Celebrating Artist Mike Allred

Celebrating the birthday of artist Mike Allred (February 20, 1969)...

...here, with his Superman related covers (Action Comics #31 and Superman #31, July, 2014).  

Variants to the usual, celebrating the 1966 Batman TV series!

Celebrating Artist Phil Jimenez

Celebrating the birthday of artist Phil Jimenez (July 12, 1970) with a special treat from the Triangle Era of Superman titles, with four covers that Phil did for the December, 1999 issues of Superman...

...Superman #151, Adventures Of Superman #573, Superman: The Man Of Steel #95 and Action Comics #760!

 

Last Adventures Of Superman And Lois

A quick look back at the career and end of a Superman and Lois...as, during the course of the Infinite Crisis, both the original Superman and Lois Lane did not survive.

As DC transitioned to a new Superman, Superman #226 (April, 2006), Action Comics #836 (April, 2006) and Adventures Of Superman #649 (April, 2006) wander through the life of the original Superman, and his time with Lois, as a set up to what happened in Infinite Crisis #5 (April, 2006)...and beyond, where a new Superman and Lois would take over.

Superman #226 and Action Comics #836

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Adventures Of Superman #649 and Infinite Crisis #5

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Here, Superman's life from Action Comics #1 (June, 1938) to the time JSA member Kal-L, his wife Lois, the new Earth-Prime Superboy and Alexander Luthor left in Crisis On Infinite Earths #12 (March, 1986)...to come back for the Infinite Crisis.

The Criminal Superman

Superman...a criminal?  Say it ain't so!

Yet, here he is...accused of killing Lex Luthor.

How did the heroic Superman find himself in this situation?

Action Comics #318 (November, 1964)

Starting off with "The Death Of Luthor!" by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein.  To be fair, it starts on Earth, where prisoner Lex Luthor escapes prison...and heads to a rocket launch, to end up on the planet Lexor, where Luthor is considered a hero, and is under a red sun. While there, he marries a native woman, Ardora, whom he had known before.  

Superman, getting a spaceship to follow Luthor, does, ending up on Lexor (where the red sun makes him powerless). There, after chasing down Luthor, the two fight...with Superman seemingly killing Luthor.  The local establishment take Superman into custody, where he is to be tried for murder.

Action Comics #319 (December, 1964)

Picking up where the last issue left off, "The Condemned Superman!" by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein.  On trial, it goes badly for Superman.  Superman escapes jail before a verdict is rendered, with the man of steel finding one of Luthor's secret laboratories, therein he finds proof of a formula that Luthor invented that a person could take to simulate death.  

Going on that theory, Superman tries to revive Luthor...and is successful.  Luthor faked his death to get the authorities to sentence Superman to death.  Though this clears Superman, the Lexorians do not believe Luthor to be guilty.  Superman leaves Lexor, banished, while Luthor stays there with his new wife.    

Happy Birthday Supergirl

Today is considered the birthday of Supergirl, Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El.

    

To celebrate, here is her first appearance and a major turning point in Supergirl's life!

Action Comics #252 (May, 1959)

Under a cover by Curt Swan and Al Plastino, with a story by Otto Binder and Al Plastino, debuted "The Supergirl From Krypton!".  Supergirl's rocket crash landed on Earth, and Superman was there to greet the young girl in a costume styled like his, who also had powers as he did.

Sent to Earth from Argo City (a section of Krypton that had survived the destruction of the planet, for a while) by her father, Zor-El, Kara came to Earth. 

Vowing to keep her safe and give her time to get used to Earth, Superman kept her as his secret weapon, with Kara not revealing herself to the world, and living as Linda Lee in Midvale Orphanage.

That status quo lasted for a while, with Linda getting adopted by the Danvers, but Supergirl was still a secret to the world at large until...

Action Comics #285 (February, 1962)

Under a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein, with story by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney, Superman finally reveals Supergirl to the world as "The World's Greatest Heroine!".  with many of her friends acknowledging it, including merboy Jerro, Linda's adoptive parents Fred and Edna Danvers and her friend from Midvale, Dick Malverne.

In a double sized story, Supergirl even faces the Infinite Monster alone after her big reveal, as well as getting a little help from her friends from the Legion of Super-Heroes (Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and Brainiac 5).

