A Little Summer Fun With Superman, Batman And Robin

Not to be outdone, Superman, Batman and Robin had symbolic covers for the first 70 issues of World's Finest Comics as well before they started regular team-ups, like this playful cover of World's Finest Comics #60 (September-October, 1952) by Win Mortimer, with Batman and Robin, along with a few female friends, enjoying time on the lake waterskiing, using poor Superman as a source of locomotion.

Batman and Robin, as well as Superman, Green Arrow, the Manhunters Around The World and the western hero, the Wyoming Kid had separate tales inside the issue, not related to the fun on the cover as the Golden Age got closer to a close.

A Little Summer Fun With Green Lantern, Wonder Woman And Flash

Taking it easy with the heat as we get closer to summer, and showing this representative cover from Comic Cavalcade #3 (Summer, 1943) by Frank Harry, showing the Golden Age Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Flash having fun...while they, as well as Hop Harrigan and Sargon the Sorcerer have individual tales inside the title.

Oh, the innocent fun of the Golden Age!

Saluting Our Veterans On Memorial Day

Saluting our soldiers, and those who gave their lives in service of our country with this cover from Our Army At War #197 (September, 1968) by Joe Kubert.

Our soldiers fought to keep civilians safe, but occasionally, the civilians died as well, and Sgt. Rock salutes them as well.

Superman Vs. Shazam The Teasers

When DC had acquired the original Captain Marvel, one would have immediately thought that a battle between the Big Red Cheese and the Man of Steel would be a no-brainer, but the powers that be at DC didn't feel that way.

So, they spent years setting up near battles between Billy Batson and Clark Kent's alter egos, and told quite a few interesting stories along the way.

Make Way For Captain Thunder!

Wait a minute.  This was suppose to be a build up to the Superman/Captain Marvel battle and here Superman #276 (June, 1974) by Elliot S! Maggin, Curt Swan and Bob Oksner seems to give it away already...or does it?  Look closely at that Nick Cardy cover to see if you can spot the difference.....

Yes, that wasn't Captain Marvel, but Captain Thunder, little Willie Fawcett, who accidentally ended up on Superman's Earth and having a little battle with Superman.  Captain Thunder was the prototype for the original Captain Marvel, and DC was shoring up its copyright on this, as well as giving a little taste of what's to come, as well as giving a little taste of other things, like this Cap's own version of Sivana and a Monster League of Evil which looked more like the Universal Monsters than the Monster Society of Evil he usually faced.  There was a battle, but the two parted as friends, with Willie headed to his home dimension...

Captain Marvel Meets....Lex Luthor!?!

Yes, that seems rather unlikely, but it was the next teaser, in Shazam! #15 (November-December, 1974) by Denny O'Neil, Bob Oksner and Tex Blaisdell, with Superman's foe teaming up with Mr. Mind to cause trouble, all under a Bob Oksner cover.

Luthor figured out a new way to fight Superman with a magic accumulator, but finding a Shazam! comic and being repulsed by it, tried to blast it out of existence, and instead ended up on Captain Marvel's world.  Working with Mr. Mind, the World's Wickedest Worm, the two plotted to use the accumulator against Captain Marvel, and nearly succeeded, if not for Billy's quick wits.  Luthor headed home with his accumulator drained, to face a Man of Steel.   Oddly, this must have had some affect on Luthor, as after this, he kept to his purple and green costume, ditching the grey prison garb he usually wore.

Crisis In Tomorrow!

After all this teasing, Justice League of America #137 (December, 1976) by E. Nelson Bridwell, Martin Pasko, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin finally looked like a payoff, but this cover by Ernie Chan was the ultimate tease!

