| Year |
Day |
Event |
Notes |
| 1950 |
. |
Bud Collyer leaves the radio program The Adventures of Superman. His role as Superman/Clark Kent is taken over by Michael Fitzmaurice.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 57. |
. |
| 1950 |
|
Kirk Alyn and Lois Lane star in the next Superman serial. Lyle Talbot plays the villain, Lex Luthor.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 75-76. |
. |
| 1950 |
September |
Lana Lang makes her debut in Superboy #10, as a "red-headed girl who pined after Superboy...and put up with Clark Kent.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 73. |
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| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1951 |
|
All Star Comics folds. The Justice Society of America had starred in this book.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 105. |
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| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1952 |
May |
In Superman #76, (May-June 1952), in a story written by Edmond Hamilton and illustrated by Curt Swan, "Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne are obliged to share a cabin on an ocean liner. They discover each other's secret identities and use the knowledge..." to confuse Lois Lane.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 105. |
. |
| 1952 |
September |
An adult Lana Lang makes her first appearance in Superman #78.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 73. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1954 |
. |
George Reeves gives an interview...to whom Daniels does not say...about his responsibilities as Superman.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 97. |
. |
| 1954 |
. |
Psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham, who treated juvenile delinquents, published a book called The Seduction of the Innocents. His main targets were "crime and horror comics, but he also attacked super hero comics." This book will be "surprisingly influential," and will bankrupt many comic book publishers as their sales dry up.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 131. |
. |
| 1954 |
July |
In World's Finest Comics #71, Batman and Superman appear together in the same story. The script was written by Alvin Schwartz. They will continue to appear together in stories in World's Finest, with Superman as "the brawn" and Batman as "the brains," until 1986.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 105. |
. |
| 1954 |
October |
The Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen comic book makes its debut. It will run for 20 years.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 99-100. |
. |
| 1954 |
March |
The Prankster, The Toyman and Lex Luthor team up in Superman #88, illustrated by Wayne Boring. The Prankster and The Toyman will not appear again.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 68. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1955 |
. |
The son of M. C. Gaines, William Gaines, was interviewed about the Siegel lawsuit. (Daniels does not state where this interview appears.) Bill Gaines states that it was after a couple of "sharp lawyers" got hold of the boys that they began to feel "malcontented," and went to M.C. Gaines for help. At first he championed their cause, then, feeling that Shuster and Siegel were misrepresenting some of the facts in the case, "dropped them like hot potatoes."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 70. |
. |
| 1955 |
March |
Superboy acquires Krypto, the Super Dog, in Adventure Comics #210.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 104. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1956 |
. |
George Reeves appears as Superman on the I Love Lucy program.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 93. |
. |
| 1956 |
. |
Julius Schwartz introduces new versions of Golden Age DC characters such as Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom and Hawkman. The age for these heroes is called The Silver Age.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 131. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1957 |
. |
The Adventures of Superpup is produced. Midget Billy Curtis puts on a dog mask to portray the character. Whitney Ellsworth produced the show.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 96. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1958 |
March |
Superman's Girlfriend?Lois Lane begins with a cover date of March-April. This was the idea of Mort Weisinger. The issue was illustrated by Kurt Schaffenberger. It contains three stories, including "Lois Lane, Super Chef" and ""Witch of Metropolis." The book will last for 18 years.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 96. |
. |
| 1958 |
April |
Adventure Comics #247 introduces "The Legion of Super Heroes" in a story written by Otto Binder and drawn by Al Plastino. Superboy travels into the future and joins a club full of kids with amazing super powers. When the Legion returned, Jerry Siegel (working without credit and for standard rates) was the dominant writer.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 109. |
. |
| 1958 |
June |
To celebrate the 20th year of Superman's publication, in Action Comics #241), Wayne Boring illustrates a story called "The Super-Key to Fort Superman." The Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic is introduced.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 103. |
. |
| 1958 |
July |
In Action Comics #242), the bottle city of Kandor is introduced, as is the villain Brainiac.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 103. |
. |
| 1958 |
September |
Red kryptonite is introduced in Adventure Comics #252. It's effect on Superman is unpredictable, different each time.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 106-107. |
. |
| 1958 |
October |
The character "Bizarro" is introduced in Superboy #68. An imperfect attempt to create a duplicate of Superboy, he is a version of the Frankenstein monster. The story was written by Otto Binder.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 110. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1959 |
May |
Kara, aka Supergirl, is introduced. She was a refugee in a rocket "from a Kryptonian city floating in space."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg.104. |
. |
| 1959 |
June 16 |
Actor George Reeves, star of The Adventures of Superman television program, is found dead by gunshot wound to the head. It is assumed he committed suicide, but doubt remains to the present day.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 98-99. |
. |
| 1959 |
July |
Lex Luthor creates another Bizarro in Action Comics #254..