From here, the world looked a little brighter with Supergirl in it.

Superman And Two Foolish Imps

April 1st is considered the birthday of Superman's 5th dimensional foe, Mr. Mxyzptlk...

...but the little man from Zrfff wasn't always what he was today, and started off slightly differently, as Mr. Mxyztplk, as he faced the original, Golden Age Superman.

Mr. Mxyztplk

The original Mr. Mxyztplk first appeared in Superman #30 (September-October, 1944) by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Ira Yarbrough.  He was a nuisance to Superman, using his extra dimensional powers to vex the man of steel over the years, including issues of Action Comics (#80, #102, #112, #151, #190 and #208), Superman (#33, #36, #40, #46, #51, #59, #62, #82, #86, #96, #103 and #105) and in Superman Family #208, facing Mr. and Mrs. Superman, with that last appearance establishing that the"tp" version of the imp in the purple suit (at least in his earliest appearances) was the one to face the Earth-2 Superman.

Mr. Mxyzptlk

The imp that was to bother the Earth-1 Superman was Mr. Mxyzptlk, and his first appearance was in Superman #131 (August, 1959) by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino.  This imp had a long, magical career, menacing not only Superman, but his pal Jimmy Olsen, his girlfriend Lois Lane, his cousin Supergirl, his duplicate Bizarro, had a younger version fight the younger Superboy in retroactive tales and even teaming up with Bat-Mite to face Superman and Batman, and even other Superman team-ups as well, before the Crisis on Infinite Earths called an end to his career.

These all happened over the issues of Superboy #78 (in his first meeting with Superboy), #83, #95, #114, and #120, Superman #135, #145, #148, #150, #154, #162, #169, #171, #174, #218, #283, #290, #299, #335, #349, #351, #407 and #421, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #44, #52, #53, #54, #65, #66, #71, #74 and #114. World's Finest Comics #113, #123, #152 and #169, Action Comics #273, #282, #283, #291, #368, #460, #467, #563, #574 and #583, Adventure Comics #288, #306, #351, #386, and #393, Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #29, #48, #61, #62 and #73 and DC Comics Presents #33, #34, #53 and #97.

Just so there's no fooling here, the difference (more of less) of the Earth-1 and Earth-2 Supermans are explained here, and saying his name backwards (Kltpzyxm or Klptzyxm, depending on which imp you prefer) will send you home and to other adventures elsewhere (and we'll figure out the rest of his history in 90 days or later...)!

 

Superman Fights Time

Ever feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day?

Well, you can join with Superman, who had that same problem in Action Comics #551 (January, 1984) by Marv Wolfman and Gil Kane, where Superman fights H.I.V.E. and other disasters, but still striving to be the hero (and what would he do if he had one hour less, which is a part of Daylight Saving Time....), as the Metropolis Eagle writes negative articles about the Man of Steel.  

Superman still manages to deal with everything all over the world, including getting to Moscow to get a cure for Jeffrey and Jennifer O'Hara in Metropolis, who have a rare disease only a Russian doctor has a cure for.

Superman Goes To Hell - The Blaze Satanus War!

Back with another installment for the Super Blog Team-Up, and here, like all of the blogs involved, we are going to hell.  But, our twist is...we are taking Superman with us!

Delving a little past our usual time frame, going into the "triangle" era of Superman (as the Silver Age usually had Superman fighting menaces that looked supernatural, but weren't).  Here, Superman and the Daily Planet staff are in between a battle between the demonic forces of Blaze and her brother, Lord Satanus, fighting the Blaze/Satanus War!

Blaze and Lord Satanus

Blaze first appeared in Action Comics #655 (July, 1990), as a club owner that was secretly a demon from hell.  Her machinations in Metropolis helped lead to the the death of Jerry White (the son of Alice White and Perry White, editor of the Daily Planet).  Her brother, Lord Satanus, appears first in Adventures Of Superman #493 (August, 1992), with his own plans for Metropolis, but, as that issue also starts the war, more will be revealed as we go along...

