Superman New Krypton Reading Order

In 2008, the story arc “Brainiac” made a lot of changes to Superman continuity – Jonathan Kent’s death and the return of the bottled city of Kandor. This arc lead to a much larger story called “New Krypton”. This page contains the reading order for this.

This story is set post Crisis and pre Flashpoint (New 52) for anyone looking to place it. It is a Superman centric storyline which doesn’t involve the Justice League or any other major characters such as Batman or The Flash and can be enjoyed pretty easily even today. Action Comics, Superman and Supergirl are all you’ll need.

It is written by Geoff Johns, a powerhouse of comic storylines before being handed to James Robinson and Greg Rucka.

Note: New Krypton is an umbrella term – it can be used to describe the whole story arc or just a part of it. Some would see New Krypton as the story up until Superman #685 where it then goes into World Without Superman, then World Against Superman etc.

Others, such as this reading order counts New Krypton as the whole thing – it is the only way to give EVERYONE what they’re looking for in one whole list. Must be said that New Krypton is in the design covers of the trades.

Superman: New Krypton Trade Reading Order

Sadly, even now in 2022 there is no Superman: New Krypton omnibus so you’ll need to collect several smaller trades to get them all. But, as is the case with most comic book events you can enjoy it just fine with only one or two. We’ll let you know which class as those.

Superman: Brainiac

New Krypton starts AFTER Brainiac, but without it you might feel a little lost as to why Jonathan Kent’s dead and how Kandor came back. When writing Brainiac Johns always intended for New Krypton to happen so to us this is a part of the reading order. Collects Action Comics #866-870.

5 issues.

Superman: New Krypton Vol 1

Let’s start with the first volume which Collects Superman: New Krypton Special #1, Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1, Superman #681, Action Comics #871, and Adventure Comics Special Featuring the Guardian #1.

That’s 5 issues

Superman: New Krypton Vol 2

Collects Superman #682-#683, Action Comics #872-#873, and Supergirl #35-#36.

That’s 6 issues.

Superman: New Krypton Vol. 3

Collects Superman: World of New Krypton #1-#5, Action Comics Annual #10.

That’s 6 issues again.

Superman: New Krypton Vol. 4

Collects Superman: World of New Krypton #6-12

That’s 7 issues.

New Krypton Ends, World without Superman Begins

Superman: Mon-El Vol. 1

Collects Superman #684 to #690, Action Comics #874 and Action Comics Annual #10 (which we already have).

8 issues not counting the duplicate.

Supergirl Vol. 6: Who is Superwoman?

Some issues are in New Krypton and others are a part of World without Superman. Collects Supergirl #34 and #37-#42.

7 issues.

Superman: Nightwing and Flamebird Vol. 1

This is where the Action Comics issues are. Collects Action Comics #875 to #879, Action Comics Annual #12 and Superman: Secret Files 2009 #1.

7 issues.

This brings World Without Superman to a close and starts World Against Superman.

Superman: Mon-El Vol. 2

Collects Superman #692-#697, Superman Annual #14, Superman Secret Files 2009 #1 (a repeat) #1 and Adventure #11. #691 is in Codename Patriot.

8 issues not counting the repeat.

Superman: Nightwing and Flamebird Vol. 2

Pure Action Comics. Collects Action Comics #883 to #889. #881 to #882 are in the Supergirl trade below.

7 issues.

Supergirl: Friends and Fugitives

Collects Action Comics #881 to #882, Supergirl #43 and #45 to #47 as well as Superman Secret Files 2009 (again!!). Supergirl #44 is in Codename Patriot.

6 issues without the repeat.

Superman: Codename Patriot

A 4 issue miniseries which tied World Against Superman and World Without Superman. Collects Superman World of New Krypton #6, Action Comics #880, Supergirl #44 and Superman #691.

4 issues.

Supergirl Vol. 8: Death and the Family

Right at the very end of World Against Superman. Collects Supergirl #48 to #50. Supergirl Annual #1.

4 issues.

This concludes War Against Superman and enters the final phase which is the Last Stand of New Krypton.

Superman Last Stand Of New Krypton Vol. 1

Collects Adventure Comics #8-#9, Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #1-#2, Supergirl #51 and Superman #698.

6 issues.

Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton Vol. 2

Collects Adventure Comics #10 to #11, Supergirl #52, Superman #699, Superman Last Stand of New Krypton #1 to #3.

7 issues.

Superman: War of the Supermen

This is the final arc of the entire New Krypton Saga. Collects War of the Supermen #1 to #4 and Superman #700.

6 issues.

All the trades added together have 99 issues. There are 94 issues in the trade reading order so there’s a little bit of extra but they do include ALL the issues in the below reading order.

Perhaps one day there will be an omnibus but it would be over two books.

Superman: New Krypton Issue by Issue Reading Order

This is the Superman: New Krypton Saga reading order issue by issue, including the Brainiac prelude, New Krypton, World of New Krypton, World Without Superman, World Against Superman, Last Stand of New Krypton and War of the Supermen.

1. Action Comics #866
2. Action Comics #867
3. Action Comics #868
4. Action Comics #869
5. Action Comics #870
6. Superman: New Krypton Special #1
7. Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olson #1
8. Superman #681
9. Adventure Comics Special featuring The Guardian #1
10. Action Comics #871
11. Supergirl #35
12. Superman # 682
13. Action Comics #872
14. Supergirl #36
15. Superman #683
16. Action Comics #873
17. Supergirl #37
18. Superman #684
19. Action Comics #874
20. Supergirl #38
21. Superman #685
22. Superman: World of New Krypton #1
23. Action Comics #875
24. Supergirl #39
25. Superman #686
26. Superman: World of New Krypton #2
27. Action Comics #876
28. Supergirl #40
29. Superman #68
30. Superman: World of New Krypton #3
31. Action Comics #877
32. Supergirl #41
33. Superman #688
34. Superman: World of New Krypton #4
35. Action Comics #878
36. Supergirl #42
37. Superman #689
38. Superman: World of New Krypton #5
39. Action Comics Annual #12
40. Action Comics #879
41. Supergirl #43
42. Superman #690
43. Superman: Secret Files 2009
44. Superman: World of New Krypton #6
45. Action Comics #880
46. Supergirl #44
47. Superman #691
48. Superman Annual #14
49. Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olson #2
50. Superman: World of New Krypton #7
51. Action Comics #881
52. Supergirl Annual #1
53. Supergirl #45
54. Superman #692
55. Superman: World of New Krypton #8
56. Action Comics #882
57. Supergirl #46
58. Superman #693
59. Superman: World of New Krypton #9
60. Action Comics #883
61. Supergirl #47
62. Superman #694
63. Superman: World of New Krypton #10
64. Action Comics #884
65. Supergirl #48
66. Superman #695
67. Superman: World of New Krypton #11
68. Action Comics #885
69. Supergirl #49
70. Superman #696
71. Superman: World of New Krypton #12
72. Action Comics #886
73. Supergirl #50
74. Superman #697
75. Adventure Comics #8
76. Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #1
77. Action Comics #887
78. Supergirl #51
79. Superman #698
80. Adventure Comics #9
81. Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #2
82. Action Comics #888
83. Adventure Comics #10
84. Supergirl #52
85. Superman #699
86. Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #3
87. Action Comics #889
88. Adventure Comics #11 
89. War of the Supermen #0
90. War of the Supermen #1
91. War of the Supermen #2
92. War of the Supermen #3
93. War of the Supermen #4
94. Superman #700

Superman: New Krypton Reading Order FAQs

Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API