Superman #130 (May 1959) gives us a tale on how kryptonite has affected Superman throughout his life, as he lays dying next to a chunk of kryptonite he was not able to melt or crawl away from. It includes the first time we see Superman’s kryptonite-shielded suit, including how television played a role in helping […]
Read More »
In Jimmy Olsen #37 (April 1959), “Superman’s Super Rival” has Jimmy meeting a new boy-sized “hero” covered in lead-lined bandages and sporting superpowers like Superman. Superman is curious as to the identity of the new hero, who calls himself Mysterio, who appears to be trying to steal Jimmy’s loyalty away from Superman. It turns out […]
Read More »
Wow March 1959 was a busy month for DC in terms of world-building! In Superman #129, “The Girl in Superman’s Past” describes Clark Kent in college where he falls in love with a student, Lori Lemaris. Love those L.Ls! Turns out Clark has really fallen for a telepathic mermaid from the sunken land of Atlantis […]
Read More »
Although not as big news as Supergirl’s debut, Action Comics #252 (March 1959) also introduced another Superman villain in the main Superman feature: Metallo, created by Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino. John Corben is a reporter with a secret: he’s really a criminal. On his way home one night, he gets into a fatal car […]
Read More »
Well, after years of stories which teased a female counterpart to Superman, and testing the concept in the previous year, DC finally pulled the trigger in Action Comics #252 (March 1959) with the introduction of Supergirl into the DC continuity. Supergirl is Kara, daughter of Zor-El and cousin of Kal-El (Superman). Her father’s city survived […]
Read More »
Lois Lane’s solo comic is providing many more instances of Superman being petty and using his abilities frivolously. In Lois Lane #8 (Feb 1959), for her birthday – but really just to “teach her a lesson” – Superman decides to give Lois Lane his super-powers. Clark then proceeds to put her into a series of […]
Read More »
Another Superman villain is introduced in Superman #127 (Dec 1958): Titano! Yes, we clearly needed a “super-ape”. Chimp goes into a rocket / spaceship, is exposed to two meteors (uranium and kryptonite) and comes back grown to enormous size and sporting kryptonite vision. A “certain spin” sends Titano across the time barrier into the past […]
Read More »
In Superman #126 (Nov 1958), Superman gets super-amnesia again when he decides to spend Clark Kent’s vacation on coming up with a cure for Kryptonite in his Fortress of Solitude. A freak explosion wipes out Superman’s memory. After quickly learning about his powers, he instinctively flies back to Metropolis where he decides to take on […]
Read More »
In Superman #125 (Sept 1958), “Lois Lane’s Super-Dream” recycles a plot from 15-years ago in which Lois Lane suffers a head injury, needs a blood transfusion, and she dreams that she receives Superman’s blood which endows her with superpowers. She takes on her superhero career as Power Girl. This time around she gives dream-Clark some […]
Read More »
In Superman #123 (June 1958), the creators of Superman test the waters with a prototype Supergirl. Jimmy gains a magic totem that grants three wishes once a century and his first wish is that Superman have a female companion that matches all his powers. Despite all her efforts, she ends up annoying Superman, and in […]
Read More »