The previous two issues dealt with a team-up of the Justice League of America (from Earth-1), Justice Society of America (from Earth-2) and the Squadron of Justice (from the now named Earth-S), which included other Earth-S heroes of Bulletman, Bulletgirl, Ibis, Spy Smasher, Mr. Scarlet and Pinky, but NOT the Marvel Family.  King Kull, the main villain of the story had incapacitated the old wizard Shazam, so Billy, Mary and Freddy couldn't call down the magic lightning.  Say, you thought they got a little help from this guy and his magical friend, and faster than you can say Shazam!, the Marvel Family was back, though Billy used his wisdom of Solomon to prevent the fight with Superman outside the Rock of Eternity instead.  Holy Moley, was that close!

Captain Marvel Fights The Man Of Steel

Okay, with the Kurt Schaffenberger cover of Shazam! #30 (July-August, 1977) for the story by E. Nelson Bridwell, Kurt Schafenberger and Vince Coletta, this time it is the real battle, right?

Well, look at Dr. Sivana in the background, as well as the fact that it is a steel mill.  This was at the time Captain Marvel was traveling the country with Uncle Dudley, finding themselves in the steel mills of Pittsburgh, and Sivana found a way to create robots out of the molten steel, including one of Superman, though in the comic, the duplicates were all a grey color (conveniently miscolored on the cover to lure in unsuspecting readers).  Still, it was a battle of Captain Marvel and "the Man of Steel"....just not a real, Kryptonian Man of Steel.


Well, the battle finally happened in All-New Collectors' Edition #C-58 (April, 1978) with "When Earth's Collide", but, in the traditions of the teases that had happened, this will be a story for another day, as they finally fulfilled the promise that the cover of Shazam! #1 (February, 1973) started (or was started nearly a decade before, as artist Kurt Schafenberger snuck the Big Red Cheese into Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #42 (July, 1963) but the colorist hid it by coloring him green, though the reprint of that story in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #104 (September-October, 1970)...all teases for tales to be told another time!

Arrow Shots: The Goatee

Thanks to Arrow actor, Stephen Amell, a little bit of Season 7 news leaked out at the Motor City Comic Con...that, for the first time in the TV series, Oliver Queen will be sporting the goatee!

The Origin

Green Arrow first appeared with the goatee as part of his new look for Brave and the Bold #85 (August-September, 1969) in a story by Bob Haney and Neal Adams, and the look continued as Green Arrow first met the new Black Canary as she joined the JLA in Justice League of America #75 (November, 1969).

With Green Lantern and the Longbow Hunters

Green Arrow continued that look while teaming up with Green Lantern (more on that here) for the 1970s, and even for quite a time after, in Action Comics, World's Finest Comics and Detective Comics, before ditching it for his urban hunter outfit, which started with Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1 (August, 1987).

New 52

Green Arrow kept that look or variations of it, or returned to Neal Adams style costume, but it wasn't until the advent of the New 52 that the goatee disappeared, sporting a new look much closer to that of the Arrow TV show.....but, was this the earliest time Ollie ditched the goatee?

Exception

Green Lantern #94 and #95 of 1977 by Denny O'Neil and Mike Grell feature Green Arrow losing his goatee to hide his identity to get into a secret base...but, not unlike the current Green Arrow in comics, it grows back.

Now, how about that hat?  (Stephen Amell says no....).

Giant Superboy Menace

Back to the happier days of Smallville, at a time when Superboy (Superman as a boy) patrolled the city, keeping it safe from those who might wish it harm.

Here, in 80 Page Giant #10 (May, 1965), is a collection of some of Superboy's greatest foes....the worst of the worst menaces the young Boy of Steel had to face as he grew into Superman-hood, all under a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

Adventure Comics #205

The adventure starts off with "The Journey Of The Second Superboy" from Adventure Comics #205 (October, 1954) by Bill Finger, Curt Swan and Sy Barry, with Curt and Sy also providing the cover.

This story has Superboy meeting up with Kral, a young lad from Titan, Saturn's moon, who lands at the Kent homestead.  The lad, like Superboy, is an orphan, but Kral is also an advance scout for an invasion fleet from Titan.  Kral works with Superboy, learning of Earth's defenses and Superboy's weaknesses, and takes the Boy of Steel to Titan, planning to expose him to Kryptonite.  While on Titan, Superboy shows the moon's leaders his powers, claiming all Earthmen have them.  Kral, who was touched by his time on Earth, doesn't expose Superboy's lie to prevent a war neither want, and the two super-powered lads part as friends.

