Superboy
NOTE: Many thanks to Murray Ward, Mark Waid, and Mike Tiefenbacher for providing materials for this index.
More Fun Comics No. 101
January-February 1945
Story: “Superboy” (6 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Joe Shuster
Intro and origin: Superboy (Clark Kent of Earth-One; first appearance;
chronologically earlier appearances below)
Intro: Jor-El and Lara Jor-El (of Krypton-One; first appearance; chronologically
earlier appearances below)
Intro: Kryptonians of the Earth-One universe (most die in this story),
the Science Council of Krypton (die in this story; see Comment for chronology)
Intro: Jonathan and Martha Kent (of Earth-One; see Comment for chronology)
Intro: People of Smallville
Comments: This is the first Earth-One story in DC Comics, since Superman
of Earth-Two never had a Superboy career. Clark Kent is eight years
of age when he becomes Superboy.
However, it is obvious from later stories that more than one
Superboy is chronicled in the Superboy adventures. Most Superboy
stories from this point up to SUPERBOY #171 (January 1971) are set in the
1930's, before Superman’s first appearance in ACTION COMICS #1 (May 1938).
After SUPERBOY #171, the stories’ setting switches to the Fifties, with
the final Superboy stories set in the late 1960's.
Most such references can be chalked up to topicality. But
in some cases, appearances of Thirties personages such as Roosevelt, Hitler,
Stalin, and others in pivotal roles militate against merely switching the
time-setting to a different era. Thus, there had to be an Earth-One
in which Superboy did exist in the 1930's, and became Superman in the 1940's.
Also, many early Superboy / Superman stories are rewritten later to become
“parallel” adventures.
In our belief, many stories in this vein have to be set on “Earth-B”,
a world in which Batman also functioned in World War II on Earth-One (BRAVE
AND THE BOLD #84).
It is possible that, since Superboy adventures are recorded from
1945 through 1984, from Superboy’s eighth through eighteenth years of age,
four years of comic book adventures may equal one year of Superboy’s life;
i.e., the years from 1945-1948 may cover Superboy’s eighth year of age.
However, this is not demonstrable.
Since many stories in the Superboy / Superman canon have been
told which fill in details of Superboy’s early life, from birth thru infancy
on Krypton thru landing on Earth thru toddlerhood, early school days, and
later life, we break down this story into various chronological chunks.
When only a comic title and issue number are cited, this means that the
appearance is essentially the same as the last described event.
The Sword of Superman is formed after Creation (SUPERMAN ANNUAL
#10, pg. 4, panel 2-pg. 5, panel 4)
The creation of Krypton’s red sun, and then Krypton, by the
Sun-Thrivers (SUPERMAN #255 (1), pg. 9, panel 1-pg. 10, panel 1)
1) Existence of Krypton (pgs. 1-2 panel 2)
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 3, panels 1-4
Kryp and Tonn, two space explorers, land on ancient Krypton
and become the progenitors of the Kryptonian people (SUPERMAN #238 (2)).
Hex-Le and Kya-Ta find a way to make Krypton rotate (SUPERMAN
#260 (2)).
Sometime in the past, Rik-Ar overthrows a tyrant with slings
made of headbands, which causes Kryptonian men to wear headbands in his
honor thereafter (SUPERMAN #264 (2)).
In ancient times, the swordswoman Vanaria loses her enchanted
sword to Jaxon the Lash by trickery (SUPERMAN #271 (2))
At an undetermined time in the past, Krypton is invaded by winged
aliens (SUPERMAN #251 (2), pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 8, panel 3).
At an undetermined time in the past, Lok-Nor saves Krypton from
aliens, then, three generations later, saves them from a Yion-cloud (SUPERMAN
#356 (2)).
Sometime in the past, Vol-Tir creates a serum that dampens destructive
energy in a Kryptonian’s body, but makes him cry on every sixth birthday
(SUPERMAN #263 (2), pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 8, panel 4).
“Millions” (?) of years in the past, a nuclear disaster kills
thousands of Kryptonians, scientific research is outlawed, Zat-El (a possible
ancestor of Superman) and a band of scientists reach Earth under a red
sun with the help of the Legion of Super-Heroes and fight Atlantean colonists,
but are eventually killed by dinosaurs (ADVENTURE COMICS #333)
10,000 years ago, Krypton gets a space-probe sent from Atlantis
on Earth (SUPERMAN #266 (2)).
At approximately the same time, Erok conquers an empire with
a strength potion and an army, becomes ruler of the nation of Urrika, marries
Milia, fathers Kal-El the first, and invents the system of family names
on Krypton, dubbing himself Erok-El, or “Erok of the Star” (KRYPTON CHRONICLES
#3, pg. 20, panels 2-4, pg. 21, panel 1-pg. 24, panel 2)
Four generations later, Jaf-El, prophet of Rao, predicts the
great Kryptonian flood, from which he and several other Kryptonians are
saved by Winged Ones (KRYPTON CHRONICLES #3, pg. 10, panel 2-pg. 11, panel
2, 4-5, pg. 12, panel 1-pg. 13, panel 1, 3-pg. 17, panel 4)
A few generations afterward, inventor Kil-Gor perfects a sand-timer
to allow Kryptonians to safely gather algae for food, and Bur-El demonstrates
its worth, after which the latter marries Wedna, Kil-Gor’s daughter (SUPERMAN
#268 (2), pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 6, panel 3 / KRYPTON CHRONICLES #3, pg. 4,
panels 1, 3-4, page 5, panels 2-6, page 6, panels 2-5, page 7, panels 2-5,
pg. 8, panel 1-pg. 9, panels 1, 3)
Generations later, Val-El reads Bur-El’s chronicles of Kil-Gor’s
achievements, makes use of a compass Kil-Gor invented, and discovers Vathlo
Island and the continent of Lurvan, on the latter of which he and his crew
found Argo City. Mutineers from his crew found the pirate isle of
Bokos, and Val-El later disappears in the valley of Juru (KRYPTON CHRONICLES
#2, pg. 17, panel 3-pg. 22, panels 3, 5).
4000 years before Krypton’s destruction, Jo-Mon is killed and
Al-Nei is overthrown, bringing an era of peace for Krypton (SUPERMAN FAMILY
#182 (4)).
About 3170 years before its destruction, Sul-El, a descendant
of Val-El, uses Kil-Gor’s lens theories to invent the first telescope,
and tries in vain to warn Krypton of the Vrang invasion (KRYPTON CHRONICLES
#2, pg. 11, panel 1-pg. 16, panel 1)
3168 years before Krypton’s destruction, Val-Lor defies the
Vrangs, is killed for speaking honesty, and inspires Sul-El’s son Hatu-El
and other slaves to revolt against their oppressors, after which they institute
the Day of Truth (KRYPTON CHRONICLES #2, pg. 4, panel 1-pg. 9, panel 4)
Sometime in the past, Kar-Lu drops out of citizen training,
and learns it was the wrong decision (SUPERMAN #352 (2)).
At an undetermined time in the past, a nuclear bomb in the Xan
/ Erkol war produces mutant children who found Kryptonopolis after the
destruction of Erkol (SUPERMAN #248 (2)).
At least 2000 years before its destruction, inventor Dol-Nd
creates artificial wings that result in the death-trails of Troilus (SUPERMAN
#243 (2)).
“Centuries ago” in Argo City, the Machine-King, a computer,
establishes a brief tyranny (SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #69 (1), pg. 3,
panels 2-5)
“Long ago”, Skal-Var sacrifices his life to save Krypton from
a comet (SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #69 (1), pg. 5, panel 5-pg. 6, panel
2)
“Many years” before Krypton’s explosion, Jor-Dan shrinks the
Crystal People of Fire Valley and places them in a bottle in Kandor (SUPERMAN’S
PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #69 (1), pg. 12, panels 1-3)
500 years before Krypton’s destruction, Nam-Ek makes himself
immortal by a serum derived from Rondor horns (SUPERMAN #282 (2), pg. 1,
panel 4-pg. 3, panel 9)
Sometime in the past, Dakar-Ra mounts a Winged One to warn Krypton
of alien invaders (SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #69 (1), pg. 14, panel 2-pg.
