651 – The Krypton Kid

In Adventure Comics #242 (Sept 1957), Superboy meets another lad from Krypton, Zar-Al the Krypton Kid. His father also believed Krypton would be destroyed so he sent his son in a Time Ship to Earth to find Zeelium, an element that would stabilize Krypton’s core. The Krypton Kid meets up with Superboy, but they find […]

Read More »

650 – Sardor the Collector

In Tales of the Unexpected #18 (Aug 1957), Jack Kirby brings us another one-shot story introducing an alien being that goes about collecting planets of our solar system, reminiscent a bit of the Superman villain Brainiac. The story has some great examples of intricate technological backgrounds as well as more early Kirby Krackle.

Read More »

649 – Super-Bat-Woman

In World’s Finest #90 (July 1958), Elton Craig makes a re-appearance. Craig escapes prison and Superman and Batman fear he has secreted some of his super-power capsules. Kathy Kane also hears the police bulletin and dons her Batwoman outfit to help the World’s Finest team, finding the capsules before Craig and becomes super-powered. After being […]

Read More »

648 – Super-Teacher

In Adventure Comics #240 (July 1957), another super-coincidence when Superboy encounters a Kryptonian robot in the sky above Smallville. The robot explains that it was built as a teacher for Kal-El years before Krypton’s demise and that Superboy must pass 3 tests to prove he can use his powers and continue to be Superboy. Known […]

Read More »

647 – The Magic Hammer

A nice little archaeological find in DC’s Tales of the Unexpected #16 (June 1957): Jack Kirby brings us a short story called “The Magic Hammer”. In it, a nasty prospector discovers Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, and uses it to summon rain and build himself a crooked fortune. Eventually Thor comes to claim the hammer, telling the […]

Read More »

646 – Krypto Speaks

In Adventure Comics #239 (June 1957), Superboy’s dog Krypto makes another appearance, this time a glowing meteor giving Krypto the ability to speak. The only reason I mention it is because it has a panel that references rock and roll. Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” had been a big hit for about a year at this […]

Read More »

645 – Lois Meets Lana

Well Showcase just seems to be cranking out concept after concept. In Showcase #9 (May 1958), Lois Lane finally gets a magazine to shine all to herself, which would later carry into “Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane”. Stories show Lois getting into trouble on her job and the like, but in contrast to her original solo […]

Read More »

644 – Pack a Tux for Your Jimmy

Jimmy Olsen’s comic book has always been a place for comic relief. In Jimmy Olsen #21 (April 1957), he mistakenly thinks Lois Lane is in love with him and ends up proposing to her not to break her heart. He continues the mix-up into his dreams where he imagines the wedding takes place, Superman is […]

Read More »

643 – Luthor-Joker Team-Up

In World’s Finest #88 (March 1957), Luthor and the Joker team up for the first time. Luthor invents “mechano-men”, robotic automatons that can do their bidding. Superman and Batman try to foil what appear to be attempted crimes only to be made fools of for stopping legitimate activities. The villains attempt to rob the treasury […]

Read More »

642 – Kal-El

In Superman #113 (March 1957), we get more Superman mythos building by Bill Finger, when Superman discovers a strange headpiece apparatus near a kryptonite meteor. He discovers that the headpiece allows him to play back mental images from his father, Jor-El. When he plays it back, he learns that Jor-El had to foil the plot […]

Read More »