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 110. |
. |
| 1959 |
October |
Superboy #76. Beppo the Super Monkey is introduced.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg.104. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1960 |
. |
The Justice League of America makes its debut. They will get their own book in 1963.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 132. |
. |
| 1960 |
February |
Action Comics #261. Supergirl is given Streaky, the Super Cat. .
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 104. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1961 |
. |
The Adventures of Superboy, starring John Rockwell is produced by Whitney Ellsworth. Only the pilot was filmed, twelve additional scripts Ellsworth had prepared went unfilmed.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 96. |
. |
| 1961 |
November |
"The Death of Superman" occurs in Superman #149. It is an imaginary story which explores alternate realities. Lex Luthor does the deed with kryptonite and is banished to the Phantom Zone for his crimes. This book length tale was illustrated by Curt Swan and written by Jerry Siegel. Siegel, having "fallen on hard times", was working without credit and for standard rates.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 107, 109. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1962 |
. |
Jerry Siegel, who had been writing the Legion of Super Heroes stories for Adventure Comics without credit and for standard rates, leaves DC and attempts another lawsuit to regain the rights to Superman. He is unsuccesssful.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 109. |
. |
| 1962 |
October |
Comet the Super Horse is introduced in Action Comics #293. Comet was a supernatural creature that under special circumstances could be transformed into a handsome young man.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 104, 106. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1963 |
August |
Justice League of America #21. A vision of GOlden Age heroes "confronts Superman and his pals."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 132. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1964 |
. |
Julius Schwartz takes over Batman. Carmine Infantino, one of DC's top artists, takes over the artistic reins.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 132. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1965 |
. |
.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. . |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1966 |
. |
The Batman television program, starring Adam West and Burt Ward makes its debut.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 132. |
. |
| 1966 |
March 29 |
It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman makes its Broadway debut at the Alvin Theatre. Bob Holiday plays Superman, flying on stage on wire, but top billing went to Jack Cassidy, as an unscrupulous newspaper man. It was produced and directed by Herman Prince and written by Robert Benton and David Newman. The songs were written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. The musical was not a success, and closed after 128 performances.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 111-13. |
. |
| 1966 |
September |
Superman makes his Saturday morning cartoon debut in Filmmation's The New Adventures of Superman. Radio veteran Allen Ducovny is "back on the DC Comics payroll as its executive producer." It aired on CBS. Bud Collyer played the voice of Superman and Clark Kent.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 111, 114. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1967 |
. |
Curt Swan takes over as the main illustrator of Superman from Wayne Boring.
DC is sold to Kinney National Services.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 109, 132. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1968 |
. |
Kinney National Services purchases Warner Brothers.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 132. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1970 |
November |
Lois Lane is an African-American woman for a day in Lois Lane #106.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 138. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1971 |
January |
The "new" uperman, as crerated by the team of Julius Schwartz, Neal Adams, Curt Swan and inker Murphy Anderson, in Superman #233.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 134. |
. |
| 1971 |
August |
Action Comics #403, written by Cary Bates, has Superman still using robot duplicates to outsmart a villain. Murray Boltinoff was the editor of Action Comics, Leo Dorfman was his chief writer.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 135. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1972 |
. |
Carmine Infantino becomes publisher of DC. He wants Julius Schwartz to be editor of Superman. Schwartz will make many changes?getting rid of kryptonite, and moving from the Daily Planet into television. Schwartz chose Denny O'Neil as the writer. Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson would do the artwork. Neal Adams would do the covers.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 132. |
. |
| 1972 |
January |
Superman #247. "Must There Be A Superman?" Superman begins to wonder "whether he [is] helping or hurting the people of earth by solving so many of their problems for them.".
