May 1958 brings in yet more expansion of the Superman mythos by Otto Binder and Al Plastino, in Action Comics #242. The villain Brainiac makes his debut, arriving to Earth and stealing the city of Paris (Eiffel Tower and all!), while Clark and Lois are hitching a ride on the first experimental spaceship. Clark sneaks […]
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Although we got our first glimpse at Superman’s “Fortress of Solitude” back in 1949, that story was still a one-off with no attempt to make it a more permanent fixture in the mythos. But “The Super-Key to Fort Superman” in Action Comics #241 (April 1958) goes really deep on the Fortress, including the key to […]
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In February 1958, Adventure Comics #247 introduced a set of heroes from the future that come to taunt Superboy, the Legion of Super-Heroes. Cosmic Boy has super-magnetism, Saturn Girl has “super-thought casting”, and Lightning Lad has “super-lightning” (in this first story he has the name “Lightning Boy”). For future super-pals, they are pretty cruel. First, […]
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In February 1958, the Challengers gain their own book with Challengers of the Unknown #1. In it, they take on a mad scientist who invents a teleporting ray to steal technology. He ends up kidnapping June Walker, who is called both an honorary member of the Challengers and “one of our most highly-regarded young scientists”. […]
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The Flash gains another rogue villain in Showcase #13 (January 1958): Mr. Element. In his youth, Albert Desmond became obsessed with elements, so naturally he turned to a life of crime. In order to beat the flash he designed a costume with the emblem of the carbon atom, and an atmosphere filter to only breathe […]
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In January 1958, DC spins out Lois Lane’s solo book as Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #1 debuts. An awkward title, but I guess it goes along with Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen. Lois Lane has the distinction of being the first graduation from Showcase into her own book. The Challengers of the Unknown and the Flash […]
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A book-length story in Superman #119 (Dec 1957) tells the story of how Superman discovers Krypton’s “twin” planet, named Xenon. It turns out Xenon was the lost moon of Krypton that spun out of its orbit before Krypton was destroyed. Superman befriends an older man that is the double of Jor-El, his son, Kell Orr […]
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In Showcase #12 (Nov 1957), the Challengers are starting to feel like a well-seasoned team, complete with villainous Jack Kirby characters like Karnak the beret-wearing criminal and his “gang of international espionage agents”. Being pursued by the Challs, Karnak lands on an island where he discovers an archaeologist who had uncovered the secrets of an […]
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Another super-coincidence in Adventure Comics #243 (October 1957), when a crate full of Superboy’s Kryptonian toys falls from the sky and lands near Smallville. A swindler gets ahold of them and sells them to unsuspecting “hicks”. Superboy dimly remembers playing with the toys as a baby and has to get them all back before trouble […]
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