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The Man of Steel (Mini-Series)

    (DC, 1986-1987, 2003, 2026)
™ and ©1986 DC Comics, Inc.

This 1986 series began a major overhaul of the Superman legend, continued later in Superman (2nd series). Artist/writer John Byrne retold the origin of Superman, only this time, the Man of Steel was different. As a baby Kal-El was still sent off into space, escaping the destruction of the planet Krypton. Only this time, he was the only escapee. Kara (Supergirl) and the assorted people in the bottle city of Kandor didn’t make it. The stories featuring them were said to have happened in another reality—giving us, in effect, retroactive continuity.

And there’s more: Superman never really discovered his powers until he was nearly 18, thus the adventures of Superboy never took place on our Earth. And, even now that he’s Superman, his powers are nowhere near the level they were in the stories of yore. This new “Superman of the 80s” came as a shock to many fans, but it ultimately laid the groundwork for a new level of characterization.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    34 copies from $1.45
  • 1/A
    #1 Variation A
    SoMuchFun Cover A by John Byrne
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $1.25
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1 copy for $39.95
  • 1/B
    #1 Variation B
    2026 Facsimile Cover B by John Byrne
    Jun 2026
    Cover: $3.99
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1 copy for $3.99
  • 1/CS
    #1 Collector’s Set
    Issued with cassette tape “MPI Audio Edition”on cover by John Byrne
    Jun 2026
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Measures 6”x 9”
    1 copy for $9.50
  • 1/NS
    #1 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by John Byrne
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    2 copies from $3.75
  • 1/SC
    #1 Special Cover
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    41 copies from $1.00
  • 2
    #2
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    41 copies from $0.75
  • 2/CS
    #2 Collector’s Set
    Issued with cassette tape “MPI Audio Edition” on cover by John Byrne
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Measures 6”x 9”
    1 copy for $6.98
  • 3
    #3
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1st appearance of Magpie (Margaret Pye)
    38 copies from $1.00
  • 3/A
    #3 Variation A
    Best Western/AT&T giveaway Edition with Cover A by John Byrne
    Feb 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Face to Face with the Dark Knight
    1 copy for $59.95
  • 3/CS
    #3 Collector’s Set
    Issued with cassette tape “MPI Audio Edition”on cover by John Byrne
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Measures 6”x 9”
    1 copy for $2.93
  • 3/NS
    #3 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by John Byrne
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1st appearance of Magpie (Margaret Pye)
    1 copy for $4.50
  • 4
    #4
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    29 copies from $1.00
  • 4/CS
    #4 Collector’s Set
    Issued with cassette tape “MPI Audio Edition”on cover by John Byrne
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Measures 6”x 9”
    1 copy for $3.98
  • 4/NS
    #4 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by John Byrne
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    2 copies from $3.25
  • 5
    #5
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Post-Crisis Bizarro (Superman clone)
    33 copies from $1.99
  • 6
    #6
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    36 copies from $1.25
  • 6/NS
    #6 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by John Byrne
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1 copy for $3.50
  • Bk 1-3
    Book #1 - 3rd printing
    Includes 6-page cover gallery
    Cover: $12.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Reprints Man of Steel (mini-series) #1-6; Reprints Superman: The Man of Steel (Compilations) #1; 1st appearance of Magpie; 180 pages; Also indexed as Superman: The Man of Steel (Compilations) #1-3; Foreword by Ray Bradbury; Introduction by John Byrne
    1 copy for $44.98
  • Bk 1/SC
    Book #1 Special Cover
    Collects The Man of Steel (Mini-Series) #1-6 squarebound together in blue cover by John Byrne
    Jan 1987
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    3 copies from $78.00