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Showcase Presents: Superman #3
Showcase Presents: Superman, Vol. 3
A value-priced collection of more than 500 black and white pages of classic comics stories from the 1960s starring the Man of Steel--Superman This amazing collection includes appearances by Supergirl and Krypto and a retelling of Superman's origin, plus threats from Lex Luthor, Brainiac, the Legion of Super-Villa and the fifth dimensional imp known as Mr. Mxyzptlk
556 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2007
About the author
Jerry Siegel
636 books88 followersJerome "Jerry" Siegel, who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S. Fine, was the American co-creator of Superman (along with Joe Shuster), the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable icons of the 20th century.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 25, 2022
I love the old superman comics for their straight forward view of the world nice good vs evil and no murky ideals that the hero has to ponder. Fun reads. Recommended
July 9, 2026
It's interesting to note how the tone of these stories has subtly shifted since the late 50's tales from the beginning of volume 1. There's a bit more continuity. Reoccurring characters don't just show up with no explanation, but get a brief summary of their previous appearance. We start to get more of Curt Swan on the art.
One of the high points of this volume is probably the classic three-part tale, “The Death of Superman.” (Superman #149, Nov. 1961) Thankfully, an Imaginary Tale, this story manages to convey an appropriate air of grandeur and pathos, and remains memorable long after it's finished. Compare and contrast that with the similar “The Last Days of Superman” (Superman #156, Oct. 1962) published just under a year later, which tries for the same tone, but falls short. It's more convoluted, and, worse, is actual canon, so of course many things need to be undone by its conclusion.
As a fan of the Legion of Super Heroes, I was pleased to see some early tales featuring them. I was even more surprised to read several stories in which they figure that I had never seen before. Usually, Legion reprints include what I had thought to be all of their appearances prior to the beginning of their run in Adventure Comics. But, clearly, that's not the case. Granted, these are mostly ephemera: more appearances of the adult Legion, a couple of Durlans show up in one story as the bad guys, things like that. Still, I'm happy to have read them.
I liked the story of the IRS agent going after Superman for back taxes. It was a fun concept, and a decent example of how much fun early 60's DC could be.
About three quarters of the way through the book, there was a line about Kryptonite describing it as a “rare mineral” or something similar. And I had to laugh, because most of the stories in this book make use of it as a plot point. The universe, it seems, is full of Kryptonite meteors of all colors of the rainbow, and just about everyone on Earth has no trouble finding some whenever they want.
This also seems to be the point where the Superman and Action Comics writers discovered Red Kryptonite, and it feels as though they use it in Every. Single. Story.
Flawed though some of them may be, these are still some fun stories (except for the ones where Lois and/or Lana scheme to date/marry Superman. Those have really not aged well.) Recommended!
One of the high points of this volume is probably the classic three-part tale, “The Death of Superman.” (Superman #149, Nov. 1961) Thankfully, an Imaginary Tale, this story manages to convey an appropriate air of grandeur and pathos, and remains memorable long after it's finished. Compare and contrast that with the similar “The Last Days of Superman” (Superman #156, Oct. 1962) published just under a year later, which tries for the same tone, but falls short. It's more convoluted, and, worse, is actual canon, so of course many things need to be undone by its conclusion.
As a fan of the Legion of Super Heroes, I was pleased to see some early tales featuring them. I was even more surprised to read several stories in which they figure that I had never seen before. Usually, Legion reprints include what I had thought to be all of their appearances prior to the beginning of their run in Adventure Comics. But, clearly, that's not the case. Granted, these are mostly ephemera: more appearances of the adult Legion, a couple of Durlans show up in one story as the bad guys, things like that. Still, I'm happy to have read them.
I liked the story of the IRS agent going after Superman for back taxes. It was a fun concept, and a decent example of how much fun early 60's DC could be.
About three quarters of the way through the book, there was a line about Kryptonite describing it as a “rare mineral” or something similar. And I had to laugh, because most of the stories in this book make use of it as a plot point. The universe, it seems, is full of Kryptonite meteors of all colors of the rainbow, and just about everyone on Earth has no trouble finding some whenever they want.
This also seems to be the point where the Superman and Action Comics writers discovered Red Kryptonite, and it feels as though they use it in Every. Single. Story.
