The comics that could inspire Superman 2

Ash Walker • 24 Jul 2025 Features

Going back to the source.

Superman has only just hit theatres, but talk is already turning to what might happen in a potential sequel - and given the movie’s box office success so far, a sequel seems like a given.

This summer’s blockbuster reboot takes a lot of cues from beloved comic series All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, among others, so it’s likely that director James Gunn will return to the comic book well for inspiration when writing the follow-up.

To try and get an idea of what might be in store, we’ve done a deep dive into the best comic book Superman stories that have yet to be adapted.

Birthright (2003)

James Gunn’s Superman, somewhat divisively, chooses to completely skip the Man of Steel’s origin story, instead throwing us into the middle of the action with a Superman three years into his career.

You could argue that, at this point, everyone in the world knows Superman’s origin. It’s so familiar that Grant Morrison reduced the whole thing to eight words in All-Star Superman - doomed planet, desperate scientists, last hope, kindly couple.

But that isn’t to say it wouldn’t be interesting to see an origin story for this new version of the Man of Steel, et al, and Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu’s Superman: Birthright could serve as an excellent template. In fact, Gunn already used a few elements in his new version.

Birthright is one in a long series of canonical retellings of Superman’s origins (see also John Byrne’s Man of Steel and Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Secret Origin), and covers everything you might expect - Krypton, Clark Kent’s childhood, Superman’s first appearance in Metropolis, as well as introductions to all the key players, like Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

But it’s in the way Birthright really emphasises that Superman is a global citizen that would jibe really nicely with Gunn’s new version.

Grounded (2010)

The new movie focuses heavily on Superman’s humanity, his social conscience and his connection with fellow humans - all of which is explored in this 2010 run by J. Michael Straczynski, Chris Roberson and Eddy Barrows.

Grounded sees Superman confronted by the idea that he has lost touch with the people he’s sworn to protect. His solution? To go all Forrest Gump and walk across the United States, helping out the everyday people he meets along the way.

It’s a fun, different concept for a Superman story, and one that puts the humanity of the character front and centre - perfect for James Gunn and David Corenswet’s big screen version.

Exile (1989)

After being forced to kill a group of murderous Kryptonian villains, Superman goes into self-imposed exile, leaving Earth behind and journeying into space. The Man of Steel encounters strange alien creatures, incites a revolution and learns more about his Kryptonian past.

While Superman grapples with his actions in space, we also keep up with the characters in Metropolis - particularly Lex Luthor, and how he reacts to a world suddenly free of Superman.

It’s a great story, and would make an excellent basis for a movie or even a TV miniseries.

The Warworld Saga (2021)

Easily the best recent Superman story, the Warworld Saga would make a truly epic film, mixing high sci-fi/fantasy with superhero action and massively expanding the cosmic corners of the DCU.

When Superman learns that a race descended from ancient Kryptonians has been enslaved on a brutal planet called Warworld, he leads a team of misfit heroes to liberate them. Of course nothing is that simple, even for a powerful hero like Superman.

The Man of Steel ends up in chains, forced to compete in gladiatorial combat, but his inherent goodness begins to chip away at the brainwashed residents of Warworld and soon revolution takes hold.

It’s a brilliant, epic story, and one that really gets at the heart of who Superman is, and why he’s such an interesting, inspirational character.

The Death & Return of Superman (1993)

Not a story that the DCU should rush into - looking at you, Batman v Superman - but a monumental event in the life of Superman, and one that would be incredible on the big screen if handled correctly.

In true Superman fashion, Big Blue sacrifices himself to save Metropolis while fighting the indestructible monster Doomsday. The issue where it happens (Superman #75, written and drawn by Dan Jurgens) is truly epic, with each page reduced to a single massive image - exactly the kind of mythic slugfest that needs to be seen in IMAX.

But Superman’s death is actually just the opening act of an epic three-part story, which sees his friends - superpowered and everyday - mourning his loss in their own particular ways, quickly followed by an arc called Reign of the Supermen, in which a bunch of pretenders try to fill the Superman-shaped void.

Of course, Superman gets better. He returns with a nifty black suit and a none-more-90s mullet, just as one or two of the replacement Supermen have gotten a little too carried away.

Come on DC, give the fans what they want - David Corenswet in a mullet!

For the Man Who Has Everything (1985)

Widely regarded as one of - if not the - best Superman story ever written. It’s much shorter than most, only filling out a single issue (Superman Annual #11), but its impact can’t be overstated.

Written by comics god Alan Moore and drawn by legendary artist Dave Gibbons - the team behind Watchmen - this is a simple, self-contained story that nevertheless manages to dig deep into the character’s psyche.

It’s Superman’s birthday - February 29th, in case you were wondering - and Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman have travelled to the Fortress of Solitude to celebrate with Big Blue. Only when they get there, they find their friend catatonic and tangled in the vines of a strange alien plant.

It’s called Black Mercy, and it feeds its victims a convincing psychic fantasy of their heart’s desire… while slowly draining their life energy. The whole thing is a plot by the supervillain Mongul, and he’s swiftly dealt with by the heroes.

But the heart of the issue is Superman’s fantasy, which sees him living a happy life on Krypton - which was never destroyed - with a wife and children. And it ends on a tragic note as Superman must say goodbye to his kids, with which he’s lived an entire lifetime in his head, as he’s forced to wake up.

It might be the only Superman comic that’ll make you cry, and that’s exactly the kind of thing James Gunn likes to do to audiences.