The 1979 classic was originally supposed to be a treasury…
While we wait for November’s official return of DC’s Limited Collectors’ Edition line — featuring the first three issues of George Perez’s 1986 Wonder Woman reboot — we can’t help but think what should be next.
May I not so humbly propose 1979’s Action Comics #500, a beloved anniversary issue featuring The Life Story of Superman, by Martin Pasko, Curt Swan and Frank Chiaramonte, behind a wraparound cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano.
As our pal, Rob Kelly of TreasuryCast, wrote back in 2018: “DC Comics rightfully made a big deal about Action Comics hitting its 500th issue… featuring a 68-page story that trip-hammers through the Man of Steel’s storied past. But it was originally designed as an issue of All-New Collectors’ Edition, tentatively titled “Superman’s Life Story.” Not that Action #500 isn’t a fine comic, but considering that 1978 was Superman’s 40th anniversary, it would have been great to celebrate that in the treasury size.”
Now, 2027 isn’t an anniversary year for the Metropolis Marvel but we are getting the sequel to 2025’s Superman with Man of Tomorrow.
In ’25, DC published the all-new Superman Treasury 2025: Hero for All to hype the first James Gunn/David Corenswet flick, so it would be fitting to right a historic wrong this time around.
It’s such a clearcut decision, I can’t see DC not doing it — though perhaps the publisher would wait until summer, and tuck in another new LCE before then.
We’ll find out either way.
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MORE
— WONDER WOMAN Gets First-Ever Classic TREASURY EDITION — and It’s by GEORGE PEREZ. Click here.
— 13 THINGS TO LOVE About BATMAN’s First 1970s Treasury Edition. Click here.
October 10, 2026
Let me be the first to wholeheartedly support this. Action 500 is my favourite single issue Superman story. I loved it so much as a 5 year old that I cut out the crest on the cover to put it on my Mego Superman figure. If DC publishes this book as a treasury sized book in 2027, I promise not to cut out any part of the cover to put it on any action figure.
October 10, 2026
Dan, did we ever figure out the numbering situation? Wonder Woman is still listed as LCE C-65.
Anyway, no disagreement on Action #500!
October 10, 2026
It is listed at Lunar at #64. That’s all that matters right now. They fixed it from the initial solicit.
https://www.lunardistribution.com/home/search?term=Limited+Collectors
October 10, 2026
Action #500 at tabloid scale is obviously a fantastic idea! But I’d love to see it inked anew from stats of Curt Swan’s pencils. Frank Chiaramonte was a capable inker, but I never felt he was a proper match for Swan’s art. Indeed, DC would sometimes bring back Murphy Anderson or Bob Oksner to ink the “milestone” issues that might attract a wider readership.
Fresh inks and more dramatic coloring would make this terrific issue truly new after half a century (!)—and make it a stunning gift to fans of every vintage.
October 10, 2026
Seconded! I was never a fan of Chiaramonte’s inks.
October 10, 2026
Yes. I’d love to see this reprinted, either in its original size, but especially as a treasury! (I’d love to see ALL the special anniversary editions get a reprint, even a collection or two of anniversary issues!
October 11, 2026
Capital idea, Dan! I also respectfully suggest a reproduction of Superman #400…
October 12, 2026
You may call me a purist, but I don’t like the idea of altering the original art for any reprinted comics. The only thing I could support is correcting the “Day-Glo” colors of DC’s Baxter issues in the 80s, but some might disagree with me about that.
October 14, 2026
I don’t understand all the tabloid love. Harder to read, impossible to store. A regular facsimile is fine by me.
October 14, 2026
For me, the charm is to see the artwork closer to the actual size as what the artist made. (Assuming the proper scans or originals are available.) And as I get older, I’m all for larger and easier to see font size!