15, panel 1)
Wir-El, father of Shu-El, is a pioneering sound recording engineer
(KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1, pg. 24, panel 5)
Shu-El, father of Fedra and Thar-El, is a computer scientist
(KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1, pg. 24, panel 4)
Fedra Shu-El sets up Kandor’s first Science Council, and her
brother, Thar-El, father of Plen-El, reforms Krypton’s trial system (KRYPTON
CHRONICLES #1, pg. 24, panels 2-3)
Plen-El, father of Nox-El, becomes a novelist (KRYPTON CHRONICLES
#1, pg. 24, panel 1)
Nox-El, father of Fil-El, becomes a musician and entertainer
(KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1, pg. 23, panel 3)
Fil-El, father of Sorn-El, pioneers new methods of surgery (KRYPTON
CHRONICLES #1, pg. 23, panel 3)
Sorn-El, father of Im-El, creates new strains of grain to eliminate
food shortages on Krypton (KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1, pg. 23, panel 3)
Im-El, father of Yu-El and Pir-El, experiments with atomic energy
(KRYPTON CHRONICLES #1, pg. 23, panel 2)
Some years before Krypton’s planetary union, Val-Mer discovers
the star-stone (SUPERMAN #360 (2)).
154 years before Krypton’s destruction, the last great war on
Krypton is fought between the Kandor-Kryptonopolis and Erkol-Urrika federations,
during which General Pir-El saves Kandor and stops the war (KRYPTON CHRONICLES
#1, pg. 17, panel 3-pg. 22, panel 3)
148 years before Krypton’s destruction, Tala-El, father of Gam-El
and Pym-El, writes Krypton’s first planetary constitution, after
fixing a decision process with some advice from his uncle Yu-El (KRYPTON
CHRONICLES #1, pg. 14, panel 2-pg. 16, panel 5)
127 years before Krypton’s destruction, Gam-El rebuilds Kryptonopolis
with some help from his brother Pym-El, a detective (KRYPTON CHRONICLES
#1, pg. 10, panel 3-pg. 13, panel 1)
About 75 years before Krypton’s destruction, Var-El, father
of Jor-El I, Kalya Var-El, and Zim-El, goes to Earth to conduct energy
experiments, and learns of the great powers a Kryptonian gains under a
yellow sun and low gravity (DC COMICS PRESENTS #37, pg. 7, panels 2-9).
He learns of Krypton’s future destruction from a time-travelling Prof.
Alpheus V. Hyatt, Superman, and the Atom, and is taken to 1982 by
Prof. Hyatt (DC COMICS PRESENTS #51). (Two years after that, Var-El dies
(DC COMICS PRESENTS #74).)
At least fifty years before Krypton’s destruction, Judiciator
Dug-Les rules against the death penalty (SUPERMAN #251 (2), pg. 1, panels
1-4, pg. 8, panels 4-5)
Nam-Ek begins searching for a way to remove his Rondor-horn
immortality (SUPERMAN #282 (2), pg. 4, panels 1-3)
20 years before Krypton’s destruction, Dr. Mo-De warns the people
of Surrus of impending disaster, but is disregarded (SUPERMAN #236 (2)).
Jor-El I briefly comes to Earth in a rocket ship of his own
design, shortly after the births of his sons, Jor-El II and Nim-El (SUPERMAN
#103 (1)).
Jor-El and his twin brother Nim-El are taken by their father,
Jor-El I, to Kandor, where they meet Director Ven and begin their education
(WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 4, panel 6).
Jor-El continues his education for the next four years (WORLD
OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 5, panel 1)
Kru-El, Jor-El’s cousin, plays a prank on him (WORLD OF KRYPTON
#1, pg. 5, panels 2-4)
Jor-El messes up an experiment of his uncle Zim-El’s, learns
the story of Kil-Gor, and makes a discovery that will lead him to the invention
of an anti-gravity engine (SUPERMAN #268 (2), pg.1, pg. 6, panels 4-6).
Jor-El works out, continues his education, and makes friends,
among them Kim-Da (WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 5, panels 5-7)
A teenage Jor-El travels thru space and time to meet Superboy
(SUPERBOY #121 (2))
Probably somewhere in this time period, Ca-Rox saves Kryptonians
from the Fire Falls by magic (SUPERMAN #279 (2), pg. 1, panel 4-pg. 6,
panel 2)
Jor-El, Kim-Da, Ral-En, Nor-Kann and others form an intellectual
clique (WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 6, panels 1-3)
Jor-El graduates from the Memory Center, goes to work for the
Space Center at Kryptonopolis, meets General Zod, Ken-Dal, and Lara Lor-Van,
and designs an anti-gravity drive for a spaceship. Lara stows away
on the spaceship and crash-lands on Wegthor. Jor-El stows away on
another rocket and saves her (SUPERMAN #233 (2))
WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 6, panel 4-pg. 14, panel 7
Jor-El and Nim-El capture Roz-Em (ADVENTURE COMICS #304, pg.
11, panels 1-3)
Jor-El and Lara meet Superman and Batman on Krypton, and get
the latter to abduct Calox from Bokos for them (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #191,
pg. 4 panel 4-pg. 20, panel 3).
Jor-El devises a suspended animation space capsule to be used
on criminals, which criminal leader Tron-Et tries to sabotage (SUPERMAN
#234 (2)).
WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 15, panel 1-3, pg. 17, panel 5-pg.
18, panel 6, pg. 19, panel 7-pg. 20, panel 6
At the same time, Jor-El and Lara apply to Matricomp for a marriage
license, are turned down deliberately when the computer falls in love with
Lara, and encounter an android manufactured by Matricomp to become Lara’s
“fiancé” (SUPERMAN #246 (2))
WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 16, panels 1-6, pg. 17, panels 3-4,
pg. 19, panels 1-6, page 21, panel 1-pg. 22, panel 7
Jor-El patents a land vehicle which becomes known as the “Jor-El”,
and earns the wrath of Zell-Ex, who thinks Jor has stolen his design (SUPERMAN
#134, pg. 14 panel 2-pg. 16 panel 1)
Jor-El, Lara, and Superman have an adventure together against
Kil-Lor, after which Jor-El proposes marriage to Lara (SUPERMAN #123, pg.
18, panel 5-pg. 26, pg. 4).
Jor-El meets Ser-Ze, whose process of making living metal prostheses
turns the beneficiaries into rampaging Commensals (SUPERMAN #328, pg. 12,
panel 2-pg. 13, panel 2)
General Zod stops Zo-Mar’s enslavement of Kryptonians, and Jor-El
sends Zo-Mar into space in a punishment capsule (DC COMICS PRESENTS #84,
pg. 11)
Superman is thrown back in time and space to Krypton, meets
actress Lyla Lerrol, and attends his parents’ wedding (SUPERMAN #141, pg.
3, panel 1-pg. 6, panel 6)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #1, pg. 23, panels 1-4
Shortly after their marriage, Jor-El and Lara are observed by
the Guardians of the Universe (SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 2, panel 4)
The Guardians of the Universe assign Tomar-Re, Green Lantern
of Krypton’s space-sector, to gather enough stellarium to neutralize Krypton’s
uranium core in order to delay its explosion. (This apparently takes
several years, but does succeed, though Black Zero later causes the reaction
to resume.) (SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 2, panels 1-3, 5-pg. 3, panel
7)
Jor-El accidentally disintegrates a criminal with an early version
of the Phantom Zone ray, and learns (though he disbelieves it) that Kandor
will someday be shrunk and placed in a bottle (SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND,
LOIS LANE #87, pg. 11, panel 6-pg. 12, panel 1)
Superman gets a job as Jor-El’s assistant and continues his
romance with Lyla Lerrol (SUPERMAN #141, pg. 7, panel 1-pg. 14, panel 5)
Jor-El I suffers the accident that leaves him in coma, and Jor-El,
Lara, and Superman are at his bedside (WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 1, panel
4-pg. 4, panel 6)
Jor-El tells his friend Thal-Arn that he is going to investigate
the reasons for Krypton’s recent earthquakes (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #146,
pg. 5, panel 6)
