In Superboy #68 (Nov 1960), “The Boy Who Betrayed Clark Kent!” introduces the character of Pete Ross, expanding Superboy’s supporting cast. Newly moved to Smallville, Pete Ross stands up to bullies for Clark Kent and Clark decides to befriend him, learning that Pete’s hobbies include acting and detective work. Later, Clark becomes suspicious of his […]
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Early one morning in Adventure Comics #232 (Nov 1956) – with a solid WHAMMMP! – another intact Kryptonian city lands on Earth, this time right next to Smallville…. ಠ_ಠ In terms of lazy writing, this one might just take the cake. The Kryptonian city chunk happens to contain the very house where Kal-el was born, […]
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A meteor destroys the Kents home just as they are prepping for a camping trip in Adventure Comics #229 (August 1956). Because there was an eyewitness, the Kents decide to start new identities as the “Kings” in Centerville, with Clark adopting the name Charles King. Typical minor plots like Charles meeting “Millie”, a Lana substitute […]
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In November 1955, Krypto the Super-Dog returns from space to frolic in Adventure Comics #220. Superboy gives him a matching super-cape so they can perform together at a circus. Krypto is the first recurring character since Lana Lang and the Kents that expand on the Silver Age world-building in Smallville.
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In Superman #97 (March 1955), Superman thinks about the past instead of the other way around. A crook gives Superman the heads up that something he did as Superboy on his last day in Smallville will net him $1M. Superman heads back to his old stomping grounds to reminisce on his adventures and try to […]
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Superboy #10 (July 1950) introduces a new supporting cast to the Superboy mythos: Lana Lang. Lana Lang is pretty much just the teen version of Lois, an inquisitive girl who moves to Smallville next door to the Kents and whose job is to keep Superboy on his toes, protecting his secret identity. Although Lois Lane […]
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Speaking of world-building, in Action Comics #144 (March 1950), we are flashed back to the time when Clark Kent first tried to get hired by Perry White at the Daily Planet. Years after Perry White visited Smallville High School and suggested it, Clark moves to Metropolis and tries to take Perry up on this offer […]
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In Superboy #6 (November 1949) it is established for the first time that Pa Kent owns and runs a general store in Smallville, further fleshing out Superboy’s back-story. Jonathan Kent twists his ankle and Clark has to take a week off school to run the store. Superboy foils a criminal plan at the same time.
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In Superboy #2 (March 1949), it is finally established, for the first time, that the young Clark Kent lives in a town named Smallville. As recently discussed, amidst many other superhero books getting cancelled and characters disappearing into the Golden Age, Superboy is the only superhero to get his own book. I think this is […]
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The writers of Superboy started to realize what their stories are missing: A supporting cast! In Adventure Comics #110 (September 1946), we see the first attempt at that: Jack Smart, reporter from the Daily Planet comes to the as-yet-unnamed small town where Clark lives as a boy to find out about Superboy. This directly contradicts […]
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