Elseworlds.

Every other Superman, from Red Son to Kingdom Come.

Elseworlds is DC's name for stories set outside its main continuity. The first was Gotham by Gaslight (1989), and DC relaunched the label in 2024. The best-known alternative Supermen include Kingdom Come (1996), Red Son (2003), All-Star Superman (2005–08) and Superman-Prime of DC One Million (1998), who isn't the same character as Superboy-Prime.

Read in depth All trivia and firsts

Updated 6 November 2026 · 10 sources

In depth

The full story.

What if baby Kal-El had landed in the Soviet Union? What if he grew old in a world that no longer wanted him? DC’s alternative Superman stories ask questions like these, and many fans think they include some of the best Superman stories ever told.

What is Elseworlds?

Elseworlds is DC’s label for stories set outside its main continuity, where heroes are reimagined in other times, places or circumstances. The first was Gotham by Gaslight (1989), which only got the name afterwards. DC published Elseworlds on and off until 2003, released one more in 2010 and relaunched the imprint in 2024. Before that, the Silver Age had “imaginary stories” doing the same job.

The essential alternative Supermen

Story	Year	Creators	The premise	Confidence
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?	1986	Alan Moore, Curt Swan	The last “imaginary story” of the pre-Crisis Superman	Likely
Superman: Speeding Bullets	1993	J. M. DeMatteis, Eduardo Barreto	The Waynes adopt Kal-El, who becomes Batman before he becomes Superman	Likely
Kingdom Come	1996	Mark Waid, Alex Ross	A retired Superman returns to lead the old heroes in a world of reckless new ones	Likely
DC One Million	1998	Grant Morrison, Val Semeiks	The 853rd-century Superman-Prime	Likely
Superman: Red Son	2003	Mark Millar and others	Kal-El lands in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas; see also evil Supermen	Likely
Superman: Secret Identity	2004	Kurt Busiek, Stuart Immonen	A boy called Clark Kent in our world gains real powers	Likely
All-Star Superman	2005–08	Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely	A dying Superman uses his last year to do 12 great things	Likely
Superman: Earth One	2010–15	J. Michael Straczynski and others	A modern retelling with a young, reluctant Clark	Likely
Superman: The Last Family of Krypton	2010	—	The whole El family survives and comes to Earth	Likely

Kingdom Come

Mark Waid and Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come (May–August 1996) shows an older Superman who has stepped back from the world, returning to lead the original Justice League against a generation of reckless young heroes. It ends with Wonder Woman expecting his child (see Superman and Wonder Woman). This Superman reached TV when Brandon Routh played him in the Arrowverse’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths” (2019–20).

Superman: Red Son

In Mark Millar’s Red Son (2003), the rocket lands in Soviet Ukraine and Superman grows up a Soviet hero, while Lex Luthor becomes president of the United States. Its final twist makes Superman a descendant of Lois and Luthor. It became an animated film in 2020. Millar is one of several British creators who shaped Superman: see Superman and Britain.

All-Star Superman

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s 12-issue All-Star Superman (2005–08) begins with Lex Luthor sabotaging a mission to the Sun. Overcharged and dying, Superman uses his last year to do 12 great things. It won the Eisner Award for Best New Series in 2006 and Best Continuing Series in 2007 and 2009. It’s also where the famous “200 quintillion tons” figure comes from; see the myth card on Superman’s greatest feats.

Superman-Prime and Superboy-Prime: not the same

These two get mixed up all the time:

Superman-Prime One Million is the far-future Superman of DC One Million (November 1998), set in the 853rd century, when Action Comics would reach issue #1,000,000. He has lived at the core of the Sun for over 15,000 years. About 34 DC series published a #1,000,000 issue for the event.
Superboy-Prime is a Clark Kent from a world like ours, where superheroes exist only in comics. He first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 (November 1985), turned villain in Infinite Crisis (2005–06), where his punches were used to explain changes to continuity, and was redeemed in Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020–21).

Fans often call Superman-Prime or the All-Star Superman the most powerful Superman in print, but that’s opinion, not canon.

Elseworlds and Kal-El.co.uk

Elseworlds is close to our hearts. The site’s founder runs the Instagram account @elseworld_superman, where the founder shares AI-assisted, Elseworlds-style fan art. It’s clearly labelled as fan art, not official DC work. For where to start with the comics themselves, see our comics reading order. For the official Marvel crossovers, see Superman and Marvel.

Era by era.

The same Superman, rewritten for every generation.

Imaginary stories (Silver Age)

Before Elseworlds, DC told what-if tales as 'imaginary stories'. Alan Moore's Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (1986) is the most famous Superman example.

Elseworlds (1989–2003, 2010, 2024–)

The label starts with Gotham by Gaslight (1989), runs on and off until 2003, returns once in 2010 and is relaunched in 2024.

The far future

DC One Million (1998) shows Superman-Prime in the 853rd century, living at the core of the Sun.

Other imprints

Superman: Secret Identity (2004) and Superman: Earth One (2010–15) sit outside continuity without the Elseworlds name.

Questions.

What is an Elseworlds story?

Elseworlds is DC's label for stories set outside its main continuity, where familiar heroes are reimagined in different times, places or circumstances. The first was Gotham by Gaslight (1989). DC used the label on and off until 2003, once more in 2010, and relaunched it in 2024.

Who is the most powerful Superman?

There's no official answer. Fans usually name Superman-Prime of DC One Million (1998), who has lived at the core of the Sun for over 15,000 years, or the solar-overcharged hero of All-Star Superman (2005–08). Both are outside today's main continuity, so treat any ranking as opinion.

Are Superman-Prime and Superboy-Prime the same?

No. Superman-Prime is the far-future Superman of DC One Million (1998). Superboy-Prime is a Clark Kent from a world like ours, introduced in DC Comics Presents #87 (1985), who later became a villain in Infinite Crisis (2005–06). They share a name, not an identity.

What is Superman: Red Son about?

Superman: Red Son (2003), written by Mark Millar, asks what would happen if baby Kal-El's rocket had landed in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas. He grows up a Soviet hero while Lex Luthor becomes the American president. It was adapted as an animated film in 2020.