In “The Lost Secrets of Krypton!”, a story in Superman #74 (November 1951), Luthor uses Kryptonian technology for the first time to menace the world. Luthor discovers these artifacts while searching for kryptonite in space, but instead uncovers a cache of weapons that Jor-el had sent out into space before Krypton exploded. Superman defeats Luthor […]
Read More »
In Action Comics #156 (March 1951), Lois Lane has her third outing as Superwoman in “The Girl of Steel”. This time, it’s not a fever dream, or Superman faking her powers. No, this time Lois Lane actually acquires the powers of Superman thanks to a machine that Luthor invented which uses “vivanium”. She disguises herself […]
Read More »
In Superman #65 (May 1950), “Three Supermen from Krypton!” establishes for the first time that Superman is not the last surviving Kryptonian. Three brothers U-ban, Kizo, and Mala, arrive on Earth with Superman’s powers and wreak havoc. Superman discovers they are also survivors of Krypton who were members of the “Ruling Council” that had attempted […]
Read More »
In September 1949, Superman #61 hit the stands – the most important book so far in the evolution of the Superman myth. In it, Superman encounters a fake “swami” who happens to have a piece of kryptonite in his turban. Lois Lane helps him out of this first encounter. The swami, believing he has hex […]
Read More »
For the tenth anniversary of Superman’s first appearance, DC re-told Superman’s origin in even greater detail in Superman #53 (May 1948) with a compelling splash page showing Superman’s sadness at losing two sets of parents. The first half of the story takes place on Krypton. In it, we see in greater detail how Jor-el tried […]
Read More »
In Action Comics #106 (January 1947), Clark is told he is a long-lost heir to an English barony. But what’s interesting (as a reader 70 years later) is the blurb in which it is revealed that Clark doesn’t even know he is not human. At this point in his history, Clark does not know anything […]
Read More »
As the Superman writers begin to cast about for fresh ideas, I am sure they were heavily influenced by the Captain Marvel Family and wanted to capture the young reader fantasy like Captain Marvel Jr and Mary Marvel did. Superboy debuts for the first time in More Fun Comics #101 (November 1944). This Superboy is […]
Read More »