| Year |
Day |
Event |
Notes |
| 1990 |
December |
Lois accepts Clark Kent's proposal of marriage in Superman #50. The script was by Jerry Ordway, the art by Jerry Ordway and Dennis Janke.
Source: The Complete Superman, by Les Daniels, pg. 165. |
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| . |
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| 1991 |
. |
Jenette Kahn, President of DC, sells the idea of a TV program called Lois Lane's Daily Planet to ABC, with the assistance of Les Moonves, then creative head of Lorimar Telivision, and writer-producer Joy LeVine. The show will not go into production until 1993, when it will be called Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Plans in the comic books to have Superman marry Lois Lane were put on hold because the powers that be wanted to have it coincide with a marriage on television.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 166. |
. |
| 1991 |
February |
Superman reveals his secret identity to Lois Lane in Action Comics #662. The script was by Roger Stern, the art by Bob McLeod.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 166. |
. |
| 1991 |
March |
Lois and Clark have a lengthy discussion of their marriage plans in Superman #53.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 166. |
. |
| 1991 |
July |
The Man of Steel is launched as a regular series, Superman: The Man of Steel.
Source: . |
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| . |
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| 1992 |
. |
The Warner Brothers animation studio brings Batman: The Animated Adventures to television. A Superman cartoon will not follow for 4 years.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 176. |
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| 1992 |
July 30 |
Joe Shuster dies in Los Angeles, California.
Source: Wikipedia article on Joe Shuster. |
. |
| 1992 |
November |
Superman: The Man of Steel #17. Artist: Jon Bogdanove. Writer: Louise Simonson. The character of Doomsday is introduced. The ultimate showdown is being set-up, until Superman will die in Superman 75, brought out in January, 1993.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 167. |
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| . |
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| 1993 |
January |
Superman #75. Superman is killed by Doomsday The story iswritten and illustrated by Dan Jurrgens. Before the issue even hits the stands, the news of Superman's death has made the national news. DC personnel were stunned - the national news didn't realize that characters were killed all the time but usually came back...The issue went into several printings. Superman will be brought back to like in October, 1993.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 167-169. |
. |
| 1993 |
September 12 |
Lois and Clark makes its television debut. Its competition was Murder She Wrote and the new seaQuest DSV. Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain played the leads.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 172. |
. |
| 1993 |
October |
The Adventures of Superman #31. Superman is brought back to life thanks to the "sacrifice of the mysterious Last Son of Krypton."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 169-170. |
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| . |
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| 1994 |
February |
Steel #1 makes its debut. John Henry Irons is an African-American with a steel-plated uniform, who had had a tryout during the death of Superman interregnum.
Superboy #1 makes its debut, with the teenage clone of Superman getting "an old name to balance his new attitude."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 169-170. |
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| . |
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| 1995 |
. |
The Canadian postal service brings out a 45 cent stamp of Superman, featuring his Shuster look (for Shuster was born in Toronto, Canada.)
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels. pg. 185. |
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| . |
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| 1996 |
. |
An alternate universe, or "Elseworlds" story called "Kingdom Come" appears as a four-parter. The panels are painted, not inked.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels. pg. 178. |
. |
| 1996 |
. |
A Superman cartoon makes its debut. Tim Daly played Superman, Dana Delany was Lois Lane.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels. pg. 177. |
. |
| 1996 |
. |
Inspired by the animated Superman series, a new comic book makes its debut, Superman Adventures. Art is by Rick Burchett and Terry Austin. Paul Dini wrote the first issue and then turned over the reins to Scott McCloud.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels. pg. 177. |
. |
| 1996 |
January 28 |
Jerry Siegel dies.
Source: Wikipedia article on Jerry Siegel. |
. |
| 1996 |
October |
On Lois and Clark, Lois and Clark get married. The episode was written by John McNamara. This will also be the last season of the program.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 173. |
. |
| 1996 |
December |
Lois and Clark get married in the pages of Superman: The Wedding Album. Joey Cavalieri is Superman editor at this point, replacing Mike Carlin who was promoted to executive editor of the entire DC Universe. The timing was coordinated with Lois & Clark, but "the show was meant for a different demographics."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 173. |
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| . |
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| 1997 |
. |
Shaquille O'Neal stars as Steeel, based on the comic book character of the same name.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 176. |
. |
| 1997 |
April |
Superman has long lost his powers. In a bid to get them back, he is turned into a being of energy in The Adventures of Superman #545.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 177. |
. |
| 1997 |
May |
Superman #123, continuing the story in The Adventures of Superman, is now held together by a containment suit.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 177. |
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| . |
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| 1998 |
. |
Superman: The Complete History?The Life and Times of the Man of Steel, by Les Daniels, published by Chronicle Books.
Source: N/A. |
 |
| 1998 |
. |
Commercial
During the NFL playoffs and the Superbowl, an American Express commercial airs. Jerry Seinfeld, in his program Seinfeld, had oft expressed his admiration for Superman. In this commercial, he meets an animated Superman, drawn in the style of Curt Swan. Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen also appears. Lois Lane has stepped outside to buy groceries without any cash, so Seinfeld comes to the rescue with his American Express card. When a comet appears overhead, Seinfelf tells Superman, "I think you'd better answer this one."
Stamps
The U.S. post office brings out a first class stamp featuring Superman as he appeared in 1938.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels. pg 185. |
. |
| 1998 |
February |
Superman Red Superman Blue #1 makes its debut. It has a red-and-blue 3D cover.
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 178. |
. |
| 1998 |
June |
A 98 page special comic called Superman Forever appears for Superman's 60th anniversary. The cover features "seven images in lenticular animation... by painter Alex Ross." Superman Red and Superman Blue sacrifice themselves, and "from the ensuing cataclysm the original Superman emerges, battered but intact."
Source: The Complete Superman, Les Daniels, pg. 185. |
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