Legion World Forums LEGION CLUBHOUSE The Legion of Super-Heroes When would you say the Silver Age started for Superman?

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

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.

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?

Well the SA Superman [Man of Tomorrow] Archive #1 is due to contain ACTION COMICS #241-247 and SUPERMAN #122-126 (1958-1959).

Krypto's first appearance is Adv. #210, in 1955.

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?

Thanks EDE! Wow, I Krypto appeared much earlier than I originally thought!

1955! Before Barry Allen!

Action #241 is apparently the classic version of the origin story for the Silver Age, so it would make sense to start with that.

Then Brainiac is apparently Action #242.

Superboy, incidentally, first appeared in 1945.

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!)

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.

The Silver-Age began for Superman in the first story in which Lois schemes to trick him into marrying her, whatever issue that was.

Or perhaps in JIMMY OLSEN # 88, where Superman dances "The Krypton Crawl"! ("Superman! Stop dancing! There's an emergency down the street!")

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?

Lash is being silly. Supes doesn't start doing the Krypton Crawl until 1965:

Good Grief! There really is a Krpyton Crawl! And it's more electrifying than Elvis!

Cool it, big daddy!

BTW, did Lois and Lana ever meet before the Silver Age. I'm sure they must have, but it'd be interesting if they hadn't, since I've always been under the impression that Superman continuity was not the most coordinated until the Silver Age began.

One other thing: when did Mr. Mxyptlck (sp?) first appear?

Mxy's from the 40s.

The other interesting question is when Mort Weisinger took over as Superman editor.

I'm guessing Lois and Lana first met in an early issue of Lois Lane, but I'm not sure.

Mister Mxyzptlk = Superman #30 (1944).

Ah, but that's not true! Mr. Mxyztplk first appeared in Superman 30. Mr. Mxyzptlk appeared later

I thought Mxy was early, but I didn't know he was that early. What prompted me to ask was that I was wondering when Batman really made the transition (another can of worms). I tend to think of Bat-mite, along with Batwoman and Batgirl, as early Bats Silver Agers, although that could be wrong too.

Good stuff! I think we have a pretty good idea of the transition then. The only other one would be what issue of World's Finest (and maybe Jimmy Olsen or Lois Lane) did those titles really join up? And whether it was simply b/c of the year or if any event really ushered them in?

Batman's pick'n'choose - Batman #1, and other Golden Age comics were referenced in Englehart's run. Personally, I put all the time-travel, aliens, monsters etc on E2 for Bats, with the earlier stuff in both, and E1 picking up with the "New Look" (yellow oval).

Bat-dates:

1955-- Ace the Bat-Hound
1956-- Batwoman
1958-- Bat-Mite
1961-- Bat-girl (Betty Kane)
1964-- "New Look"; death of Alfred; Aunt Harriet