Superman by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus

Background. Following the DC Rebirth event in 2016, the New 52 version of Superman gave way to the pre-Flashpoint Superman, who was married to Lois Lane and had a son: Jonathan Kent. DC commissioned Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason to create the regular Superman series with an unusual premise for the character: to tell the story of Superman as a father. Not a solitary Superman or a Clark Kent in the throes of an identity crisis, but a man who has to teach his son what it means to have powers and to do good.

What’s inside. The complete run by Tomasi and Gleason on Superman within Rebirth, with story arcs centred on the Clark-Jon relationship and the introduction of Jonathan Kent as Superboy. It includes the Super-Sons arcs (featuring Jon and Damian Wayne), the showdowns with Manchester Black, and the character’s emotional journey through his role as a father. Main art by Patrick Gleason.

Why it’s worth reading. It’s the most emotionally accessible Superman of the last decade. Tomasi takes a character many readers find hard to connect with (perfect, powerful, morally flawless) and humanises him through fatherhood. Gleason draws the Kent family with a unique warmth. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell a Superman story that isn’t based on fighting, this is the answer.

Edition details. 1128 pages. Complete collection of the run. US edition published by DC Comics. ISBN 9781779509253.