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Superman: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1
Classic Superman stories from the Silver Age are collected together in this brilliant hardcover omnibus!
Fans of the Man of Steel won't want to miss this stunning collection of some of the best tales of the 1950's and 1960's! The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 contains stories from Action Comics #241-265 and Superman #122-137.
Fans of the Man of Steel won't want to miss this stunning collection of some of the best tales of the 1950's and 1960's! The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 contains stories from Action Comics #241-265 and Superman #122-137.
816 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1960
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38 people want to read
About the author
Otto Binder
395 books15 followersOtto Oscar Binder. Used these alternate names: Eando Binder (together with his brother Earl Binder -E and O Binder-), John Coleridge, Gordon A. Giles, Will Garth, Ian Francis Turek, Ione Frances Turek and Otto O. Binder.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 26, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Batman: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 last month, so I decided to take a tumble on this companion volume. It marks the start of Mort Weisinger’s reign as Superman books editor and includes Action Comics #s 241 through 265, and Superman #s 122-157. It’s an important era for the character and Weisinger and his writers (mainly Jerry Siegel, Otto Binder, and Bill Finger) and artists (primarily Wayne Boring, but including Al Plastino and Curt Swan) start to set the table for the 1960s Superman. During that era, Curt Swan would replace Boring as the primary Superman artist (so volume 2 of this series should be the one I really want). To be honest, like the Batman book, a lot of these stories are just plain silly, definitely written for an 8 to 14-year-old audience. I’m not really a fan of either Boring or Plastino’s art, so the very few Dick Sprang and Curt Swan stories really stand out for me. I do have one major gripe with this otherwise-handsome volume, though: The reproduction is quite shoddy at times especially on the covers. They look like they were redrawn by someone on an hourly salary and a tight deadline. And again, the book’s spine design looks to be from a totally different designer than the rather pedestrian front and back covers. I’ll probably spring for another volume of this, maybe two … because they’ll be reprinting some of the books I fondly remember from my childhood.
May 8, 2024
The joy of having this collection is five stars but if I am to write a review of its contents I have to be honest and give it 3 stars. And that is even with me giving it the sliding scale for silver age material. The sliding scale is the understanding - these comics were written for a younger audience and do not have modern storytelling techniques or art. But even things written for children can be clever and fun so I don't excuse sloppy writing just because it is written for a younger audience.
What is good? A lot of the art is top notch. You have the staple of Superman artists: Wayne Boring (very distinct and rightfully ranked as one of the best Superman artists of all time - he especially excelled with alient landscapes like Krypton), Jim Mooney (one of least fav artists in the book - he is a good artist but he would be better suited for Archie than a super hero book IMO), Kurt Schaffenberger (he only does a few stories in this collection but he is one of my fav Superman artists of all time), Al Plastino (solid but not my fav) and Curt Swan (he doesn't do many stories in this collection but man...every story he does shows why he is considered by many to be THE BEST Superman artist of all time - I won't argue, even though I prefer Kurt). I will add, Curt seems to elevate the stories he draws with his superior storytelling techniques.
What else is good? A lot of FIRSTS. Seeing the first Fortress of Solitude (why doee the key to it change so much in the first years it is shown? Editors? Hello?), the first appearance of Brainiac (although Curt's cover version reflects how he would later be depicted much more than the interior art - and I forgot Brainiac first had a monkey!!), first Titano, first mermaid girlfriend Lori Lemaris (both of her appearances are great stories), first adult Bizarro, first Supergirl...and I am probably missing some. In short - since I love the history of comics I love seeing these first appearance stories.
So why the 3 stars? Well so many of the stories lack logic of any kind. Sure it was a blast reading them but I can't ignore some of the sloppy writing. I think the worst the multiple time Superman literally reveals he is Clark Kent only to have to go back on it. But Lois just saw that Clark looked exactly like Superman when he took off his glasses - how is she ignoring the fact they are twins?
There are plenty of other examples but one that stood out - because I liked the story in a weird way - was how there was a "Town that Hated Superman:". It is because the mayor made laws saying it was okay to attack Superman because HE hated Superman. First - what? Second - huh? Third - the reason he hated Superman because when he (the mayor) was in an orphanage, Superman (as a baby) got adopted before he did and also he felt the reason was because superbaby got him dirty before the parents saw him. Seeing him dirty made them pick the baby over him. However, it turns out..superbaby didn't get him dirty and the parents just wanted to adopt a baby and not an older child. Go figure. Why was that story so crazy (beyond what I just said) well.. how did the mayor even know superbaby was in the orphanage? And how did he even know what a superbaby was - it would be over a decade before Superboy appeared? And how did he get laws passed to attack Superman - mayors aren't elected for life? And why did everyone go along with it? And damn dude - get over it. Also - it was a baby who got you dirty and now you want to kill that grown up baby?! Psycho!
Okay - that is just one example but there are more than a few stories as badly constructed as that. I don't mind more simplistic tales but being that illogical is painful. Oh - I should also mention Superman never lets Supergirl reveal herself (because she is his secret weapon) but ...let's her fly around in a suit that looks like his? Um....riiight. Maybe just dress her as Wonder Woman instead and your secret is safe. Also - don't keep her secret at all - you weirdo. All I can say is - thank god for amnesia gas (don't ask).
Also - this was a time when the comics code watered down how violent comics could be so we sadly don't get a lot of good villains fighting Superman. Luthor barely appears and Brainiac only makes one appearance. That is why there are so many "Lois almost discovers Superman is Clark" stories.
Overall - super happy to have this collection and I do love it. A lot of fun stories in here. But for many - leave your sense of logic at the door.
