Love him or hate him, it’s hard to deny thatSupermanis one of the best heroes ever created, if not the best. But for all the adventures he’s been through and the threats he’s fought, what is it that makes him so great?
Sure, every fan has their favorite moment where he beat a challenging villain or made a heartwarming rescue. But which moments stand out from the rest as the ones that truly define his character? Read on forthese amazing moments that prove why Superman is without a doubt the greatest heroin the entire DC Universe.
10Rebuilding an Apartment Brick by Brick
Action Comics #11
The New 52 wasan odd time for the Man of Steel, whose history was rewritten along with the rest of the DCU. But despite all the changes to the familiar world,Superman was still the same kind and helpful soul he always was. InAction Comics #11, a robotic threat known as Metalek comes around and levels an entire apartment building. Superman, of course, saves the day, but the tenants are left without a home and they’re all panicking.
Thankfully, Superman doesn’t leave them in the wind. Clark calls everyone to help him rebuild the complex better than before, but he takes the lion’s share of the work, grabbing materials and putting in the effort to house the displaced citizens.Superman’s not just there to protect people from the bad guys, he makes sure people are cared for.
9Trying to Save Lex Luthor From Cellular Decay
Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1
One doesn’t need to be a hardcore fan to know thatSuperman and his nemesis Lex Luthorhave had their issues over the years. But Clark got a surprise inSuperman: The Last Days of Lex Luthorwhen he discovered his longtime enemy was gravely ill. After experimenting with kryptonite, Lex is suffering from cellular decay and is rapidly approaching the end of his life. Lex broadcasts this revelation to the entire world,baiting Superman into helping him with every person on Earth watching.
Superman wrestles with the idea, of course, but he agrees and does his very best to find some kind of a cure for Lex. He takes him to the best scientists in Kandor and even contemplates placing Lex in the Phantom Zone while Superman searches for a long-term solution.Superman has every right not to help Lex Luthor, but he does it anyway, because that’s the kind of guy he is.
8Stopping a School Shooting Before It Begins
Superman: Birthright #6
Superman doesn’t play aroundwhen it comes to the safety of others. InSuperman: Birthright #6, the Man of Steel stops a school shooting before the perpetrators have a chance to hurt anyone. But Clark doesn’t stop at just apprehending the shooters. He tracks down the man who sold the teenagers the guns to his store andtells the seller that Superman just stopped a little girl from being shot. Superman then picks up a gun and shoots at the seller.
Of course, Superman catches the bullet before it can hit the seller, leaving him with an ominous warning. It’s not often that fans see the darker side of Clark Kent. But when people are put in grave danger, especially kids,Superman will not hesitate to use Batman-like tactics to make sure people get the message.
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7Lifting a Book with Infinite Pages
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1
Superman is well-known for his feats of strength, but one of his most amazing moments came inFinal Crisis: Superman Beyond #1. Lois Lane is dying and to save her, Clark ventures into the bleed withother champions such as Captain Marvel and Captain Atomto save all existence. The team winds up in Limbo when their ship crashes and the only way they can fix it is by using a book that contains every book in existence.
Of course, that means that the book has infinite pages and thus, weighs an infinite amount. But Superman is up for the challenge, and he picks the one person who can assist him, Captain Marvel. Together, the heroes lift the book and successfully repair their ship. This wasn’t just a great feat, it wasa fantastic example of how well Superman works with other heroes.
6Liberating The Warworld from Mongul
Superman: The Warworld Saga
If there’s one thing that can be said about Superman, it’s that he never lets injustice stand. “The Warworld Saga” inAction Comicswas a storyline that saw Clark risk everything to travel to Warworld, a planet ruled by the galactic despot Mongul, and free the numerous aliens he’s forced to compete for his amusement.Superman, who’s powers have started to weaken, still travels to Warworldwith a team of heroes in the name of overthrowing Mongul and bringing justice to Warworld.
Unfortunately, Mongul’s planet runs on an engine powered by a red sun, weakening Superman even more, allowing him to be captured and forced to fight in Mongul’s pits. He doesn’t have his powers, but Clark still rallies the people of Warworld, showing that special abilities or not,Superman can inspire people like no other hero can.
5Breaking His Mind Control to Save Lois Lane
Batman #612
There’s nothing more scary than the idea of Superman falling under an insidious villain’s mind control. But that’s exactly what happened inBatman #612when the Man of Steel became the plaything of Poison Ivy, who used him to attack the Dark Knight. Thankfully, Batman was ready thanks to several precautionary measures such as hypersonics, blinding light, and a kryptonite ring, it seemed nothing Batman had could snap Superman outof the control that Poison Ivy had over the Man of Steel’s mind.
Fortunately, Batman had one more ace up his sleeve. He had Catwoman endanger Lois Lane’s life by holding her hostage outside the Daily Planet. When Lois fell, Superman broke free of the mind control and saved his wife in an instant.Even when Superman seems lost, he’s never so far gonethat he’s impossible to reach.
4Proving He’s Incorruptible to Manchester Black
Action Comics #796
It’s not uncommon for fans to think that Lois Lane is the only thing holding Superman back. At least, that’s what Manchester Black thought inAction Comics #796.Manchester has killed Lois Lane and, worse, he throws dig after dig at Superman, trying to bait him into a fight.Superman, understandably, loses it, and he appears to fight Manchesterbefore burning him to death with his heat vision. But it’s all just a thought in Superman’s head, and he refuses to give Manchester the satisfaction.
Lois is fine, of course, as Manchester had only placed her in a psychic coma. But even when he thought she was dead,Superman never gave into his darkest impulses. He simply swore that Manchester Black would pay for his crimes. No matter how far Superman is pushed, he’s simply incapable of going to the dark side.
3Defeating The Anti-Monitor To Stop A Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths #12
Crisis on Infinite Earthswas an epic that celebrated half a century of storytelling and introduced readers to one of the worst threats ever come to the DC Universe, the Anti-Monitor. The Anti-Monitor spends several issues destroying countless universes and ending an unfathomable number of lives. It took the combined efforts of thousands of heroes to bring him down,and the most crucial to defeating him was Superman(that is, the Golden Age Superman of Earth-2).
Kal-L, the older Superman, with Superboy-Prime and Alexander Luthor, Jr. made one last stand against the otherworldly being, who just seemed impossible to put down. But Superman, infuriated by all that the monster had taken, unleashed his rage and punched the Anti-Monitor so hard he exploded. Maybe it wasn’t the Superman fans know, but he ended a threatthat nearly destroyed the DC Universe.
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2Defending Metropolis from Doomsday, To His Death
Superman #75
Time almost seemed to stand still in the ‘90s when Superman faced down the terrorizing force known as Doomsday. The rampaging monster tore it’s way all across the planet and numerous heroes tried to stop him. But none were capable of slowing him down other than Superman, but even he struggled. Thanks to Doomsday’s incredible healing factor and his raw strength,Superman faced a threat that was capable of ending him for good.
And inSuperman #75, that’s exactly what happens. The entire world watched in horror as the two traded blows that resulted in the death of both Doomsday and the Man of Steel. But Superman doesn’t even think about dying until he’s positive that Doomsday is dead. It was a somber, tearjerking moment that proves thatSuperman is ready to lay down his life to protect his home.
1Saving Regan on The Now-Iconic Rooftop
All-Star Superman #10
Sometimes the best moments aren’t ones where he’s stopping a world-ending threat or performing an amazing feat. Sometimes it’s about being there for the people who really need it. InAll-Star Superman #10, Clark is facing the end of his life and he’s working around the clock to accomplish as much as possible. But with everything else going on,Superman takes the time to talk to a teenager who’s about to jump off of a building.
Before she can make the leap, Superman approaches Regan and tells her how strong she really is and gives her a hug. It’s not the only time Clark has been there for someone contemplating suicide, but it’s certainly the most well-known. And it’s moments like this thatshow off Superman’s greatest asset of all: his boundless empathy for others.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
