Superman is the best of humanity, a lofty ideal to measure the progress of morality. Often referred to as the "Blue Boy Scout," Clark Kent consistently falls into one-dimensionality due to his precise sense of justice. The hero knows what should be done and sets about doing it, demonstrating resolve rivaling Kal-El's physical strength.
With a canon as lengthy as Superman's, a character's identity experiences both deliberate and abrupt anomalies that challenge how the reader perceives them. The worst anomalies blot the Man of Steel's image for years to come, while others are counterintuitive to his self-professed ideals.
10 He Cramped The Dark Knight's Style in Batman: Noel
Bat! Humbug. Batman: Noel, written and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, is primarily an adaptation of the classic Christmas story A Christmas Carol, albeit with DC Universe stand-ins. Batman fills in for the cheerless Ebenezer Scrooge, finding nothing but discontent in the holidays. Enter the beaming Superman, taking on the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present. He chastises the Dark Knight for being so bitter and despondent, flying him up to the skies to observe what regular Gothamites are doing to celebrate the holidays. While not outright malicious, any fan of Batman will find this intrusion of light annoying.
9 He Went To War With... Cars?
The Man of Steel has a long history, dating back to the days of the Great Depression. Most readers are familiar with his rotating foes, including Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and General Zod. However, Action Comics #12 sees him declare war on reckless drivers, even smashing their cars to a pulp while they are locked up in jail.
Modern audiences may enjoy the outlandish nature of this comic, as well as the seemingly positive message about safe driving. Nevertheless, Supes may have seen better results should he have chosen to use his words.
8 He Adopted Jimmy Olsen
An adoption is an admirable act, giving of oneself to benefit another. Further, Superman is characteristically portrayed as someone who shares this value. This was not the case in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #30, where the titular reporter is legally adopted by the Man of Steel. The issue that follows reveals Superman doing several petulant things, such as leaving Jimmy behind to do the dishes and destroying a housecoat that Jimmy got him for Father's Day. While the story eventually explains Superman's bizarre behavior, it's still jarring for devotees of the character.
7 He Gave Up On The World
The world can be a soul-crushing place, particularly with 24-hour news cycles and toxic politics. This atmosphere allowed for a contemplative examination of what society deemed acceptable at the time and produced the landmark miniseries Kingdom Come. This comic follows an older, bitter, disengaged Superman as he forces himself back into action in response to the violent tendencies of his successors. He attempts to make things right, but the principle of giving up on those he is supposed to protect is, in itself, an immoral act.
6 He Killed Mister Mxyzptlk (Sort Of)
"Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow" is regularly cited as one of the best Superman stories of all time, and its enormous cast of villains and supporting characters do enough to earn that title. However, the comic exhibits one of the only times in his canon where the Man of Steel kills his enemy... sort of. Mister Mxyzptlk, he puppet master behind the story's events, reveals his frightening true form and stalks Superman (with Lois Lane) through the Fortress of Solitude.
With nowhere else to turn, Superman sends Mister Mxyzptlk to the Phantom Zone, causing the villain to panic and attempt to transport out of the way. This results in him being torn in half between the two destinations and a guilt-ridden Superman ridding himself of his powers. While the act was reluctant, Mister Mxyzptlk remains dead because of the hero's decision.
5 He Attacked The Justice League
Superman has spiraled out of control several times in canon, and it takes a village to stop him. In the opening moments of New 52 continuity, the Justice League forms as a merry band of misunderstood metahumans. They are not friends by any stretch of the imagination, and Superman's introduction is proof. After fleeing from authorities, Batman and Green Lantern investigate leads in Metropolis, only to meet the city's Kryptonian protector. It's a brief scuffle, but the Man of Steel seems eager to test his adversaries' limits.
4 He Was The Government's Errand Boy
Superman is arguably the primary villain in Frank Miller's classic story The Dark Knight Returns, which takes place in an alternate timeline where Batman has retired and Superman has become a willing tool of the corrupt government.
Fancying himself a peacekeeper, Clark destroys planes, contests allies, and trades blows with an elderly Bruce Wayne. Allowing himself to be a pawn of a power-hungry upper class is a subtle betrayal of Superman's values, dictating his moral compass whilst retaining his immense power.
3 He Went To War With... Tenements?!
Akin to his beef with cars, Superman's intentions are noble in this regard: upon overhearing the mayor say how ugly the tenement buildings are, the hero takes it upon himself to destroy them and build new homes for the residents. Having not consulted with the powers-that-be or the residents, Superman's actions here are reckless, even by the standards of superheroes.
2 He Turned Dissidents Into Mindless Drones
Superman: Red Son is Mark Millar's vision of the hero growing up in the Soviet Union, which sends several ripple effects across the character's morality. Superman's descent into fascism and idolatry is subtle and creeping, but manifests the depths of his depravity in his handling of dissidents. Should an inferior question his decisions, Comrade Superman employs a surgical operation that turns said inferior into a mindless, Superman-worshipping drone, complete with post-surgical appendages.
1 He Killed The Joker And Became A Tyrant
The most iconic moment of Superman's lashing out is a more recent addition to his lore. Initially an opening plot point in the 2013 video game Injustice: Gods Among Us, the story is expanded on in Tom Taylor's long-running tie-in comic. The Joker, primarily an adversary of Batman, sets his sights on the Man of Steel by deceiving him into killing Lois Lane and their unborn child. A nuclear device, tuned to Lois' heartbeat, subsequently detonates in Metropolis, leveling the city. These events proved an effective recipe for disaster, sending Superman hurdling over the edge towards breaking his golden rule.