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 138. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1973 |
|
Hannah Barbera animates Super Friends.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 114. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1974 |
. |
Inker Murphy Anderson leaves the comic field.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 138. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1976 |
. |
Jenette Kahn is appointed publisher of DC. (Within five years she will be owner as well.)
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 139-140. |
. |
| 1976 |
. |
Superman vs, the Amazing Spider-Man is published jointly by DC and Marvel Comics.l It was a 96-page, two dollar tabloid and was a moneymaker.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 140. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1977 |
. |
.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 139-140. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1978 |
. |
A 24-inch tall Talking Super Softly is brought out from Mego. He utters phrases such as "Faster than a speeding bullet."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 150. |
. |
| 1978 |
. |
Superman is released. It is written by Mario Puzo (with additions by Robert Benton, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Tom Mankiewicz) and produced by father and son team Alexander Ilya Salkind. It stars Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando and Margo Kidder.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 138-143. |
. |
| 1978 |
. |
Superman vs. Mohammed Ali is released. Written by Denny O'Neil, drawn by Neal Adams.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 147. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1980 |
. |
Superman II is released. Directed by Richard Lester, it again stars Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. Gene Hackman's Luthor is there, but the three main villains are played by Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 143.
The Internet Movie Database: www.imdb.com |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1983 |
. |
Superman III is released. Directed by Richard Lester, it again stars Christopher Reeve. Richard Pryor is the comic foil. Annette O'Toole plays Lana Lang.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 143.
The Internet Movie Database: www.imdb.com |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1984 |
. |
Alexander and Ilya Salkind produce Supergirl starring Helen Slater, with Faye Dunaway and Peter O'Toole. It is not a success.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 148.
The Internet Movie Database: www.imdb.com |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1985 |
. |
Superman editor Julius Schwartz turns 70 years old. DC personnel celebrate by pulling a practical joke - putting together a dummy issue of Superman in which Schwartz himself has an adventure with the man of steel, and pretending that's the next issue that will be coming out.
Supergirl is killed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. "The one you see around these days is a shape-shifting alien who assumed her identity."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 146, 148, 159.
|
. |
| 1985 |
April |
After so many years, it proves difficult for new DC writers to keep up with the continuity that has been in place for so long. The new writers decide to "wipe out the past," so they can start all over again. A twelve-part series, called "Crisis on Infinitite Earths," begins in April 1985 and will run to March 1986. This marks the end of Schwartz's editorship of Suoerman. After thirty years of drawing him, Curt Swan also retires.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 148.
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. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1986 |
March |
The final issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths comes out. "It's time warp gimmick obliges all DC characters to start their adventures from scratch." Andy Helfer is now assigned to be the editor of Superman. Writer and artist John Byrne took over the reins.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 159.
|
. |
| 1986 |
June |
A biweekly miniseries called Man of Steel begins, written and drawn by John Byrne.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 159.
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. |
| 1986 |
September |
SaveCancelCloseEdit FileWhen finished, click S Superman #423 appears. It is a two-part finale entitled "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" The final part appears in Action Comics #583. The story was written by Alan Moore, who kills off practically everybody and reveals the essential villainy of Mr. Mxyzptlk?who turns out to be omnipotent and totally malevolent.
The twelve-part Watchmen series also begins in this month.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 150.
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. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1987 |
. |
Superman IV is released. It is produced by a different production team, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, ad is generally judged a failure. Christopher Reeve played Superman, Gene Hackman returns as Lex Luthor.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 143-144.
The Internet Movie Database: www.imdb.com |
. |
| 1987 |
January |
Superman 1 is issued. The original Superman is retitled The Adventures of Superman.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 159. |
. |
| 1987 |
November |
Superman makes his last appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 163. |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
| 1988 |
. |
John Byrne, writer and artist on Superman, leaves DC.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 159.
|
. |
| 1988 |
. |
The television program Superboy begins, produced by Ilya and Alexander Salkind. Its star is John Haymes Newton, who will be replaced after 26 episodes by Gerard CChristopher. Lana Lang is played by Stacy Haiduk.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 161-162.
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