Superman Through the Ages! Forum

Ok, I consider myself pretty good at digging up info on the Net regarding Superman but I have to admit that I'm having a bit of trouble with a project I'm working on.

I'm currently in the middle of making an inventory of my trades and prestige format books.  Since I am so anal-retentive I am writing down what comics are in the particular trades and hardcovers, which is pretty easy since most of the modern book have a handy little bit at the beginning detailing what issues have been reprinted.

They only books that are giving me problems are my copies of Superman: From the '30s to the '70s and the '30s to the '80s volume.  There are certain books that I can get the issue name and number from but others are proving ... dificult.

So I am putting a call out to my fellow Superman fans to help me find either a site that has a list of the books that appear in the volumes or a site that has a detailed index of early Superman books.  Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

Which ones cant you identify?

Yeah, its been prolly 30 years since I looked at my copy of "Superman from the 30s through the 70s" (wonder if that got thrown out too?), but it wouldn't take me long to run down any of the stories reprinted in it...

So you could name them here, or do a search on the story titles on Google, many times, or on the GCD...

Thank you very much for the Google hint.  I managed to find a large number of the issue numbers I was looking for.  The stories that didn't have a story title that I could find I located by doing some detective work with my copy of The Great Superman Book.

Thanks again.  You definitely pointed me in the right direction and gave me a new search option.

Michael, this link should have all the information you are looking for:

http://www.comics.org/search.lasso?type=title&query=Superman+from+the&sort=alpha&Submit=Search

Just go there, and follow the links.

Thank you so much.  Again I appreciate all the help.  I had tried the GCD before but for some reason the site was down.

Oh well.

With all of the help given here I was able to assemble my list.  For some odd reason I couldn't gain access to the Grand Comic Database but I did find another site that was simply freaking awesome.  Some of you are probably aware of it but I post a link anyway.  

Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics (http://www.dcindexes.com/index.php)

This site is great.  I found it using the Google search that MatterEaterLad suggested.

Anyway, even though Lee Semmens listed the links to the Grand Comic Database entries I decided to post the fruits of my efforts here.  A few notes first:

-As you will notice I use the same type of issue numbering system that The Great Superman Book used.  It just seemed more professional and appealed to my anal-retentive sensibilites.

-Also the first few stories from both volumes lacked an identifiable story title.  I went with Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics (http://www.dcindexes.com/index.php) on this, so that is why they appear in brackets.

And here we go.

Superman: From the ‘30s to the ‘70s- Bonanza Books New York- 1971- Fourth Edition

Dedication by Carmine Infantino, Publisher Superman Comics

Introduction by E. Nelson Bridwell, Editor National Periodicals Comics

[“Superman, Champion of the Oppressed”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #1- Summer 1939
[“War in San Monte”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #1/2- Summer 1939
[“The Challenge of Luthor”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #4- Spring 1940
[“The Dukalia Spy Ring”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #10/4- May/June 1941
[“The Light”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #13- November/December 1941
[“The Archer”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #13/2- November/December 1941
[“Saboteurs from Napkan”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #15/2- March/April 1942
“How Clark Kent Met Lois Lane”- Adventure Comics #128- May 1948
“Man or Superman?”- Superman (Vol. 1) #17- July/August 1942
“Case of the Funny Paper Crimes”- Superman (Vol. 1) #19- November/December 1942
“Superman, Matinee Idol”- Superman (Vol. 1) #19/4- November/December 1942
“America’s Secret Weapon”- Superman (Vol. 1) #23- July/August 1943
“The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #30/4- September/October 1944
“Lois Lane, Superwoman”- Superman (Vol. 1) #45- March/April 1947
“The Origin of Superman”- Superman (Vol. 1) #53- July/August 1948
“Black Magic on Mars”- Superman (Vol. 1) #62- January/February 1950
“The Mightiest Team in the World”- Superman (Vol. 1) #76- May/June 1952
“The Girls in Superman’s Life”- Superman (Vol. 1) #78/4- September/October 1952
“The Terrible Trio”- Superman (Vol. 1) #88/3- March 1954
“The Girl in Superman’s Past!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #129/3- May 1959
“The Untold Story of Red Kryptonite!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #139/3- August 1960
“The Son of Bizarro!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #140- October 1960
“The Orphan Bizarro!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #140/2- October 1960
“The Supergirl Bizarro!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #140/3- October 1960
“Superman Meets Al Capone!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #142/2- January 1961
“Bizarro Meets Frankenstein!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #143/3- February 1961
“Superboy’s First Public Appearance!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #144/2- April 1961
“The Pied Piper of Steel”- Action Comics #398- March 1971
“Superman Breaks Loose”- Superman (Vol. 1) #233- January 1971
“Superman, You’re Dead…Dead…Dead!”- Action Comics #399- April 1971
“Duel of Doom!”- Action Comics #400/2- May 1971


Superman: From the ‘30s to the ‘80s- Crown Publishers, Inc. New York- 1983- First Edition

Foreword by Jenette Kahn, President and Publisher, DC Comics Inc.

Introduction by E. Nelson Bridwell, Editor DC Comics Inc.

