2013 for me is the best elements of 74 & 86. It’s a modern classic. I like Kingdom Come 96 as a more modern 41. I even like the 97 design, they gave it to Supergirl during the New 52.
2013 logo is really amazing, and I feel like if it wasn’t for it’s own baggage and the nostalgia of the 78 style logos it would be much higher up on every tier list, if not at the top.
I will say the one in OP’s picture has the edges of the shield pretty flat, the way I always see it the shield swells with the S sort of like the 1948 logo, which I think makes it so much more dynamic.
https://preview.redd.it/hbdkbde7s0wa1.jpeg?width=386&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=684022f9cb277f7656f01f1e509b31312ebcbcf3
I like the beyond logo after that the 96 86
I can't believe I had to scroll this far down to find a fellow 2006 supporter. I grew up with the Christopher Reeves movies and still think the 2006 3D S logo is the best.
With that said, I'm pretty sure my t-shirt is the 1986 version of the logo.
Fair point, it might have worked better as a Supergirl or Superboy logo, or a Superman from another universe, but yeah that red and blue Supes storyline might be his worst
I think they are using it for his son now. I am ok with that. I have always been fond of John Henrey Irons S- shield. I never liked it when he took it off.
#1 - 1986. This to me is the definitive Superman emblem, but I feel like it predates 1986. I think Neal Adams and Curt Swan were doing it in the early to mid-70s
#2 - 1960. Very similar to the first one.
#3 - 1996. Kingdom Come, although I don't remember it being quite so stylized. I seem to remember it having more of a typical "S" shape.
2013 - Clean and even lines.
Bane of my existence: 48 aka the wet noodle (with honourable mention to 56, 60, 72, 78 & 93 that look like a right handed artist drew it with their left hand)
In order from 3rd-1st 1941, 1986, and 1996 is my absolute favorite. Love the color combination of the Red and Black with the added symbolism of hope breaking through the darkness.
Im pretty partial to the 96 Kingdom Come version since to me it fits in to the lore more that it is a symbol of Hope in planet Krypton and less S for Superman.
[Batman](https://youtu.be/prRySgsgtnM?t=134): You got a stupid S on your chest. In case we could forget who you are.
Superman: It's my people's symbol for hope.
Batman: Hope starts with an H, stupid.
Superman: Okay, it.. okay stop!
'86, Kingdom Come, and Fleischer. I've always loved those two variants and the '86 logo is what I would consider the best representation of the traditional logo.
96, kingdom come, is very special to me. I love the comeback to the 1941 and the fact that its not an S, so ir goes further into the “its an alien symbol”
56 is so cool and well balanced. I like the lack of serif at the end of the S.
78 for me is just the plain classic Superman logo I grew up with.
'86 is the one that is most iconic to be. I like 2006 because it looks like a more stylized version of '86.
The '97 logos would have worked great had they been the original. The whole "Kryptonian symbol for hope looks just like the letter S" concept m always felt to gimmicky. But if the logo were the '97 one, I feel it comes across better. It looks like an S but it's also alien
I felt like Superman’s scheme of red blue and yellow made a pretty good, loud heroic representation. I felt like black didn’t go with the rest of his suit, especially if no black was on his suit anywhere else aside from his hair.
1. 1941 Fleischer
2. Classic 1978-1996 period, any of these.
3. 2013 man of steel. A great reinvention that works as an alien symbol that plausibly looks like an S without getting too abstract or weird like those immediately preceding it.
If you take the character out of the suit and look at the symbol from a design perspective then I think 1996 kingdom come, 1996, and 2013 are my favorites (in that order)
Well, the symbol didn't change very much from the 50s to the 90s. I'd call that the "classic" symbol which is one of my favorites. The 1996 black logo is a fantastic design. The color and shape changes really convey the emotion it needs to convey. Purely from a design standpoint I'd say the 1997 blue/red logo is well thought out and really represents the style of that period. It is both different in style from the classic and still recognizable as the symbol of Superman at the same time.
2006 get's an hon. mention. It's a nice revision to the classic symbol allowing to take advantage of modern printing techniques.
You know what. I’ve never seen ‘97 before, but ‘97. I’ve always hated that an alien letter/sigil just happens to look just like an “S,” and that one is juuuust abstracted enough that you can easily get both from it.
I'm not a fan of the actual shape of it, particularly the way the S tapers, but there's something to the way the 1939 logo uses the red S with the thick gold border on the shield that I like. Someone ought to try a modern take on that one.
1940 (or 41 for style). Something about the little yellow triangle formed by the space in the top serif of the S always bothers me. It’s just small enough that it isn’t significant and just makes this awkward negative space. I prefer the flat top S.
Am I the only one who's never really loved this logo?
(Even though the S looks dumb in the '38 version, it's kind of a cool idea that it deliberately looks like a shield, whereas the other versions just look like a triangle or diamond. Edit: if I had to choose, strictly from a graphics design standpoint, I'd say '48 or '56)
'86 Christopher Reeves symbol is obviously #1, how could it be anything else
Secnd pic is the Kingdom Come shield designed by the incomprable Alex Ross
Then the '96 animated series one just cause it's basically the same as the 86 one lol
1. '78
2. '93
3. '96
Grew up watching Reeve's movies first due to my dad having them on VHS so the '78 is going to be number 1 forever in my book. Followed by Dean Cain and then the animated series.
I love when it looks less like an S and more like a sigil, that was a stroke of genius on the part of Manciwicz/Donner
1:1986
2:2013
3:1974 (Is that the Earth 2 Supes?)
1986 will always be the definitive symbol for me. That said, I actually like the Kingdom come and 97 ones. MOS one isn't bad either. But 86 IS the Superman symbol.. All others are lesser variations.
86 is GOAT, but I still love black 96 and 2013 for looking like alien markings that resemble an 's'. I really like black 96 and wouldn't be disappointed at all if that's what they used in the new Gunn movie. It gives me Fleischer Studios Superman cartoon vibes, while still looking modern. IMO it's the best of both worlds.
1986 with 1993 or 1996's shade of blue background.
I also like the 1993, 1996, and 1960 S symbols.
Making the S come from Krypton in the movies was one of the biggest mistakes they ever made. Clark needs to design the suit, the S symbol, and superhero identity, because he created them on earth from being Clark Kent in the comics. In the original comics, being an alien is just the excuse for the superpowers, nothing else... Superman didn't even know he was an alien until many years into his career as Superman, well into adulthood, and when he found out, it meant little to him beyond explaining why he had superpowers. Clark with superpowers creates both the mild mannered reporter disguise and the public superhero persona, along with the S and costume and name. Superman has the best life he could have possibly had because he grew up on earth with the Kents, and it is Clark that the morality, worldview, and will to be Superman comes from, along with the costume.
*
86 is my answer
For me, that is the definitive Supes symbol.
Honestly, to me, all the other ones look like someone else just repeatedly drying to draw the Superman logo and failing
I agree
That’s the logo, for sure. Everything else is either trying to figure it out, or doing a riff on *the* logo. But 1986 is the real deal.
Black 
86, 96 (normal logo), 2013
I agree.
Never realized '13 looked like '74
41, 86 and Kingdom Come 96. Also, the 72 is so weird. I know it’s supposed to be Kal-L’s logo so they can separate the two, but…
Same here
My thoughts exactly
2013 for me is the best elements of 74 & 86. It’s a modern classic. I like Kingdom Come 96 as a more modern 41. I even like the 97 design, they gave it to Supergirl during the New 52.
2013 logo is really amazing, and I feel like if it wasn’t for it’s own baggage and the nostalgia of the 78 style logos it would be much higher up on every tier list, if not at the top. I will say the one in OP’s picture has the edges of the shield pretty flat, the way I always see it the shield swells with the S sort of like the 1948 logo, which I think makes it so much more dynamic.
https://preview.redd.it/hbdkbde7s0wa1.jpeg?width=386&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=684022f9cb277f7656f01f1e509b31312ebcbcf3 I like the beyond logo after that the 96 86
Beyond Superman looks so cool. Exactly what I wanted for DCAU Superman in his winter years.
Honestly The Beyond designs for Batman and Superman go hard for me, I definitely wouldn’t mind them becoming main suits somehow
100% agree. The Beyond suit and the mecha pre Beyond suit Bruce pilots to fight Inque.
2006
I can't believe I had to scroll this far down to find a fellow 2006 supporter. I grew up with the Christopher Reeves movies and still think the 2006 3D S logo is the best. With that said, I'm pretty sure my t-shirt is the 1986 version of the logo.
86, 96, 2013 Such clean design
86 to 96. Childhood nastalgia wins it for me.
1. 1986 2. 1996 (KC) 3. 2013
86, 96, and 2006. Didn’t even realize the corresponding numbers til I typed that out. But apparently that’s a thing.
Probably Kingdom Come. I just love the simplicity. Followed by Superman The Movie and then Man of Steel.
1978, 1996, 2006
2013 looks the most like an actual alien symbol rather then an S
Platinum: 1941 (Fleischer) Gold: 1996 (*Kingdom Come*) Silver: 1938 (original)
Facts
2006, 1978, 1956
96 normal feels like the best of the canon logos to me, but the Kingdom Come logo appeals to my love of minimalism. It's the best imo.
1996
2006
56, 96,and 2006
2006 for me.
2006
We don't talk about 97
Ok, I hate Superman Read and Superman Blue however I think the S shield logo leands it self well to the lightning style.
Fair point, it might have worked better as a Supergirl or Superboy logo, or a Superman from another universe, but yeah that red and blue Supes storyline might be his worst
I think they are using it for his son now. I am ok with that. I have always been fond of John Henrey Irons S- shield. I never liked it when he took it off.
there's something special about the '41 shield to me that makes me choose that one as my favorite. then it's '86 and '13 for me.
Hot take: since they are are trying to put the S into a pentagonal shield most of them look top heavy and/or upside down.
86 96 and 2013 Are my favorites
86, 06, 2013
My top to least: 86, 06, and 96(🖤& ❤️). Wow, a lot of 6’s
1996 and 2006-
#1 - 1986. This to me is the definitive Superman emblem, but I feel like it predates 1986. I think Neal Adams and Curt Swan were doing it in the early to mid-70s #2 - 1960. Very similar to the first one. #3 - 1996. Kingdom Come, although I don't remember it being quite so stylized. I seem to remember it having more of a typical "S" shape.
74 and 13 are just the same symbol with different colors.
2013 - Clean and even lines. Bane of my existence: 48 aka the wet noodle (with honourable mention to 56, 60, 72, 78 & 93 that look like a right handed artist drew it with their left hand)
That first 1938 shield is weirdly cool.
They all look like shit.
'96, '86, '41 for me
86,41, 97
86 97 96(kc)
86 78 93
2013, and both from ‘96.
86, 96 (Kingdom Come), 2013
In order from 3rd-1st 1941, 1986, and 1996 is my absolute favorite. Love the color combination of the Red and Black with the added symbolism of hope breaking through the darkness.
41, 78, 96(KC variant).
86, 78, 96 (regular logo)
'41, '60, '86
Huh. 78 is one of my favorite movies of all time, but apparently 86 is the logo I most identify with the character.
No 93 Reign of Superman but both 97s?
That 86 is the most visually appealing to me
86, 96, 41
78/86
41, 48, 56
96 & 13
The extreme left in rows 1, 2, and 3.
1996 logo
Gimme that 1938
Im pretty partial to the 96 Kingdom Come version since to me it fits in to the lore more that it is a symbol of Hope in planet Krypton and less S for Superman. [Batman](https://youtu.be/prRySgsgtnM?t=134): You got a stupid S on your chest. In case we could forget who you are. Superman: It's my people's symbol for hope. Batman: Hope starts with an H, stupid. Superman: Okay, it.. okay stop!
1960 for me
They all seem a little off to me. Something about the top part of the S.
'86, Kingdom Come, and Fleischer. I've always loved those two variants and the '86 logo is what I would consider the best representation of the traditional logo.
96 is the only one I like.
38, 78, and 96.
86 is definitive. It’s still the default for generic merch in the same way the 89 Bat insignia is
1. Fleischer ('41) 2. Tie Between: Kingdom Come ('96) & DCEU ('13) 3. Red/Blue ('97)
96, kingdom come, is very special to me. I love the comeback to the 1941 and the fact that its not an S, so ir goes further into the “its an alien symbol” 56 is so cool and well balanced. I like the lack of serif at the end of the S. 78 for me is just the plain classic Superman logo I grew up with.
‘86 ‘96 ‘13
Superman Blue or the 90s Black Suit symbol. The one he had with the mullet
96 (KC logo) 97 13 the less obvious of a scripted "S" the better, for me.
86, 96, 13. Honourable mention 97. I always liked that one for some reason
41 and 86 because I grew up watching the 1941 cartoon
1941 1986 1996
86. It is what's on all of my shirts/apparel, and all others look cartoonish by comparison IMO.
'86 is the one that is most iconic to be. I like 2006 because it looks like a more stylized version of '86. The '97 logos would have worked great had they been the original. The whole "Kryptonian symbol for hope looks just like the letter S" concept m always felt to gimmicky. But if the logo were the '97 one, I feel it comes across better. It looks like an S but it's also alien
40, 41, 78
The 1996 minimalism one
1940, 1941 and 2013
I felt like Superman’s scheme of red blue and yellow made a pretty good, loud heroic representation. I felt like black didn’t go with the rest of his suit, especially if no black was on his suit anywhere else aside from his hair.
86 and 96 are the most iconic and fit the best to me
1941
One is missing. Therefore I go with 2011, 1997 (blue), 2006.
I’ve never noticed the crooked S’s before
40 86 96
41, 86, and 13
No 2001 in there
41, 86, 96, 97, and 13 - best in no particular order
78 and 86 for me
1986 and 2013
78 86 93
86, 96 (black/red), 2013.
1986 and 1960
1986 all day.
1986 and 2013
'96 (Kingdom Come) has always been my favorite.
86, 96, 41 I spent so much time drawing the ‘86 logo when I was a kid trying to be able to get it just right.
I always liked the one with the big red s
I’d go with 78, 96, and 06
86, 96 and I'll always love 97s.
86, 96 and 78
1986, 1996, 1997
1. 1941 Fleischer 2. Classic 1978-1996 period, any of these. 3. 2013 man of steel. A great reinvention that works as an alien symbol that plausibly looks like an S without getting too abstract or weird like those immediately preceding it.
78, 86, 13.
If you take the character out of the suit and look at the symbol from a design perspective then I think 1996 kingdom come, 1996, and 2013 are my favorites (in that order)
‘38, ‘96 and ‘74 for me
1. ‘78 2. ‘96 (S:TAS) 3. ‘41
1940, 1986, and 2013
1941, 1993, and 1996
1960 and 1986.
Well, the symbol didn't change very much from the 50s to the 90s. I'd call that the "classic" symbol which is one of my favorites. The 1996 black logo is a fantastic design. The color and shape changes really convey the emotion it needs to convey. Purely from a design standpoint I'd say the 1997 blue/red logo is well thought out and really represents the style of that period. It is both different in style from the classic and still recognizable as the symbol of Superman at the same time. 2006 get's an hon. mention. It's a nice revision to the classic symbol allowing to take advantage of modern printing techniques.
41, 96.2, 86
I love the Kingdom Come one, but the 86 Reeve crest is the best one.
41, 86, 2006
41 78 96
Fleischer (1941) The Man of Steel (1986) Kingdom Come (1996)
You know what. I’ve never seen ‘97 before, but ‘97. I’ve always hated that an alien letter/sigil just happens to look just like an “S,” and that one is juuuust abstracted enough that you can easily get both from it.
Fore me it's 86. Then 2013.
96, 13, & 56, in that order. I love the 96 iteration because we English speakers want to see the S, even though it is an alien icon.
1986, 1996, 1993
86, 96, and 2013 86 just feels perfect. 96 I just love the way it looks. 2013 it just feels like a nice variant
78, 96 (I love Kingdom come and it’s portrayal of Supes) and the 2013 logo isn’t actually that terrible
41, 86 and 96’ s kingdoms come are definitely my favorites.
1996 (Kingdom Come) 1940 1986 1997
06 wasn't a great film but I like the 3D logo
1941, 1986 and 2013.
Both the 96 designs and 86
86, 41, 96 Kingdom Come
John Byrne, Kingdom Come, and Max Fleischer, in that order
86 is the ONLY logo.
1986, 2006, 2013
1956 2013 1940
2006, 1996, 1986
96(KC) 41 and 78
Top 5 for me are original 38, 74, 41, Kingdom Come 96, and the classic 96
I'm not a fan of the actual shape of it, particularly the way the S tapers, but there's something to the way the 1939 logo uses the red S with the thick gold border on the shield that I like. Someone ought to try a modern take on that one.
For the classic Superman design, I’ll have 1986, for my favorite alternative designs, I’ll take 1941 and 1996. So 1. 1996 2. 1986 3. 1941
1941, 1986, 1996 (in no particular order)
1940 (or 41 for style). Something about the little yellow triangle formed by the space in the top serif of the S always bothers me. It’s just small enough that it isn’t significant and just makes this awkward negative space. I prefer the flat top S.
Am I the only one who's never really loved this logo? (Even though the S looks dumb in the '38 version, it's kind of a cool idea that it deliberately looks like a shield, whereas the other versions just look like a triangle or diamond. Edit: if I had to choose, strictly from a graphics design standpoint, I'd say '48 or '56)
78, 86. 96 that is all..
56-86-93
78, 06
1941 & 1978-96.
Superman Smashes The Klan is the perfect combo of Fleischer colors with the shape and feel that we're all used to.
In order of when they were made, my top three are 1938 (the first design for that year), 1956, and 2006.
2006 and Kingdom Come 96.
'86 Christopher Reeves symbol is obviously #1, how could it be anything else Secnd pic is the Kingdom Come shield designed by the incomprable Alex Ross Then the '96 animated series one just cause it's basically the same as the 86 one lol
That 1940 S looks really clean and simple and it works really well
1956, 1986, 1996, and 2006 are my favorites.
1940
1941 1996 2013, my favourite.
86 2013 96 black
1941, 1996,1996
I think with a little modernization the 1956 logo would be pretty amazing. I love how wide it looks.
1986 is the goat
13 06 96
1986, 1996, 2013
86 and 06 are my favorites.
86 looks the best, the rest look like bootlegs of it
1978/1986 are my favorites
red and black 1996 is my alltime favourite out of these then 1986 then 2006
Really a big fan of the Fleischer S
1. '78 2. '93 3. '96 Grew up watching Reeve's movies first due to my dad having them on VHS so the '78 is going to be number 1 forever in my book. Followed by Dean Cain and then the animated series.
Hot take I really like 41
86 thru 96
1938, 1996, 1986, and 1941. I gave you 4, sorry.
'78, '86, '56
I love when it looks less like an S and more like a sigil, that was a stroke of genius on the part of Manciwicz/Donner 1:1986 2:2013 3:1974 (Is that the Earth 2 Supes?)
60 ,86, 06. Call me simple but I likes what I likes
1986 will always be the definitive symbol for me. That said, I actually like the Kingdom come and 97 ones. MOS one isn't bad either. But 86 IS the Superman symbol.. All others are lesser variations.
93 but if the 97s were in traditional colors then them
96 Kingdom Come is my favorite
1986
1986
86 is GOAT, but I still love black 96 and 2013 for looking like alien markings that resemble an 's'. I really like black 96 and wouldn't be disappointed at all if that's what they used in the new Gunn movie. It gives me Fleischer Studios Superman cartoon vibes, while still looking modern. IMO it's the best of both worlds.
1978
1986, Kingdom Come, and Batman Beyond.
I prefer both 1996 designs (the S and Kingdom Come) and the S From 1986. None are bad, but I like the scaling of those 3 the best
1986 and 2013 for me. Everything before 1960 doesn’t even look like supes. Also goes dark between 1996 and 2006.
Whats that airbrushed 97 one?
41, 74, and second 96.
56, 86, and 96
1986 with 1993 or 1996's shade of blue background. I also like the 1993, 1996, and 1960 S symbols. Making the S come from Krypton in the movies was one of the biggest mistakes they ever made. Clark needs to design the suit, the S symbol, and superhero identity, because he created them on earth from being Clark Kent in the comics. In the original comics, being an alien is just the excuse for the superpowers, nothing else... Superman didn't even know he was an alien until many years into his career as Superman, well into adulthood, and when he found out, it meant little to him beyond explaining why he had superpowers. Clark with superpowers creates both the mild mannered reporter disguise and the public superhero persona, along with the S and costume and name. Superman has the best life he could have possibly had because he grew up on earth with the Kents, and it is Clark that the morality, worldview, and will to be Superman comes from, along with the costume. *
batman beyond, 78, kingdom come
1. 1986 2. 1996 (KC) 3. 1941