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Everyone knows who Superman is, even if they have never read a comic book. A stranger from a distant planet comes to Earth on a rocket as a child. That child grows up in Middle America, is humble, moves to the big city, and becomes Superman. Everyone knows that Superman is omnipotent and powerful and that there is not much he cannot do. Still, Superman loses a lot in the comics, more than you may realize.
Superman Loses – A Lot
Superman can be boring to a lot of comic book fans. Every cell in his body is like a solar battery that absorbs and stores the sunlight from our yellow sun. Sunlight makes him strong. So, unless you have kryptonite, Superman can do anything. But if a superhero is so powerful that he can do anything, how do you make him interesting?
Make no mistake—Superman is the first superhero of comic books and is widely known, but he is not as popular now. Batman is actually more popular now. Sometimes, when Superman loses to an opponent or due to circumstances in a story, it makes him interesting. (Comic book fans are weird.)
Here are eight storylines where Superman lost.
1. Superman: Lost (2023)
Superman loses in multiple ways in Superman: Lost, which tests his endurance, emotional strength, and sanity. Firstly, Superman leaves Lois to go on a mission with the Justice League. An hour or two later, Lois wakes up to find Superman catatonic and standing in her living room. Due to a time-travel and time-dilation event, Superman spent 20 years lost in space, even though it feels like he just left for Lois!
Buy the 264-page paperback for $16.10 at Amazon now.
2. Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali (1976)
Earth is under threat from aliens that want to destroy it. The aliens curate a contest of champions and want to know who the greatest fighter on the planet is. If the champion wins, then the aliens will spare Earth. Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of his generation and arguably all time, is chosen along with Superman. Superman and Ali box under a red sun, since red sunlight nullifies Superman’s powers; Superman loses.
Get this classic tale, a 72-page hardcover, for only $37.99 now at Amazon.
3. Infinite Crisis (2005)
In 1985, Crisis on Infinite Earths, a legendary comic book, saw multiple multiverses collapse into one universe. DC comics continuity was so difficult to follow that the editors made the event a way to clean up decades of storytelling. The Flash, Supergirl, and several superheroes die saving the universe in that event.
In the 2005 event Infinite Crisis, Superboy-Prime finds himself in a forgotten pocket universe. Upon learning about Earth 1 and the new dominant DC universe, he travels there and beats up Superman!
Buy the 264-page hardcover for only $23.57 at Amazon now.
4. Superman The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus (1992)
Superman loses big time to Doomsday in this comic event and ultimately loses his life. The Death of Superman was the biggest comic event of 1992; over six million copies of the event were sold. Doomsday became a household name, and the greatest Superhero in the world was dead. Even though Superman was dead, the hero would return in another big event later.
Buy this 1,370-page hardcover for $69.06 at Amazon.
5. Superman: Exile and Other Stories Omnibus (1989)
“Superman loses” is not a concept that comic book fans are familiar with. In the mid and late 1980s Superman was depowered to make him more interesting to comic book fans and create more tension in his stories. After Superman fails to save a small town under threat by an alien, he starts to question his usefulness.
Brainiac then begins gaslighting and tricking Superman into believing that he is a threat to the world. Superman then self-exiles himself from Earth to keep it safe and explores space.
This 912-page hardcover omnibus collects the original storyline and many other contemporary comics from the era. Buy it for $71.35 now at Amazon.
6. Superman and the Authority (2021)
Superman loses to old age in this 4-issue series, and he is not afraid to admit it. Superman is getting older, and his powers are diminishing noticeably with each passing day. So, Superman calls in the Authority and suggests a team-up to stop the threat of the villain, the Ultra-Humanite.
Buy the 136-page hardcover for $16.99 at Amazon now.
7. All-Star Superman (2005)
This comic is known to many fans as one of the greatest epics of the last generation. Superman loses everything in this story; Superman learns that he is going to die. Instead of dwelling in depression, Superman sets about doing as much good as he can with the time he has left.
Buy the 293-page hardcover for $69.13.
8. Injustice Gods Among Us Omnibus Vol. 1 (2013)
This comic book series saw its release a few months before the smash hit video adaptation of the last name. In another multiverse, Superman is duped by Superman into killing Lois Lane and his unborn child. Superman takes revenge at an incredible cost that destroys Metropolis. Afterwards, Superman becomes a fascist and controls the world with an iron fist.
Buy the 1,104-page hardcover for $52.71 now at Amazon.
Superman Loses Sometimes, but He’s Always Superman
On July 11, David Corenswet will become the new cinematic Superman. Even though Batman is arguably more popular, Superman still maintains a comic book fan base, too. He is the greatest superhero ever, but he is mostly interesting when he loses.
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