Superman #251

Superman #251 (May 1972) serves up a genuinely tense cover by Neal Adams, showing the Man of Steel lunging forward with fists ready as a monstrous green creature tears its way out of what appears to be a cake or pedestal — while a looming robot figure declares, "Too Late, Superman! The Thing Is Born!" The raw energy in Adams' linework makes the threat feel immediate and unsettling, a perfect hook for a 52-page issue also promising bonus stories including "The Day Krypton Didn't Die!" and "Case of the Living Trophies!" Whether you're revisiting DC's early-'70s output or discovering Len Wein and Curt Swan's work for the first time, this oversized package makes a compelling case for why Superman was DC's number-one best-selling comics magazine.