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Adventures of Superboy Vol. 1
Set in Superboy’s Kansas hometown of Smallville, these stories taught the future Man of Steel responsibility as he learned to deal with problems of every sort in the post-World War II midwest.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1947
About the author
Don Cameron
223 books1 followerDonald Clough Cameron was a Golden Age comic book writer.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 14, 2018
This book collects Superboy's earliest comic appearances from 1945-47 in 8-11 page stories in More Fun Comics 101-107 and then Adventure Comics 103-121.
The comics are fun stories, most of which are less about crimefighting and more about Superboy's efforts to help others, in particular kids. Superboy is very much a selfless role model In one story, he ensures no one will show up for Clark Kent's birthday by ensuring a big party is thrown for a girl at school whose dad's been subject to nasty rumor. In another story, Superboy helps a blind boy avoid being chiseled by a couple crooked toymakers.
The stories also teach morals, one teaches kids about the pitfalls of games of chance, another features a man who denies the wisdom of old proverbs and pays the price for it.
There are some things you can complain about. The book often messes with continuity. It has Superboy being raised in Metropolis. In one story, it's acknowledged to be set in the post-World War II even though Superboy should be about 20 years in the past, and the one story where Superboy helps out a know it all kid is a bit too silly even for this book.
Still, I think it works. It's not meant to be earth-shaking stuff. It was a comic to capture kid's imaginations, have fun, and teach some good morals. Superboy does that in these early stories and only regret that DC hasn't published more of them.
The comics are fun stories, most of which are less about crimefighting and more about Superboy's efforts to help others, in particular kids. Superboy is very much a selfless role model In one story, he ensures no one will show up for Clark Kent's birthday by ensuring a big party is thrown for a girl at school whose dad's been subject to nasty rumor. In another story, Superboy helps a blind boy avoid being chiseled by a couple crooked toymakers.
The stories also teach morals, one teaches kids about the pitfalls of games of chance, another features a man who denies the wisdom of old proverbs and pays the price for it.
There are some things you can complain about. The book often messes with continuity. It has Superboy being raised in Metropolis. In one story, it's acknowledged to be set in the post-World War II even though Superboy should be about 20 years in the past, and the one story where Superboy helps out a know it all kid is a bit too silly even for this book.
Still, I think it works. It's not meant to be earth-shaking stuff. It was a comic to capture kid's imaginations, have fun, and teach some good morals. Superboy does that in these early stories and only regret that DC hasn't published more of them.
August 17, 2015
Fun bit of fluffy comic book history.
The very first Superboy stories, most done by Seigel and Shuster.
Very formulaic boys own adventure stories, usually with some moral message.
Very few super villains and the only references to what's to come are a few visits to Metropolis and an appearance by a young reporter Perry White.
Nothing earth shaking, just a fun time waster.
Great cover though.
The very first Superboy stories, most done by Seigel and Shuster.
Very formulaic boys own adventure stories, usually with some moral message.
Very few super villains and the only references to what's to come are a few visits to Metropolis and an appearance by a young reporter Perry White.
Nothing earth shaking, just a fun time waster.
Great cover though.
January 13, 2023
Three stars for more the historical appeal vs. actual enjoyment. I've always been aa sucker for vintage Superboy, but this was a little too set in the Golden Age. Things picked up when we switched from More Fun Comics to the Adventure Comics, era but the stories never rose past cute.
We talked classic Superboy in this episode of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://previously-on-x-men.libsyn.co...
We talked classic Superboy in this episode of Comic Book Coffee Break: https://previously-on-x-men.libsyn.co...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews