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Superman Adventures #1
Superman Adventures, Vol. 1: Up, Up, and Away!
Presents adventures of the Man of Steel protecting the city of Metropolis and the rest of the world.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
1 person is currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Mark Millar
1,519 books2,569 followersMark Millar is the New York Times best-selling writer of Wanted, the Kick-Ass series, The Secret Service, Jupiter’s Legacy, Jupiter’s Circle, Nemesis, Superior, Super Crooks, American Jesus, MPH, Starlight, and Chrononauts. Wanted, Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2, and The Secret Service (as Kingsman: The Secret Service) have been adapted into feature films, and Nemesis, Superior, Starlight, War Heroes, Jupiter’s Legacy and Chrononauts are in development at major studios.
His DC Comics work includes the seminal Superman: Red Son, and at Marvel Comics he created The Ultimates – selected by Time magazine as the comic book of the decade, Wolverine: Old Man Logan, and Civil War – the industry’s biggest-selling superhero series in almost two decades.
Mark has been an Executive Producer on all his movie adaptations and is currently creative consultant to Fox Studios on their Marvel slate of movies.
His DC Comics work includes the seminal Superman: Red Son, and at Marvel Comics he created The Ultimates – selected by Time magazine as the comic book of the decade, Wolverine: Old Man Logan, and Civil War – the industry’s biggest-selling superhero series in almost two decades.
Mark has been an Executive Producer on all his movie adaptations and is currently creative consultant to Fox Studios on their Marvel slate of movies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 14, 2026
Mission 2026: Binge reviewing all previous Reads, I was too slothful to review back when I read them
Millar’s Superman Adventures feels like Superman distilled to his most accessible essence.
These stories are brisk, colorful, and morally uncomplicated—but not shallow. Millar understands that clarity can be a strength. Superman here is decisive, kind, and unburdened by existential doubt.
What I enjoyed was how well the book captures Superman’s appeal to younger readers without condescension. The conflicts are clear, the stakes immediate, the resolutions satisfying.
And yet, beneath the simplicity lies a firm ethical spine. Superman helps because helping is right. Full stop.
This volume reminded me that not every Superman story needs to interrogate the myth.
Sometimes it just needs to demonstrate it. The joy here is uncomplicated, and that joy feels earned.
Reading it felt like being reminded why I loved the character before I learned to overthink him.
Most recommended.
Millar’s Superman Adventures feels like Superman distilled to his most accessible essence.
These stories are brisk, colorful, and morally uncomplicated—but not shallow. Millar understands that clarity can be a strength. Superman here is decisive, kind, and unburdened by existential doubt.
What I enjoyed was how well the book captures Superman’s appeal to younger readers without condescension. The conflicts are clear, the stakes immediate, the resolutions satisfying.
And yet, beneath the simplicity lies a firm ethical spine. Superman helps because helping is right. Full stop.
This volume reminded me that not every Superman story needs to interrogate the myth.
Sometimes it just needs to demonstrate it. The joy here is uncomplicated, and that joy feels earned.
Reading it felt like being reminded why I loved the character before I learned to overthink him.
Most recommended.
November 18, 2014
It's a little too much plot for a 4-year-old, but I think that in 6 months or so, Sam will read the cover off of this one.
February 12, 2020
I loved this book. The newsprint type pages added to the feel of an old time Superman comic. In, "Clark Kent, You're a Nobody" you're thrown right away as Clark Kent meets Superman....how can that be? Clark is as disturbed by this as we are. Is he losing his mind? A great story, very well written with twists and turns surprising us. Wonderful coloring and drawn in a very cool style. In, "The Bodyguard of Steel" Superman must deal with Multi-face. "War Games parts 1 and 2" author Mark Miller has you wondering who is behind the runaway train that Lois Lane is on and later the bomb in the newsroom where Lois and Jim Olsen are trapped. Superman can only be in one place at a time....with so many tragedies occurring simultaneously people aren't safe and can't rely on the man of steel to rescue them in time. In "Power Corrupts, Super Power corrupts absolutely" Parasite drains Superman of his power and reigns havoc while Clark Kent recuperates.
A nice collection of action adventures well drawn and written. A joy to read.
A nice collection of action adventures well drawn and written. A joy to read.
February 21, 2019
It was a lot of to jump back into this universe, I've always been a fan of Superman: The Animated Series. Mark Millar captures the tone of the show well, while telling some great Superman stories. It's definitely geared to a younger crowd, but good fun is fun at any age.
September 1, 2023
Issues 1-10 of series, which is companion to Animated series. Good stories with great art. Only odd plot is two separate stories revolve around someone making a robot duplicate of Superman with same powers and abilities. Why twice?
December 31, 2018
Excellent.
July 10, 2013
This book is from the Superman Adventures series Comic Book series based on Superman: The Animated Series from the 1990s. It collections Issues 16, 19, 22-24.
The first story has Clark Kent finding himself powerless and someone else is flying around as Superman. What's going on? An okay story with a decent solution. Grade: B
In the second story, Someone's put a Billion Dollar price on the head of the President and it's up to Superman to protect the President from an assassin. Really great twist ending to this one. Grade: B+
The third and fourth stories are a two-party story from Issues 22 and 23. Electronic failures are happening around the world and Superman considers and eliminates likely suspects such as Lex Luthor and Livewire, finally concluding that someone had gotten into his Fortress of Solitude-Brainiac. He flies up there to confront him. The story takes some great turns and Superman gets key help from an unlikely source.
The story even had some a religious subtext as Dr. Hamilton flew up to the North Pole and mocked those who were praying by candles. Yet, when things took a horrible turn, Hamilton said, "Good Lord." Brainiac remarks, "A man of science using a religious phrase is most interesting." Indeed it is and so is this story. Grade: A+
Finally, the Parasite's back and he steals Superman's Powers and goes on a week long spree of terror. Superman still has days to go until he's back at full strength, but will he wait that long? Grade: B+
Overall thoughts:
The book's shines a great light on the unrelenting selfless heroism of Superman. These stories leave no doubt that the Superheart of Superman is far greater than his superpowers.
At the same time, I did have an issue with the way Parasite's powers worked in this story. His inability to Hold Superman's power for days on end seemed completely at odds with how the TV series had portrayed his powers and since this was based on the TV series, it should have been consistent.
However, this is a minor point, particularly with a book that includes "The War Games" story arch.
The first story has Clark Kent finding himself powerless and someone else is flying around as Superman. What's going on? An okay story with a decent solution. Grade: B
In the second story, Someone's put a Billion Dollar price on the head of the President and it's up to Superman to protect the President from an assassin. Really great twist ending to this one. Grade: B+
The third and fourth stories are a two-party story from Issues 22 and 23. Electronic failures are happening around the world and Superman considers and eliminates likely suspects such as Lex Luthor and Livewire, finally concluding that someone had gotten into his Fortress of Solitude-Brainiac. He flies up there to confront him. The story takes some great turns and Superman gets key help from an unlikely source.
The story even had some a religious subtext as Dr. Hamilton flew up to the North Pole and mocked those who were praying by candles. Yet, when things took a horrible turn, Hamilton said, "Good Lord." Brainiac remarks, "A man of science using a religious phrase is most interesting." Indeed it is and so is this story. Grade: A+
Finally, the Parasite's back and he steals Superman's Powers and goes on a week long spree of terror. Superman still has days to go until he's back at full strength, but will he wait that long? Grade: B+
Overall thoughts:
The book's shines a great light on the unrelenting selfless heroism of Superman. These stories leave no doubt that the Superheart of Superman is far greater than his superpowers.
At the same time, I did have an issue with the way Parasite's powers worked in this story. His inability to Hold Superman's power for days on end seemed completely at odds with how the TV series had portrayed his powers and since this was based on the TV series, it should have been consistent.
However, this is a minor point, particularly with a book that includes "The War Games" story arch.
November 18, 2014
A collection of great stories dealing with Superman and his world, written by Mark Millar, who it seems has put a good deal of effort into making these stories enjoyable for anybody. The style is somewhat “Golden Age” but still realistic enough not be a cliche of that kind of superhero story. And Millar’s rendition of the Parasite was actually pretty hilarious.
The stories all point back to how selfless and heroic Superman is, without making him into a perfect protagonist.
The stories all point back to how selfless and heroic Superman is, without making him into a perfect protagonist.
July 3, 2014
Just a fun and simple collection of standalone Superman stories. I liked it. Plus my pal Eric was in it, so...
May 4, 2010
that book give me a lot of learning
April 22, 2017
This whole series is just about the best thing Mark Millar has ever written, and the best run Superman has had since the Silver Age.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews