I may have been conceived out there in the endless depths of space... but I was born when the Rocket opened, on Earth, in America. I'll cherish always the memories Jor-El and Lara gave me... but only as curious mementos of a life that might have been. Krypton bred me, but it was Earth that gave me all I am. All that matters. It was Krypton that made me Superman... but it is the Earth that makes me Human! 
- — Superman
Superman: The Man of Steel is the first origin of Superman after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, written and drawn by John Byrne.
Synopsis
Many years light away from Earth, planet Krypton is about to die. A single scientist, Jor-El, has foreseen the disaster and sends his son Kal-El's Kryptonian Birthing Matrix to Earth.
Kal-El's rocket lands on Smallville and is found by a couple of farmers, Jonathan and Martha Kent. They decide to adopt the baby, naming him Clark Kent, and tell everybody he's their natural son.
Clark is raised by the Kents, believing them to be their blood parents and exhibiting incredible powers as he grows up. Finally, Jonathan reveals to him his arrival's secret. Clark decides he needs to use his powers for good and leaves Smallville.
Clark tries to keep himself out of sight, but he learns quite soon that's impossible. Martha makes him a costume and he calls himself Superman.
Superman moves to Metropolis and shortly later has a job as reporter in the Daily Planet where he meets people as Lois Lane, Perry White and Jimmy Olsen, and earns Lex Luthor's enmity.
As dropping by his parents' farm, Superman finds a Jor-El's hologram who reveals he's an alien come from planet Krypton.
Issues
- The Man of Steel #1
- The Man of Steel #2
- The Man of Steel #3
- The Man of Steel #4
- The Man of Steel #5
- The Man of Steel #6
Notes
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a massive event which reset the entirety of the DC Universe's past continuity, major characters and features like Superman required a reboot to reestablish their histories in the new timeline. Man of Steel was a six-issue limited series exploring the origins and first adventures of Superman published in 1986, written and illustrated by John Byrne, with inks by Dick Giordano and colors by Tom Ziuko. The series was edited by Andrew Helfer. Following its publication, three other miniseries were published exploring the updated versions of various elements of Supermans supporting cast: World of Krypton, World of Smallville and World of Metropolis.
Although Man of Steel was considered Superman's canon origin for over a decade, details started getting tweaked in the Nineties. An updated version was published in 2004, written by Mark Waid, Superman: Birthright which makes several important changes such like Kal-El being born on Krypton, meeting Lex Luthor in Smallville and hinting the existence of Superman's relatives. Both of these versions were later made apocryphal by Superman: Secret Origin in 2009, considered the official post-Infinite Crisis version of Superman's beginnings.
Recommended Reading
Links and References
  After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a 1985–1986 maxiseries which completely reset the continuity of the entire DC Universe, all of DC's major characters and franchises needed to be updated to reflect the changes in the events of their lives. Multiple story arcs were put out to explain these rebooted versions of popular characters. Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #1 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #2 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #3 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #4 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #5 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #6 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #1 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #2 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #3 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #4 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #5 • Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #6 The Legend of Aquaman
Zatanna Special
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 The Origin of Superman is a popular concept fundamental to the Superman mythos that has received multiple treatments and iterations, usually involving significantly different versions of events. The Man of Steel
Superman: Birthright #1 • Superman: Birthright #2 • Superman: Birthright #3 • Superman: Birthright #4 • Superman: Birthright #5 • Superman: Birthright #6 • Superman: Birthright #7 • Superman: Birthright #8 • Superman: Birthright #9 • Superman: Birthright #10 • Superman: Birthright #11 • Superman: Birthright #12 |
 This event or storyline is specifically related to Superman, or to members of the Superman Family. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the Superman Storylines category. |
Superman and his supporting cast had their origins rewritten in the Man of Steel series written by John Byrne, following the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986. This was part of many sweeping changes made to continuity in the Post-Crisis DC Universe. These stories would be considered the definitive history until his origins were revised again in Superman: Birthright, written by Mark Waid in 2003.