Sibling Rivalry (31)

The war begins in Adventures Of Superman #493 (August, 1992) by Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett and Doug Hazelwood, with Blaze manipulating fired Daily Planet editor Sam Foswell to Newstime, to become their managing editor (as she saved him from suicide by pretending to be an angel).  At Newstime, as Foswell walks the corridors to meet Collin Thornton, owner of Newstime, 

Back at the Daily Planet, the crew go on as normal, with Jimmy Olsen going to his side job as Turtle Boy, with Clark Kent and Lois Lane following (and the lot going to check on Sam and his heading to Newstime).  Good thing they headed there, as after meeting with Collin Thornton, demons seems to come out of the mirrors at Newstime, as does Lord Satanus.  Clark goes into action as Superman, confronted by Lord Satanus, who plans to kill Foswell, as Blaze enjoys her scheme.

Payment Due (32)

In Action Comics #680 (August, 1992) by Roger Stern, Butch Guice and Denis Rodier, Superman and Lord Satanus form a loose alliance as Foswell flees further into Newstime, Jimmy and Lois battle demons, Metropolis gets wind of problems at Newstime as Satanus puts a mystical force field around the building.  Blaze appears as an angel to manipulate Foswell, transforming him into a demon to attack Superman, Lois, Jimmy and Satanus.  

Outside, Supergirl arrives in Metropolis and starts to tear through the force field around the building, prompting Lord Satanus to transport the whole Newstime building and its inhabitants into another dimension.

Sanctuary (33)

With Superman: The Man Of Steel #15 (September, 1992) by Louise Simonson, Kerry Gammill, Keith Giffen, Dennis Janke and Trevor Scott, the war rages on.  With the building gone, Perry White heads to the location of Newstime, where his wife Alice was headed, but they are lured into the former church turned nightclub of Blaze by the spirit of Jerry White.  Superman and Lord Satanus continue to battle Blaze's demons as Lois and Jimmy round up the Newstime employees now in a building in another dimension.  

To counter Satanus' plan, Blaze sends her church/nightclub into that other dimension with the Whites.  In this other dimension, Superman has problems controlling his powers, making the battle tough for him to fight.  To help, Perry rings the bells of the church to distract the demons, which it does, as well as distracting Satanus, allowing Blaze to appear, and reveal her plan, to manipulate Superman to help her against her brother to prevent Satanus from killing the now demon Foswell.

Evil's Pawn (34)

This battle comes to an end in Superman #71 (September, 1992) by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding, as Blaze's plan was revealed.  Lois and Jimmy have gotten the Newstime employees safely to Blaze's church/nightclub, as Superman battle Lord Satanus.  As the church, Blaze tortures the Whites with the truth their son is dead and merges her demons into one to attack the church.  Superman and Lord Satanus decide to work together as Superman gets help from the demonic Foswell (who joins Satanus).  

Satanus goes to fight the combined demon as Superman rings the bell at the church to power Satanus.  Blaze attacks Superman to stop him, but Perry rises up to continue ringing the bell, powering Satanus to defeat the demon, returning the two buildings and their inhabitants to Earth, as Superman and Blaze spin off into limbo.  On Earth, Satanus takes the leave of the Daily Planet staff, taking Foswell with him.  The duo appear in the Newstime office, where Satanus returns Foswell to human form, reveling in his new ally, and revealing that Satanus is also....Collin Thornton!

Kismet: The Road Not Taken (35)

Not wanting to leave you (and Superman) in limbo, here's a little on Adventures Of Superman #494 (September, 1992) by Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett and Doug Hazelwood, where Superman was found by Kismet!  Here, this interdimensionally powered being encounters Superman, showing him not to have regrets, even though Superman had been manipulated by demonic forces, his goodness would still win out.

More War

Blaze and Lord Satanus continued their war, including revelations in the Power Of Shazam! that they are the children of the old wizard Shazam (and manipulating Black Adam), and later, their battles against Neron in the Reign of Hell (which inspired DC to reprint the non-Adventures Of Superman issues of the Blaze/Satanus war in the DC Universe Special).

But. enough of that special hell and onto other kinds of hell as well!

The folks at the Super Blog Team-Up have been busy little demons, working on hellish articles of their own, all with a certain common thread.

