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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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 […]
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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.
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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