[“Superman, Champion of the Oppressed”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #1- Summer 1939
[“War in San Monte”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #1/2- Summer 1939
[“The Challenge of Luthor”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #4- Spring 1940
[“The Light”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #13- November/December 1941
[“The Archer”]- Superman (Vol. 1) #13/2- November/December 1941
“Man or Superman?”- Superman (Vol. 1) #17- July/August 1942
“Case of the Funny Paper Crimes”- Superman (Vol. 1) #19- November/December 1942
“Superman, Matinee Idol”- Superman (Vol. 1) #19/4- November/December 1942
“America’s Secret Weapon”- Superman (Vol. 1) #23- July/August 1943
“The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #30/4- September/October 1944
“Lois Lane, Superwoman”- Superman (Vol. 1) #45- March/April 1947
“The Battle of the Atoms!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #38- January/February 1946
“Black Magic on Mars”- Superman (Vol. 1) #62- January/February 1950
“The Girls in Superman’s Life”- Superman (Vol. 1) #78/4- September/October 1952
“The Terrible Trio”- Superman (Vol. 1) #88/3- March 1954
“The Girl in Superman’s Past!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #129/3- May 1959
“The Supergirl from Krypton!”- Action Comics #252/3- May 1959
“The Super-Duel in Space”- Action Comics #242- July 1958
“How Luthor Met Superboy!”- Adventure Comics #271- April 1960
“The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman!”- Superman (Vol. 1) #164- October 1963
“The Origin of Superman!”- Limited Collector’s Edition C-31- October/November 1974
“The Pied Piper of Steel”- Action Comics #398- March 1971
“Superman, You’re Dead…Dead…Dead!”- Action Comics #399- April 1971
“The Miraculous Return of Jonathan Kent!”- Action Comics #507- May 1980
“The Secret World of Jonathan Kent!”- Action Comics #508- June 1980

Another note: I realize that the origin of Superman that was reprinted in Superman: From the ‘30s to the ‘80s was also in The Amazing World of DC Superman Edition but to my knowledge the Limited Collector's Edition was it's first appearence.

Michael, I would have put up the link to the GCD several days earlier, but like you, I found it to be down all that time.

Although I love the Superman From the 30s to the 70s volume (and the Batman book; unfortunately I don't have the Shazam one), one thing disappointed me about it - the complete lack of Superman stories from the 1962-66 period, the high Summer of the Silver Age so far as Superman is concerned, in my opinion.

Since I got the book, I have nearly completed my run of the Action and Superman comics of that time, so it doesn't really worry me all that much now.

The Shazam volume is very difficult to locate.  I still need to track it down at some point when I have the time and, more importantly, the money.

It's funny that you mention the lack of late sixties stories because I noticed the same thing when I was putting the list together.  On one hand it looks like they were going for certain beats in Superman's history.  The first issue of Superman.  An early Luthor story.  Lois first suspecting Clark of being Superman.  Luthor, Prankster and Toyman teaming up.  The origin of Bizarro.  Superboy's "first" day out.  A time travel story.  Then there are other times where they get kind of lazy.  The stories from the '40s (sorry for the rhyme there) seem to be chosen out of a hat though there are certain themes that run through them.  In the '30s to the '70s volume the sixites take up too much time with Bizarro stories.

Still and all these were the first Superman comics I can remember reading so they'll always be special for that reason.

I wonder if there was more than one printing of the 30s through the 70s?  I swear that my copy didn't include "Superman You're Dead...Dead...Dead" (but I had the comic) or "Duel of Doom"...

I agree that the 60s section had way too much Bizarro stuff, at least for me, though it was a definite direction for kids that liked those titles (not me)...

I did like the 40s stuff because it was so varied, kind of showed a character and how many different directions a new hero could go.

That's weird.  I have only personally seen four five copies of the book and they all contained those issue.

Odd.  Very odd.

Recently, thanks to the local libraries, I checked out copies of "Superman From the 30s to the 80s" and "Shazam From the 30s to the 70s" (the Superman book seemed in a bit better shape than the Shazam one). The Superman book has "You're Dead...Dead...Dead" in it; didn't see "Duel of Doom" from flipping through it initially; the only 80's story in the volume is the "Miraculous Return of Jonathan Kent" story from 1980 (the one with "Starshine" the hippie who orders everyone over 30 to leave Metropolis...). Otherwise, the stories seemed to be the same as those in the 30s-to-70s volume...

Was interesting to finally read a few of the 40s and 70s "Shazam" stories (including the story in "Shazam" #1 on how the Fawcett cast was trapped in suspended animation for 20 years; wonder how Sterling Morris got his job back at WHIZ if he was 20 years "out of date" knowledge-wise/would've been declared dead and his job long since taken over, or such)...

I've managed to dig out my copy (thank you eBay!).  It's hardcover and copyrighted 1971.  Both "Superman... You're Dead... Dead... Dead!" and "Duel of Doom" are inside (p. 362 and p. 376 respectively).  On a side note, I enjoyed the first imaginary story on p. 150 a lot.  Lois and Clark visit a theatre and get to watch a Superman cartoon - which looks very familiar.  Clark's main worry?  Lois could find out his secret identity by watching the film!

I liked that story too, almost like an Earth Prime story...

You can read it here in full color: http://superman.nu/tales3/cartoonhero/