Adventure Comics #250

Next up is another invasion of Smallville, but on a smaller scale.  It is "The Imposter From The Year 2958" from Adventure Comics #250 (July, 1958) by Bill Finger and John Sikela, with a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye.

This time around, the invader is from the future, a criminal called Lorac-7, who has come to the past to steal cobalt.  Superboy is ready, protecting the cobalt of Smallville, but can't help but suspect those around him, including his principal, Professor Lang, and even the mayor....until he realizes Lorac-7 is disguised as Lana Lang, whom he catches, and sends back to the future, but without her getting any cobalt for her evil plans.

Oddly, this villain had no connection to the Legion of Super-Heroes, but, to be fair, they had only appeared once before this, three issues prior.

Superboy #83

"The Dreams Of Doom" is the next reprint, from Superboy #83 (September, 1960) by Jerry Siegel and George Papp, under a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, introducing Superboy to his greatest menace of the time!

Superboy and Krypto are both having dreams of a menace, that of the Kryptonite Kid and his dog, but this nightmare proves to be real, as the Kryptonite Kid and his dog show up to chase the Boy and Dog of Steel out of Smallville.  Clark and his pet won't go, but a villain with the power to turn things into Kryptonite almost proves too much of Kal-El, at least until Mxyzptlk shows up, banishing the villain and his mutt, as Mxyzptlk wants the honor of finishing off Superboy one day (which he can't do if this new villain does).

Along with Kryptonite Kid's dog, Krypto faced other canine menaces, which they detail in a one page feature here, including Luthor's dog, Destructo.

Adventure Comics #271

From Adventure Comics #271 (April, 1960) with a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, and story by Jerry Siegel and Al Plastino, is a story of an event that would change all of Smallville..."How Luthor Met Superboy".

It's an origin as old as time.  Boy saves superhero from Kryptonite meteor, superhero creates boy (who is a fan) a super scientific lab, boy makes big breakthrough, but is careless and starts a fire, superhero breaks into lab to stop the blaze, causing the boy's hair to fall out, creating his greatest foe!

Luthor, of course, is the biggest threat to Superboy, and later, to Superman, and even rated his own Giant (though, it was battles with Superman), and this tale was also reprinted larger than life in a Limited Collectors' Edition (as well as other places).

Adventure Comics #264

Next up is the reprint from Adventure Comics #264 (September, 1959) by Otto Binder and George Papp, all under a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, with Superboy encountering an alien menace that would make him into "The Hapless Hero".

Superboy faces off against Space-Boy, the alien Zall-Dix, who has come to Earth, looking to exchange minds, with this new alien taking the place of Superboy.  Superboy obviously objects to this, so Space-Boy causes Superboy's powers to malfunction, making the Boy of Steel a menace to his town.  Superboy finally does agree to the mind-swap, but, Clark's dad, Jonathan Kent, interferes, which impresses Space-Boy, who heads out into space towards home.

Adventure Comics #255

Last but not least, readers get to see "The Splitting Of Superboy" from Adventure Comics #255 (December, 1958) by Otto Binder and George Papp, with a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye.

Kozz, an alien from Mars, uses Red Kryptonite to split the Boy of Steel into two...Superboy and Clark Kent!  Superboy has powers (and morals) while Clark Kent has neither.   This causes problems, with Clark leaving the Kent household (with Kryptonite).  Superboy takes on a new identity, as Flying Spirit, a native American.  Clark uses the Kryptonite and even Lana Lang to search for Superboy, and eventually the two battle, using Superboy robots.  Clark wins by cheating, but damages his robot control device, which explodes, killing him, allowing Superboy to go back to being Clark Kent.

This wasn't the first time Clark Kent would face off against his heroic alter ego, and wouldn't be the last, as Superman and Clark Kent had many fights over the years!

This isn't the only collection of Superboy tales, the Boy of Steel had an Annual, a few 100 Page DC Super Spectaculars, and many oversized issues of his own title as well, committed to his adventures, as well as those of other young heroes.

Remembering Margot Kidder Superman The Movie's Lois Lane

Remembering the late Margot Kidder (October 17, 1948 - May 13, 2018), who played Lois Lane in the 4 Christopher Reeve Superman movies.


Margot Kidder played a fiercely independent Lois Lane....smart, sassy, self-confident, who really didn't need a Superman, and that is what Lois Lane felt for a couple of issues of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane.

Get Out Of My Life, Superman

By the time of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #80 (January, 1968 with a cover by Curt Swan and Neal Adams, and story by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger), Lois had had it with Superman.

Superman missed Lois' birthday party, and that was too much for her.  Lois moved to Coral City, changed her name to Lois Lorne, taking a job as a nurse (which she had the skills to do).  As a nurse, Lois saved the life of astronaut Rand Kirby, and thus a new romance began.  Clark Kent, assigned to a story in Coral City, finds Lois, but Lois tells Clark not to tell Superman she is here (a little hard, as Clark is Superman).  Still, things go bad, and Lois admits she needs Superman's help, getting it...but, Lois (feigning being under truth serum), tells Superman she doesn't love him anymore.

No Witnesses In Outer Space

Following up on that bombshell was Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #81 (February, 1968, with cover by Neal Adams, and story by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger).  Lois and Superman were a couple no more.  They both went to extremes in this story to change that!

Superman decided he would travel back in time to make it to Lois' party, but, even then, couldn't make it, so, resigned himself to be without Lois.  Lois, still working as a nurse in Coral City, helps Dr. Culver with an experiment, testing a gas on death row prison convicts.  Some of the prisoners break free, taking Lois hostage, until Superman saves her.  Lois, exposed to the gas, gains temporary ESP, allowing her to read Superman's mind, finding out he still loves her, but is scared to commit to her due to it making her a target for his enemies.  Lois also abandons plans to marry Rand Kirby, but her new temporary powers also give her a flash to the future, where she sees Superman dying from Kryptonite in space, with Rand saving him, but dying in the process.  Lois stows away in Kirby's rocket, saving Superman, but, he breaks her lifeline to the ship, and she passes out.

This was a bit of a misdirect, as Lois wakes up on Earth, as Superman had to snap the line as it had become tangled, so he saved her.  The two patched things up, and Lois returned to Metropolis and Superman. 

Superman The Movie

Margot Kidder portrayed a very different Lois Lane in Superman The Movie.  Her Lois Lane was independent, self-confident and self-reliant.  A drastic change from the days of the Adventures Of Superman TV show, or the earlier comic books.  Her Lois Lane was very focused on her career and getting the story....though that did get her into quite a bit of trouble, and, thankfully, Superman was there to rescue her, even from the most horrible of fates.

Superman II

By the time of the second Superman movie, Lois begun to suspect Clark was Superman....and she was right.  The two grew much closer, and the great chemistry between Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve was  a joy to watch.  Margot's Lois got into even bigger trouble in this movie, but always had her Superman there to pull her out, even if the ending undid the majority of their best interactions during this movie.

Superman 3, 4 and Smallville

Still, Margot Kidder was a trouper, not unlike Lois Lane, and returned for Superman III and IV.  Neither of those movies inspired as the first two did, nor did they do much for Lois Lane (or Margot Kidder), with Lois being in little more than a cameo in III, with Annette O'Toole really filling in with Superman, as Lana Lang.  Still, at least Margot and Annette became friends, as Margot did get to play a role as Dr. Swann's assistant (Dr. Swann being Christopher Reeve's role) on Smallville.

While her life wasn't always super, Margot Kidder will be remembered by Superman fans for her time as Lois Lane.