Shortly before the 10,000th anniversary of Krypton’s civilization,
Jor-El discovers evidence that Krypton’s uranium core may cause the planet
to explode (ACTION COMICS #216, pg. 11, panel 6)
ACTION COMICS #223, pg. 4, panel 5-pg. 5, panel 4
Jor-El tells Lara of the danger of Krypton’s destruction (WORLD’S
FINEST COMICS #146, pg. 7, panel 1)
Jor-El tells Superman of his suspicions about Krypton’s impending
doom, and Superman helps Jonathan Kent win Martha Hudson Clark for his
bride (SUPERMAN #141, pg. 15, panel 1-pg. 17, panel 3)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 5, panels 1-3
Jor-El creates a robot and mechanical war-weapons to try and
convince a Kryptonian nation not to make war (ACTION COMICS #216, pg. 11,
panels 2-5)
Jor-El reveals his fears of Krypton’s doom to his younger brother,
Zor-El (SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 4, panel 3)
Jor-El reveals his fears of Krypton’s doom to Nim-El, Nor-Kann,
Kimda, and several others (WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 5, panel 4-pg. 6, panel
6)
Jor-El makes his first speech to the Science Council about Krypton’s
possible destruction (ACTION COMICS #223, pg. 5, panels 5-6)
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 3, panel 5-pg. 4, panel 2
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 7, panels 1-3
SUPERMAN #189, pg. 10, panel 4
Shir Kan hears Jor-El’s speech and decides to begin his own
rocket project (ACTION COMICS #218, pg. 6, panels 1-2)
Superman and Jor-El begin work on the Space Ark (SUPERMAN #141,
pg. 17, panel 4-pg. 18, panel 1)
Others join Jor-El in the Space Ark project (WORLD OF KRYPTON
#2, pg. 8, panels 1-2)
Jor-El witnesses his father’s death (WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg.
8, panel 3-pg. 9, panel 6)
Jor-El and Superman fail to find the Krull spaceship at the
southern polar cap of Krypton (WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 10, panels 1-2)
Jor-El, Lara, and Superman attend Jor-El I’s funeral (WORLD
OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 9, panels 3-4)
Just as people of Kandor are entering the Space Ark, Brainiac
steals and miniaturizes the city and places it in a bottle (SUPERMAN #134,
pg. 16, panel 2)
SUPERMAN #141, pg. 18, panels 2-6
SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 4, panels 1, 2
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 10, panel 5-pg. 11, panel 5
Superman and Lyla Lerrol plan to wed, but before they can, he
is sent away from Krypton in a rocket accident, regains his powers under
a yellow sun, and returns to Earth in his normal era (SUPERMAN #141, pg.
19, panel 1-pg. 26, panel 3)
Jor-El learns from Lara that she is pregnant (WORLD OF KRYPTON
#2, pg. 12, panels 1-4)
Jor-El decides to search for another planet to which Kryptonians
can relocate (ACTION COMICS #223, pg. 6, panel 1)
The Science Council votes funds for Jor-El’s research (WORLD
OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 13, panel 4)
Rol-Nac, a space wanderer, saves Jor-El and Lara from an errant
experimental rocket (ACTION COMICS #378, pg. 13, panel 5-pg. 14, panel
1)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 12, panel 5-pg. 13, panel 2
Kal-El is born to Lara and Jor-El on 35 Eorx, 9998 (ACTION COMICS
#223, pg. 6, panels 2-3) NOTE: This date is established as February 29th.
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 13, panel 3
Jor-El and Lara discuss Kal-El’s name, which is Kryptonian for
“Star Child”, and Jor-El swears that his son will survive Krypton’s destruction
(SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 3, panels 3-4)
Kal-El undergoes his christening ceremony, with Jor-El and Lara
present, and Rol-Nac named his godfather (ACTION COMICS #378, pg. 14, panel
2)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 13, panels 4-5
Jor-El once again speaks to the Science Council about Krypton’s
impending doom, is rebuffed, and tells them he will begin work on a rocket
to save his family (SUPERMAN #100 (3), pg. 2, panels 2-4)
Jor-El considers Earth as a site for relocation, makes an Earth-simulation
site, and learns that Kryptonians would gain super-powers there.
Khai-Zor and Val-Arn formulate a plan to go to Earth and tyrannize it with
their powers, but Jor-El captures them (ACTION COMICS #223, pg. 6, panel
5-pg. 12, panel 1). NOTE: Though the 10,000th Anniversary of Kryptonian
civilization is celebrated in this story, Kal-El’s status as a babe-in-arms
demonstrates that it takes place shortly after his birth. The anniversary
celebrations probably began at least two years before the actual event.
Jor-El creates a robot named Metalman and uses him in an experimental
rocket flight that goes wrong, shortly after Kal-El’s birth (ADVENTURE
COMICS #276, pg. 6, panels 1-4)
Jor-El tells Lara of the defeat of Zo-Mar (DC COMICS PRESENTS
#84, pg. 10, panel 7)
Jor-El saves Krypton from the Vergoans (SUPERMAN #113, pg. 3,
panel 5-pg. 18, panel 6 passim)
Jor-El begins experiments that lead to the discovery of the
Phantom Zone (WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 13, panel 6)
Jor-El invents the Phantom Zone ray, is elected to the Science
Council, and defeats Gra-Mo and his gang (SUPERBOY #104, pg. 1-pg. 12,
panel 3)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 14, panel 1-pg. 16, panel 1
Ner-Gal possesses the body of Kal-El and tries to make him kill
Jor-El (SUPERMAN #286 (2), pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 6, panel 4)
When Kal-El is “just a babe”, Jor-El and the Science Council
exile Klax-Ar (SUPERBOY #67 (3), pg. 3, panel 1)
Kal-El, with Krypto, plays with an image toy given him by Jor-El
(DC COMICS PRESENTS #67, pg. 12, panel 2)
Jor-El and Lara buy Kal-El several toys (ADVENTURE COMICS #243,
pg. 4, panels 3-6, pg. 6, panels 1-2, pg. 7 panel 6-pg. 8 panel 1, pg.
9 panels 3-4)
Jor-El, Mar-Ko, and Lara find the Krull spaceship in Krypton’s
antarctic region (WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 16, panel 2-pg. 18, panel 4)
Jax-Ur makes a test launching of an atomic missile, which Jor-El’s
Krull rocket accidentally knocks awry, causing it to veer off and destroy
Wegthor, an inhabited moon of Krypton; the Krull spaceship is ultimately
destroyed, and Jax-Ur is tried and convicted of mass murder (WORLD OF KRYPTON
#2, pg. 19, panel 1-pg. 23, panel 3)
Jor-El exiles Jax-Ur to the Phantom Zone (SUPERBOY #117 (2),
pg. 2, panel 6-pg. 3, panel 1)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #2, pg. 23, panel 4
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 1, panel 4-pg. 2, panel 3
The Science Council bans space travel, with Jor-El as sole dissenter
(WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 2, panel 3-pg. 4, panel 5)
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 9, panel 1-pg. 10, panel1
Jor-El leaves the Council meeting, downcast (WORLD OF KRYPTON
#2, pg. 23, panels 5-6)
A reporter covers Jor-El’s meeting with the Science Council,
discovers Par-Es spying on Jor-El on behalf of Fel-Kar, and decides to
spy on both of them (SUPERMAN #375 (2), pgs. 1-3)
Jor-El returns to Kal-El and Lara after a Kryptonquake takes
place, and vows that his wife and son will survive (ACTION COMICS #500,
pg. 7, panel 2-pg. 8, panel 5, pg. 10, panel 3)
Jor-El detects an ancient Krull spaceship engine falling towards
Krypton, as he is placed under surveillance (WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 5,
panel 1-pg. 6, panel 3)
Dr. Xadu is sentenced to the Phantom Zone for conducting suspended
animation experiments (ADVENTURE COMICS #283, pg. 8, panel 5-pg. 9, panel
4)
Jax-Ur, Dr. Xadu, and Prof. Vakox meet in the Phantom Zone (SUPERBOY
#104, pg. 12, panel 4)
Jor-El exiles an unidentified prisoner to the Phantom Zone (ACTION
COMICS #500, pg. 30, panel 2)
Jor-El exiles Cha-Mel to the Phantom Zone after a burglary attempt
(SUPERBOY #162, pg. 9, panels 4-5)
Jor-El overthrows Ral-En’s and Mag-En’s brief tyrannic rule
of Krypton (SUPERMAN #154 (2), pg. 7, panels 1-5, pg. 8, panel 1-pg. 11,
panel 2)
Jor-El exiles Quex-Ul to the Phantom Zone (SUPERMAN #157 (1),
pg. 3, panels 1-6)
Ak-Var is exiled to the Phantom Zone (ACTION COMICS #336, pg.