Flawed though some of them may be, these are still some fun stories (except for the ones where Lois and/or Lana scheme to date/marry Superman. Those have really not aged well.) Recommended!
September 10, 2024
More Silver Age Superman. These are almost all shorter, anthology style one shots although there are a few multi-parters as well. These comics obviously feel a little dated with simplistic and sometimes silly premises, but they are a sign of the times and it's interesting to see the origins of some of the mythology and characters. The art was still well done, even if some the stories were ridiculous. But as any Silver Age fan will tell you, that's part of the charm.
March 26, 2018
Good thing I like this character. My fondness makes it possible to laugh at the ludicrousness of the stories without leaving completely insulted. Because the stories are bad. Amusing, but bad. They are starting to bulk of the rogues in this volume, with less silly gangster-puzzle stories, but there's way too much Kandor, Krypto and Supergirl. Superman's more franchise than character in some of the stories.
Still, Jerry Siegel's original "Death of Superman" is a pretty good yarn, as is Ed Hamilton's "Superman's Last Day of Life." The former is an "imaginary story," and Superman really is killed. The second has a slightly goofy ending, but the story up to that point is incredible. They also use Luthor, Brainiac and the Legion of Super-Villains repeatedly to give Superman some marginally decent threats.
That said, Superman brings Hercules and Samson from the past to date Lois and Lana, and the ladies become massive 50s marriage, super-shopping, irresponsible stereotypes. It's pretty embarrassing. So is the flashback story "Superbaby captures the Pumpkin Gang."
Still, Jerry Siegel's original "Death of Superman" is a pretty good yarn, as is Ed Hamilton's "Superman's Last Day of Life." The former is an "imaginary story," and Superman really is killed. The second has a slightly goofy ending, but the story up to that point is incredible. They also use Luthor, Brainiac and the Legion of Super-Villains repeatedly to give Superman some marginally decent threats.
That said, Superman brings Hercules and Samson from the past to date Lois and Lana, and the ladies become massive 50s marriage, super-shopping, irresponsible stereotypes. It's pretty embarrassing. So is the flashback story "Superbaby captures the Pumpkin Gang."
November 24, 2017
Simpler stories for simpler times... nice to reminisce.
July 30, 2018
A great collection of early 60's silver age Superman stories from the Superman and Action Comics magazines.
December 5, 2018
Most were cheesy and too over the top.
June 2, 2013
Like all 60's DC Comics, Superman was a struggling bunch of one shot goofball stories. They always wrap up in one issue, they always leave everyone intact, they always suck.
There are some interesting spots in here. I lot Kurt Schaffenberger's goofy art that looks much more appealing than Curt Swan's pseudo-realistic muck. But Kurt and also good Al Plastino draw less than Swan.
I wish the goofiness in this, as bad as it was, was more severe. It'd be fun to read a story where Superman loses all his powers and the moon turns pink, etc. More often, so much of the universe is so static. Perry White has to be talking to Jimmy and Lois about a scoop, Lois needs Superman's love, doesn't get it, etc. Pure repetitive drivel.
An improvement over the Vol. 2, hope it gets better in the last (as in currently published) volume 4 of Supes (I doubt it).
There are some interesting spots in here. I lot Kurt Schaffenberger's goofy art that looks much more appealing than Curt Swan's pseudo-realistic muck. But Kurt and also good Al Plastino draw less than Swan.
I wish the goofiness in this, as bad as it was, was more severe. It'd be fun to read a story where Superman loses all his powers and the moon turns pink, etc. More often, so much of the universe is so static. Perry White has to be talking to Jimmy and Lois about a scoop, Lois needs Superman's love, doesn't get it, etc. Pure repetitive drivel.
An improvement over the Vol. 2, hope it gets better in the last (as in currently published) volume 4 of Supes (I doubt it).
July 24, 2011
More 60's Superman fun, with Lois Lane and Lana Lang engaged to Hercules and Samson, though the girls drive the heroes away with their "feminine" behavior! But there's also a turn in this collection, with a couple stories more serious, like the one where Superman is made a blind, powerless slave on an alien world.
September 14, 2012
I think I got a bit bored of this one and didn't read all of it but what I did read was OK.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews