The Loeb-Kelly era has long been my favorite run of Superman comics, a position that I’m happy to report it maintains following a recent reread. In particular, writer Mark Schultz and artist Doug Mahnke imbued Man of Steel with a sharp sci-fi focus, with stories regularly featuring the Eradicator, the Fortress of Solitude and the Phantom Zone. I should note here that while fans and critics, including myself, tend to refer to this period as the “Loeb-Kelly era,” and by most accounts it seems those two were indeed leading the charge, Adventures of Superman and Man of Steel were also running concurrently. Their tenure embraced a classic yet fresh take on Superman, emphasizing his humanity and core relationships while also introducing new concepts and challenges. As a ’90s kid who grew up with those stories, I certainly have nostalgia for them and respect for their creators - but my top spot goes to the run that followed.Īs the previous century drew to a close, the Superman titles experienced a creative revamp led by Jeph Loeb (fresh off Superman: For All Seasons) and Joe Kelly, who took over the writing chores on Superman and Action Comics, respectively. There were deaths (of Superman, of course, and later of the Clark Kent identity), a breakup and wedding, a trial, electric powers, and more status quo-altering events. So dig these 13 REASONS TO REVISIT THE JEPH LOEB-JOE KELLY SUPERMAN ERA:Īh, to be a Superman reader in the ’90s. Documentarian and podcaster Anthony Desiato, on the other hand, is as familiar with the soaring spires of Metropolis as I am with Gotham - especially since the ’90s.Īnthony’s got a new podcast - Digging for Kryptonite: A Superman Fan Journey - and he’s in the middle of an exploration of Jeph Loeb and Joe Kelly’s time in the City of Tomorrow.

I’m a big Superman fan but I admit that I’m fairly myopic in what I like and don’t like. Taking another look at a run that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle…

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