Superman@70: A Tour of SUPERMANLAND

When Disneyland opened its doors for the first time on July 17^th, 1955, other media companies quickly saw the potential of Uncle Walt's ambitious theme park and feverishly began contemplating their own large scale tourist traps.  One of these copycat companies was DC Comics, who obviously had more than just a comic book story in mind when they rolled out "Superman Visits Supermanland" in Action Comics #210 only a few months later (click on the images for a larger view).

Reading like a storyboard pitch to a group of potential investors (which it very well could have been), the tour begins with a traffic jam of family sedans making their way into a new "colossal, super-stupendous amusement park" named Supermanland. Standing astride the entrance was a giant Superman statue, which one tourist likened to "the ancient Colossus of Rhodes" (you know, back when people actually knew what the Colossus of Rhodes was).

 

The first attraction the anxious crowd crammed into was the Rocket Room, an elaborate theatre designed to simulate a flight to the planet Krypton.

Who's that eccentric, vaguely sinister-looking character in the lower-right corner?  That would be a Supermanland park employee, or "cast member" as they'd say in Disneyland. Looking more like some kind of futuristic Space Nazi, these guys ran all of the attractions, drove the simulated vehicles, and supervised the crowds...with nary a female cast member in sight.

Like most of the attractions featured in the story, the Rocket Room seemed like something the technology of the time could actually pull off.  Using "blasts from air vents and vibrating seats" the simulated journey took its passengers to a re-creation of Superman's home planet.  Note that Krypton was still being portrayed as an entire planet of supermen, which was the original vision of Siegel and Shuster.

How do you top a flight to "a planet of unearthly beauty"? Why, take a tour of the Daily Planet, of course! Yeah...it's seems a little unlikely that a crowd this big would "flock" to see wax statues of the Planet staff.  

Next up was the Superman Super-Powers Building, where visitors could simulate the powers of the Man of Steel. As the boys lifted 2-ton weights and crushed guns, check out the lone girl...who passively smiled and did nothing (perhaps patiently awaiting the 1959 arrival of female role model Supergirl).

 

The testosterone continued to rage at the Super Shooting-Gallery, where weapon-toting boys (minus girls) could riddle a Superman statue with real ammo and arrows...little suspecting a special Opening Day twist...

Other attractions included a cartoon movie theatre...

...a Superman Merry-Go-Round (you rode on it 
by perching on Superman's back, by the way)...

 

...and a fully-stocked gift shop named The Hall of Trophies.

 

Right. Kids are in a near-riot to buy Superman Health Food! (whatever that is)

A Hall of Trophies highlight was the "Free Etched Kryptonite" offer, which involved using a highly corrosive and toxic acid in close proximity to children.

Of course, what better way to cap off a fun and uplifting day at Supermanland than to witness the simulated death of an entire civilization?

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Nothing like the defining tragedy of Superman's life serving as constantly-looping entertainment for the masses!

Despite DC's best efforts to generate pubic interest in a Superman theme park, this would be the last time Supermanland would appear in a Superman comic book. However, it wouldn't be the last time the idea of a Superman theme park would be floated. Next time, we'll take a look at the even more ambitious Amazing World of Superman!

Comments

[Brian Disco Snell]

You know, that Daily Planet panel has me wondering...the reason (or at least one of the reasons) Silver Age Superman gave for having a secret identity was that he had to protect Clark Kent's friends...if everyone knew he was Superman, they would be in jeopardy.

But as that panel showed, everybody already knew that perry, Lois and Jimmy were Superman's frineds!! They had amusement park exhibits dedicated to that fact!! So the set of Clark's loved ones intersected 100% with the set of Superman's...crooks already knew Kal-El was their buddy, so their lives should have already been in danger!!

So who, exactly, was Superman protecting with this secret identity business??

[Mark Engblom]

Well, I think a story like this might have brought out that connection more than what the public "normally" perceived in the Superman comics of the time (and I use "normal" advisedly when it comes to the Silver Age Superman). Like I said, this thing comes off more as a sales pitch than something that comfortably fits within the comic book continuity...but you're right, it's still pretty weird seeing Superman's personal life as a theme park attraction.

Especially since he's got the Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, and Lois Lane statues at his Fortress of Solitude wired to INSTANTLY EXPLODE if someone happened upon them!

[Pat Curley]

Some of these stories remind me of the Little Dot series. How many gags can you come up with based on a very simple theme?

It's part of what I'd call the celebrification of Superman (and Batman, who had these kinds of stories in spades).

[googum]

I suspect Superman regrets having ever slipped and brought up Krypton to the people of earth, because now they won't shut up about it. Bad enough to be (one of) the only survivors, but to constantly have it rubbed in your face? Great.

[Mark Engblom]

"Bad enough to be (one of) the only survivors, but to constantly have it rubbed in your face? Great."

Well, I might feel more sorry for Superman if he didn't already have an endlessly looping 3D explosion of Krypton in his own Fortress of Solitude. It seems the guy just can't get enough.

[Pat Curley]

I just happened to be rereading Superman #167 (first Luthor and Brainiac teamup) for an upcoming post. Superman had lost track of Luthor and asked his buddies in Kandor if they had tracked him with their monitors. They explain that no, it "happened on our annual Krypton Day, when the monitors were not fully staffed because of the celebration!"

Celebration? And here I thought Krypton Day was a day of mourning!

[ShadowWing Tronix]

Maybe they're celebrating not being dead. Although it means being the size of an action figure.

[John Nowak]

"Celebrating" is actually an ambiguous term. I've heard of "celebrating Mass" or "celebrating funerals." It's just that most holidays are, er, fun.

I just read a Jimmy Olsen where he gets some souvenirs from space, mounts them on boards, and inscribes little descriptions on brass labels.

I will bet lunch that the Silver Age Superman really, deep in his heart, wanted to be a museum curator. And heck, why not? I remember growing up in the 1970s in a small town and the coolest recurring thing ever was going down to New York to see the Museum of Natural History. I'll bet Clark felt the same way in Smallville.