So, if you are of strong courage, and willing to explore more of the levels of hell, with your faithful companions of the SBTU, here they are:

Between The Pages Blog - Hostess Comic Book Ads Were Hot Stuff

Magazines and Monsters: Bonus Episode! - Marvel Spotlight 12 & 13 (Damon Hellstrom)- with Charlton Hero! 

The Telltale Mind - Patsy Walker - To Hell and Back (and Back and Back...)

Source Material Comics Podcast - Batman/Punisher “Lake of Fire” - Evan Bevins and Jesse Starcher

Mark Radulich : Alternative Commentary on Hell Comes to Frogtown

Ed Moore: News Print Commando Rex Zombie Killler from Bad Dog Ink/Panda Dog Press 2013

In My Not So Humble Opinion - Savage Dragon Goes To Hell

Asterisk 51 Blog - Sunday school with… Hellboy?!?!?

Comics Comics Comics Blog - The Son of Satan and the preacher's kids - Will looks at Son of Satan and the Defenders. 

Superhero Satellite: Spider-Ham in the world of Licensing Hell!

Relatively Geeky Presents #43: Afterlife With Archie, issues 1 to 6.

First Adult Bizarro Day

Goodbye!

Today is a day to hang our heads in shame.

This is the day Luthor first created a Bizarro version of Superman (after Professor Dalton created the first Bizarro, a version of Superboy, in Superboy #68 of October, 1958 by Otto Binder and George Papp) with an imperfect duplicator ray.

First Bizarro  - Action Comics #254 (July, 1959)

First Bizarro Lois Lane - Action Comics #255 (August, 1959)

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First Bizarro World - Action Comics #263 (April, 1960)

First Bizarro Jr. - Superman #140 (October, 1960)

First Bizarro series - Adventure Comics #285 (June, 1961)

Bizarros vex the Legion - Adventure Comics #329 (February, 1965)

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Bizarro thinks Bizarro World destroyed, has powers slightly changed, getting ice vision and flame breath

Superman #305 and #306 (November and December, 1976)

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Read more about Bizarros, including Bizarro Batman...here, and more of the Bizzaro family here! 

Hello!

Happy Father's Day Superman

One of the defining characteristics of the Silver Age/Earth-1 Superman, is that it was the death of his Earth father (Jonathan Kent) when he was Superboy, that was one of the biggest changes in Clark Kent's life, leading him to move from Smallville to Metropolis, and to change from Superboy to Superman (shown so well recently in Action Comics #500).

So, imagine Clark's surprise when his father showed up in his current life!  Not a result of a universe changing Crisis, but a helpful alien repaying a kindness the Kansas farmer showed him, Pa Kent was allowed a little time with his grown up son in Action Comics #507 and #508 (May and June, 1980) with covers by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano, and stories by Cary Bates, Curt Swan and Frank Chiaramonte.

A Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there, and for everyone who has lost a father and would like to talk to him one last time.

Happy Birthday Zatara

According to the old DC calendar, today is the birthday of the magician, Zatara.  

Giovanni "John" Zatara first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June, 1938) by Fred Guardineer (an issue which also premiered a certain caped Kryptonian),  but Zatara only appeared on two covers as the main feature, #12 and #14.

Zatara was a stage magician, but he also practiced real magic, which he could manifest by speaking backward, causing whatever he said to happen.  Zatara would work with his East Indian bodyguard, Tong, to fight evil wizards and druids, thieves such as the Tigress, and even invaders from Saturn and the moon.

His original stories ran from Action Comics #1 to #141, World's Best Comics #1, World's Finest Comics #2 to #51 , and in New York World's Fair Comics #1 and #2, though only Action Comics #1 and the 2 New York World's Fair Comics have ever been reprinted, and contrary to the Action Comics #52 cover, didn't team up with companions until after the Golden Age.

Writer Gardner Fox, who wrote some of Zatara's earliest tales, revived him in the 1960s, as he went missing due to the manipulations of sorceress Allura, sending his daughter, Zatanna, to quest for him.  Later writers writing of past have included him in the histories of Phantom Stranger, the Spectre, Madame Xanadu, a pre-Batman Bruce Wayne, Superboy and even as a member of the All-Star Squadron, cementing a place in history of this early DC magician!