The problem of Superman lies in the turn the comics took. Originally, the character could leap long distances, but not fly. He was fast, but not as fast as a 'speeding bullet', he was immensely strong, but his strength had limits, and he was resilient but not invulnerable. He also only had limited X-Ray vision.

But bit by bit his powers were strengthened and expanded, with the result that the villains and menaces he faced had ot become ever more extreme or bizarre.

Worse, even when later writers tried to limit his abilities, others promptly pumped them back up.

In the final analysis, there are only two choices for the character. Either he rules the world, or he retreats to his Fotress of Solitude and only emerges for truly world-threatening emergencies (Dalek invasion or Galactus-level villains).