The Man of Steel (Mini-Series)

    (DC, 1986, 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
    37 copies from $1.67
  • 1/A
    #1 Variation A
    SoMuchFun Cover A by John Byrne
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $1.25
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    2 copies from $35.00
  • 1/B
    #1 Variation B
    2026 Facsimile Cover B by John Byrne
    Jun 2026
    Cover: $3.99
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 1/C
    #1 Variation C
    2026 Facsimile Blank Cardstock Cover C by John Byrne
    Jun 2026
    Cover: $4.99
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 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/D
    #1 Variation D
    2026 Facsimile Foil Cover D by John Byrne
    Jun 2026
    Cover: $6.99
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 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 $2.98
  • 1/SC
    #1 Special Cover
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    50 copies from $0.99
  • 1/SI
    #1 Silver Edition
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $1.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 2
    #2
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    53 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
  • 2/NS
    #2 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by John Byrne
    Oct 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1 copy for $4.98
  • 2/SI
    #2 Silver Edition
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $1.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 3
    #3
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    1st appearance of Magpie (Margaret Pye)
    46 copies from $0.99
  • 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”
    No copies available
  • 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)
    No copies available
  • 3/SI
    #3 Silver Edition
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $1.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 4
    #4
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    36 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
  • 4/SI
    #4 Silver Edition
    Nov 1986
    Cover: $1.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 5
    #5
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Post-Crisis Bizarro (Superman clone)
    39 copies from $1.75
  • 5/A
    #5 Variation A
    MASK insert ad Cover A by John Byrne
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Post-Crisis Bizarro (Superman clone)
    No copies available
  • 5/CS
    #5 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”
    No copies available
  • 5/NS
    #5 Newsstand Edition
    Newsstand Edition with cover by John Byrne
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Post-Crisis Bizarro (Superman clone)
    No copies available
  • 5/SI
    #5 Silver Edition
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $1.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • 6
    #6
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $0.75
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    49 copies from $0.99
  • 6/CS
    #6 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”
    No copies available
  • 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
  • 6/SI
    #6 Silver Edition
    Dec 1986
    Cover: $1.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    No copies available
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    Jan 1987
    Cover: $12.95
    W: John Byrne  ·  A: John Byrne
    Collects The Man of Steel (Mini-Series) #1-6
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-2
    Book #1 - 2nd printing
    Dec 2003
    Cover: $12.95
    W: John Byrne, Ray Bradbury  ·  A: John Byrne
    Collects #1-6; Foreward by Ray Bradbury
    No copies available
  • 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 1-4
    Book #1 - 4th 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) #1-4; Foreword by Ray Bradbury; Introduction by John Byrne
    No copies available
  • Bk 1-5
    Book #1 - 5th printing
    Cover by Jerry Ordway
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $9.95
    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) #1-5; Foreword by Ray Bradbury; Indicia now reads “Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 1”; Introduction by John Byrne; Lower price
    No copies available
  • 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 $79.00