This document contains a timeline of major events in superman s life that fit into the current continuity. These eras include the golden age 19381950, the silver age 19561970, the bronze age 19701985, and the modern age 1985present. Superman s last hour starring superman, nails harrigan, and dan delta, script by jerry coleman, art by al plastino. Today, we learn about a superman legion timeline mixup. The comic books embodied the virtues of what it was to fight evil during world war ii. Quite literally everyone has heard of this famous crime fighter. Superman is an ongoing american comic book series featuring the dc comics superhero superman as its main protagonist.
Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes that exists. Superhero comic books rose to prominence in the late 1930s and the 1940s. Superman timeline a list of major superman events version 1. This is the first dc comic published, notable for its use of original material. You can find out values of action issues by clicking here. A civil war breaks out among marvels superheroes over whether they should register publicly with the government or not. Historian will jacobs suggests the silver age ended in april 1970 when the man who had started it, julius schwartz, handed over green lantern starring one of the first revived heroes of the era to the newguard team of denny oneil and neal.
The origin of superman is the story that relates supermans arrival on earth and the beginnings of his career as a superhero. Dc is home to the worlds greatest super heroes, including superman, batman, wonder woman, green lantern, the flash, aquaman and more. In fact, the comic book still embodies the same virtues today. Its timeless, it captures the core of the character, and it is fun.
The silver age of comic books was followed by the bronze age. Some silver age comic books even say superman celebrates his birthday on june 10 the day he landed on earth. Supermans kryptonian romance supermans return to krypton. The superman titles were always trying out new ideas during the 1950s and 1960s. Superman s sweetheart, script by bill woolfolk, art by al plastino. The middle decade of the last century was not a good one for the comics industry. Featured are seven issues, including superman july 1963 issue 162, july 1966 issue 188, august 1966 issue 189, may 1968 issue 206, july 1968 issue 208, and may 1969 issue 216.
Celebrate superman month historical timeline 1930s to 1960s. After a month of spotlighting the strange if endearingly strange history of comic books and especially the silver age, i think it is worthwhile to show the comic books of the silver age that are simply great stories period, without any enjoyably goofy aspect to them. Spiderman reveals his identity, sells his marriage to the devil. It is the first to be printed in what becomes the standard size for modern comic books.
Why my mother threw out my comic books part 1 of 3 webages by adam blatner reposted november 18, 2009 this is based on a talk given on 61209 to the summer session of the senior university georgetown. Invulnerability is compared to a sort of super sun tan. Later, this was altered to include a portion of his flying ability as a yellow sun derivation. Superman accidentally existed alongside the legion of superheroes. Ever since the 1986 revamp that restarted superman from square one, the superman comic books have fit into a tightlywoven continuity.
In this vlog, sagu history professor david onyon discusses how comic books were used as propaganda to target american children during world war ii. Superman s muscular powers, super strength, speed, and flight, are attributed to gravity. Superman meets jorel and lara again superman s return to krypton. The character was invented all the way back in 1933, and made his first comic book appearance in 1938. The superman logo was created by legendary dc comics designer ira schnapp, who designed many, if not most, of the famous logos for dc comic books well into the 1960s. It dominated the comics scene in north america during the 1960s. Back in 1977 author michael uslan stated the following about the nature of comic books.
The first true comic books were marketed in 1933 as giveaway advertising premiums. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Which is the most expensive superman comic of all time. Rare superman comics ashcan auction closing tonight at. Superman romances lyla and witnesses jonathan kents proposal to martha, while brainiac shrinks and steals kandor.
The death of superman was a major news story that was covered by the likes of cnn and time magazine. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The following is a list of the first known appearances of various superhero fictional. In abandoned an forsaked, we examine comic book stories and ideas that were not only abandoned, but also had the storiesplots specifically overturned by a later writer as if they were a legal precedent. Comics historians divide the history of american comic books into ages. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. In an unprecedented set of crossovers in 2005, dozens of comic strips join in celebrating its 75 years in print. This timeline presents milestones, trends, and pivotal events that defined the comics medium during each of these eras. The political influence of comics in america during wwii sagu. This is what started the much darker directions comic books took during the 70s compared to the much lighter 60s comic books. This was one of the first times in the history of comic books where the villian actually won.
Superman accidentally existed alongside the legion of. In the comic, spidermans girlfriend, gwen stacy, is killed by the villian, the green goblin. Supermans muscular powers, super strength, speed, and flight, are attributed to gravity. By 1935 reprints of newspaper strips and books with original stories.
Apr 24, 20 little attention is paid to comic strips, gag or editorial cartoons, or anything else comicrelated that might have been going on in the 1960s. And, thankfully, it doesnt waste space with the origin story. Comic books in the 1970s timeline timetoast timelines. My version of superman is a mix of silver age stories, byrnes reboot after crists, and superman i and ii. One notable exception is sy barrys run on the phantom and how barrys work ramped up interest in a longneglected strip. The original superman comic book series is the most popular series.
The political influence of comics in america during. In the 1960s, the greatest entertainment in the world can be gotten for a mere 10 cents between the pages of the various superman comics published. Superman comic books superman timeline a list of major superman events version 1. Even people who arent fans of the genre can still recognize, and often enjoy a superman movie. This page lists prices for the first 100 issues of superman s appearances in his solo series, which began in 1939. Superman, is the one who explodes onto the scene and transforms comic books into a cultural force.
The story has been through many revisions through decades of publication in comic books and radio, television and film adaptations. Maurice mitchell is a sciencefiction and comic book critic, blogger, and journalist. Precrisis comic covers 1938 1986 precrisis superman comics 19381986 complete cover gallery precrisis superman specials. Most comic fans know that superman actually began life in action comics. After the war, sales dropped dramatically and then continued to slide down throughout the 1950s. This page lists prices for the first 100 issues of supermans appearances in his solo series, which began in 1939. The golden age describes an era in the creation of comic books published between the years of 1938 and 1955.
He and his twin brother operate two blogs dedicated to science fiction and fantasy films, the geek twins and film sketchr. The story has been through many revisions through decades of publication in comic books and radio, television and film adaptations the original story was written by jerry siegel and illustrated by joe shuster, and published as a part of the characters first appearance. Funnies on parade, a collection of reprinted newspaper comic strips, is given away as an advertising promotion. Spiderman, on the registration side, reveals his identity to the press. Celebrate superman month with a historical timeline. From the 1930s through today comic books have expressed the trends, conventions, and concerns of american life. Comic book, bound collection of comic strips, usually in chronological sequence, typically telling a single story or a series of different stories. Celebrate superman month historical timeline 1930s to. This is one of the best superman stories ever by any standard.
Since the debut of superman in 1938 by jerry siegel and joe shuster, stories of superheroes ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing yearslong sagas have dominated american comic books and crossed over into other media. Dec 28, 2017 in abandoned an forsaked, we examine comic book stories and ideas that were not only abandoned, but also had the storiesplots specifically overturned by a later writer as if they were a legal precedent. The origin of superman is the story that relates superman s arrival on earth and the beginnings of his career as a superhero. Supermans sweetheart, script by bill woolfolk, art by al plastino. Little attention is paid to comic strips, gag or editorial cartoons, or anything else comicrelated that might have been going on in the 1960s. Superman accidentally escapes krypton, leaving behind lyla. A female superhero is sometimes called a superheroine. Some superman series are just one issue oneshots and others are longer series, such as adventures of superman. Its timeless, it captures the core of the character, and it. The strip proved so popular that national launched superman into his own selftitled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with.
Here is an archive of all the silver age comics features so far we begin with the first death of superman, from 1961s. Superman also helps find the justice league of america, marking one of the first panlabel crossover teams in comic book history. These are the years when comics were considered a new and exciting form of art. Also included is superman and supergirl in action comics may no. This document contains a timeline of major events in supermans life that fit into the current continuity. Supermans last hour starring superman, nails harrigan, and dan delta, script by jerry coleman, art by al plastino. Some strict collectors consider the era finished by 1950. Buy superman comic books at newkadia and they all have a.
It was the death of an icon probably the most famous character in all of comicdom. Super heroes all died out between 1950 and 1955 with only superman, batman and wonder woman and a few smaller ones still being published. Superhero characters became stars during world war ii. This page attempts to show how the issues in this series were published over time by laying them out in a timeline with alternately gray or white rows roughly corresponding to months.
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