The Teen Titans are about to meet Superman! Little do they know, he’s really not feeling himself. And their clash will take Lex Luthor on the path to discovering the Man of Steel’s biggest secret!
John Byrne‘s ‘Man of Steel’ era continues, following the universe-resetting events of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1985-1986).
Minor Crossover: With threads of one issue gently leading into the other, this story can be considered a minor crossover.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Action Comics #584
- Superman #2
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Action Comics #584 David Gunderson creates a device that allows him to swap bodies with Superman. Inhabiting the Man of Steel’s form, Gunderson goes on a rampage in Metropolis until he’s met with resistance from the Teen Titans. Superman emerges in Gunderson’s body and the Titans help restore each of them to their rightful forms. When Clark Kent breaks the story – yet another Superman exclusive – Lex Luthor seeks the connection between Kent & Superman. |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Superman #2 Weeks later, LexCorp computer scientist Amanda McCoy ‘wins’ dinner with Lex Luthor when she finds the same woman’s face in the crowds whenever Superman has appeared. Luthor has the Kryptonite removed from Metallo. His goons then ransack Jon & Martha Kent’s house, find their Superman scrap book and kidnap Lana Lang. Two days later, Clark Kent finds Lana tortured and beaten in a janitor’s cupboard near his apartment. Luthor has his goons blown up in front of Superman who then heads to Luthor’s building to confront him directly, demanding to know where the Kents are. But Luthor’s Kryptonite ring protects him and he admits his involvement while ushering the weakened hero out. Later, Superman flies Lana to the Kents’ home and finds them safe. Amanda’s data reveals Clark Kent is Superman, but Luthor refuses to accept it and fires her. 1st appearance: Sydney Happeson, Gretchen Kelley, Amanda McCoy, Kryptonite Ring |
See how this story impacts the wider DC Universe with these reading orders:
- SUPERMAN, 1987-1988 – The Man of Steel
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| ✔ | Action Comics #600 (1988) Lex Luthor discovers radiation the Kryptonite Ring has given him cancer. | |
| Adventures of Superman #441 (1988) Metallo returns, but remains in shadow. | ||
| Superman #19 (1988) Lex Luthor has his hand amputated in the hope of stopping the cancer from spreading. | ||
| Doom Patrol #10 (1988) Metallo’s return is confirmed when he faces both Superman and the Doom Patrol. | MEN OF STEEL | |
| ✔ | Superman #28 (1989) Amanda McCoy obsessively continues to investigate Clark Kent’s connection to Superman. | EXILE |
| ✔ | Action Comics #653 (1989) Amanda McCoy obtains the Kryptonite Ring and comes close to exposing Clark Kent, but her investigation ends in horror. | |
| ✔ | Adventures of Superman #467 (1990) The trail of the Kryptonite Ring leads Superman to Metropolis; Batman gains possession of it, but doesn’t tell Superman. | DARK KNIGHT OVER METROPOLIS |
| ✔ | Superman #49 (1990) Lex Luthor learns the cancer caused by the Kryptonite Ring is terminal. | KRISIS OF THE KRIMSON KRYPTONITE |
| Action Comics #660 (1990) The creepy relationship between Lex Luthor and his physician, Gretchen Kelley, is revealed. | ||
| ✔ | Action Comics #678 (1992) ‘Lex Luthor Jr’ is revealed to be the real Lex Luthor cloned into a younger body to save him from the cancer. | |
| Action Comics #700 (1994) LexCorp underling Syndney Happerson meets his fate when a plan to cause massive upheaval in Metropolis backfires, killing him; Gretchen Kelley betrays Lex Luthor. | THE FALL OF METROPOLIS |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.1 HC | Action Comics #584-587 Adventures of Superman #424-428 Man of Steel #1-6 Superman #1-4 |
| Superman: The Man of Steel vol.2 tpb | Action Comics #584-586 Adventures of Superman #424-426 Superman #1-3 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman – The Deluxe Edition | Action Comics #584 |
| The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told Lex Luthor: A Celebration of 75 Years Superman: They Saved Luthor’s Brain | Superman #2 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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