Superman Doomed Reading Guide

Overview:

Superman: Doomed is a 2014 DC Comics storyline, primarily spanning the Superman titles. Written by Greg Pak, Charles Soule, and Scott Lobdell, with artists such as Aaron Kuder and Tony S. Daniel contributing, the arc follows Superman as he faces a new iteration of Doomsday.

The story picks up after Doomsday’s return, which forces Superman into a brutal confrontation. The key tension of the arc lies in Superman dealing with not just the external threat of Doomsday, but an internal one as well. Characters like Lois Lane, Wonder Woman, and Batman play significant roles in supporting Superman through these challenges, with the major antagonist being Doomsday, alongside other familiar DC villains.

The arc unfolds across multiple series, including Action Comics, Superman/Wonder Woman, and Superman. This crossover structure creates a dense, interconnected narrative that was mostly well-received by fans for its action and emotional stakes. Critics were more divided; while some praised the high stakes and character moments, others felt the storyline was overly convoluted.

Though not considered a seminal Superman story, Superman: Doomed is appreciated for pushing Superman to his physical and emotional limits in new and unsettling ways.

Best Way To Read:

• Superman: Doomed
  • Collects: Superman #30-31, Action Comics #31-35, Action Comics Annual #3, Superman/Wonder Woman #8-12, Superman/Wonder Woman Annual #1, Supergirl #34-35, Batman/Superman #11 and Superman: Doomed #1-2 with select pages from Action Comics #30 and Superman/Wonder Woman #7

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

References:

• Wikipedia
• Comic Book Reading Orders

Feature Image from Superman Doomed #1 cover art by Alex Sinclair, Dan Jurgens, and Ken Lashley