558 – Amnesiac Clark… again

Well it’s been a couple years since we’ve had a prominent Superman-gets-amnesia story, so it’s time for World’s Finest #68 (Nov 1953) and “The Menace from the Stars!”. In this story, Superman saves the planet from an asteroid by smashing it and forcing it into a steady orbit around the Earth. Unfortunately, a spectroscope reveals […]

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508 – Batman’s Identity Pin

In Detective Comics #185 (May 1952), Batman loses his utility belt which contains a pin that, when sprayed with a special chemical, will reveal Batman’s identity. Batman thinks this is a good idea because something might also happen to Robin. Ok, but isn’t it more likely that you’ll die and then reveal your and Robin’s […]

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433 – Heat Vision Redux

Only one month after Superboy first uses his heat-vision, Superman does the same in Action Comics #139 (Oct 1949). In a typical lazy-writer stunt of the time, Superman sets fire to an old covered bridge to force the criminal driver into the river. Why not just use your super-speed to catch the car? At least […]

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402 – Luthor Ponders Secret Identities

In Action Comics #125 (August 1948), a gimmicky story about a Nostradamus-like hermit who discovers predictions in a cave turns into a slightly interesting moment where one of Luthor’s henchmen surfaces that idea that Superman’s secret identity might be Clark Kent. Of course Superman convinces them otherwise thanks to his super-speed.

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401 – Vicky Vale

Batman #49 (August 1948) introduces a new potential love interest for Bruce Wayne in the form of Vicky Vale, a photographer who plays with the now-tired trope of the girl who suspects the superhero’s secret identity. This story also introduce a new rogue for Batman and Robin in the form of The Mad Hatter, a […]

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362 – Super-Bat-Team-Up

In All-Star Comics #36 (June 1947), honorary members Superman and Batman join the JSA on a mission. This is not the first time that Batman and Superman have appeared together in DC continuity, that happened six years earlier. Nonetheless, it’s exciting to see the big three meet – and for more than a single panel. […]

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322 – Star Labs?!?

In Action Comics #100 (July 1946), Superman is beset by a Scotland Yard detective who is convinced that Clark Kent is Superman. In one attempt, Clark is completely doused in perfume so he seeks out an acid bath at Star Chemical Works. Is this a precursor to S.T.A.R Labs? 🙂

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320 – Very Off-Model Clark

In “The Death of Clark Kent” from Superman #42 (July 1946), after returning two months earlier than expected from an arctic expedition, Clark Kent gets caught in a sewer gas explosion in front of Lois Lane. To protect his secret identity, Superman is forced to make it appear as if Clark Kent has died. This […]

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284 – Lois Knows

Throughout the eighty-plus years that Superman has been around, Lois Lane has discovered Clark’s secret identity probably dozens of times. But in Superman #34 (March 1945), Lois discovers his secret for the very first time. In what can maybe be considered the first “imaginary” story, Clark sees his future in a crystal ball and learns […]

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228 – Steve Suspects

Steve Trevor suspects that Diana is Wonder Woman for the first time in Sensation Comics #20 (June 1943). He aggressively tries to take her glasses off in anger, but she gets out of by using super-ventriloquism and hopping out a window to meet Steve at the door as Wonder Woman.

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