Superman Through the Ages! Forum

I fondly remember this mini series as one of the best of the Pre-Bryne reboot of the Superman character.  It fit in perfectly with the established history of the character and I felt added depth to the character.  I initially thought that this mini series wouldn't be worth a look but was I ever wrong.  Seeing the last Superboy story or stories and the character becoming Superman was a great way to help close out that era.

I know of it but have never read it.  DC should publish it in tradepaperback.  I'd pick it up.   :)  :s:

Agreed, a trade paperback is a good idea.



If I recall correctly, The Secret Years mini series was actually the conclusion to a (long running?) series of backup tales by the same creative team and featuring the same crew of characters.  I don't remember the details, nor the continuing name given to the backup feature, nor what title it ran in (probably Action Comics).



(http://superman.nu/a/images/secretyears4.jpg)

Thanks alot guys.  Now I gotta find this story and read it.   :lol:  :s:

I just won this mini-series on ebay.  I'll let you know how I like it. :D  :s:

Didn't Frank Miller draw one of the covers for the series (I think he actually drew all four personally but can not remember)

The picture above is the cover to issue number four, but you are correct - Frank Miller did all of the covers.

Looked over my issues and you were right all were by Frank Miller.

I believe it was a back-up feature in Superman.  Also, I think it was Bridwell who wrote most of the back-up version, while Bob Rozakis wrote the mini.

Also, the mini-series was to serve as the definitive story that showed how Superboy became Superman, and bridged the gap between the back-up feature and Superman.

And yes, Miller drew all 4 covers.

Actually Bob Rozakis wrote the In-Between Years--the back-up series that preceded The Secret Years.  Kurt Schaffenberger was penciller on In-Between, whereas he was inker on Secret.

If you check out DCMB (at the bottom of the screen) and go to the archived 80s Superman forum you will find my review of this near the bottom of page 2.  More lively discussion gets going on page 3.

And I note that Miller's covers had nothing to do with the content of the series.  They were just drawings of Superman that could have been used on any title.

I know that one of the online 'Superboy' TV series fansites has these online.  I think they would be an excellent trade paperback these days, to cash in on the 'young Clark' poular due to the WB.  I had this mini-series when it came out, and I LOVED it!  I have always loved Pre-Crisis continuity, and especially when filtered thru the more sophisticated writing styles of the late 70's thru the 80's.  This was a fine example of this kind of 'freshening up' the characters and ideas without disrupting continuity.  I'd give a LOT to have these again, even in just a reprint.

Well, if I could be permitted a plug here...I've got all the Silver Age Superboy, Superman, and Superman Family stories indexed at http://darkmark6.tripod.com/indexintro.html , including all those in-between / hidden years stories.  Hope this helps!