Supercorp
-Action Comics #1047-1049 (back-ups)
-Action Comics #1047-1050 (main stories)
-Superman #1-5
-Superman Annual 2023
-Superman #6-12

The Action Comics issues are included here as a bridge from the Warworld arc.  Technically, Action #1047-1049 are part of a crossover with Son of Kal-El #16-18, but no efforts were taken to actually coordinate the two series.  Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths most likely takes place on either side of Action Comics #1050, so there is not going to be a perfect chronological order going on.  I also skipped the Knight Terrors event.  There is a status quo change in Superman #1 (844) that is referenced in PKJ’s Action Comics issues, which can be placed in an optional volume between this and Absolute Power.

Absolute Power
-Absolute Power:  FCDB 2024 Special
-Action Comics #1064
-Superman #13
-Superman:  House of Brainiac Special #1
-Action Comics #1065
-Superman #14
-Action Comics #1066
-Superman #15
-Absolute Power:  Ground Zero #1
-Absolute Power #1
-Superman #16
-Batman #150 (back-up feature only)
-Absolute Power #2
-Batman #151-152 (main stories)
-Batman #151 (back-up)
-Superman #17-18
-Absolute Power #3-4
-DC:  All In Special #1

In a perfect world, DC would have produced a hardcover edition of House of Brainiac and then I would have included the FCBD special at the end of “Supercorp”, leaving “Absolute Power” in its own book.  For “Absolute Power” itself, I was only interested in the Superman and Batman tie-ins, so there are other issues that can be included.  I did not include the backup to Batman #152 because it leads into other tie-ins that I did not include.  Otherwise, it would have gone in around the same spot.  I also opted to keep the All In special as a flipbook, so this bound volume is a partial flip-book.

Phantoms
-Action Comics #1070-1081 (lead stories)
-Action Comics #1070-1081 (Supergirl back-ups)

All In
-Superman #19-20
-Action Comics #1075 (“Memory Lane” back-up)
-Superwoman Special #1
-Superman #21-23
-Summer of Superman #1
-Superman:  Lex Luthor Special #1
-Superman #24-27

The gap between Superman #27 and #28 is the only place in Williamson’s run to fit in any other stories between Absolute Power and DC KO.

Boy of Steel
-Action Comics #1087-1095

This is the beginning of Mark Waid’s Superboy run set in the past.  There is a scene in the first issue with Superman and Mayor Perry White that can anchor it to the present day.

Superman Unlimited:  Kryptonite Kingdom (TPB/HC)
-Superman Unlimited #1-6

Superman Unlimited:  This Looks Like a Job… (TPB/HC)
-Superman Unlimited #7-10
-Superman:  Chains of Love #1

There are plenty of context clues in the Superman Unlimited issues that place them all after Superman #27.  It is more cost effective to buy the official hardcovers than to bind the original issues.

We Are Yesterday
-World’s Finest #38
-Justice League Unlimited #6
-World’s Finest Annual 2025
-World’s Finest #39
-Justice League Unlimited #7-9
-Justice League:  Dark Tomorrow Special #1
-Justice League Unlimited #10-11
-Superman #28-30

The events of Superman #28-30 all take place during JLU #10-11, with the ending of both arcs being the same scene, which leads into DCKO in the next volume.  Justice League:  The Omega Act Special #1 can either fit at the end of this volume, or the beginning of DCKO.

Book 1 – Warworld Rising
Superman #29 (840)
Action Comics #1029
Superman #30-32 (841-843)
Action Comics #1030-1035
Action Comics Annual 2021
“Tales of Metropolis” stories from Superman #29-32, Action #1035-1036

Book 2 – Warworld Apocalypse
Superman and the Authority #1-4
Batman/Superman: Authority Special #1
Action Comics #1036-1042
Action Comics  Annual 2022
Action Comics  #1043 (main and backup stories)
Action Comics  #1044
Action Comics  #1044-1046 (backup stories)
Action Comics  #1045-1046
Superman:  Warworld Apocalypse #1

After this storyline came the “Kal-El Returns” event, up through Action Comics #1050.  Then the “Dawn of DC” initiative started a new direction with Action Comics #1051 and a new Superman #1.  Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths has to take place at some point between Action Comics #1046 and #1050.

Looking ahead, it’s still too early to develop a definite map of the Dawn of DC era, but there are some preliminary thoughts.

“Kal-El Returns” allegedly ran in Action Comics #1047-1049 and Son of Kal-El #16-18.  However, neither series references each other, and it is pretty clear that Action #1049 is supposed to continue directly from the end of #1048.  I would leave out the Son of Kal-El issues.

Action Comics #1050 sets up the new status quo.  There is an event in Superman #1 that is referenced in both series, so it clearly needs to take place before the next part of Johnson’s run in Action #1051-1060.  Other than there, there is no direct references between the two series during that year.  Narratively, there is no reason to alternate between Superman and Action Comics until House of Brainiac starts in Superman #13 and Action #1064.  If one ignores the Knight Terrors event, it’s very likely to create volumes like this:
-Action Comics #1047-1050, Superman #1-5, 2023 Annual, #6-12 (in this case, treating Kal-El returns as a flashback)
-Action #1051-1056, Doomsday Special, #1057-1060, 2023 Annual, #1061-1063

01 – From the City That Has Everything by Jurgens
02 – Never-Ending Battle by Tomasi

These are the final stories of the Rebirth run of Superman, prior to Bendis taking over both series.  These stories share pages, but would only be a concern if you’re trying to bind the Jurgens or Tomasi runs separately.

03 – An Enemy Within by Wolfman

The first four pages of this story repurpose art from an inventory story drawn by Curt Swan and Butch Guice.  Other pages of the story were previously retrofitted for Superman:  The Wedding Album.

04 – The Car by Johns and Donner
05 – The Fifth Season by Snyder

“The Car” is a tale set in the 1930s, about what happens to the car from the cover of Action Comics #1, so it would have to go in an anthology or alternate universe project.  These stories share pages.

06 – Of Tomorrow by King
07 – Five Minutes by Simonson

“Of Tomorrow” shows Superman billions of years in the future.  These stories share pages.  Otherwise, “Five Minutes” could fit in somewhere around the other present day stories, or possibly with stories circa 1992 when these creators worked on Superman (and he had short hair).

08 – Actionland by Dini

A story about Mr. Mxyzptlk, which can go almost anywhere.  I chose to place it at the end of the last Rebirth volume because of the theme of endings.

09 – Faster Than a Speeding Bullet by Meltzer

The only clue to placement of this story are Superman’s red trunks, which returned in this issue.  Therefore, the story has to take place at some point after Action Comics #999 and Superman #45 (811).  I placed it in the final Rebirth volume.

10 – The Truth by Bendis

The prologue to the Bendis run, this story takes place during his Man of Steel mini-series.  It’s best to be placed at the beginning of the run as flashforward as it can’t be neatly spliced into the corresponding scene in the mini-series.

-Volume 1 was the original Superman series that began in 1939, renamed to Adventures of Superman in 1987, reverted to Superman in 2006, and was ended at #714.
-Volume 2 was the post-Crisis series that ran for 226 issues between 1987 and 2006.
-Volume 3 was the New 52 series launched in 2011.  (#715-766)
-Volume 4 was the Rebirth series launched in 2016.  (#767-811)
-Volume 5 is the series relaunched by Bendis in 2018.

Unity
Action #1000 (last story)
DC Nation #0 (middle story)
Man of Steel #1-6
Superman #1-6 (except last two pages of #6) [812-817]
Action #1001-1006

Ideally, I would have liked to have put all of Superman #1-15 together, and then put Action #1001-1011 with the Leviathan special.  But the biggest kink in the continuity flow is the return of a character on the last two pages of Superman #6 which leads directly into #7.  Action Comics #1001 could possibly go before Superman #1, based on a character referring to a scene from Man of Steel #2 as yesterday.  However, I have come to the conclusion that Bendis considers anything that happened before today as “yesterday”.

Leviathan Rising
Action #1007-1011
Leviathan Rising #1
Superman #6 (last two pages)
Superman #7-15 [818-826]

Supergirl #31-32 were advertised as a crossover with Superman #12-13, yet neither set of issues references the other.  Plus, both series were released on the same day, so publication order does not even help.  Both series just show their title character’s perspective on the events going on, with no clean splicing opportunities. The Supergirl segment of Leviathan Rising says it takes place after Supergirl #32 and three months after Action #1009, so that part can only be explained as a flashforward.

Event Leviathan
Action #1012-1016
Year of the Villain #1 (middle story)
Event Leviathan #1-6
Superman #16 [827]

There’s really no good way to organize all of the plotlines going on in Superman, Action, and Event Leviathan.  Action #1012 opens with a scene that looks like it should take place in the middle of Superman #10 before he heads off to space.  At the beginning of Event Leviathan #1, Lois mentions Superman away on family business, which is a reference to Superman #7-15.  There’s another reference in Superman #10 before he goes into space where Lois says that she’ll handle Leviathan.  My handwave solution is to say that Superman goes off on his space adventure in Superman #10-15, returns for his adventures in Action #1012-1016, then off-panel, gets called back out to space for some aftermath which is why he’s absent from the first three issues of Event Leviathan.

Also, DC started the “Year of the Villain” event which tied into Scott Snyder’s Justice League run and ultimately led into Dark Knights:  Death Metal.  I have opted to skip all of that except for Death Metal.

The Truth
Superman #17 [828]
Action #1017-1021
Superman #18 [829]
Leviathan Dawn #1
Superman: Heroes #1
Superman: Villains #1

There are copious amounts of continuity notes within the issues, but it’s not clear if all of them are accurate. Most of them deal with a major event that occurs in Superman #18.  That event is referenced as “tomorrow” in Action #1017-1021, and as “this morning” in Leviathan Dawn #1.  There is a break halfway through Superman #19 that leads into Superman:  Heroes, but splicing would require scan-and-print.  I prefer to include it as a “prologue” in the next volume.

The House of Kent
Superman #19-28 [830-839]
Action Comics #1022-1028
Checkmate #1-6

There is a major continuity confusion with the arc in Superman #19-22 and the Villains one-shot, specifically the fight with Mongul.  In Superman: Villains, we see Mongul the son kill Mongul the father and then go off to fight Superman.  It’s heavily alluded that this leads into Superman #19.  But at the end of Superman #22, there’s an editor note directing the reader to Superman: Villains for the fate of Mongul.  It’s never clear if the Mongul in the Superman arc is the son or the father in the Villains special.  I choose to go with the sequence of events that the son kills the father and then goes to fight Superman, hence this mapping.

Greg Rucka wrote a Lois Lane series and Matt Fraction wrote a Jimmy Olsen series around this time, but they are almost impossible to mesh with the Bendis run.  It’s best to leave those off to the side, with the possible exception of Lois Lane #6 as an epilogue to Event Leviathan.  There are some nice concepts and theories that get introduced in the final issues of Lois Lane that go along with the meta-reboot of the DCU, but ultimately the narrative just doesn’t fit.

The Checkmate mini-series was originally planned by Bendis as a sequel to Event Leviathan that would have come out around the same time as Superman #21-26.  Due to various editorial reasons, it was postponed until the second half of 2021 (six months after Bendis left the Superman titles).  There’s some clunky timeframe captions in the series to accommodate the change in release schedule, but nothing in the series ties itself to a specific time during the Bendis run.  I have opted to include it here at the end so it doesn’t appear abandoned.  An alternative would be to end the final volume with Action #1028 and then pick up Checkmate in an official collected edition.

Recommendations for binding methods:
As usual, oversewing will work for just about anything.  But certain binders charge extra for that method.  Around this time, DC switched their comics from glossy paper to a matte paper that will probably be more acceptable for gluing methods.  The “Unity” volume mostly has issues that are still on glossy paper, so that one is probably best suited as oversewn.  Also, the standard covers Superman #4 and Action Comics #1004 featured foil enhancements, but those covers are still thin enough to be bound.  Everything in the “Leviathan Rising” and “The House of Kent” volumes is on matte paper, so a gluing method would work.  The only glossy pages in “Event Leviathan” are the eight pages from the “Year of the Villain” special.  The only special concern in the “Truth” volume is the acetate cover on Action Comics #1017.  If you want to glue that book, I recommend either skipping that cover or finding a digital image to print out to replace it.

This map covers the Tomasi and Jurgens runs of Superman and Action Comics, and the volumes are specifically designed to work around (and sometime share) volumes in the larger DC Rebirth set that follows the larger meta-narrative of the reboot.

To clarify the volume numbers of the Superman series:
-Volume 1 was the original Superman series that began in 1939, was renamed to Adventures of Superman in the 80s, reverted to Superman in 2006, and was ended by the launch of the New 52 in 2011.
-Volume 2 was the post-Crisis series that ran for 226 issues between 1987 and 2006.
-Volume 3 was the New 52 series that began in 2011.
-Volume 4 was the Rebirth series that began in 2016.
-Volume 5 is the series relaunched by Bendis in 2018.

Unless otherwise noted, any Superman issues in this map are from volume 4.  Issue numbers in parentheses are the legacy numbers, adding the various volumes of a series together.

Convergence
Convergence:  Superman #1-2
Superman:  Lois and Clark #1-8

The backup story from Convergence:  Superman #2 can be cut out.

The Final Days of Superman (HC)
Superman #51 (765)
Batman/Superman #31
Action Comics #51 (955)
Superman/Wonder Woman #28
Batman/Superman #32
Action Comics #52 (956)
Superman/Wonder Woman #29
Superman #52 (766)

The issues in this book are from the New 52 volumes and feature the New 52 Superman in the lead, although the post-Crisis version makes an appearance.

DC Rebirth #1 occurs here.

Rebirth
Superman Rebirth #1
Justice League #52 (last issue of New 52 JL series)
Action Comics #957-962
Superman #1-6 (767-772)
Justice League Rebirth #1
Superman #7-9 (773-775)

The order of the opening arcs here is determined by Superman’s facial hair.  He still has a beard in Superman Rebirth #1, shaves it in Action #957, and doesn’t have it in Superman #1.  Justice League #52 is a story by Dan Jurgens focused on Lex Luthor, setting up his role in Action Comics, and could have just as easily been released as “Action Comics Rebirth” #1.  Justice League Rebirth #1 is optional, but included as it shows Superman learning to integrate with the Justice League.  It’s placed here based on an indirect reference to the League in Superman #7.  Justice League vs. Suicide Squad likely fits in between these volumes.

Men of Steel
Action Comics #963-972
Superman #10-11 (776-777)
Superman Annual #1
Superman #12-17 (778-783)

There are probably a few different ways to organize the arcs between the two series up to this point, but the only significant chronology placement is that Superman #12 needs to take place at some point after Action #966.

Superman Reborn
Action Comics #973-974
Superman #18 (784)
Action Comics #975
Superman #19 (785)
Action Comics #976
Trinity #8
Action Comics #977-978
Supergirl #8 (minus last three pages – “Days Later…”)

This volume is also part of the DC Rebirth event map.  The backup feature of Action #975 can remain in place.

“The Button” occurs here.

Black Dawn
Superman #20-26 (786-792)
Action Comics #979-984
Superman #27-28 (793-794)
Action Comics #985-986
Superman #33-36 (799-802)

Superman #29-32 are fill-in arcs that feel more like they should go with other series such as Green Lantern and Deathstroke, so I opted to skip them.

The Oz Effect
Action Comics #987-991
Detective Comics #965-968
Action Comics #992-998
Superman #37 (803)
Supersons #11
Teen Titans #15
Superman #38 (804)
Supersons #12

This volume is also part of the DC Rebirth event map.  The Detective Comics arc is “A Lonely Place of Living”, and spins out of the ending of Action #987, although the arc doesn’t feature Superman.  The Oz Effect Aftermath in Action #992 continues directly into the “Booster Shot” arc that runs in Action #993-998.  The last five issues of this volume contain the Super Sons of Tomorrow crossover, which picks up on plot threads from the first two arcs in this book.

“Dark Nights:  Metal” occurs here.  Not specifically part of the Rebirth narrative, but back story for the ultimate conclusion in Death Metal.

These last few volumes went through a number of revisions as I kept figuring out how all of the various arcs fit together.  Here’s all of the continuity notes:
-”Imperius Lex” in Superman #33-36 was referenced as already having happened in Action Comics #997 (part of “Booster Shot”).
-”A Lonely Place of Living” in Detective Comics #965-968 spins out of the conclusion of Action Comics #987 (part 1 of “The Oz Effect”).  While that arc doesn’t feature Superman, it does set up the plotline for “Super Sons of Tomorrow” (beginning in Superman #38).
-”The Oz Effect Aftermath” in Action Comics #992 continues directly into “Booster Shot” in Action #993-998.  Technically, there could be a break between Action Comics #991-992 to fit other Superman stories in, but it would be a big stretch based on how Superman’s acting in Action #992.
-Writer Scott Snyder is on record saying that “Dark Nights:  Metal” takes place after “A Lonely Place of Living” and “The Oz Effect”.
-The only clue to place “Super Sons of Tomorrow” after “Metal” would be the publication order of the Teen Titans series (#12 is part of “Metal” and #15 is part of “SSoT”).  But my logic is that if “Super Sons of Tomorrow” had been published as a standalone mini-series, I would have no problems placing it before “Metal”.  Since Teen Titans #15 was not written by the regular writer and I don’t plan on collecting any further issues of the series, I don’t have a problem with those issues being out of publication order.

Family of Steel
Superman #39-44 (805-810)
Action Comics #999
Superman #45 (811)
Action Comics #1000.09 (Meltzer/Cassaday story)
Action Comics Special #1 (main story only)
Superman Special #1 (main story only)
Action Comics #1000.01 (Jurgens story)
Action Comics #1000.02 (Tomasi/Gleason story)
Action Comics #1000.08 (Mxyzptlk story)

The backup features from the specials should probably be left out of this volume.  Action Comics #1000 started off with two stories by the outgoing creative teams that should be included in this set.  The final story in the book was a prologue to the Bendis run and should be included in that set.  The rest of the stories are anthology type stories.   Some could fit in current continuity and I have added them.  Others should be set aside for other specials.  There’s a couple of stories that might be able to fit here but share pages with stories that aren’t in continuity, so I dropped them.

“Heroes in Crisis” and “Doomsday Clock” occur between this run and the Bendis run.

In 1999, the Superman titles saw a massive overhaul in creative talent, probably for the first time since Byrne took over. (Before that, it was just one or two creators changing at a time.) As a result, the series take on a different tone, and sometimes it’s hard to believe that we’re reading the same Superman, especially once we get past Infinite Crisis.

I start getting away from the “completest” mentality during this era. As the titles unlink and several fill ins get tossed in the mix, I found a lot of issues to remove to create a smoother read.

The City of Tomorrow
Superman #151-152
Adventures of Superman #573
Superman:  Man of Steel #95
Action Comics #760
Adventures of Superman #574
Superman:  Man of Steel #96
Action Comics #761
Superman #153
Adventures of Superman #575
Superman:  Man of Steel #97
Action Comics #762
Superman:  Y2K #1
Superman #154
Adventures of Superman #576
Superman:  Man of Steel #98
Action Comics #763

Already out of exact triangle number order. I don’t know why the Y2K special wasn’t released immediately before parts 2-5. Anyway, I originally had the trade for Y2K – called Endgame – but flawed binding led me to bind it.

Critical Condition
Superman #155
Adventures of Superman #577
Superman:  Man of Steel #99
Action Comics #764
Superman #156
Adventures of Superman #578
Superman:  Man of Steel #100
Action Comics #765
Superman #157
Superman: Metropolis Secret Files
Adventures of Superman #579
Superman:  Man of Steel #101
Action Comics #766
Superman #158
Adventures of Superman #580
Superman:  Man of Steel #102
Action Comics #767
Superman Annual #12
Superman #159
Adventures of Superman #581
Superman:  Man of Steel #103
Action Comics #768

Emperor Joker (TPB)
Superman #160
Adventures of Superman #582
Superman:  Man of Steel #104
Action Comics #769
Emperor Joker #1
Superman #161
Adventures of Superman #583
Superman:  Man of Steel #105
Action Comics #770

Lex 2000
Superman #162-163
Superman:  Man of Steel #106
Adventures of Superman #584
Action Comics #771
Superman:  Man of Steel #107
Action Comics #772-773
Superman #164
Lex 2000 #1
Adventures of Superman #586 (pages 1-4)
Superman:  Man of Steel #108
Adventures of Superman #588 (birth excerpts)
Superman #165
Superman:  Man of Steel #109
Action Comics #774
Superman:  Man of Steel #110
President Luthor Secret Files #1

At this point, the creators basically said they weren’t going to be following the strict linkage and triangle/shield numbers. Adventures of Superman causes a bit of a problem here because it’s trying to tell its own continuous story, but still links in with various ongoing plot points. That’s why I dumped it except for the pages dealing with Lex 2000 and the birth of Ron and Lucy’s baby to wrap up that subplot.

Return to Krypton
Action Comics #775
Superman #166-167
Adventures of Superman #589
Superman:  Man of Steel #111
Action Comics #776
Superman #168
Detective Comics #756
Adventures of Superman #590
Superman:  Man of Steel #112
Action Comics #777
Superman #169
Adventures of Superman #591
Superman:  Man of Steel #113
Action Comics #778
Superman #170
Adventures of Superman #592
Superman:  Man of Steel #114
Action Comics #779

Our Worlds at War
Superman #171
Green Lantern:  Our Worlds at War #1
Adventures of Superman #593
Batman: Our Worlds at War #1
Superman:  Man of Steel #115
Action Comics #780
Superman #172
JLA: Our Worlds at War #1
Our Worlds at War Secret Files and Origins #1
Adventures of Superman #594
Superman:  Man of Steel #116
Action Comics #781
Superman #173
Adventures of Superman #595
Superman:  Man of Steel #117
Action Comics #782
World’s Finest: Our Worlds at War #1

With OWAW, I was trying to keep the book as Superman-centric as possible, but still keep in the tie-ins I found interesting – like Batman, which actually did feature Superman at the end and tie in quite well with several Superman plotlines. Wonder Woman was getting a lot of good reviews at this time, but a lot of those issues recap what was going on in the Superman issues, so they ultimately got dropped, since there was no clean way to insert them. I had toyed with the idea of spreading out the Secret Files issue, but realized that it works well after the JLA special, at the midpoint of the story.

Starting with the books below, I decided to move away from my completist mentality. Once the books unlinked, there were a lot of filler issues. Plus, with the books going in four different directions, stories were a bit all over the place.

Casualties of War
Superman #174
Adventures of Superman #596
Superman:  Man of Steel #118
Action Comics #783
Superman #175
Adventures of Superman #597
Superman:  Man of Steel #119
Action Comics #784
Superman #176
Action Comics #785
Superman #177
Action Comics #786
Adventures of Superman #600
Superman #178-183
Action Comics #792
Superman #184
Adventures of Superman #606
Superman:  Man of Steel #128
Action Comics #793

For the next few volumes, I had to give up on strict chronology between the different books. I liked keeping them separate for the most part, especially Casey and Seagle’s runs, but occasionally, there were some overlaps. The main issue is the Luthor presidency which ends in Superman/Batman #1-6, and the Cir-El Supergirl, who debuts at the beginning of Seagle’s run, but supposedly disappears after Superman #200. My solution to all of this is to take the plot element of a time storm from the books circa Superman #200, and use that to explain why the chronology might not line up so well. Hence, Cir-El still appearing in the first Superman/Batman arc, even though I have placed it after Superman #200. This can also smooth out how almost an entire year takes place in each of these books, as Action #810 is a New Year’s Eve story, and Adventures of Superman #623 is a Christmas story, both from 2003…following 2002′s Lost Hearts crossover, which is set around Christmastime. I have even linked the first three together in cover design, using the Kryptonian font to faintly spell out “time storm” on the back cover of each.

Lost Hearts
Superman #186
Adventures of Superman #608
Superman:  Man of Steel #130
Action Comics #795
Superman #187
Adventures of Superman #609
Superman:  Man of Steel #131
Action Comics #796
Superman #189
Adventures of Superman #611
Superman:  Man of Steel #133
Action Comics #798
Superman:  Man of Steel #134
Superman vs Darkseid #1
Action Comics #801-805
Action Comics #809-810
Superman/Batman Secret Files

The first 8 issues are the Ending Battle crossover, which got included in this volume when the TPB fell apart.

Metafictional
Adventures of Superman #612-623

Future Shock
Superman: The Ten-Cent Adventure
Superman #190-200

Majestic: Strange New Visitor (TPB)
Action Comics #811
Adventures of Superman #624
Superman #201
Majestic #1-4

I didn’t care much for the Godfall storyline and there’s enough going on in this book to explain Superman coming back. Really, I don’t feel there’s much of an explanation needed.

Public Enemies (TPB)
Superman/Batman #1-6

Supergirl (TPB)
Superman/Batman #8-13

Road to Ruin
Superman Secret Files 2004
Adventures of Superman #627-638, 640-641

I thought about getting the Prelude to Infinite Crisis trade to cover the Secret Files, but it wouldn’t fit into the books I’ve already bound. Binding it here keeps the Mxyzptlk story by Rucka in the Superman collection.

For Tomorrow (TPB)
Superman #204-215

There were several options with the Infinite Crisis tie-in era, since the Infinite Crisis plotlines kept weaving in and out of the Superman books.  After creating my own Infinite Crisis set that focused as close to the main plots of that event as possible, I created a Superman volume that could work in the context of the ongoing adventures, which does have some duplication, including the entire IC mini-series.

Crisis Counseling
Superman #217
Superman/Batman #19
Action Comics #827-828
Superman #218-219
Action Comics #829
Adventures of Superman #642
Wonder Woman #219
Adventures of Superman #643
Superman #220-221
Action Comics #830-831
Adventures of Superman #644
Superman #222
Adventures of Superman #645
Infinite Crisis #1
Superman #223
Adventures of Superman #646-647
Superman #224
Infinite Crisis #2-3
Superman #225
Infinite Crisis #4 (opening sequence)
Adventures of Superman #648
Infinite Crisis #4 (rest of issue)
Infinite Crisis #5 (up to Superman smashing the car)
Superman #226
Action Comics #836
Adventures of Superman #649
Infinite Crisis #5 (rest of issue)
Infinite Crisis #6-7
Superman/Batman #26

-I did skip the Superman/Captain Marvel three parter, since that was already collected in the Day of Vengeance trade, and doesn’t really impact the ongoing series much.
-The opening sequence of IC #4 could either be the first two or six pages.
-I thought it would be cool to use the original issues of Infinite Crisis in this book, while using the trade version in the main IC project, but speculators due to an announced Blue Beetle movie ruined that plan as prices for IC #3 and #5 shot through the roof overnight.  If you do manage to get the original issues, I would recommend the Perez covers for #1 and 5, and the Jim Lee covers for #2-4 and 6 as those are the most Superman-centric.  Either cover for #7 can work.

For comparison, my complete Infinite Crisis map is here.

The Superman map continues with One Year Later up to the Flashpoint reboot.

Join Catman, Scandal, Deadshot, Ragdoll, and their two newest members as they hit the road on the run from some of the world’s most dangerous killers! A contract has been put out on the lives of the Six, but the sly team has some tricks – and a whole lot of bullets – up their own sleeves! Prepare for an adventure that will take them through a gauntlet across the seediest parts of the DC Universe, and will ultimately pit them against a foe more monstrous and murderous than any they’ve ever had to face!

