posted
I'm curious about what issue numbers people think the Silver Age started for Superman, Action Comics, Adventure Comics and even Superboy and World's Finest. Personally, I have no idea and can't remember any specific issue number ever accurately given this title for any Supes comic.
What are your opinions? What is the general consensus of fandom, although I acknowledge right off that the general consensus will probably be innaccurate to some people? What are the reasons?
I've read that appearances by the Legion and Brainiac helped usher Superman into the Silver Age. Does it go back farther to Supergirl? Am I correct in my knowledge that Superboy and Lois Lane both recieved comics in the very early 1950's, well before the Silver Age?
Just a fun conversation
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
I believe that Superboy dates to the late 40s, actually. I know one of the issues in regards to printing Superboy Archives is that most of what we consider the "classic" elements of the Superboy mythos (Krypto, for instance) don't get introduced until quite a ways into the series.
I'm not sure if there is any general consensus as to exactly when the Silver Age Superman starts. I think there's a very gradual transition from the Golden Age to Silver Age for Supes.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I will add this little tidbit to explain my curiosity :
My Dad recently completed our Justice League of America, Flash, Hawkman and the Atom collections (and Incredible Hulk for Marvel). Like Green Lantern, we now own all of those issues (ever!). Now he wants to start nailing down Superman stories, although going for the Golden Age is far too expensive. Still, the 70's issues aren't as fun as early Silver Age.
He leaves hunting for Legion issues (and other stuff like Defenders) to me, which have to wait until I get a jobby-job.
EDE- any idea what year Krypto was introduced? Before or after Supergirl?
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Hm, that sounds about the right era. I always thought that circa 1958 was the best place to start, but was curious if it should be earlier.
For the record: can anyone tell me Brainiac's first appearance off-hand? Supergirl is Action #247 IIRC. Any other major 'firsts' during the issues SoM has listed?
When did Kandor first appear?
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Thanks EDE! Wow, I Krypto appeared much earlier than I originally thought!
1955! Before Barry Allen!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Action #241 is apparently the classic version of the origin story for the Silver Age, so it would make sense to start with that.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Then Brainiac is apparently Action #242.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Superboy, incidentally, first appeared in 1945.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Hm, so Action #241 does make a lot of sense then. Cool!
So the new Origin story, Brainiac, Supergirl, the Legion, etc. all help usher in the Silver Age for Supes.
Just to keep this train of thought going, when did the following appear: Kandor, Streaky, Comet, any other major things?
And is there an issue that could really mark the transition in World's Finest?
And, just to be even more annoying, had Lana and Lois met in a story before the Silver Age, and if so, what issue?
(And EDE, I knew that if anyone could give me the info quick, it'd be you. Your knowledge of the Silver Age, the Legion, etc. is astounding!)
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Oh, I've been googling to get exact dates and issue numbers. I'm not that good.
Kandor, I believe, is in the first Brainiac story.
Streaky is Action #261, from 1960 (see my Supergirl Archives thread for more info).
Comet actually makes his first appearance in the first Legion of Super-Pets story, as a "future" pet of Supergirl! I'm not sure offhand when his actual debut in the Supergirl series is.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I should have known about the Comet story, I've read it half a dozen times! I get so caught up in reading the Whizzy story though, that I often forget ol' Comet!
Interesting about Kandor. I've never actually read that story, so I never knew that.
Lash, Lois tricking Superman into marrying her is definatley an important part of the Silver Age!
And how could I forget about Jimmy Olsen? When did #88 come out? Was there *really* a "Krypton Crawl"? When did Jimmy first turn into a Super-hero? Which one?
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Lash is being silly. Supes doesn't start doing the Krypton Crawl until 1965:
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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When did Jimmy first turn into a Super-hero? Which one?
