Action Comics Reading Order

This reading order is designed to give an outline of the Action Comics series from DC Comics. It attempts to find the best way to showcase the narrative that stretches through this series.

The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.

Jump to: New 52 – Rebirth

New 52

The New 52 Action Comics series takes place in the rebooted New 52 DC Universe. This reboot has a dramatic impact on the main character of the Action Comics series, Superman (Reading Order). Superman has almost all of his history completely wiped away and is reintroduced during this era.

The first several arcs in the Action Comics series focus on Superman’s early days as a superhero. These are essentially flashbacks, as most of the DC comics published in this era take place long after these story arcs. These flashbacks conclude with Action Comics #21 and all Action Comics issues after this point take place in the present.

From here, the series continues on in a straightforward manner. The stories told here mostly build off of each other. Superman grows and learns, characters are introduced and then play a large role later on, and subplots grow in the background before becoming larger narratives. Then, towards the end of this era, several high-profile crossover events take place that dramatically change Superman’s place in the world: Superman Doomed (Reading Order), Superman: Savage Dawn (Reading Order), and Superman: The Final Days of Superman (Reading Order). The last of these events also helps establish the status quo going into the next era.

Action Comics issues are from the Vol. 2 series
Supergirl issues are from the Vol. 6 series
Superman issues are from the Vol. 3 series
Superboy issues are from the Vol. 6 series

Notes

1. This event does not actually cross over with the Action Comics series. However, the narrative from this event continues in the Superman: Krypton Returns (Reading Order) event, which does cross over with Action Comics. For this reason, readers may want to consider reading this event so that the later event makes sense.
2. Only the "Superman" story from Secret Origins #1 is relevant to this reading order. This is story is mostly just a rehash of Superman's (Reading Order) origin story, so it can be skipped if necessary.

Rebirth

For the Action Comics series, the transition from the New 52 to the Rebirth era has little to no impact on continuity. The narrative surrounding Superman picks right back up where it left off during the Superman: The Final Days of Superman (Reading Order) event. The only noticeable change is that the series returns to its pre-New 52 numbering, with the first issue in this era begin Action Comics #957.

The narrative in this era begins outside the Action Comics series, in the DC Universe: Rebirth and in the Superman: Rebirth specials. These both introduce mysteries that become the focus of major Action Comics plotlines. From here, the series continues on in a straightforward way until the Superman: Reborn (Reading Order) crossover event. This event begins to address the mysteries and also introduces a significant change to the status quo. After this, the series proceeds straightforward again until The Oz Effect (Reading Order) storyline. This arc fully answers the mysteries introduced at this comic's start and provides the basis for future storylines. The Oz Effect and the fallout from it are specifically important in The Man of Steel series, the first arc in the next era.

All DC Comics Reading Orders