Comic Coverage

Superman@70: And So It Begins

 

Welcome to Superman@70, my month long celebration of Superman's amazing 70 year run as not only the granddaddy of all superheroes but as a bonafide cultural icon as well.

As I announced last week, Comic Coverage will be dedicated to All Things Superman for the entire month of June, the same month Superman burst onto the scene way back in 1938. Combining familiar features with some new stuff, Superman@70 will hopefully be a fun way to kick off your summer...regardless of whether you're a fan or non-fan of the Man of Steel.

However, before getting to the new Supes@70 material, tomorrow will mark my 500th post here at Comic Coverage, so...like with most anniversaries in the comics blogosphere, it'll be Flashback-O-Rama! I'll be posting links to all of the Superman-themed posts I've created over the 22 months I've been at this crazy thing...celebrating both Superman and my gift for spewing inane blather!  See you then!

500th Post: The Wavy-Screen Flashback Episode

So, how does a guy kick off Superman@70 month and celebrate his 500th post at the same time?

Easy!  Do what everyone else does when they hit their 500th post: Compile a Greatest Hits Retrospective...only I'll be adding a Superman twist! Just like on those cheesy flashback episodes of TV sit-coms, I'll stroke my chin and look thoughtful while the wavy screen effect transports us back to Superman-themed posts from the previous 22 months of Comic Coverage ("Why, I remember it like it was yesterday....")

Tomorrow...new stuff, but for today?  A backward glance.  Enjoy!

Some of the Worst Covers Ever.

But also some of the best.

Cover to Cover: Superboy or Super-Reject?

Beware the Killer Kents!

Poll: Who Should be Bizarro Superman?

Cover to Cover: World's Laziest

Cover to Cover: The Mythadventures of Superman!

YouTube Theatre: Kidder-Free Flying

Coincidence? You Decide!

Silver Age Outtakes: The Destruction of Krypton

Classic Ads: Be a Good Citizen!

YouTube Theatre: S for Superman!

Brag Books: 51 (and a Half) Years of Superman

Superman vs. The Taxman

Dear Editor: Down With Supergirl!

True Tales of (comic book) Horror

Friday Night Fights: Grundy Smash!

The Highlight Reel: Krypto's Last Stand

Friday Night Fights: Supes vs. Spidey...The Movie!

The Great Superman Beat-Down Contest

Metropolis Mailbag....After Dark!

Those Who Lay in Glass Coffins Shouldn't Throw Stones

Unhappy Bizarro Thanksgiving

Superman's New Year's Resolutions

The Highlight Reel: "Twenty Million Die By Fire If I'm Weak."

Dear Editor: Your Friendly Neighborhood Superman

The Highlight Reel: A Friend in Need

Great Moments in Exposition

Leap (Year) Tall Buildings in a Single Bound

Friday Night Fights: The Overlooked Battle of the Century

To All the Girls I've Loved Before

Dear Editor: The Kryptonian Hillbillies

Dear Editor: "Many Thanks for Remembering Him"

The Fortress at 50 (a seven part series)

Cover to Cover: Action Comics #1

"It's always best to start at the beginning."

-- Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz

In the Beginning...

Following Glinda's sage advice, I will indeed be starting Superman@70 month at the very beginning...all the way back to Action Comics #1!

Featuring the debut of Superman, the cover of Action Comics #1 was utterly unlike anything else on the newsstand, as you can see from the photo below (courtesy of Dial B for Blog). Note the sea of celebrity, detective, and women's magazines surrounding the spectacle of a costumed man hoisting a car over his head!

As everyone knows, the instant and enduring popularity of Superman made Action Comics #1 the most important comic book ever published...which naturally made it one of the most homaged covers as well.

Members of the Superman family were natural choices to star in tributes to their patriarch's debut, as seen here on the covers of Action Comics #685 (1993) and Superboy & Risk Double Shot #1 (1998).

(Click on the cover images for a larger view)

On the cover of Superman #136 (1998), a super-descendant in the year 2999 smashes a futuristic car as robots and aliens stand in for the original fleeing criminals.

Even the monstrous Bizarro and Scorn (a 90's pal of Superman's) offered their respective takes on the covers of Tales of the Bizarro World (2000) and Superman #124 (1997).

Some early superheroes of the Golden Age proved that homage covers are by no means an exclusively modern practice.

Only two years after Superman's debut, Whiz Comics #2 (1940) finds Captain Marvel throwing down the "anything you can do, I can do better" gauntlet by not only picking up a bulky Studebaker, but also hurling it (as well as its passengers) straight into a brick wall. Ironically, this cover and other (much more vague) similarities to Superman would bring an almost immediate lawsuit from DC Comics, ultimately resulting in Cap's demise.

Although I'm not entirely sure what's happening on that 1946 cover of Sensation Comics #51 (as is often the case with the wonky Golden Age Wonder Woman), the nod to Action Comics #1 is obvious. Despite the car's somewhat goofy perspective and diminutive size, note its similarity to the original model from Action Comics.

Back in the Modern Age, DC rival Marvel Comics got into the spirit of Superman's (then) 50^th anniversary with this cover from Amazing Spider-Man #306 (1988). A Superman analog named Mr. Majestic also "assumed the position" on the cover of Superman #201 (2004).

A few of the "Indies" have offered a more humorous interpretation of Action Comics #1, including Mike Allred's Madman and FYI's Fuzzy Bunnies from Hell.

 

Finally, the Man of Steel himself appeared on covers that weren't so much homages of Action Comics #1 as they were alternate perspectives of that famous scene.

For years, DC Comics assigned the divergent Golden Age (1940's) adventures of Superman to an alternate world named Earth-2. On the cover of Secret Origins #1 (1986), this version of Superman and his fellow Earth-2 oldsters relive his Studebaker-smashing debut via a magic crystal ball. A sharp eye will note that the crystal ball scene (as well as the issue's interior artwork) was drawn by the legendary Wayne Boring, the definitive Superman artist for much of the 1950's.

Action Comics #800 (2003) featured a cinematic shift in camera angle courtesy of renowned movie poster illustrator Drew Struzan (which was unfortunately the highlight of the entire double-sized issue).

Speaking of things cinematic, the movie Superman Returns (2006) featured its own tribute to Action Comics #1, causing fanboy heads to collectively explode with glee on opening night.

Of course, what's a milestone like the 70^th anniversary of Action Comics #1 without Legos?  A guy named Julian Fong cleverly captures the famous scene with the ubiquitous plastic blocks...right down to the broken front tire and terrified crooks!

Are there more Action #1 homage covers? Considering its age and influence...probably. If you know of any I've missed, please mention them in the comments section below or, better yet, email me a link or an image so I can post it as an update to this post.

UPDATE: Sure enough, here's another one (click on the image for a larger view). Paolo Bassotti from Italy alerted me to a cover of Leo Ortolani's Rat-Man. Paolo writes, "This brilliant superhero spoof/homage is probably the most successful Italian comic book of the last ten years. Its covers are very often tributes to the classics." Thanks, Paolo!  I wonder how many other international comics have done an Action Comics #1 homage?

UPDATE: Blake sent me a link to the limited edition hologram cover of Prime #1 (1993).  Doesn't that bring back memories of the early 90's and its glut of special-effect printing?  

Gotta admit, though...it looks pretty cool. Thanks, Blake!

UPDATE: Like I said in the comment section: AAAARRGGGHH! I can't believe I forgot about Fantastic Four #291 (1986)!  I remember it coming out only a few months before John Byrne was scheduled to take over the Superman titles...but apparently I didn't remember it enough to include it here. Thanks to my pal Paul for bringing it to my attention!

UPDATE: A couple more from Allen, one featuring Peter David's Fallen Angel and the other a print by Disney Duck artist Don Rosa (which is now officially my favorite Action Comics #1 homage cover). 

Thanks, Allen!

Simply the Best: Kryptonite Nevermore!

One of the first things you learn as you move up the ladder from "comic book reader" to "comic book collector" is that comics history is broken down into distinct categories, or "ages".  The Golden Age began in 1938 with Action Comics #1 (you may have heard of it) and extended well into the 1950's. The Silver Age began in 1956 with DC's Showcase #4 (featuring a reimagined Flash character) and reinforced by Marvels's Fantastic Four #1 (1961).  The Bronze Age began in...well...that one's a little tougher to establish.  Generally understood to run from the early 1970's through the mid-80's, the Bronze Age doesn't have a specific "Genesis Moment" to announce its coming, though there were definite characters and trends collectors point to as indicators.

