SUPERMAN (COMIC BOOK)

Superman began as a one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938). The strip proved so popular that National launched Superman into his own self-titled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with cover-date Summer 1939. Whereas ''Action Comics'' at the time was an anthology featuring stories of several different characters in addition to Superman such as Zatara and Tex Thompson, the '''Superman''' comic only contained Superman stories.
The '''Superman''' comic book began being published quarterly, soon going bimonthly and in the late 1950s turning monthly. This initial ''Superman'' series went on a three-month hiatus with issue #423 (Sept. 1986), as did sister title ''Action Comics'', while the new ''Man of Steel'' limited series was published, introducing the post-''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' Superman.
After that limited series, ''Action Comics'' returned and ''Superman'' Vol. 2, #1 was published. A new title, ''Adventures of Superman'' premiered with #424, continuing the numbering of the original ''Superman'' series.
''Superman'' Vol. 2 reached issue #226 (April 2006) and was then cancelled as part of the companywide ''Infinite Crisis'' storyline. ''Adventures of Superman'' was returned to its original title, ''Superman'', with issue #650 (May 2006). ''Action Comics'' had continued publication normally.
As of summer 2007, the current creative team on Superman is Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco. The book recently participated in the "Up, Up and Away" eight-issue crossover with fellow Superman title ''Action Comics''. The most recent issue of ''Superman'' to reach publication (as of May 2007) was #662. The most recent arc by Busiek and Pacheco was titled "Camelot Falls". It has yet to be fully completed, though the first half of the storyline has been collected in a trade paperback.
The book has also been participating in the weekly series ''Countdown'', giving a different perspective on certain events that are shown in the book, such as the events preceding the death of New God Lightray.

Contents

Awards

Issue #1 Cover

Bibliography

See also

External Links

Awards

The creators who have worked on Superman over the years have received a number of awards and nominations, including the 1969 Alley Award for Strip Most Needing Improvement, the 1970 Shazam Award for Best Writer (Dramatic Division), for Dennis O'Neil for his work on Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, and a 1986 Jack Kirby Award nomination for Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons for ''Superman Annual'' #2.

Issue #1 Cover

★ The cover of ''Superman #1'' (1939) is one of the most referenced comic covers, including:

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★ The cover to ''Action Comics'' #643 (July 1989) by artist George Pérez, in homage to Joe Shuster's classic image.

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★ References in Superman Returns.

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★ A panel in Kingdom Come

Bibliography

★ ''Superman'' #1-423, #650- (Summer 1939 - Sept. 1986; May 2006- present)

★ ''Adventures of Superman'' #424-649 (Jan. 1987 - April 2006)

★ ''Superman (vol. 2)'', #1-226 (Jan. 1987 - Apr 2006)

See also

★ List of Superman comics

External Links

★ The Superman Database - Full list of every issue of “Superman” ever published. Also includes cover art, plot descriptions and more.