0
	Adventures of Superman #431		0
	Adventures of Superman #432	features the first apperance of Jose Delgado	0
	Adventures of Superman #433	Superman battles Luthor	0
	Adventures of Superman #434	contains the first appearance of Gangbuster (Jose Delgado)	0
WORLDS OF SUPERMAN
World of Smallville #1-4: Kurt Schaffenberger & Alfredo Alcala art
	World of Smallville #1	"Secrets"; the courtship of Jonathan & Martha (no longer pure) is revealed; cover-dated April 1988	0
	World of Smallville #2	"Stolen Moments"; Jonathan & Martha Kent's marriage is revealed	0
	World of Smallville #3	"Stolen Souls"; reveals Lana Lang's experience as a Manhunter (from the Millennium crossover)	0
	World of Smallville #4	"Return to Smallville"; continues telling of Lana Lang's experience as a Manhunter (from the Millennium crossover); July 1988	0
World of Metropolis #1-4: Win Mortimer pencils, Frank Mclaughlin & Dick Giordano inks
	World of Metropolis #1	"A Reporter's Story"; reveals how Perry White became the Daily Planet editor as well as the origin of his rivalry with Lex Luthor, who originally owned the Daily Planet; reveals that Luthor and Perry were childhood friends, but Luthor beds Perry's girl, Alice Spencer, while Perry's been gone as a foreign correspondant; reveals that Perry's son, Jerry White, is really Luthor's; cover-dated August 1988	0
	World of Metropolis #2	"How I Spent My Summer Vacation"; reveals how a 15-year-old Lois Lane landed her job at the Daily Planet as well as her investigation of Lex Luthor	0
	World of Metropolis #3	"Mr. Kent Goes to Metropolis"; reveals Clark Kent's first days in Metropolis	0
	World of Metropolis #4	"Friends in Need"; Superman saves Jimmy Olsen; tells the origin of Jimmy Olsen's signal watch; November 1988	0
MISCELLANEOUS
	Adventures of Superman Annual #1	Jim Starlin writing and cover; Wordbringer extracts the brains of Trudeau, South Dakota; no additional information known; cover-dated 1987	0
Larger Version Available	Superman: The Earth Stealers	published in 1988; no creator information entered [REVIEW AND PURCHASE THIS BOOK]	0

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