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Title: Little Susie? Post by: binarysunrise on July 21, 2006, 01:38:32 PM So I am working on studying the Superman newspaper strips. One recurring character is Little Susie, the neice of Lois Lane, who has a problem with lying, and often tries to prove that Clark Kent is Superman.
My question: Does she occur in the comic books as well? (or a character similar to her?) I haven't read that many 40s-50s Superman comics. Anyhoo, she first appears in 1943, and I have her as late as 1951 in the newspaper strips. (http://www.thespeedingbullet.com/daily/ep16_30/episode28.jpg) Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Osgood Peabody on July 21, 2006, 02:05:55 PM Susie Tompkins did indeed appear in the comic books, starting with Action #59 (Apr. 1943), in the story entitled "Cinderella a la Superman" by Jerry Siegel, John Sikela and Ed Dobrotka. It looks like this may have preceded her appearance in the strip, though not by much.
She hung around for a few years, even allying herself with Mxyzptlk in Superman #40 (May/Jun 1946). I think her final appearance was in 1955, in Superman #95's "Susie's Enchanted Isle". Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: MatterEaterLad on July 21, 2006, 02:44:53 PM You can also check out our Supermanica too, but thanks to Osgood for more story refs!
http://superman.nu/wiki/index.php/Susie_Tompkins Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: binarysunrise on July 21, 2006, 05:28:53 PM Thanks for the tips. I'll try to check that source more often :)
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: TELLE on July 21, 2006, 06:55:05 PM she pops up in a 1970s Mr and Mrs Superman story as well.
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Super Monkey on July 21, 2006, 07:11:07 PM Her entry in TGSB is rather big actually, I guess she was a big deal in the Golden Age.
I think I shall make her my next pet project. 8) Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: MatterEaterLad on July 21, 2006, 07:22:36 PM Is the spelling Tompkins right according to TGSB, I see Tomkins in some internet sources?
I added Osgood Peabody's references to the regular entry, haven't looked for Earth 2 refs, but she has an Earth 2 entry at Supermanica too... Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Uncle Mxy on July 21, 2006, 07:38:52 PM Any relation to Leslie?
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Johnny Nevada on July 21, 2006, 07:53:05 PM Susie also appears in "Action Comics" #484 in 1978 at the wedding of the Earth-2 Clark and Lois, where it's revealed her mother is the Earth-2 Lucy Lane (or "Luceille Tompkins", to use her married name), Lois' sister.
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Super Monkey on July 21, 2006, 08:45:53 PM Quote from: "MatterEaterLad" Is the spelling Tompkins right according to TGSB, I see Tomkins in some internet sources? I added Osgood Peabody's references to the regular entry, haven't looked for Earth 2 refs, but she has an Earth 2 entry at Supermanica too... those internet sites can not spell, it's Tompkins Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Continental Op on July 22, 2006, 02:45:47 PM As far as I can recall, Susie Tompkins made her last appearances in the "Mr. and Mrs. Superman" stories in SUPERMAN FAMILY #199 and #216.
The weird thing is, she was still depicted as a little girl in those stories, even though she should have been a teenager by the time Clark married Lois! Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Lee Semmens on July 23, 2006, 07:47:27 AM Three of the Susie Tompkins stories have been reprinted, as follows, for those who are interested:
"Cinderella -- a la Superman!" (Action Comics #59, April 1943), and "Superman Meets Susie!" (Action Comics #68, January 1944), both in Superman: The Action Comics Archives, Volume 4. "The Mxyztplk-Susie Alliance!" (Superman #40, May-June 1946) appears in the long out of print tabloid, Limited Collectors Edition C-38 (Superman) (October-November 1975). Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Michel Weisnor on July 23, 2006, 03:40:35 PM Sigh, another Superman cast member I've never heard of before. What a great character idea, I'll have to check out the suggested back issues. :D
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: binarysunrise on July 23, 2006, 07:42:43 PM Yea, so far in the dailies, they brought Susie back for an entire year's worth of strips....guess the fans liked her. :)
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Johnny Nevada on July 23, 2006, 07:44:33 PM Quote from: "Lee Semmens" "The Mxyztplk-Susie Alliance!" (Superman #40, May-June 1946) appears in the long out of print tabloid, Limited Collectors Edition C-38 (Superman) (October-November 1975). Actually, this one appeared again in the recently published "Superman In the 40s" trade paperback... Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Lee Semmens on July 24, 2006, 08:09:27 AM I have Superman in the 40s, but I just plumb forgot about "The Mxyztplk-Susie Alliance!" appearing in there.
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Super Monkey on July 24, 2006, 07:26:31 PM I have begun adding more info to her entry, since I will not be adding it all at once, you will be able to get read one piece of the puzzle at a time until you know everything there is to know about her, it is going to be a fun entry :)
I also found a great cover that I will add. Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Super Monkey on July 29, 2006, 09:22:07 PM all done folks, so take a look: http://superman.nu/wiki/index.php/Susie_Tompkins
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Kurt Busiek on July 30, 2006, 02:59:49 AM I figured I'd just add that all the shots of Susie in that comic strip posted in the first message are swipes of Nastalthia "Little Nasty" Smythe-Heatherstone, from Milt Caniff's TERRY AND THE PIRATES.
kdb Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Johnny Nevada on July 30, 2006, 01:32:35 PM I added some information too, not knowing that there's a seperate "Susie Tompkins of Earth-2" page, though someone seemed to move it over to that page appropriately instead of just eliminating it outright...
Title: Re: Little Susie? Post by: Michel Weisnor on July 30, 2006, 09:45:16 PM Allow me to reiterate, Susie is a fantastic idea for a more innocent time in comics.
"Some people can take a dash of imagination or leave it alone,” notes Superman No.40/1, “, but with Susie, one little touch goes right to her head, and grows and grows and grows!” Thank you for the updated entry. I live for supporting comic characters. Keep them coming. :D |