Superboy encounters his first fragment of red kryptonite in Adventure Comics #252 (July 1958). The meteor is ejected accidentally from a spaceship intent on invading Earth from another dimension and Superboy has to keep vigil until the invasion is attempted. This kryptonite is “ten times the radiation power of ordinary kryptonite!”, so I guess they […]
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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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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 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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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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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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Speaking of Kryptonian robots, Superboy #49 (April 1956) features another one that Superboy discovers while trapped on an asteroid that is surrounded by kryptonite dust, trapping him there. The robot has the name “Metallo”, which is later used for a series of Superman villains.
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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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