Birds of Prey 104-109
Secret Six 1-16
Suicide Squad 67
Secret Six 17-18
Secret Six 23
Secret Six 19-22
Action Comics #890 Sneak Preview (hey why not?)
Secret Six 24-28
Action Comics 896
Secret Six 29-30
Doom Patrol 19
Birds of Prey 11
Secret Six 31-36

There is also a few mini series that takes place before this volume but I’m binding them based around the events which influence them.
Villains United 1-6
IC Villains United Special
Secret Six Mini 1-6

The complete shield numbering list:

Green numbers
1 – New Krypton #1
2 – Superman #681
3 – Guardian Special #1
4 – Action Comics #871
5 – Supergirl #35
6 – Superman #682
7 – Action Comics #872
8 – Supergirl #36
9 – Superman #683
10 – Action Comics #873
11 – Supergirl #37 (no number)
12 – Superman #684
13 – Action Comics #874
14 – Supergirl #38
15 – Superman #685 (no number)
16 – World of New Krypton #1
17 – Action Comics #875
18 – Supergirl #39
19 – Superman #686
20 – World of New Krypton #2
21 – Action Comics #876
22 – Supergirl #40
23 – Superman #687
24 – World of New Krypton #3
25 – Action Comics #877
26 – Supergirl #41
27 – Superman #688
28 – World of New Krypton #4
29 – Action Comics #878
30 – Supergirl #42
31 – Superman #689
32 – World of New Krypton #5
33 – Action Comics #879
34 – Supergirl #43
35 – Superman #690

Red numbers
0—Superman Secret Files 2009
1 – World of New Krypton #6
2 – Action Comics #880
3 – Supergirl #44
4 – Superman #691
5 – Jimmy Olsen #2
6 – World of New Krypton #7
7 – Action Comics #881
8 – Supergirl #45
9 – Superman #692
10 – World of New Krypton #8
11 – Action Comics #882
12 – Supergirl #46
13 – Superman #693
14 – World of New Krypton #9
15 –Action Comics #883
16 – Supergirl #47
17 – Superman #694
18 – World of New Krypton #10
19 – Action Comics #884
20 – Supergirl #48
21 – Superman #695
22 – World of New Krypton #11
23 – Action Comics #885
24 – Supergirl #49
25 – Superman #696
26 – World of New Krypton #12
27 – Action Comics #886
28 – Supergirl #50
29 – Superman #697
30 – Adventure Comics #8
31 – Last Stand of Krypton #1
32 – Action Comics #887
33 – Supergirl #51
34 – Superman #698
35 – Adventure Comics #9
36 – Last Stand of New Krypton #2
37 – Action Comics #888
38 – Adventure Comics #10
39 – Supergirl #52
40 – Superman #699
41 – Last Stand of Krypton #3
42 – Action Comics #889
43 – Adventure Comics #11

So, no big deal, because they’re so easily numbered, you can just pick good breaking points and go, right?  Wrong.  Very rarely does the storyline actually go week to week through the various series.  The World of New Krypton series actually causes a few headaches, because the majority of the issues continue directly into one another, not allowing for any good break points to jump back to the action on Earth.  So, ultimately, the shield numbers really only help to make sure that you’ve obtained all of the necessary issues.  But I have finally been able to work out a 6 volume set.

The map itself can be found here:  http://comicbinding.com/mapping/superman-2006-2011

The Superman Confidential series is ignored for this map. Since the continuity backstory was tweaked following One Year Later in 2006, stories set in the past after that point don’t match up with what was published. Most of the arcs did not give any idea when they took place other than “in the past”. (That said, the Kryptonite arc that started the series was pretty decent, and worth a look, just not as part of this continuity.)

A note about DC’s company wide crossovers — my general rule is to get at least the Batman and Superman related issues. Others might collect differently. So, if you just want to concentrate on Superman, skip the non-Superman issues. I’ll try to note where a tie-in from a non-Superman comic is essential or highly recommended.

There are a few volumes that are actual trades, which I’ve noted. Beware, a lot of Superman trades are known to cut out pages or panels, or in some cases, only excerpt certain issues (or even just panels) for a theme. I do not have any of those.

key
AoS – Adventures of Superman
MoS – Man of Steel (refers to both the mini and ongoing)
MoT – Man of Tomorrow

Superman: The Legend Begins
Man of Steel #1-2
Superman Annual #7 (1995 – Year One)
Man of Steel #3-4
Legends of the DCU #1-3
Man of Steel #5
Booster Gold #6-7
Man of Steel #6
Superman #1
Adventures of Superman #424
Action #584
Superman #2
Adventures of Superman #425
Action #585
Legends #1-4
Superman #3
Adventures of Superman #426
Action #586
Legends #5-6

This volume spans about five years of Superman’s career. Seeing as how we’re definitely at the point where there are no more “untold” tales, and even how anything between 2006 and 2011 probably shouldn’t be included here either, it’s safe to finalize this volume.

I got rid of the other three “Year One” annuals because they did not fit neatly into the narrative. It would have required a lot of spicing or replacing of MoS issues. Other issues that might make it into this volume are Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #20 – a book by Byrne that retells Superman’s first meeting with Fourth World characters – and the 3 page silent story from DCU Holiday Bash by Jurgens. Both kind of fit between MoS #4-5.

This volume was originally three volumes, but I combined them when I realized I didn’t need any more flexibility during the Early Years, and I didn’t care for any other Legends crossovers. I’m comfortable folding the Legends mini-series into this project because Byrne did the art.

I used the World of Superman blog as my guide for inserting some of the later day issues.

Parallel Lives
Superman #4
Adventures of Superman #427
Action #587
Adventures of Superman #428
Superman #5-6
Adventures of Superman #429
Action #588-590
Superman #7
LOSH #37
Superman #8
Action #591
LOSH #38
Adventures of Superman #430
Superman Annual #1
Adventures of Superman #431
Adventures of Superman Annual #1

Action Comics #588 continues from Hawkman #10. But, since Superman only appears on the last two pages and everything is recapped at the beginning of Action #588, I got rid of the book. The order of the issues from that point on is derived from a page in Adventures of Superman #430 that recaps about 5 different arcs as spanning one week.

Metropolis Mayhem
Superman #9
Adventures of Superman #432-434
Action #592-593
Superman #10
Action Annual #1
Superman #11
Action #594
Booster Gold #23
Superman #12
Adventures of Superman #435
Action #595
Superman #13
Adventures of Superman #436
Action #596
Superman #14
Adventures of Superman #437
Action #597
Superman #15
Adventures of Superman #438
Action #598

Millennium covers the issues between Superman #13 and AoS #437. I couldn’t get interested enough in the event as a whole to bind or read it. Besides, it really messed up the pacing of Superman. The first two Superman tie-ins were supposed to take place back to back, but there were three other books in between.

Worlds of Superman
World of Krypton #1-4
World of Smallville #1-4
World of Metropolis #1-4

This volume is optional. It may not actually go right here, but I couldn’t figure out a good enough place to fit all 12 issues together.

Different Worlds
Superman #16
Adventures of Superman #439
Action #599
Action #599 bonus book insert
Superman #17
Adventures of Superman #440
Action #600
Superman #18
Adventures of Superman #441
Superman #19
Adventures of Superman #442
Adventures of Superman #443
Superman Annual #2
Doom Patrol #10
Superman #20
Superman #21
Adventures of Superman #444
Superman #22

This marks the end of the Byrne era, which is why I made a volume break here. The placement of Superman Annual #2 was a best guess based on clues found in ads for the book. Also, the story in AoS #443 was originally planned for an annual that year, as evidenced by it being 30 pages, and also not promoted beforehand.

Personality Crisis
Adventures of Superman #445
Superman #23
Adventures of Superman #446
Superman #24
Adventures of Superman #447
Superman #25
Adventures of Superman #448
Superman #26
Adventures of Superman #449
Superman #27
Adventures of Superman #450

Invasion goes around the last four issues, but I felt it dragged down the momentum of Superman’s story too much.

Exile
Superman #28
Adventures of Superman #451
Superman #29
Adventures of Superman #452
Superman #30
Adventures of Superman #453
Superman #31
Adventures of Superman #454
Action Comics Annual #2
Superman #32
Adventures of Superman #455
Superman #33
Adventures of Superman #456
Action #643

I shifted Action #643 up from the next volume. While it’s cool to start a new volume with Superman’s big return, there are several subplots that directly continue from the issue before it. While Action #643 ends with a “continued”, it’s not directly picked up on in the next issue. Plus, I think it’s included in DC’s Exile trade, although that trade butchers a lot of the issues contained to get as lean a story as possible. I left the Hostile Takeover backups in place. It would actually interrupt the flow of the story to move them.

Unnatural Disasters
Superman #34
Adventures of Superman #457
Action #644
Superman #35
Adventures of Superman #458
Starman #14 (starring Will Peyton)
Action #645
Superman #36
Adventures of Superman #459
Action #646
Superman #37
Adventures of Superman #460
Action #647-649
Superman #38
Adventures of Superman #461
Action #648
Superman #39
Adventures of Superman #462
Action #649
Superman #40
Adventures of Superman #463

Day of the Krypton Man
Action #650
Superman #41
Adventures of Superman #464
Action #651
Superman #42
Adventures of Superman #465
Action #652
Superman #43
Adventures of Superman #466
Action #653
Superman #44
Adventures of Superman #467
Action #654

Soul Search
Superman #45
Adventures of Superman #468
Action #655
Superman #46
Adventures of Superman #469
Action #656
Superman #47
Adventures of Superman #470
Action #657
Adventures of Superman Annual #2
LEGION ’90 Annual #1
Superman #48
Adventures of Superman #471
Action #658

The Superman Special by Walt Simonson was released in 1992, but was originally planned to be Superman Annual #3 in 1990. It takes place somewhere around this volume, as it still has Lex Luthor in it, and references Superman #43 as “last month”. I was inclined to put it at the end of the volume, until I listened to a “From Crisis to Crisis” podcast and one of the hosts said it took place before Lois and Clark started dating, probably somewhere before AoS #468. Since I had already bound the previous volume and did not want to place the special at the beginning of a volume, I moved it over to Superman From the Ages. The issue itself is a retelling of Denny O’Neil’s Sand Superman storyline from the 1970s.

Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite (TPB)
Superman #49
Adventures of Superman #472
Starman #28
Action #659
Superman #50
Adventures of Superman #473
Action #660

With the next volume, we start the era of the triangle numbers.

Time and Time Again
Superman #51
Adventures of Superman #474
Action #661
Superman #52
Adventures of Superman #475
Action #662
Superman #53
Adventures of Superman #476
Action #663
Superman #54
Adventures of Superman #477
Action #664
Superman #55
Adventures of Superman #478
Action #665
Superman #56
Adventures of Superman #479
Action #666
Superman #54-56 (Newsboy Legion backups)

The actual Time and Time Again arc runs in the issues between Adventures of Superman #476-478. But all of the issues here kind of fit together. This volume shows the beginnings of Lois and Clark’s engagement, as well as Lois learning Superman’s ID. That theme is continued through Time and Time Again.

Return of the Krypton Man
Superman:  Man of Steel #1
Superman #57
Adventures of Superman #480
Action #667
Superman:  Man of Steel #2
Superman #58
Adventures of Superman #481
Action #668
Superman:  Man of Steel #3
Superman #59
Adventures of Superman #482
Action #669
Superman:  Man of Steel #4
Superman #60
Adventures of Superman #483

Man of Steel #3 is part of War of the Gods, but there is no need to have any of that crossover included. To me, it was way too confusing and convoluted. In fact, it’s hard to follow in the second half, because all of the parts are numbered wrong, if they are numbered at all. Also, between War of the Gods, Armageddon 2001 in the annuals, Breakdowns in the Justice League books, and the ongoing Superman saga, 1991 is a real mess of a year if you try to get everything in proper chronological order, because all of those storylines reference or cross between one another, in some cases, multiple times.

Blackout
Action #670
Superman:  Man of Steel #5
Superman #61
Adventures of Superman #484
Action #671
Superman:  Man of Steel #6
Superman #62
Adventures of Superman #485
Action #672
Superman:  Man of Steel #7
Superman #63
Adventures of Superman #486
Action #673
Superman:  Man of Steel #8
Superman #64
Adventures of Superman #487

Panic in the Sky!
Action #674
Superman:  Man of Steel #9
Superman #65
AoS #488
Action #675
Superman:  Man of Steel #10
Superman #66
AoS #489
Action #676
Superman:  Man of Steel #11
Superman #67
AoS #490
Action #677
Superman:  Man of Steel #12
Superman #68
AoS #491
Action #678
Superman:  Man of Steel #13

Panic in the Sky itself ends about halfway through AoS 489, but there are other plot threads that continue for a few issues afterward. Superman #68 continues into Deathstroke #12, but the two issues act like a “TV crossover”, where part of the plot is sort of continued, but not the main plot. Since Superman only appears on one page of the Deathstroke issue, I dropped it.  In other words, the Superman issue would be more important for a Deathstroke book than the Deathstroke issue is for Superman.

Life and Liberty
Superman #69
AoS #492
Action #679
Superman:  Man of Steel #14
Superman #70
AoS #493
Action #680
Superman:  Man of Steel #15
Superman #71
AoS #494
Action #681
Superman:  Man of Steel #16
Superman #72
AoS #495
Action #682
Superman:  Man of Steel #17
Superman #73
AoS #496
Action #683

Death of Superman
Superman:  Man of Steel #18
Justice League America #69
Superman #74
AoS #497
Action #684
Superman:  Man of Steel #19
Superman #75
Justice League America #70 (pages 1-5)
AoS #498
Justice League America #70 (pages 6-22)
Action #685
Superman:  Man of Steel #20
Superman #76
AoS #499
Action #686
Superman:  Man of Steel #21
Superman #77
Legacy of Superman
Supergirl and Team Luthor

I have combined the Death and Funeral issues, because individually, they would be small volumes. If you don’t want to splice issues, put all of JLA #70 after AoS #498.  I would love to be able to go from Superman #77 directly into AoS #500, but both the Legacy and Supergirl specials are referenced later, mainly in that Lex Luthor II shows up with a broken foot suffered in the Supergirl special.

Reign of the Supermen
AoS #500
Action #687
Superman:  Man of Steel #22
Superman #78
AoS #501
Action #688
Superman:  Man of Steel #23
Superman #79
AoS #502
Action #689
Superman:  Man of Steel #24
Superman #80
AoS #503
Action #690
Superman:  Man of Steel #25
Superman #80
AoS #504
Action #691
Superman:  Man of Steel #26
Green Lantern #46 (pages 1-18)
Superman #82
AoS #505
Action #692

I think the trade of Return of Superman only reprints select pages from AoS #505 and Action #692, so not a good option if you’re going for a complete Superman collection. It also omits some pages from GL #46 as well because they are redundant, which is what I have done as well. Pages 19-22 either summarize Superman #82 before it comes out, or sets up the next issue of GL, neither of which is needed for someone reading through the Superman storyline. I prefer Action #692 at the end of the this book, because it’s more about tying up loose ends from the Death/Return, rather than moving ahead, which is what the books in the next volume focus on.

Return to Action
Superman:  Man of Steel #27
Superman #83
AoS #506
Action #693
Superman:  Man of Steel #28
Superman #84
AoS #507
Action #694
Superman:  Man of Steel #29
Superman #85
AoS #508
Action #695
Superman:  Man of Steel #30
Superman #86
AoS #509
Action #696

Good luck with MoS #30 and the Colorforms cover. There is a regular edition…but what’s the fun in that? Okay, I went and got the regular edition to bind and kept the Colorforms cover to play with. Originally, I had MoS #31 at the end of this book, but moved it to the beginning of the next. It sort of kicks off most of the subplots in the Fall of Metropolis book into high gear.  It also provides a convenient spot for Superman/Doomsday:  Hunter/Prey.

The Fall of Metropolis
Superman:  Man of Steel #31
Superman #87
AoS #510
Action #697
Superman:  Man of Steel #32
Superman #88
AoS #511
Action #698
Superman:  Man of Steel #33
Superman #89
AoS #512
Action #699
Superman:  Man of Steel #34
Superman #90
AoS #513
Action #700
Superman:  Man of Steel #35
Superman #91
AoS #514
Action #701
Superman #92
AoS #515
Action #702

The trade of Bizzaro’s World – which is what I used for those issues – cuts out the final 2 panels of Superman #88, which isn’t enough to bother me. The one line of dialogue that is lost is quickly recapped in the following issue. MoS #35 is part of both Fall of Metropolis and Worlds Collide – the crossover with Milestone. I give it priority to being a part of “Fall”, but it should be included in both volumes. To keep this book from getting bloated, I separated Worlds Collide out into the next volume, which moves MoS #36 out of publication order, but it doesn’t really affect the ongoing storyline. The 2011 RetroActive special that was suppose to take place around MoS #31 just does not neatly fit into continuity.

Worlds Collide
Superman:  Man of Steel #35
Hardware #17
Superboy #6
Icon #15
Steel #6
Blood Syndicate #16
Worlds Collide #1
Superboy #7
Hardware #18
Superman:  Man of Steel #36
Icon #16
Steel #7
Blood Syndicate #17
Static #14

If you’re going to skip Worlds Collide, make sure to keep Man of Steel #35 in Fall of Metropolis. MoS #36 will not stand on its own if separated from Worlds Collide.

Zero Hour
Showcase ’94 #8-9 (lead stories)
Batman #511
Superman: Man of Steel #37
Zero Hour #4
Superboy #8
Superman #93
Zero Hour #3
Zero Hour #2
Adventures of Superman #516
Action Comics #703
Guy Gardner: Warrior #24
Zero Hour #1
Zero Hour #0
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #31
Detective Comics #678
Robin #10
Showcase ’94 #10 (last story)

Dead Again!
Superman:  Man of Steel #0
Superman #0
AoS #0
Action #0
Superman:  Man of Steel #38
Superman #94
AoS #517
Action #704
Superman:  Man of Steel #39
Superman #95
AoS #518
Action #705
Superman:  Man of Steel #40
Superman #96
AoS #519
Action #706

Action Comics #0 leads directly into Superman:  Man of Steel #38, so it’s best to keep those two storylines together.

A Hazy Shade of Winter
Superman:  Man of Steel #41
Superman #97
AoS #520
Action #707
Superman:  Man of Steel #42
Superman #98
AoS #521
Action #708
Superman:  Man of Steel #43
Superman #99
AoS #522
Action #709

There are some optional Steel and Guy Gardner issues that could go in here. I don’t have them, and don’t feel like I’m missing too much.

Death of Clark Kent (TPB)
Superman:  Man of Steel #44
Superman #100
AoS #523
Action #710
Superman:  Man of Steel #45
Superman #101
AoS #524
Action #711
Superman:  Man of Steel #46
Superman #102
AoS #525
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #1

Outside Influences
Action #712
Superman:  Man of Steel #47
Superman #103
AoS #526
Action #713
Superman:  Man of Steel #48
Superman #104
AoS #527
Action #714
Superman:  Man of Steel #49
Superman #105
AoS #528

If you are not using the Death of Clark Kent TPB, then consider moving Action #712 to end that volume.  It does tie up the last few loose ends from those issues.

The Trial of Superman
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #2
Action #715
Superman:  Man of Steel #50
Superman #106
AoS #529
Action #716
Superman:  Man of Steel #51
Superman #107
AoS #530
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #3
Action #717
Superman:  Man of Steel #52
Superman #108
AoS #531

Adventures of Superman #530 and Man of Tomorrow #3 are also part of Underworld Unleashed. However, it’s dealt mainly as a subplot, and not vital to worrying about putting the two stories together.  Superman’s not a even a player in Underworld Unleashed, since he’s busy off-world in this storyline.

Split Decision
Action #718
Superman:  Man of Steel #53
Superman #109
AoS #532
Action #719
Superman:  Man of Steel #54
Superman #110
AoS #533
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #4
Action #720
Superman:  Man of Steel #55
Superman #111
AoS #534
Action #721
Superman:  Man of Steel #56
Superman #112
AoS #535
Action #722
Superman:  Man of Steel #57
Superman #113
MoT #5
Alpha Centurion #1

The Centurion special actually came out a little later, but I put it here as an “extra”, and it doesn’t interrupt the main storyline.  In fact, it’s not really needed.

Never Ending Battle
AoS #536
Action #723
Superman:  Man of Steel #58
Superman #114
AoS #537
Action #724
Superman:  Man of Steel #59
Superman #115
AoS #538
Action #725
Superman:  Man of Steel #60
Superman #116
MoT #6
AoS #539
Action #726
Superman:  Man of Steel #61
Superman #117

Superman #117 is labeled as a Final Night tie-in, but directly concludes the story from Man of Steel #61. It doesn’t really reflect much from Final Night, and takes place before #1 anyway.

Final Night
Final Night #1
AoS #540
Final Night #2
Action #727
Final Night #3
Parallax: Emerald Night #1
Detective Comics #703
Superman:  Man of Steel #62
Final Night #4
Green Lantern #81

For a Superman focus, of course skip Detective #703.  The rest of the issues can stay in, because Parallax actually builds off of the events of Reign of the Supermen, and then sets up FN #4.

The Wedding (25th Anniversary HC)
Superman #118
Superman:  The Wedding Album #1
AoS #541
Action #728
Superman:  Man of Steel #63

The original TPB and the 25th Anniversary hardcover contain the same issues.  However, the hardcover is the better presentation.  It’s oversized, contains the full covers in their proper spot, and preserves the fold out final page of the Wedding issue.  The HC does have matte paper compared to the glossy paper of the original TPB.

Power Struggle
Superman #119
AoS #542
Action #729
Superman:  Man of Steel #64
MoT #7
Superman #120
AoS #543
Action #730
Superman:  Man of Steel #65
Superman #121
AoS #544
Action #731
Superman Plus #1
MoT #8
Superman:  Man of Steel #66

Transformed
Superman #122
AoS #545
Action #732
Superman:  Man of Steel #67
Superman #123
AoS #546
Action #733
Superman:  Man of Steel #68
Superman #124
AoS #547
Action #734
Superman:  Man of Steel #69
Superman #125
AoS #548
Action #735
Superman:  Man of Steel #70
Superman #126
AoS #549
Action #736
Superman:  Man of Steel #71
Superman #127
AoS #550
Action #737

Pulp Heroes: Superman
Superman Annual #9
MoS Annual #6
AoS Annual #9
Action Annual #9
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #9

MoT #9 is not a Pulp Heroes story, but is a recap issue of sorts. It slows down the main narrative. This Pulp volume is easily skippable.  The only annual that is referenced anywhere else is Superman Annual #9, and one of those references actually occurs in Superman #126.

The Man of Tomorrow
Superman:  Man of Steel #72
Superman #128
AoS #551
Action #738
Superman:  Man of Steel #73
Superman #129
AoS #552
Action #739
Superman:  Man of Steel #74
Superman #130
AoS #553
Action #740
Superman:  Man of Steel #75
Superman #131
AoS #554
Action #741
Superman:  Man of Steel #76

I’m skipping the Genesis event and just putting the three tie-ins in their normal order, which lead off this volume.  I kind of want to call this book Transformed 2: Electric Bugaloo.

Superman Red/Superman Blue
Superman Red/Superman Blue #1
Superman #132
AoS #555
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #10
Action #742
Superman:  Man of Steel #77
Superman #133
AoS #556
Action #743
Superman:  Man of Steel #78
Aquaman #43
Challengers of the Unknown #15
Superman #134
Teen Titans #19
Supergirl #20
AoS #557
Steel #50
Action #744
Superman:  Man of Steel #79
Superman #135

This includes the Millennium Giants story, starting with Superman:  Man of Steel #78. Not sure about volume numbers for the non-Superman series, but it’s whatever series were running in 1998.

Superman Forever
Superman Forever #1
AoS #558
Action #745
Superman:  Man of Steel #80
Superman #136
AoS #559
Action #746
Superman:  Man of Steel #81
Superman #137
AoS #560
Action #747
Superman:  Man of Steel #82
Superman #138
AoS #561
Action #748
Superman:  Man of Steel #83
Superman #139

This is when the books separated for a while to tell stories of Superman in different eras. Some would probably try to separate them out, but they all start to converge at the end, so keeping them in publication order works.

Save the Planet!
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #11
Superman Annual #10 (Ghosts)
Save the Planet
AoS #562
Action #749
Superman:  Man of Steel #84
Superman #140
AoS #563
Superman 3-D
Superman 80-Page Giant #1

The four issues starting with Action #749 came out after DC 1 Million, but I moved it back to make for better sized books. I don’t think there’s any specific story element that requires it to be after DC1M.

DC One Million
DC1M #1
Action #1M
SOTB #1M
Nightwing #1M
GL #1M
DC1M #2
Batman #1M
Superman:  Man of Steel #1M
Starman #1M
Superman #1M
Superboy #1M
Detective #1M
JLA #1M
DC1M #3
Martian Manhunter #1M
AoS #1M
Resurrection Man #1M
Catwoman #1M
Robin #1M
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #1M
DC1M #4
Chronos #1M

For those making their own DC 1 Million using different series, the listing that DC had in the back of each book was actually a very workable reading order. I moved Chronos to the end, because it works well as an epilogue. If I were to do it again, I would probably move the Starman issue around, so the two Superman issues around it could be back to back. JLA #1M is basically DC1M #2.5.

King of the World
Action #750
Superman:  Man of Steel #85
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #12
Superman #141
AoS #564
Action #751
Superman:  Man of Steel #86
Superman #142
AoS #565
Supermen of America #1
Action #752
Superman:  Man of Steel #87
Superman #143
AoS #566
Action #753
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #13
Superman:  Man of Steel #88
Superman #144
AoS #567
Action #754
Superman:  Man of Steel #89
King of the World #1

Redemption
Superman #145
Superman 80-Page Giant #2
AoS #568
Action #755
Superman:  Man of Steel #90
Superman #146
AoS #569
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #14
Action #756
Superman:  Man of Steel #91
Superman #147
AoS #570
Action #757
Superman:  Man of Steel #92
Superman #148
AoS #571
Action #758
Superman:  Man of Steel #93
Superman #149
AoS #572
Action #759
Superman:  Man of Steel #94
Superman #150
Superman:  Man of Tomorrow #15

And then Jeph Loeb and company came on board, in the first major overhaul of the post-Crisis Superman. Prior to this, creative changes were usually handled one or two at a time.

From 1991-1997, the annuals were all part of themes or crossovers. Most of them could be moved to their own volumes. As mentioned above, 1995 was “Year One”. Below is a list of the rest of the annuals, but not full maps.

1991 – Armageddon 2001
Action Annual #3, AoS Annual #3, Superman Annual #3

1992 – Eclipso
Action Annual #4, AoS Annual #4, Superman Annual #4, MoS Annual #1

1993 – Bloodlines
Action Annual #5, AoS Annual #5, Superman Annual #5, MoS Annual #2
These actually take place during Reign of the Supermen, but there’s no reason to incorporate them into that story. it kills the pacing and this crossover is not usually considered good.  That said, DC has started including them in recent reprints of that event.

1994 – Elseworlds (see below)

1995 – Year One
Action Annual #7, AoS Annual #7, Superman Annual #7, MoS Annual #4

1996 – Legends of the Dead Earth (see below).

1997 – Pulp Heroes (included above)

Superman: Elseworlds
MoS Annual #3
Superman Annual #6
AoS Annual #6
Superboy Annual #1 (continued from AoS Annual #6)
Action Annual #6
AoS Annual #8
Superman Annual #8
Action Annual #8
MoS Annual #5
DC Comics Presents Superman #1 (the Julie Schwartz tribute issue from 2004, because I didn’t have anywhere else to put it)

Starting in 1998, DC only published 8 annuals a year – JLA, and then the 7 members’ series. As a result, Superman only got 1 annual per year for a while.

1998 – Ghosts – Superman Annual #10 (included above with Save the Planet!)
1999 – JLApe – Superman Annual #11

Volume 1

Superman 1
Adventures of Superman 424
Adventures of Superman 425
Action Comics 584
Superman 2
Action Comics 585
Legends 1
Legends 2
Legends 3
Legends 4
Superman 3
Adventures of Superman 426
Action Comics 586
Legends 5
Legends 6
Superman 4
Adventures of Superman 427
Action Comics 587
Adventures of Superman 428
Superman 5
Superman 6
Hawkman 10
Action Comics 588
Action Comics 589
Adventures of Superman 429
Superman 7

Volume 2

Adventures of Superman 430
Action Comics 590
Superman Annual 1
Legion of Super-Heroes 37
Superman 8
Action Comics 591
Legion of Super-Heroes 38
Adventures of Superman 431
Superman 9
Adventures of Superman Annual 1
Adventures of Superman 432
Adventures of Superman 433
Adventures of Superman 434
Action Comics 592
Action Comics 593
Superman 10
Action Comics Annual 1
Superman 11
Action Comics 594
Booster Gold 23
Superman 12
Adventures of Superman 435
Action Comics 595