Collecting some of the Last Son of Krypton’s greatest and most influential tales, Superman Legacy Box Set, out tomorrow, (19th August) is the perfect reading list for anyone who loves the Man of Steel.
Offering a bumper collection of four of the stories included influenced the direction of the new Superman film, while three of the tales are considered “non-canon” imaginary stories, they make for a fun read, especially if you want to dive into the worlds of the Man of Steel for the first time.
For me, Alan Moore’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? reinvigorated my youthful interest in the Man of Tomorrow when it was first published, for example. I’m sure the other stories in this Box Set will have had similar impact for others.
Included are softcover editions of:
All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
Topsy-turvy madness on the backwards Bizarro planet. A bottled city that proves you can never go home again. A living sun hell-bent on destroying humanity. A world without the Man of Steel. Twelve impossible labors and mere moments to save the Earth.
The multiple-award winning All-Star Superman, ranked as the number one Superman story by IGN, is an eternal story true to the greatest character from the golden age of comics.
Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
Told through the course of four seasons in the Man of Steel’s adolescent life, Superman for All Seasons illustrates that it is the person, not the powers, that makes Superman a hero.
The catalyst for the Smallville TV show, the story is emotional and insightful, humanising the alien from another planet so that he is not only realistic but also relatable. It also features in-depth characterisations of Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and the Kents.
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore and Curt Swan
A tale of Superman’s last adventures by Watchmen writer Alan Moore and definitive Superman artist Curt Swan.
The Man of Steel faces his greatest foes and his final battle with the combined forces of Brainiac and Lex Luthor.
Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
A near-future clash between old-guard and new-guard super heroes that was called “One of the best comic stories ever told” by the Washington Examiner.
Set in the not so distant future, the DC Universe is spinning inexorably out of control. The new generation of heroes has lost their moral compass, becoming just as reckless and violent as the villains they fight. With Batman retired, Superman in a self-imposed exile and the rest of the Justice League nowhere to be found, it seems that all hope is lost.
But not for long.
After a cataclysmic event costs the lives of millions, the Justice League – led by a rejuvenated Superman – returns to bring balance back to the world. However, the new guard will not go down quietly. A battle is coming between the uncompromising protectors and an untamed group of young powerhouses – one that will define what heroism truly is.
The Superman Legacy Box Set is available from all good book and comic shops from 19th August 2025 | ISBN: 978-1799501961 | 808 Pages | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
The Writers
Writer Grant Morrison is known for his innovative work on comics from the graphic novel Batman: Arkham Asylum to acclaimed runs on Animal Man and Doom Patrol, as well as his subversive creator-owned titles such as The Invisibles, Seaguy, and WE3. Grant has written best-selling runs on JLA, Seven Soldiers of Victory, and New X-Men and helped to reinvent the DC Universe in The Multiversity, All-Star Superman (released as a Deluxe Edition in 2022), 52, Batman, Batman & Robin, and Batman Incorporated. More recently, Grant has had his creator-owned series Happy! turned into a TV series on the SYFY network, and his first novel, Luda, was published last year.
Jeph Loeb is an Emmy award nominated and Eisner award winning writer/producer living in Los Angeles. In television, his many credits include Smallville, Lost and Heroes and in film, Teen Wolf and Commando. In comics, he is best known for his work with the supremely talented artist and partner-in-crime Tim Sale on Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman For All Seasons, and Catwoman: When In Rome.
Today acclaimed for his novels, Jerusalem and The Great When, Alan Moore is perhaps the most acclaimed writer in the graphic story medium. Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow was released separately in a Deluxe Edition in 2020. Alan has garnered countless awards for works such as Watchmen, V for Vendetta, From Hell, Miracleman and Swamp Thing. He is also the mastermind behind the America’s Best Comics line, through which he has created (along with many talented illustrators) The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, (now being re-released as in Absolute Edition format by DC) Promethea, Tom Strong, Tomorrow Stories and Top 10. As one of the medium’s most important innovators since the early 1980s, Moore has influenced an entire generation of comics creators, and his work continues to inspire an ever-growing audience.
Mark Waid has written for every major comics publisher, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie, Dark Horse, Image and Top Cow. His credits include JLA, 52, The Brave & The Bold and Legion Of Super-Heroes for DC Comics, as well as X-Men and Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics. He is best known for his long run as writer on the monthly adventures of The Flash and for his work with artist Alex Ross on the best-selling Kingdom Come, released as a DC Compact Comics Edition earlier this year.
The Superman Legacy Box Set is available from all good book and comic shops from 19th August 2025 | ISBN: 978-1799501961 | 808 Pages | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Film, Other Worlds, US Comics
Fantastic Four returns to British newsagents, ahead of new film debut