However, when it comes to Superman, the beginning of his Bronze Age phase was as obvious as an exploding atom bomb with the cover of Superman #233 (1971):

Okay, it's not like I have to convince you that this is a great cover (it should be obvious to anyone with a pulse)...but indulge me in a few observations:

1.  Arguably the first "rock star" comic book creator, Neal Adams had already illustrated dozens (if not hundreds) of DC covers by this time (including Superman covers), but this one seems to stand out from all the rest. In fact, it might even be the most powerful and memorable cover of his entire career. Adams' deceptively simple image of Superman is actually employing some very complex proportion and perspective tricks very few artists can pull off.  For example, Superman's left foot and leg are much bigger than they should "actually" be, but the distortion gives the illustion of a lower camera angle, making Superman seem larger and even more imposing.

Plus, can't you just hear those chains exploding into shrapnel?

2. Speaking of chains, not to take anything away from Adams, but you can never go wrong with Superman busting out of chains. The iconic image has a pedigree going all the way back to Superman's earliest promo art, such as the seal for the "Supermen of America" fan club. Adams seems to acknowledge the roots of the image by giving Superman's face the somwhat squintier eyes and cheek line/dimple of Joe Shuster's Golden Age Superman. This nod to Superman's (then) 30+ years of history might have been reassuring in the midst of so much change and "social relevance" entering that era's comics.

 

3.  Note the clever (borderline sneaky) use of the big number "1" in the upper-right corner. Although this was technically issue #233, it's clear that DC Comics wanted to give the impression this was a new beginning (which it was), and nothing says "new" like a #1 issue (well, unless you count the prominent "NEW" along the top edge).  Sure, the "Number 1" was referring to it's status as the Best-Selling Comics Magazine, but the size of the number makes the context almost irrelevant. It might as well have said "Number 1 Character Wearing a Red Cape".  What matters is that attention-grabbing "Number 1", which reinforced that this was a title with something new and exciting going on.

4. Other touches confirm the undeniable influence of crosstown rival Marvel Comics. Known for their flashy, hyper-dramatic covers, Marvel had spent most of the 1960's eating into DC's once-dominant market share...to the point where DC had no choice but to ape their style. Those explosive "burst" lines, the upper-left corner art of Superman, and the pseudo-literate "Kryptonite Nevermore!" blurb had Stan Lee's fingerprints all over them.  Add to that the conspicuous absense of the round "National-DC Comics" corner logo, and it becomes clear that DC Comics was trying hard to...well...not look like DC Comics!

5. Far too often, the inside story doesn't live up to the promise of a great cover...but that's not the case here....which makes the cover all the more special. Making a big splash as the successor to Mort Weisinger, editor Julius Schwartz introduced some major changes to the Superman titles. The artwork of Curt Swan (the only holdover from the Weisinger era) seemed much more dynamic...even cinematic, made even moreso by the addition of inker Murphy Anderson. Clark Kent was now a TV anchorman instead of a newspaper reporter...and Kryptonite, as the cover stated, was indeed NO MORE (following the explosion of an experimental Kryptonite-powered engine). Ending with the creation of an interesting new foe (the eerie "Sand Superman"), the story really did close the deal on the cover's claim that "Amazing New Adventures" were on the way.

Superman@70: Life Lessons

Superman on Line Three

As much as I enjoy blathering on about comics, the real highlight of my Comic Coverage experience has been all the great people I've come into contact with. Your comments and emails really make it a joy, even when things get a little hectic.

Yesterday, however, marked my first phone call from a fan of Comic Coverage...a fan who turned out to be Frank Kasy, a Chicago illustrator and actor who also happens to be the Superman photo-reference model for Alex Ross! It's no secret I'm a die-hard fan of Ross' work, and of his version of Superman in particular...so it was a real kick (and a little surreal) to learn that Frank enjoyed my lil' ol' blog.

Left to right: Frank Kasy; Kasy at a reference photo shoot for the
Mythology book cover (far right). Click on photos for a larger view.

Frank: Thanks for the kind words, your interest in Comic Coverage,
and for helping Alex conjure up my ideal version of Superman!

Superman@70: Super-Fact

The newspaper headlines of Superman's world:
NOT LIKE OURS!

from Superman #174 (1965)

The Kryptonite Chronicles (Part 1 of 5): Primary Colors

One of the great ironies of the Superman character is that his weakness to Kryptonite is almost as well known as his phenomenal strength. 

Introduced on The Adventures of Superman radio show in 1943, the radioactive fragments of Superman's home planet have been keeping him humble ever since. What began as a single variety of Kryptonite eventually became a rainbow of varied colors and effects...all of which I'll be highlighting at different points during Superman@70 month. Think of it as an extended "Kryptonite Geology Lesson".

In this first installment, I'll be covering the most high profile, or "primary" varieties of Kryptonite, all of which occur naturally (i.e. the explosion of Krypton), or were altered through strictly natural phenomena. Later installments will cover man-made alterations and the more obscure varieties of Kryptonite.

Note: Since there are plenty of varieties from the comics to cover, I won't be including any of the divergent types of Kryptonite featured in movies or TV shows (such as Smallville and its bizarre variations). Also, I'm aware the histories and effects of various Kryptonites have been altered since Superman's 1986 reboot, so rather than get into all of that, I'll be focusing on the classic (pre-1986) versions.  Of course, new varieties of Kryptonite that came along post-1986 will be featured. 

First Appearance (radio show): June 6, 1943

First Appearance (comics): Superman #62 (1949)

History: Highly radioactive fragments of the planet Krypton.

Effects: Causes weakness and eventually death for all superpowered Kryptonians within range of its radiation. Green Kryptonite has no effect upon non-superpowered Kryptonians or humans.

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #252 (1958)

History: Originally a substance "100 times more powerful" than Green Kryptonite (in Adventure Comics #252), three issues later in Adventure Comics #255, its creation is the result of Green Kryptonite passing through a mysterious red "space cloud".

Effects: Triggers bizarre behavior or radical transformations in Kryptonians.  The effects are non-lethal and last for 48 hours. Each piece of Red-K causes a unique effect that cannot affect the same Kryptonian the same way twice.

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #279 (1960)

History: Created when Green Kryptonite drifted through (yet another) mysterious space cloud.

Effects: Deadly to all plant life of any world (along with certain microbes).

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #299 (1962)

History: Created when Red Kryptonite was exposed to high amounts of atomic radiation (as revealed in Superman #177).

Effects: Permanently removes superpowers from Kryptonians by destroying the ability of their cells to process yellow sun energy.

First Appearance: Action Comics #252 (1959)

History: Thrown free from the explosion of Krypton, Argo City and its people survived their planet's destruction. However, the foundation rock that Argo City rested upon changed into "Kryptonite", eventually wiping out its entire population (with the exception of Supergirl and her parents). Realizing that non-powered Kryptonians were supposed to be immune to Kryptonite, DC later explained that the people of Argo City actually succumbed to "Anti-Kryptonite".

Effects: Causes weakness and eventually death for all non-powered Kryptonians within range of its radiation. Anti-Kryptonite has no effect upon humans or super-powered Kryptonians.

Of course, the most primary of the primary colors is the one that never actually appeared in a Superman comic book. Pre-dating the Kryptonite of the radio show, a "lost story" by Siegel and Shuster discovered in 1989 featured K-Metal, a Kryptonian mineral that weakened Superman!  In addition to this development, the story also included Clark Kent revealing his Superman identity to Lois Lane...so perhaps these big events pushed the envelope too far for DC and their already ambitious marketing plans for the Man of Steel.

First Appearance: In an unpublished Superman story written and partially drawn in 1940.

History: Clark Kent suddenly became weak when in the presence of a meteor fragment found by Professor Winton. Winton explained it was a fragment of a destroyed planet named "Krypton", which Clark then realized was the world of his birth.

Effects: In addition to having the same weakening effects as Green Kryptonite, K-Metal could also grant temporary super-strength to Earth humans.

Stay tuned for Altered States, part two of the The Kryptonite Chronicles!

Dear Editor: Smart Kids Read Superman Comics!

