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
Jerome "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.
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
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.
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."
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).
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.