Yeah, unless otherwise specified I assume it's more like the first option.

I'm not a huge Superman fan but a few recs:
Superman for All Seasons, which was required reading in one of my youth library classes. It's kind of like an intro/reboot one off? But it's just like... sweet??

Red Son. What if Superman crashed into the USSR instead of Kansas? WHAT IF

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?? WHAT??