Looking back, most of us comic book fans can recall varying degrees of incomprehension and disapproval directed at our "funny books" from the Usual Suspects. When I was a kid, my parents were more on the the "bemused incomprehension" end of the spectrum than the outright disapproval and "cease and desist order" end of it. Still, I can sympathize with kids whose parents did give them grief for reading comic books...such as John Quincey and his tale of parental persecution that kicked off the letters page of Superman #175 (1965).  Even though he lived in the coolest-sounding town ever, all was not right in Cheesequake, New Jersey...

 

In a remarkable break from their "All Glib, All The Time" policy, the DC editor (either Mort Weisinger or his assistant E. Nelson Bridwell) actually passed along some surprisingly helpful ammo to young Mr. Quincey, most likely taken from  a 1964 TIME Magazine article:

 

Take THAT Mr. and Mrs. Quincey! How dare you question your son's comic book reading when honest-to-goodness Smart Kids like Michael Grost read them, too?!  

"But that's not all!", 
says irritating informercial king Billy Mays!

Since I've heard from a couple of the letter writers featured in "Dear Editor", I thought I'd do a little "Google Fishing" for Michael Grost, the 10 year-old Wunderkind mentioned by the DC editor. As luck would have it, a website for Michael E. Grost popped up at the top of the search results...and it was immediately clear that this was the same guy.

As you might expect of a boy with that level of intelligence and curiosity, Michael grew up to become involved with a wide variety of disciplines, studies and interests...one of which remains classic comic books!

Well, as my own curiosity got the best of me, I decided to send Michael an email to (A) get absolute confirmation he was the same guy and (B) to get his side of the story...which I graciously received only short time later.  Here's what he wrote (printed with his permission):

"Thank you for the very nice email. 

When this story appeared in the press, the folks at DC Comics were so pleased, that they sent me a free year's subscription to Action Comics. It was the first time that comic books arrived by mail at our house. Before, they had always been purchased by me out of my allowance money. It was really interesting. This was my only contact with the DC people of that era. Wish now, I'd learned more!

Living near Michigan State University has enabled me to read all these great old comics again. MSU's astonishing Comic Art Collection has over 180,000 comic books. People come from all over the world to read and research.

Thanks,

Mike (Grost)"

Sounds like I need to take a road trip to Michigan State University!  

In a second email, I gave Mike the Superman issue number the letter appeared in, to which he replied:

"Your letter is the first time I've ever heard that I was mentioned in Superman #175. This is astonishing news. I read comics as a kid, regularly from 1962 through 1966. Then I lost interest, then started reading them again as a teenager in 1971 through 1975. As a kid, I was not organized (or wealthy) enough to read every issue. When I had money from allowance, or for special treats, I'd get a new comic book from the grocery store or drug store. I never read Superman #175 as a kid. And no one ever told my family about it. 

A few years ago, for my web article on Superman, I read all of the Superman stories from 1958 through 1966, at MSU Library's superb collection. I remember reading #175 there. It has the excellent Imaginary tale, "Clark Kent's Brother", written by Edmond Hamilton. I clearly remember at the time, that the story was new to me - I'd never read it as a kid. This was not uncommon. I must not have read the letters column of that issue. 

I've double-checked with my family. They remember DC Comics sending us a letter announcing the gift subscription to Action Comics. I remember this vividly too. No one has any recollection of Superman #175, or its Mailbag column."

I then sent Mike a scan of the original letters page so he could see it for himself, all these years later. 

Thanks for being such a good sport, Mike...and for giving John Quincey of Cheesequake the reassurance that smart kids do indeed read Superman comics!

Humble Beginnings: These Boots Are Made for Lacing

Much like our own embarrassing youths, superheroes can have odd or downright goofy aspects of their earliest adventures they'd just as soon forget. As the very first comic book superhero, that's especially true for Superman. With the exception of the Phantom (who'd been appearing in newspaper comic strips since 1936), there weren't any "costume standards" for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster to follow as they created a look for Superman...so they turned to the past for inspiration. The result was a crazy-quilt of colorful wardrobe elements taken from circus acrobats, science fiction heroes, and ancient strongmen...most of which remains unchanged  seventy years later.  The only elements of the original costume that saw immediate change were its primitive triangular S-symbol (which continued to evolve through the 1940's) and....the boots!

Lasting only a few issues, the original boots resembled those used by performing strongmen (who were still quite popular during the 1930's).  I use the term "boots" lightly, since they appear to be more like sandals or slippers with crisscrossed lacing to secure them to Superman's lower leg.

Panels from Action Comics #1 (click on the panels for a larger view)

Some might argue that Superman's entire costume has always been a goofy anachronism ("He wears his underwear on the outside of his tights! Haw, Haw!"), but putting that aside, I think we can all agree that it a was a good thing to ditch the blue ballet slippers.

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!

A Superman Theme Park...With Plenty of Parking.

"Things began to happen in the quiet river town. Almost overnight, 'Metropolis' became a nationwide word."

– from The Amazing World of Superman

As we saw yesterday, Action Comics #210 (1955) was DC Comics' not-so-subtle attempt to plant the seeds for Supermanland, their bid to capitalize on the success of a little place out in California called "Disneyland". As it turned out, no serious plans resulted from the story.  That is...until early 1972.

Since its founding in 1839, the town of Metropolis, Illinois had seen plenty of economic ups and downs. Following a brief flourish of activity in the 1950's, the civic leaders of Metropolis once again found themselves searching for new ways to revive their towns' sagging fortunes. When someone realized Metropolis shared the same name as Superman's mythic home, things finally seemed to be coming together.  After getting the blessing of DC Comics, an ambitious multi-phase plan was devised...with its fourth and final phase being "the possible development of a Superman Land". 

Kicking off phase one on January 21st, 1972, Superman Day brought DC Comics publisher Carmine Infantino, unnamed "national dignitaries", and "Superman" himself to Metropolis to celebrate his new designation as a Distinguished Son of Metropolis. Even the public schools were closed for the day!

 

A standing ovation for a (somewhat chubby) Superman, as portrayed by 

Rev. Charles Chandler (who was wearing the actual Superman costume

 worn by George Reeves on the Adventures of Superman TV series).

At one point, illustrator Neal Adams was commissioned to create concept drawings for the proposed Superman Land, now called The Amazing World of Superman. Let's take a look (click on the drawings for a larger view):

Now, that IS one impressive front entrance...and note how Superman's cape melds into the red roof surrounding the park (must be that "infinitely stretchy cape" of that era's Superman).

Upon entering the park, the first section visitors would tour was Smallville, Home of Superboy. Adults and older kids could walk Main Street and tour the Kent home, while "very young children can be left at Bizarro Playground, where everything works in reverse" (an anti-gravity slide?).

 

 

Like the 1955 Supermanland story, this park also included a simulated rocket ride to Krypton.

At the other end of the park, visitors would enter a clear plastic walkway leading to Superman's Fortress of Solitude....

Entering through the keyhole, visitors would see giant statues of Jor-El and Lara, as well as "moving replicas of alien beasts" in the Interplanetary Zoo (and security guards wearing Superman costumes).

Another Fortress display would have featured Superman's Rogues Gallery (all five of 'em).

Other features of the theme park included a movie theatre, skating rink, "craft shops", an unusually large first aid station, a hotel, and a supermarket (get it? "super" market?).

Unfortunately, The Amazing World of Superman would never get farther than the concept stage.  Why?  Well, let's take a closer look at one of the drawings for a telling clue:

 

That's right, as symbolized by this lonely pair of cars in the endless expanse of parking lot, the gasoline crisis of the early 70's dramatically impacted tourism throughout the country....leaving many families unable to afford the long drive to play in the Bizarro Playground and shop for groceries in the Amazing World of Superman supermarket.

However, the people of Metropolis have continued their commitment to the Man of Steel by hosting an annual Superman Celebration each summer. Sure, there's no rocket ride to Krypton, giant Fortress Key, or Interplanetary Zoo....but one aspect of both the 1955 and 1972 park concepts DID manage to become a reality...

UPDATE: My pal Rich informed me that today is the day the 2008 Superman Celebration kicks off in Metropolis! I know I linked to their website above, but I honestly didn't catch the date at the time. Wow....maybe I was being guided by the Spirit of Superman!

To everyone in Metropolis: Have a great time celebrating 70 years of Superman! I sure wish I could've been there this year (and I will get there some day), but I guess my Superman@70 month will be my small contribution the big celebration!