What is good? A lot of the art is top notch. You have the staple of Superman artists: Wayne Boring (very distinct and rightfully ranked as one of the best Superman artists of all time - he especially excelled with alient landscapes like Krypton), Jim Mooney (one of least fav artists in the book - he is a good artist but he would be better suited for Archie than a super hero book IMO), Kurt Schaffenberger (he only does a few stories in this collection but he is one of my fav Superman artists of all time), Al Plastino (solid but not my fav) and Curt Swan (he doesn't do many stories in this collection but man...every story he does shows why he is considered by many to be THE BEST Superman artist of all time - I won't argue, even though I prefer Kurt). I will add, Curt seems to elevate the stories he draws with his superior storytelling techniques.
What else is good? A lot of FIRSTS. Seeing the first Fortress of Solitude (why doee the key to it change so much in the first years it is shown? Editors? Hello?), the first appearance of Brainiac (although Curt's cover version reflects how he would later be depicted much more than the interior art - and I forgot Brainiac first had a monkey!!), first Titano, first mermaid girlfriend Lori Lemaris (both of her appearances are great stories), first adult Bizarro, first Supergirl...and I am probably missing some. In short - since I love the history of comics I love seeing these first appearance stories.
So why the 3 stars? Well so many of the stories lack logic of any kind. Sure it was a blast reading them but I can't ignore some of the sloppy writing. I think the worst the multiple time Superman literally reveals he is Clark Kent only to have to go back on it. But Lois just saw that Clark looked exactly like Superman when he took off his glasses - how is she ignoring the fact they are twins?
There are plenty of other examples but one that stood out - because I liked the story in a weird way - was how there was a "Town that Hated Superman:". It is because the mayor made laws saying it was okay to attack Superman because HE hated Superman. First - what? Second - huh? Third - the reason he hated Superman because when he (the mayor) was in an orphanage, Superman (as a baby) got adopted before he did and also he felt the reason was because superbaby got him dirty before the parents saw him. Seeing him dirty made them pick the baby over him. However, it turns out..superbaby didn't get him dirty and the parents just wanted to adopt a baby and not an older child. Go figure. Why was that story so crazy (beyond what I just said) well.. how did the mayor even know superbaby was in the orphanage? And how did he even know what a superbaby was - it would be over a decade before Superboy appeared? And how did he get laws passed to attack Superman - mayors aren't elected for life? And why did everyone go along with it? And damn dude - get over it. Also - it was a baby who got you dirty and now you want to kill that grown up baby?! Psycho!
Okay - that is just one example but there are more than a few stories as badly constructed as that. I don't mind more simplistic tales but being that illogical is painful. Oh - I should also mention Superman never lets Supergirl reveal herself (because she is his secret weapon) but ...let's her fly around in a suit that looks like his? Um....riiight. Maybe just dress her as Wonder Woman instead and your secret is safe. Also - don't keep her secret at all - you weirdo. All I can say is - thank god for amnesia gas (don't ask).
Also - this was a time when the comics code watered down how violent comics could be so we sadly don't get a lot of good villains fighting Superman. Luthor barely appears and Brainiac only makes one appearance. That is why there are so many "Lois almost discovers Superman is Clark" stories.
Overall - super happy to have this collection and I do love it. A lot of fun stories in here. But for many - leave your sense of logic at the door.
February 5, 2025
I wanted to give this more stars, but whenever you do a complete run, you’re going to have a few clunkers. I just wish there weren’t so many. A couple of takeaways:
Wayne Boring is clearly the best Superman artist. His panels are filled with lots of detail.
Unfortunately, Jerry Siegel writes the worst stories here. And it took Al Plastino a while to get good.
These comics require a tolerance for supension of disbelief and plot contrivances. Too many robots! And Lois was fooled by kissing a robot Superman?
However, when the stories are good, they are good. I’m looking forward to other volumes. I’m happy to take the good with the bad.
Wayne Boring is clearly the best Superman artist. His panels are filled with lots of detail.
Unfortunately, Jerry Siegel writes the worst stories here. And it took Al Plastino a while to get good.
These comics require a tolerance for supension of disbelief and plot contrivances. Too many robots! And Lois was fooled by kissing a robot Superman?
However, when the stories are good, they are good. I’m looking forward to other volumes. I’m happy to take the good with the bad.
June 1, 2025
This was really fun to read. I love the pure imagination of the characters and stories and the introduction of so many iconic parts of Superman lore over such a short amount of time.
I also love that:
- Superman falls in love with a mermaid.
- Superman throws a giant gorilla back in time to the age of dinosaurs.
- Superman dresses up as a gorilla in a zoo and fights another gorilla
- Batman pranks Superman by breaking into the fortress of Solitude.
A few too many silly stories to rate any higher but fully appreciate this was written a long time ago largely for children so totally forgive it.
I also love that:
- Superman falls in love with a mermaid.
- Superman throws a giant gorilla back in time to the age of dinosaurs.
- Superman dresses up as a gorilla in a zoo and fights another gorilla
- Batman pranks Superman by breaking into the fortress of Solitude.
A few too many silly stories to rate any higher but fully appreciate this was written a long time ago largely for children so totally forgive it.
August 7, 2025
Yeah, the stories are for kids and some don't age especially well, and there are a bizarre number of super-dickery moments, but so much foundational Superman mythos is introduced in these pages, which makes it a fun book for me to see where the Fortress, or Supergirl (oh, and amnesia gas!!), or Brainiac, or Kandor come from. And how they've evolved over the years.
November 16, 2025
Another YMMV review. Some wonderful stuff (Bizarro, Brainiac), some stories that are striking (Super-Menace, the first of many evil counterpart Supermen), some that are pleasant fluff, some that are painfully sexist or have howling gaps in logic. Like much Silver Age stuff, there's no guarantee it'll work for you, but if it does, this book is a lot of fun.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews