10 Best DC Comics To Prepare For Superman (2025)

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With the reveal of the first-ever trailer for Superman, fans of the Man of Steel are ecstatic. The film will mark the beginning of the DCU, created by James Gunn for Warner Bros. Gunn himself will direct the movie, so expectations are high considering the film will introduce yet another new version of the beloved Superman.

Superman will premiere on July 11, 2025, so fans have plenty of time to prepare. From comics to learn more about some of the characters in the film, like Krypto and Guy Gardner, to the stories that will actually inspire the film, according to Gunn himself, these are the best comics to read before the movie hits the big screen the next summer.

10

Justice League International Lets Guy Gardner Shine For Who He Is

Justice League International (Vol. 1) by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire

Although Hal Jordan is the most popular Green Lantern, Guy Gardner is easily a close second, regardless of his terrible attitude. Gardner sucks at teaming up, often bad-mouthing his teammates and disobeying. Justice League International shows how much he struggles with this, but he finally has a dose of reality when Batman punches him unconscious.

With Nathan Fillon set to portray the character — and donning the iconic bowl cut — fans will want to get used to Gardner’s attitude. Justice League International is the perfect comic to learn how his mind works, especially when working with other heroes, and what makes him tick.

9

Kingdom Come Shows A Truly Grim Universe But A Hopeful Superman

Kingdom Come (Vol.1) by Mark Waid, Alex Ross, Todd Klein, and Bob Kahan

Kingdom Come is one of the most influential Superman stories ever, thanks to its story and incredible art. Given this, James Gunn knows this, so he has already confirmed this series has inspired a great deal of Superman. This comic follows a bleak world where vigilantes have taken over the superhero community, with the good heroes gone.

Since Kingdom Come is quite a desolate universe, it’s unlikely Gunn will inaugurate the DCU with this story. The Superman trailer doesn’t show this kind of world. Instead, the director probably got inspired by Superman’s iteration in this comic. He’s an older hero who has lost all hope but finds it in himself to trust again. Corenswet Kal-El may go through a similar journey, and comic readers should be prepared for it by reading Kingdom Come.

8

Hawkgirl Focuses Solely On This Character

Hawkgirl (Vol. 2) by Jadzia Axelrod and Amancay Nahuelpan

Superman will focus on the Man of Steel. Still, the trailer revealed that many other heroes will be a part of his journey, like Mister Terrific, Green Lantern, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl — one of the greatest heroines in DC Comics. DC fans are particularly excited about this heroine’s debut since it’s the first time she will appear on the big screen.

Portrayed by Isabela Merced, Hawkgirl is Kendra Saunders. After dying by suicide, her body became the vessel for Shiera Sanders Hall — an ancient relative of her grandfather. She then became Hawkgirl, struggling with her identity for a while. In 2023, Jadzia Axelrod and Amancay Nahuelpan created Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders’ second solo series. Fans who want to know this character closely for the film should check out the six-issue series. It’s short but full of action.

7

Nicholas Hoult Took Inspiration From Lex Luthor: Man of Steel

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (Vol. 1) by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel depicts the rivalry between Lex and Superman, this time from the villain’s perspective. In the comic, Lex creates a new superheroine, Hope, who soon wins the public’s love, leaving Superman in a conundrum. Since Lex tells the story, Lex Luthor: Man of Steel almost humanizes him — up until one incredible plot twist that reminds the reader of his true nature.

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel hasn’t been mentioned as an inspiration for the film’s script, but Nicholas Hoult has commented he read the comic and definitely based his Lex on this iteration. Not only is this comic a great story, but it’s also a perfect starter dish for fans to get a taste of how complicated Hoult’s Luthor will be.

Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin (Vol. 1) by Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, Jerry Ordway, Francis Manapul, Ryan Benjamin, Paul Pelletier, Richard Friend, Norm Rapmund, Ian Herring, Rob Leigh, and Rain Beredo

Dark Nights: Death Metal The Secret Origin tells the story of Superboy-Prime, only one of the many Kryptonians who fight together against the Dark Knights, but instead of having a good relationship with the rest of the Super Family, he has fought his own nature for too long — wounding up a villain on their eyes. Except for Krypto.

This one-shot may focus on Superboy, but Krypto is the true heart of the comic, always kind to a lonely boy who really needs it. Any fan who got emotional seeing Krypto in the Superman trailer will love this story. Although it’s embedded in a bigger event, its true value resides in the beautifully unconditional love of this canine — something everyone wants to see on the big screen soon.

5

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Is Superman In A Nutshell

“Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” by Alan Moore, Curt Swan, George Pérez, Kurt Schaffenberger, Todd Klein, and Julius Schwartz.

Alan Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” is a last goodbye to Superman before John Byrne reintroduces the character following Crisis on Infinite Earths. Because of this, it features pretty much every important character from the Man of Steel’s mythos. From Lois to Supergirl to every villain that Superman has faced. The comic begins with Lois Lane talking about the last time she saw Clark, and it follows Superman’s last days on Earth.

Fans know James Gunn’s Superman will pay homage to the best Superman stories ever, and “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” definitely fits the bill, so there may be something about it in the 2025 film. Even if that isn’t the case, what better way to wait for a new Man of Steel film than reading a story that features pretty much every element from his backstory?

4

Krypto Saves The Day in Superman #680

Superman (Vol. 1) #680 by James Robinson, Renato Guedes, José Wilson Magalhaés, Hi-Fi Design, and John J. Hill

Krypto is one of Superman’s most important allies, but he’s often taken for granted, with other members of the Super Family taking priority over him. “The Coming of Atlas, Part 4 – Man of Yore, Dog of Tomorrow” is the opposite. Superman #680 is all about Krypto the Super Dog. This comic depicts the end of Superman’s battle against Atlas on James Robinson’s run. Although ultimately Kal-El defeats the villain, the issue focuses on the fact that the Man of Steel would have never made it through this fight if it wasn’t for his relentless dog.

The new Superman trailer revealed many heroes, but fans are head over heels for the introduction of Krypto, especially because it’s now obvious that he will be central to Superman’s survival in the film. “The Coming of Atlas, Part 4 – Man of Yore, Dog of Tomorrow” spotlights this partnership in a short but sweet story.

“What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” in Action Comics (Vol. 1) #775, by Joe Kelly, Dough Mahnke, Lee Bermejo, Dexter Vines, Jim Royal, José Marzan, Jr., Wade Von Grawbadger, Wayne Faucher, Rob Schwager, and Comicraft.

When a new group of vigilantes led by Manchester Black begins using lethal force against criminals, Superman has to teach them a lesson on true heroism. “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” sees Kal-El deal with this crew that has slowly and steadily convinced the general public that violence is the right way.

Like Kingdom Come, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” discusses the effectiveness of Superman’s non-killing methods, which has led fans to assume the film will revolve around this topic. Whether this is true or not, this comic is a great way for the fans to remember Superman’s core values before the film.

2

Superman For All Seasons Sees Kal-El Through Others

Superman for All Seasons (Vol. 1) by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

In four sections — spring, summer, fall, and winter — Superman for All Seasons describes Supeman’s backstory and some of his most important moments through the eyes of those around him: Jonathan Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang. Superman for All Seasons focuses on Clark’s closest ones’ opinion of him, so it paints a beautiful picture of the hero as a human, not a superpowerful being.

Of course, its art only makes it more emotional, and so far, it seems that Gunn has taken inspiration from Tim Sale’s drawings for the movie — the scene with Superman and Pa Kent on the farm comes directly from a two-page spread on Superman for All Seasons. Given this, this 4-issue series is a great comic to get a good idea of the film’s vibe.

1

All-Star Superman Is The Film’s Main Inspiration

All-Star Superman (Vol. 1) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

James Gunn himself has named All-Star Superman the main inspiration for the character in the 2025 film. He stated that the movie won’t adapt the series storyline, but Kal-El will be quite similar to this version of the Man of Steel — even Corenswet has commented that he read the comic at Gunn’s suggestion.

With this in mind, fans will want to check it out if they haven’t read it already. All-Star Superman is an emotional tale. It follows a Superman who knows he’s dying of sun exposure and his swan song, a last heroic sacrifice for the Earth he loves. Kal-El’s affection for this planet is palpable on every page, with even Lex finally understanding him. This emotional depth and nostalgia is exactly what fans want to see in the future Superman film.

“}]] Fans can dive into a few iconic DC Comics to further explore characters like Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and, of course, Clark Kent before Superman (2025).  Read More