Worst Cover Ever: World's Creepiest

When it comes to Worst Cover Ever, I normally leave the Golden Age covers alone.  After all, it was still a new art form finding its way...so there were bound to be some technical and stylistic bloopers. However, every once in awhile, one of those old covers will try even my legendary forebearance...such as the ultra-creepy and epically awkward cover of World's Finest Comics #14 (1944). 

So much wrong, so little time:

1.  Two grown men, who should be deflecting bullets and nabbing criminals, are instead spending their precious time watching pre-teen boys (who may or may not be clothed) cavorting in a pond.

2.  Said boys are clearly disobeying the posted "No Swimming" policy.

3.  Robin the Boy Wonder, a.k.a. Igor, the Capering Hunchback. "See, masters...the boys...they swim!"

4.  What is going on with Superman and Batman?  Are they troubled by the brazen disregard for the No Swimming policy? Is one waiting for the other to "go first"? Are they about to (ugh) strip down to their super-skivvies? Do their capes double as towels?  Since when is the S on Superman's cape blue?

5.  What's worse: Superman's truncated torso or Batman's Barbie-thin waist? Answer: A barrel-wearing Captain Marvel, yet another humiliated victim of the Golden Age skinny dipping craze!

The Kryptonite Chronicles (Part 2 of 5): Altered States

In the first installment of the Kryptonite Chronicles, I took a look at the primary colors of Kryptonite, most of which resulted from Krypton's explosion or were altered by other cosmic phenomena (such as transformative "space clouds"). In part two, the focus will be on man-made alterations or derivations....by far the largest of the five categories.

First Appearance: Action Comics #261 (1960)

History: Seeking an antidote for the effects of Green Kryptonite, Supergirl accidentally created a new variety that, while harmless to her, granted superpowers to her cat Streaky.

Effects: As stated, X-Kryptonite does not affect Kryptonians, but grants temporary superpowers to Earth lifeforms instead.

First Appearance: Superman #140 (1960)

History: As Bizarro and the forces of Bizarro World began an invasion of Earth, Superman focused the "duplicator ray" (the same device that created Bizarro) onto a deposit of Green Kryptonite. A new "imperfect" form of Kryptonite resulted, which was harmless to Superman and other superpowered Kryptonians, but deadly to Bizarro creatures. Naturally, the Blue Kryptonite turned back the hostile army of Bizarros, and actually proved fatal to Bizarro-Supergirl (who'd just been created in this very issue).

Effects: Causes weakness and eventually death for all Bizarro creatures (both superpowered and non-superpowered) within range of its radiation. Blue Kryptonite has no effect upon superpowered Kryptonians or humans.

First Appearance: Action Comics #310 (1962)

History: Shortly before Krypton's destruction, a time-traveling criminal named Jax-Ur altered a chunk of the planet's Jewell Mountains.  As he planned, Krypton's explosion further altered the chunk into a new form of Kryptonite that Jax-Ur and his fellow Phantom Zone criminals could use against Superman.

Effects: Amplifies the psychic powers of Kryptonians in the Phantom Zone, allowing them to remotely cause explosions, project illusions, or perform mind control outside of the zone.

First Appearance: Jimmy Olsen #80 (1964)

Effects: As an "imperfect duplicate" of standard Red Kryptonite, Bizarro Red Kryptonite triggers bizarre behavior or radical transformations in Earth humans, and not superpowered Kryptonians.  The effects are non-lethal and last for 48 hours. Each piece of Bizarro Red-K causes a unique effect that cannot affect the same human the same way twice.

First Appearance: Jimmy Olsen #94 (1966)

History: Created by the villainous Mr. Nero.

Effects: Magnetically "clings with unbreakable force" to all substances originally from Krypton while emitting the same deadly radiation as Green Kryptonite.

First Appearance: Action Comics #350 (1967)

History: This rare Kryptonite isotope was stolen from a mineral collection of socialite Carter Hagen by a gang of criminals.

Effects: It's potent radiation will kill a superpowered Kryptonian within minutes instead of hours.

First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #175 (1981)

History: Created by the villain Metallo to affect humans instead of Superman.

Effects: By slowing down the rate of Green Kryptonite's particle emissions, the "slower" rays affect humans the same way Green Kryptonite affects superpowered Kryptonians.

First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #84 (1985)

History: Kryptonian criminal Zo-Mar arrived on Earth with a mysterious card that could bend the will of others to his own. Curiously, Zo-Mar did not gain superpowers on Earth, but did later when the card was taken from him.  Superman deduced that the card, unknown to Zo-Mar, was laced with a mutated form of Kryptonite.

Effects: Temporarily robs any superpowered Kryptonian of their power when in close proximity to the card.

First Appearance: Adventures of Superman #511 (1994)

History: When a villain named the Cyborg Superman blasted the Eradicator with Green Kryptonite, the energy passed through the Kryptonian entity and struck Superman instead. Instead of weakening Superman, it restored his powers (which had been severely diminished following his "death").

Effects: Restored the ability of Superman's body to absorb solar energy, but with a price. Kryptonite-X caused Superman to absorb so much solar energy that his body mass and super powers expanded beyond his control.

First Appearance: Supergirl (vol. 4) #79 (2003)

History: In an alternate timeline visited by Supergirl, Pink Kryptonite is shown to temporarily turn Superman gay.

Effects: Temporarily changes heterosexual superpowered Kryptonians into homosexuals. Whether the opposite effect is true is unknown.

First Appearance: Supergirl (vol. 5) #2 (2005)

History: Given to Lex Luthor by Darkseid (who presumably created it).

Effects: Splits superpowered Kryptonians into two separate beings, one good and one bad.

First Appearance: Superman/Batman #46 (2008)

History: An enchanted moon-shaped piece of Kryptonite is found, with an interlocking round piece found later on.

Effects: The moon-shaped piece affects Superman similar to the effects of Marijuana, which is canceled out when the round piece is united with it.

History: Various villains and evil scientists have created simulated versions of Kryptonite.

Effects: Effects of synthetic Kryptonite vary widely. Some have a lesser effect than natural Green Kryptonite, while others have had a much more powerful effect.

History: Capable of transforming a Green Lantern's thoughts into reality, their powerful rings (on occasion) have been used to emit rays of simulated Kryptonite.

Effects: By precisely duplicating the radioactive wavelengths of Green Kryptonite, the Green Lantern's Kryptonite rays can be just as powerful and painful to superpowered Kryptonians as those from natural Green Kryptonite. However, the effect can be dispelled by breaking the Green Lantern's concentration, or (when such a rule was in effect) interposing anything yellow between the beam and the Kryptonian.

Stay tuned for The Alloys, part three of the The Kryptonite Chronicles!

Superman@70: Happy Daddy-O Day!

As America honors its doting dads today, be thankful your dad never crossed paths with the Knave of Krypton and Kryptonite Kid, the juvenile delinquent arch-enemies of Superboy.

In Superboy #128 (1966), Superboy dreamed that Krypton did not explode and that he grew to a teenager living on his home planet.  The dream quickly turned into a nightmare when young Kal-El met Dev-Em, the "Knave of Krypton", who turned the son of Jor-El evil by exposing him to a mysterious "Heart-Gem". During their elaborate pranking spree across Krypton, Kal-El and Dev-Em met the Kryptonite Kid, who then beamed Kal-El (and Krypto) into the Phantom Zone and formed an alliance with the Knave.

As Kal-El watched helplessly from the Zone, the Delinquent Duo raided the laboratory of Jor-El and exposed him to the Heart-Gem (which also seemed to grant the ability to speak fluent Beatnik):

(click on the panels for a larger view)

So...aren't you thankful your dad was never tricked into destroying the Earth by Heart-Gem weilding cosmic creeps? For that reason alone, wish the guy a Happy Daddy-O Day!

The Highlight Reel: I Flew With Superman

Of all the artists who've drawn Superman over the past seven decades, my favorite remains Curt Swan. 

Born and raised right here in Minnesota, Curt began drawing for DC Comics in 1945 following his service in World War II...eventually gravitating toward the Superman family of titles. One thing lead to another, and before long, Swan had supplanted Wayne Boring as the Superman artist...a distinction he would hold for the next several decades.

Curt remained the primary penciller for both Superman and Action Comics from the late 50's through the mid-80's, which is when DC handed their Superman franchise over to a (then) hotshot named John Byrne.

However, a  few years before his involuntary semi-retirement, Swan had both penciled and inked a special story appearing in Superman Annual #9 (1983) titled "I Flew With Superman". The story, by Curt himself (as told to Cary Bates and Elliot S. Maggin), opens with the hard working gent sitting down to burn the midnight oil on a new Superman adventure. At some point during the night, Curt nods off...only to awaken on a bench in the middle of a city park! After wandering around a bit, it slowly dawns on Curt that he's somehow appeared in the mythical city of Metropolis...which sends him immediately to 344 Clinton Street, the mid-town residence of Clark Kent! After the doorman announced him as "Curt Swan from Earth-Prime", a flabbergasted Kent buzzed him in (click on the panels for a larger view)....

  

After a brief visit (and a detour to foil an armed robbery), Superman brought Curt home by flying him through the dimensional barrier....or did he?

 

Twelve years ago today, on June 16th, 1996, Curt passed away...leaving behind a legacy unmatched by any artist before or since.   

I'll never forget the day I finally got to meet him at our local Fallcon back in 1993.  What a thrill it was to talk to the man whose work I'd admired for so long...and how comforting to realize how friendly and kind of a man he was.  I was very nervous as I approached him, but by the end of our brief visit, I felt at ease with him, as if I'd known him personally for years.  Which, in a way, I suppose I did.

I miss you and your work, Curt.  Superman was never more noble, more wise, or strong than under your graceful drawing hand. Thank you for all those late nights and your loyalty to the heroic ideal.

Who knows...maybe today he IS "flying with Superman" somewhere out there beyond the comic book page.

Curt Swan and me, October 9th, 1993

Superman@70: Monkey Business

As part of my ongoing survey of The Great Apes of DC Comics, I thought Superman@70 month would be the perfect occasion to go on a Super-Simian Safari through the dense jungle of Superman history.

(click on the covers for a larger view)

Name: Kingorilla

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #196 (1954)

Powers and Abilities: Giant sized, super-strong gorilla.

History: When Lana Lang's parents were captured by jungle natives, Clark Kent and Lana saved them from being sacrificed to Kingorilla, a giant ape worshiped by the natives. After he chased off Kingorilla as Superboy, Clark helped the natives replace diamonds stolen from their idol.

Name: Bongo

First Appearance: Superboy #38 (1955)

Powers and Abilities: Highly trained TV chimp.

History: A television chimp named Bongo is abducted by criminals and trained to assist in their robberies. However, instead of following their instructions, Bongo always found a way to alert Superboy to the robberies.

Name: Chandu

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #219 (1955)

Powers and Abilities: X-Ray vision.

History: When an ex-con noticed that a captured gorilla named Chandu possessed x-ray vision, he and his gang stole the beast and used the x-rays to melt bank walls and start fires. The rays could also weaken Superboy, which revealed that Chandu's power may have came from Kryptonite-contaminated water (of course!). Shortly after Superboy defeated the criminals and Chandu, the gorilla's x-ray vision disapeared as the effects of the K-water wore off. 

Name: Super-Ape

First Appearance: Action Comics #218 (1956)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed the super powers of any Kryptonian creature under a yellow sun, as well as the ability to speak.

History: Believing Jor-El's warnings of Krypton's impending destruction, scientist Shir-Kan rocketed several of his apes into space to save them from the explosion. One of the apes made it to Earth and was raised by normal apes. Gaining superpowers and the ability to speak, Super-Ape eventually met Superman and helped him bring illegal trappers to justice. Learning Super-Ape's story, Superman tracked down the remaining Kryptonian apes and reunited them with the grateful Super-Ape.

Name: Jimmy Olsen,
       Gorilla Reporter

First Appearance: Jimmy Olsen #24 (1957); Reprinted in Jimmy Olsen #116 (1968)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed the human intelligence and "Superman's Pal" status of Jimmy Olsen.

History: Helping Professor Thorne with a device that could read the thoughts of animals, a malfunction caused Jimmy Olsen's mind to switch with that of a test gorilla. Unable to cure his Primate Pal, Superman built a pen to hold his gorilla-controlled human body while Gorilla Jimmy returned to work at the Daily Planet. Following some awkward newspaper assignments, Superman reversed the mind switch when he realized the signal watch he'd given Jimmy was responsible for the malfuction of Thorne's device.

Name: King Krypton,
      The Super-Gorilla

First Appearance: Action Comics #238 (1958)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed the super powers of any Kryptonian creature under a yellow sun, as well as the ability to speak.

History: Summoned to Africa by Jimmy Olsen, Superman learned of a super-powered gorilla the boy reporter had dubbed King Krypton. Weakened by the Kryptonite-tipped spearheads of a local tribe, both Superman and King Krypton were captured and forced to battle each other. Sacrificing his life to save Superman's, King Krypton suddenly assumed human form. Just before dying of Kryptonite poisoning, the ex-gorilla explained that he had actually been a devolved Kryptonian scientist who'd been launched into space for a cosmic ray cure (which obviously didn't do the trick).

Name:Titano,
     The Super-Ape

First Appearance: Superman #127 (1959)

Powers and Abilities: A 40 ft. tall mutated chimp with the ability to project Kryptonite rays from his eyes.

History: When a chimpanzee named Toto was launched into space aboard an experimental satellite, two meteors collided near the tiny capsule. One Uranium, the other pure Kryptonite, the radiation from the meteors caused Toto to grow at an alarming rate when he returned to Earth. Reaching a height of 40 ft. and earning the new name of Titano, the giant ape's rampage brought Superman to the scene. As Superman attempted to subdue him, Titano blasted Superman with a shocking new power...Kryptonite Vision! Assisted by Lois Lane (who'd befriended Titano when he was Toto), Superman tricked Titano into covering his eyes with giant lead spectacles and, once shielded, hurled Titano "back in time" to Earth's Mesozoic Era where he could battle beasts his own size.

Name: Beppo,
      The Super-Monkey

First Appearance: Superboy #76 (1959)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed the super powers of any Kryptonian creature under a yellow sun.

History: Initially a test animal used by Jor-El as he developed his spaceflight project, Beppo stowed away aboard Kal-El's rocket ship as it escaped Krypton's destruction. Upon landing on Earth, Beppo scurried away and lived in Africa for a time, then returned to Smallville to inflict some good-natured monkey mischief. Eventually tricked to leave Earth, Beppo returned years later and met Supergirl, who then introduced him to Krypto and Streaky the Super-Cat.

Name: Super(boy) Ape

First Appearance: Superboy #143 (1967)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed super powers identical to the human Superboy.

History: When Red Kryptonite transformed Superboy into a monkey, a "delayed secondary effect" turned him into a giant ape. After spying the transformed Superboy from his African home, a curious Beppo the Super-Monkey flew to Smallville...where he was promptly transformed by the same piece of Red-K into a double of Clark Kent! After a brief conflict, the two Kryptonians reverted back to their proper forms...but not before Beppo's stint as Clark Kent saved his secret identity from a suspicious Lana Lang.

Name: Bruna

First Appearance: Jimmy Olsen #98 (1966)

Powers and Abilities: Highly amorous jungle goddess.

History: When Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen visited a jungle movie location, a gorilla named Bruna fell in love with Jimmy and wanted to make him her mate. Trying not to offend the local natives, Superman suggested that Jimmy play along until a solution could be found (thanks, "pal"!). Taking matters into his own hands, Jimmy tricked Bruna into tossing him over a cliff, allowing him to escape from his involuntary inter-species marriage.

Name: Yango

First Appearance: Superboy #172 (1971)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed the super powers of any Kryptonian creature under a yellow sun.

History: Rocketed from Krypton by yet another scientist, a baby ape named Yango landed on Earth. Raised by a tribe of African apes, Yango used his enhanced intelligence and super-powers to lead and protect them. Superboy learned of Yango's presense on Earth and, after a brief conflict, became his friend and approved of the super-ape's protection of the animal kingdom.

Name: Supermonkey

First Appearance: JLA Annual #3 (1999)

Powers and Abilities: Possessed super powers identical to the human Superman.

History: When a "gorilla bomb" transformed the Justice League into gorillas, Supermonkey defended Metropolis from Grogamesh, a gigantic robot gorilla in Superman Annual #11 (pictured).

Super Cereal Spokesman...or Creepy Peeping Tom?

Superman and Kellogg's go way back...all the way back to the early 1940's with Kellogg's PEP cereal, a frequent advertiser of the Superman radio show. In fact, a rare store display for PEP cereal featured a magnificent painting of Superman visiting with his young fans (click on the image for a larger view).

The Kellogg's/Superman alliance continued into the 1950's when the cereal company became a key sponsor of the Adventures of Superman TV series. In a series of commercials for the new Sugar Frosted Flakes cereal, Superman star George Reeves (as Clark Kent) is shown strolling through 1950's suburbia and occasionally stopping to eavesdrop on families and friends discussing the tasty new cereal.

Peering through fences and pup tents with his x-ray vision, Clark's most egregious violation of privacy occurred when he observed a squabbling brother and sister...who ultimately come together through the healing power of Sugar Frosted Flakes. As "Peeping Tom" Kent summed it up, "Kids may argue, but never about Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes". Check it out:

 

The Kryptonite Chronicles (Part 3 of 5): The Alloys

We've covered the primary colors and the dizzying array of altered Kryptonite, but what happens when one or more varieties of Kryptonite combine into strange new alloys?  Let's find out:

First Appearance (supernatural): Jimmy Olsen #42 (1960)

First Appearance (natural): Superboy #83 (1960)

History: At various times, Green Kryptonite has combined with living beings either through magic (Jimmy Olsen was transformed into living Kryptonite by an evil genie) or natural forces (a teenage criminal who flew through a space cloud of Green-K became the Kryptonite Kid).

Effects: Living Kryptonite has the same deadly effect on superpowered Kryptonians as mineralized Green Kryptonite.

First Appearance: Action Comics #275 (1961)

History: Created by the evil Brainiac, this synthetic blend of Kryptonite caused Superman to grow a third eye on the back of his head. Using the combined heat vision of all three eyes, Superman was able to destroy Brainiac's defensive force field and take him into custody.

Effects: Red-Green Kryptonite possessed the mutating power of Red Kryptonite, while it's possible the Green Kryptonite extended the mutation past the customary 48 hours of Red-K.

First Appearance: Superman #162 (1963)

History: In this unofficial "imaginary" story, Superman invented a Brain Evolution Machine to increase his problem-solving brain power. Powered by four varieties of Kryptonite, the machine exploded shortly into the procedure, which resulted in Superman splitting into two separate beings. The two Supermen then decided to operate as Superman-Red (wearing an all-red costume) and Superman-Blue (wearing....well, you know).

Effects: Caused Superman to become two Supermen, each with enhanced super-intelligence.

First Appearance: Superman #178 (1965)

History: When Red and Gold Kryptonite meteors collided above Earth, the impact fused them into a single meteor that then fell into the Atlantic Ocean. During an undersea rescue mission, Superman was exposed to the Red-Gold K's radiation, causing him to lose his memory but not his superpowers.

Effects: Its effects are temporary amnesia with no loss of super-powers (which is normally the case with Gold-K).

First Appearance: Superman #192 (1967)

History: In this unofficial "imaginary" story, three meteors of Kryptonite collided in outer space and fell to Earth. When Superman rescued the geologist who found the fused meteor, the tri-K radiation caused a him to not only lose his superpowers, but also his memory of ever having been Superman.

Effects: Permanently robbed Superman of his powers and caused him to forget his super identity.

With so many colors and alloys of Kryptonite, there were bound to be some fakes, right? Stay tuned for part four of The Kryptonite Chronicles: The Hoaxes!

Superman@70: Showbiz Drops the Ball

Although recent years have seen some fantastic and surprisingly accurate translations of comic books into movies, adapting comic book superheroes into other media has traditionally been a pretty rocky road.  Dating all the way back to the Adventures of Superman radio show, the entertainment industry has often taken liberties with or flat-out ignored certain aspects of a superhero's backstory and substituted their own harebrained ideas.

There's no better example of this maddening tendency than right at the very beginning with the radio version of Superman's origin. As you'd expect, the first episode began on Krypton (which was said to be located on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth), then gets into a nicely done drama leading up to the planet's destruction.

Looks like we're in good hands, right? Wrong!

Following Krypton's explosion, the narrative takes a neck-wrenching turn by completely (an inexplicably) ignoring Kal-El's life with Ma and Pa Kent, which had been established the year before in Superman #1 (in an abbreviated and sketchy form, but established nonetheless). Here, listen to the audio clip below for the bizarre alternate take on the Kent-free early life of Superman (from the episode "Clark Kent, Mild-Mannered Reporter" originally broadcast on February 14^th, 1940):

Supes_origin_01

 As Superman (the man with no childhood) explored the strange new world he found himself on, he came across a train accident and saved a professor and his boy Jimmy (not to be confused with Jimmy Olsen, who'd come along in later episodes). Conversing with the grateful man and his son, Superman wondered how he could learn more about the customs and people of Earth, to know "which to help and when help is needed". Click on the audio clip below to hear the advice of the Professor and Jimmy:

Kent_clip_01

So there you have it...the name "Clark Kent" came not from the legacy of a kindly Midwestern couple, but from the casual suggestion of some guy and his excitable kid.

Not the best way to start off the relationship between comics and the entertainment biz, was it? 

Sure, the radio show ended up contributing alot of stuff to the Superman mythos on its own (chief among them Kryptonite, Perry White, and Jimmy Olsen), but...man...that origin story is tough to swallow, isn't it? You can almost imagine the young fans at the time slapping their foreheads and exclaiming "What the (insert era-appropriate curse)?" ...much like fan reaction to all the botched adaptations ever since.

Dear Editor: When Action Comics #1 was $100

It's common knowledge that Action Comics #1 (featuring the first appearance of Superman) is not only the most important comic book ever published, but also the most valuable. The 2008 Overstreet Price Guide places its value between $42,000 in rougher shape and a whopping $475,000 for tip-top "Near Mint" condition, but in many cases has sold for much more than that.

However, this "Holy Grail" of comic books hasn't always listed in the five figures-plus range...as you can see from this letter written by Guy Lillian, printed in Superman #192 (1967):

(click on the excerpts for a larger view)

Catch that? A copy of Action Comics #1 for the kingly sum of $100! Granted, $100 would be the equivalent to roughly $750 today...but that still makes an utterly unthinkable purchase actually seem within reach.

Ah, but poor Guy....the lucky owner of the comic book shut him down when it came to taking a peek at the interior, showing that even then the fussy condition-mongers were already starting to deny access of Action #1 to mere mortals...which is today only glimpsed from afar through nuclear blast-proof plastic.

Guy, taking the rejection in stride, goes on to comment upon Superman #190, which got high marks for what it didn't have...

In the spirit of Guy's closing remarks, may Supie's next 70 years be just as great (though not necessarily romance-free).

Cover to Cover: Superman #1

Much like I did several weeks ago for the famous cover of Action Comics #1, I thought I'd post all of the homage covers I could dig up for the slightly less famous, though no less memorable cover of Superman #1 (1939). In fact, design-wise, I think it's superior to Action Comics #1 (Gasp! Heresy!) 

Just as with Action #1, this batch "covers" much of the same ground. Some of them appeared on Superman-related titles, while others featured different heroes assuming the famous pose. Still others are the scrappy "Indies", whose obscurity lessens just a bit when they pay tribute to their dashing Patriarch.

Of course, just as before, I appeal to my readers to alert me to any Superman #1 homage covers I may have missed. There were several Action Comics #1 homages I wasn't aware of last time, and that's probably the case this time around as well....so feel free to leave a link in the comment section letting me know where to snag them!  I'll be sure to post them as updates to this post.

With that, enjoy the homage cover gallery of Superman #1. 

(click on the image for a larger view)

The Kryptonite Chronicles (Part 4 of 5): The Hoaxes

With all the Kryptonite I've cataloged, it was inevitable that some fakes would find their way into the mix. Obviously, I won't be listing "effects" as I did for parts one, two, and three (since none of them are actual Kryptonite), but I thought they were all interesting enough to warrant a bit of history.

First Appearance: Action Comics #277 (1961)

History: Lex Luthor created a machine that he claimed could make floating globes of synthetic Kryptonite, including a mysterious new yellow color. Designed as a hoax to mentally torture Superman, the fake Kryptonite did manage to fool one of Superman's robots.

First Appearance: Jimmy Olsen #70 (1963)

History: Summoned to Professor Potter's lab by Jimmy Olsen, Superman was exposed to a chunk of Silver Kryptonite, which turned out to be a specially designed keepsake container.  Created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Superman's arrival in Metropolis, the container held silver statues of Superman's closest friends.

First Appearance: Jimmy Olsen #126 (1970)

History: Supposedly left on Earth's moon by invading super-aliens, these non-glowing, multicolored, banded rocks...at first thought to be Kryptonite-Plus or Ultra-Kryptonite...were actually "Tikron Stones".

First Appearance: 52, week 13 (2006)

History: A cult dedicated to the resurrection of Superboy used "Blood Kryptonite" to drain life force from the living to resurrect the dead. It was later revealed that Blood-K was a deception of the sorcerer Felix Faust.

Random Coolness from Superman: The Movie (Part One)

As I've said before in previous Random Coolness posts, even though much of the comic book reading experience is about the "Big Stuff", I continue to insist that some of the coolest things in comics are minor elements and small details that have stuck with me over the years.

The same principal applies to movies, especially movies that are as familiar and close to my heart as Superman: The Movie. I don't have an exact count, but it's safe to say I've seen the movie dozens and dozens of times...so with that many viewings, I've found that it's often the smaller, more subtle moments that maintain its lasting appeal for me.  Oh, I still enjoy the major "milepost" scenes of the movie, such as Jor-El's speech to baby Kal-El, the helicopter catch, and the earthquake rescues...but there's something about the little details that really "push my buttons" and sustain my interest. 

It's from this perspective that I wanted to discuss Superman: The Movie. From the beginning of my Superman@70 month I'd planned to cover the movie (it would be criminally negligent of me NOT to), but I didn't want it to be just another rehash of the big picture stuff.  Instead, let's take a look at the first twelve of twenty-five Randomly Cool elements from Superman: The Movie.

1. The Comic Book: Not exactly an obscure moment (it is the opening scene, after all), but I can't emphasize enough how brilliant this sequence is. Instead of shying away from Superman's quaint beginnings, the movie embraces them from literally the first frame...which was actually quite a brave thing to do during the anti-establishment fervor of 1970's cinema. The narration of a child earnestly reading a Golden Age comic book instantly brought the audience into a place free from the era's fashionable cynicism and into the realm of innocence, hope and the promise of high adventure.

2.  The S: You know a movie is great when even the opening credits are entertaining. Set against John Williams' perfect score (and I do mean "perfect"), the cosmic journey from Depression-era Earth to Krypton never, ever gets old for me, despite some of the rather dated "space travel" effects. Beginning the journey with a major "wow" factor was the brilliant red of Superman's S-shield accompanied by a hissing blast of power-sound. Disappointingly, the revised sound mix of the DVD version of the movie diminishes the explosive punch of the S when it first appears.  Thankfully I transferred my original VHS version to DVD, so I can continue to savor the original sound mix of this moment.

3. The Temptation of Jor-El: The older I get, the more I appreciate the opening scene of Jor-El presiding over the sentencing of General Zod and his gang.  Throughout the formalized dialog, there's an unspoken backstory between Jor-El and Zod hinted at through the eyes, faces, and body language of the actors. When Jor-El submits the final "guilty" vote, Zod tries to escape his fate by tempting Jor-El to join him. Jor-El's answer is to slowly walk away...turning Zod's measured appeal for collaboration into a raging torrent of threats. Through it all, Jor-El continues to walk into the surrounding shadows...which (to me) symbolize his own morally ambiguous position within Krypton's ruling class. Was he tempted to take control of Krypton from its clueless Science Council, though perhaps not in the way Zod would? This scene certainly makes me wonder.

4.  Jor-El Alone: In another great bit of symbolism, an unpersuaded Science Council has adjourned their meeting and left Jor-El standing alone, with no support for his warnings of Krypton's impending destruction. This scene establishes a theme of solitude and isolation that will continue to surface throughout the movie.

I have to add how much I appreciate the movie's concept of Science Council members wearing a unique family crest or symbol on their robes. When I first saw the film, I thought it strange that Jor-El would wear an "S" symbol, but seen in the context of it being a Kryptonian design that just happens to look like an "S", it brings a whole new dimension to the fictional Kryptonian society, and a refreshing break from the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers template still being used in the comics. It also helped explain why Superman would wear the symbol on his costume in the first place, since most modest mid-western boys would never think to call themselves "Superman". Instead, it was the symbol of the El family that Kal-El wore on his action togs...leaving the invention of the "Superman" moniker to the members of the press (Lois Lane to be specific). Very elegant and inventive.

5. "He will never be alone.": As a counterpoint to the previous image, Jor-El reassures his wife Lara that their Earth-bound son "...will not be alone. He will never be alone." Anyone who's seen the movie knows that Jor-El will essentially "live on" through the Kryptonian super-science of the crystals, so there's some very literal foreshadowing going on here. Shading the meaning a bit more may be Jor-El thinking about his own solitude (see #4) and how he's determined to prevent that for sonny boy.

6. Horror: In the comic book depictions of Krypton's destruction, the typical approaches were either (A) shots of buildings tumbling down or (B) a long shot of the entire planet exploding. Largely absent from those approaches were the people of Krypton, so the horror and enormity of what was happening was somewhat muted. That's why the shots of screaming Kryptonians falling into fiery chasms were so powerful and haunting. At that point, you realize the sound of Krypton's destruction wasn't so much the planet exploding, but the helpless, agonized death-cries of its people.

Superman@70: Famous Firsts

Who was the first actor to portray Superman?

The first actor to portray the Man of Steel was Kirk Alyn, who starred in the 1948 Superman movie serial. Born in Oxford, New Jersey, Alyn started out as a chorus boy on Broadway, which

While it's true Kirk Alyn was the first actor to portray Superman on the silver screen, it was an actor named Ray Middleton who first donned the Superman costume in public...at the 1940 New York World's Fair, no less! (click on the photos for a larger view)

On July 3rd, 1940, DC Comics and Macy's co-sponsored Superman Day at the Fair's World of Tomorrow exhibit. In addition to Middleton appearing as Superman, the festivities included a live radio broadcast, reduced admission for kids, and a Fair-exclusive edition of World's Fair Comics.

Sure, Middleton probably wouldn't be our first choice to play Superman now, but keep in mind that the look of that era's comic book Superman wasn't really nailed down yet. With artist Joe Shuster's dramatically increased workload, a small army of "ghost" artists were hired to take up the slack, which contributed to Superman's constantly evolving look during this time period.  Add to that Shuster's sketchy, indistinct design of Superman's face, and casting a real life "match" for the Superman character was essentially just finding a reasonably fit guy with black hair. Of course, Middleton seemed to bring much more than black hair to the role, as the heroic poses from these rare photographs imply.

Although those authentic laced boots are pretty nifty, I think my favorite part of the costume is the word "Superman" along the top of the triangular S-shield.  Although it's hard to imagine now, there really was a time when Superman's S-shield wasn't the instantly recognized symbol it would one day be, so curious members of the public needed to be properly "introduced" to this strange costumed man. Smart marketing, actually.

I should note that when these photos first appeared in The Amazing World of DC Comics #7 (1975), the staff of the in-house fan magazine had no idea who was wearing the Superman costume. Consigning his name "lost to history", they asked fans for any information they might have on the man "for the sake of trivia fans everywhere".  Happily, someone must have come forward and identified Middleton...an actor who went on to play roles on Broadway (South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, Man of La Mancha), in movies (Gangs of Chicago), and various TV roles from the 1950's through the early 1980's.

Cover to Cover: Reign of the Superman

The Multiple Monarchies of the Man of Steel!

 “Power corrupts, and absolute 

   power corrupts absolutely.”

   – Lord Acton

Ever since the famous 1938 cover of Action Comics #1, people have thrilled to the adventures of Superman.  From that dazzling debut onward, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s creation has used his immense otherworldly powers in service to mankind.

Well….most of the time, that is.

You see, inherent in the concept of Superman’s power is the possibility of it being used not in service to mankind, but against it. In a flawed and fallen humanity, that sort of selfish choice would be the natural, logical way to go if we possessed that kind of power. In fact, Siegel and Shuster themselves thought as much during their first attempt to create a Superman character in 1933.

Published in their Science Fiction fanzine, “Reign of the Superman” told the story of a homeless man who was given mighty psionic powers (and telescopic vision) by a strange professor (a bald professor, by the way).  Immediately corrupted by his new powers, he named himself “The Superman” and set out to become Emperor of the World.

The following year, Jerry and Joe retooled the concept into a Superman more familiar to us today…but the spectre of such a powerful being deciding to rule mankind instead of saving it has never entirely disappeared from the character’s comics.

As a modest prelude to his worldwide ambitions as an adult, the cover of Superboy #32 (1954) featured “His Majesty, King Superboy" (as well as a strangely bald, Julius Schwartz-like Pa Kent). When old documents revealed that Smallville was actually its own royal kingdom and not part of the United States, Superboy assumed the legally required role of king until the paperwork could be straightened out.

Random Coolness from Superman: The Movie (Part 2)

 

 

Earlier this week, I took a look at the little things that made a big impression on me from Superman: The Movie. In  Part One, I covered the beginning of the film through its unforgettable Smallville scenes. Let's pick things up as Clark concludes his journey to the frozen Arctic (click on the photos for a larger view)...

13. The Blankets: As Clark opens his backpack to remove the glowing Green Crystal, a sharp eye will catch a glimpse of the red, blue, and yellow fabrics stuffed inside. These can only be the Kryptonian blankets sent along with baby Kal-El's rocket ship. According to the comic book origin, these were the same fabrics used to create Superboy's indestructible costume...and it's likely that the backpack blankets were the fabrics used for the Superman costume we'd be seeing shortly.

14. "Speak." One of my absolute favorite sequences is the mysterious communion between Kal-El and the pseudo-spirit of his father Jor-El. After emerging from a cascade of light, the image of Jor-El assures his son that he will answer his many questions about his true heritage. Just before turning the conversation over to Kal-El, Jor-El says, "So, my son. Speak." With only this brief line, Marlon Brando (with face slightly upturned) conveys a regal, even imperious bearing...which perfectly sets the birth father apart from the humble adoptive father who raised Clark Kent.

15. Superman Revealed: After twelve years (!) of Jor-El's mentoring, Kal-El is now ready to enter the world with full knowledge of his Kryptonian heritage and power. I still recall the thrill of seeing Christopher Reeve take flight for the first time and soar so smoothly past the camera, giving us viewers enough of a thrill to wait another half hour before seeing any Superman action scenes. Keeping him somewhat in the shadows as he flew past was also a great move, simultaneously revealing him while retaining a bit of mystery. Combined with the heraldic blast of the Superman March, the origin story arc ends on an epic, triumphant note.

16. Speeding Bullet: Seemingly shot by a mugger, Clark reveals that he "must have fainted" to an underwhelmed Lois. As she walks away (without offering her new co-worker a hand up), Clark reveals the bullet he snatched from its path with a knowing smirk. In an instant, the core appeal of the Clark Kent character is revealed: "There's more to me than what appears".

17. "Um...Lois?" Of course, another major aspect of the Clark Kent character (in the sense that Clark is now very much a "performance" of Kal-El's) is the lengths of humiliation he willingly subjects himself to. Without getting too much into the amateur analysis, I believe Superman's willful buffoonery as Clark is actually an important (and very necessary) psychological safeguard for the most powerful being on the planet.

A textbook example of this practiced humility begins when Lois slips into the ladies room and is followed (almost puppy-like) by a clueless Clark. Shooing him out and shutting the door, Clark's coat gets caught in the door. Perfectly in character, Clark softly knocks on the door for Lois to open it. After freeing the captive coat, Clark proceeds down the hall, misses an elevator, gets yelled at by a guy in another elevator, then is completely ignored by two coworkers he bids "good night" to. The sequence ends with Clark standing alone in that dreary hallway, hands at his side...able to destroy the building with the stamp of a foot, yet choosing to remain the fool.

18. Straight Outta the Comic Book and Onto the Screen: Although Christopher Reeve was Superman in every frame he appeared in, the close-ups on the roof of the Daily Planet following the helicopter rescue are quite simply the comic book come to life. Not just the look, but the earnest & positive personality Superman should exude.

 

The Kryptonite Chronicles (Part 5 of 5): Late Additions

As Superman@70 month winds down, we've got one last installment of The Kryptonite Chronicles to get to. But wait...with the primary colors, altered states, alloys, and hoaxes already covered, what other varieties could possibly be left? Well, after some intense digging and investigating, I've unearthed five ultra-rare Kryptonite specimens to squeeze into the collection.

Deadly to Jimmy Olsen only.

Fatal yet zesty.

It is...yet is not.

This Minnesota State Fair favorite has the
ability to instantly clog Superman's arteries.

Able to kill Superman, yet
soft enough to throw indoors.

Simply the Best: A Sentimental Favorite

As I've mentioned before, I've spent much of the past twenty-five years tracking down the last fifty years' worth of Superman comics...to the point where I have every issue from #100 (1955) to the present. However, as fun as it was to complete that lengthy run, the pride and joy of my collection remains my battered copy of Superman #15, cover dated March-April of 1942.

How did I get it? Well, one day back in the early 80's, my local comic book shop was having a 50% off sale, with an extra 10% off for regulars...so I nabbed their $50 copy of Superman #15 for a mere $20, and I've treasured it ever since. Why? Well, it's certainly not the condition (which isn't very good) ....nor the drawing (which is pretty crude). No, I think the real appeal for me is simply its age and the feeling that I'm holding history in my hands whenever I look it over. Technically, the same could be said of any comic book (even the comics I bought last week) but there's something about comics from that far back that seem like artifacts from an ancient age or even another world.

That said, there's another reason I like this cover so much.

I hadn't made the connection until just a few years ago, but one day it hit me that the cover seemed to be based on The Mad Scientist, the first of the legendary Superman cartoons produced by the Fleischer Studios. Released into theatres right about the time this issue was being put together (Fall of 1941), it's not a tall-building leap to imagine that someone at DC Comics would want to plug the cartoon on one of their Superman covers. Here, let's look at a few parallel shots from The Mad Scientist and compare them to the above cover scene.

Mountain-top observatory shooting a deadly energy ray? Check.

Bridge melted by said energy ray? Check.

Superman punching the energy ray as he tries to get to the observatory? Check.

So, what do you think....could the cover of Superman #15
be the very first "movie tie-in" in comics history?

Superman@70: And So It Ends

So there you have it. A solid month devoted to seventy years of Superman.

For my fellow Superman fans, I hope you've enjoyed the extended focus on "our guy". For readers who aren't as crazy about the character, thanks for sticking through an entire month of super-blather.  Who knows...maybe you appreciate the Old Boy a bit more after learning something new about him. I have to say, it's been quite a challenge doing thirty consecutive posts on a single topic (especially during a busy summer), but at the same time, it's been a fun way to express my enduring enthusiasm and fondness for the Superman character.

Where does that enthusiasm come from? I really don't know.  All I know is that, for as long as I can remember, I've been enthralled with the character and his world.  To be sure, I'm not one of those guys who own every piece of crap with an "S" on it, name their son "Kal-El" or who look to Superman as their primary "moral compass" or "role model" (my parents and Christian faith fulfilled that role)....but at the same time, I can't deny the character's enduring "presence" in my life. 

Keenly interested in Superman comics as a little boy (as well as his appearances on the Super Friends cartoon), it was the 1978 Superman movie that really fanned that spark into a flame that's never come close to dying out. 

However, even more than the film, it was its soundtrack by John Williams that became a continuing source of daydreaming and inspiration for me. As much as my life has changed since I bought the double-album soundtrack as a thirteen year-old, the music has never failed to calm me, inspire me, or quicken my pulse...even after all these years.

Hey, Superman even played a small role in the courtship of my future wife!  On our first date for a high school Halloween dance, we arrived as Superman and Lois Lane....and twenty-six years later, I'm still with my "Lois"!

Of course, through it all, I've continued buying and collecting Superman comics...which I'll probably continue doing for the rest of my days. You see, somewhat like a real-life friend, Superman's always seemed to "be around" during the high and low points...just as I've seen him at his highest, lowest, and goofiest points.

Plain and simple, if someone who never actually existed could be considered a friend, Superman would be it. So how could I ever stop buying the guy's comics?

Okay, that's crazier than I intended it to sound....but what do you expect from a guy who's cataloged 34 varieties of Kryptonite and all of the super-monkeys?

Anyway....happy 70^th, Big Guy. God willing, I'll be around for the 80^th, 90^th, and maybe even the 100^th anniversary of the Never-Ending Battle.