2, panel 2-pg. 3, panel 1)
Jor-El exiles Tra-Gob to the Phantom Zone (SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND,
LOIS LANE #98 (2), pg. 12, panel 2-pg. 13, panel 2)
General Zod is tried for insurrection against Krypton (ADVENTURE
COMICS #285, pg. 9, panel 5)
Jor-El exiles General Zod and Kru-El to the Phantom Zone (WORLD
OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 6, panel 4)
ADVENTURE COMICS #285, pg. 10, panel 2
Jor-El exiles Shyla Kor-Onn to the Phantom Zone (SUPERMAN FAMILY
#183 (1), pg. 12, panel 2)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 6, panel 4
Lar-On becomes a werebeast, and Jor-El exiles him to the Phantom
Zone (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #256 (1), pg. 7, panel 4-pg. 8, panel 6)
Kru-El briefly escapes from the Phantom Zone and switches Jor-El’s
mind across time with Superman’s (ACTION COMICS #402 (2))
Jor-El tells Orn-Zu that his calculations indicating Krypton’s
sun will soon go nova are wrong, and Orn-Zu is exiled to the Phantom Zone
for creating an android intended to save Krypton’s children (ACTION COMICS
#506, pg. 9, panel 1-pg. 11, panel 2)
Jor-El invents an invisibility fabric (SUPERMAN FAMILY #196,
pg. 2, panels 2-6)
Jor-El and Lara express concern that Kal-El is over a year old
and still can’t read (LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 3, panel 2)
Jor-El tells Kal-El about robots (NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY
#17, pg. 5, panel 4-pg. 6, panel 4)
Jor-El and Lara take an outing with Kal-El (ACTION COMICS #246,
pg. 2, panel 6)
Jor-El and Lara talk about the effects of a green comet (SUPERMAN
#172, pg. 3, panels 3, 4)
Jor-El deactivates the NX-Weapon after it endangers Kal-El (ACTION
COMICS #390, pg. 12, panels 4-6)
Jor-El saves Krypton from alien invasion by helping to create
a phony Krypton populated by androids (SUPERMAN #189, pg. 21, panel 1-pg.
23, panel 2)
Jor-El makes contact with Professor Amos Dunn on Earth and,
with his help, creates a matter transmitter and receiver that transports
Dunn to Krypton, where he saves the lives of Jor-El and Kal-El (ACTION
COMICS #281, pg. 7, panel 3-pg. 10, panel 4)
Jor-El and Lara demonstrate Klurkor to Kal-El (NEW ADVENTURES
OF SUPERBOY #28, pg. 16, panels 3-4)
Jor-El helps rocket drang eggs to another planet (ACTION COMICS
#303, pg. 3, panels 1-4)
Jor-El gets a science prize of Ilium metal for inventing a dimension
screen (SUPERMAN #173, pg. 1, panels 2-3)
Jor-El and Kal-El meet Hab-Rull, inventor of a de-coherer ray
(ACTION COMICS #329, pg. 10, panel 4-pg. 11, panel 1)
2) Jor-El’s fourth speech to the Science Council warning of Krypton’s
impending destruction (pg. 2 panel 3-pg. 3 panel 2; ACTION COMICS #500
notes that this is Jor-El’s fourth monthly speech on the topic)
SUPERBOY #158, pg. 8, panel 1
SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 3, panel 5
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 3, panel 1-pg. 5, panel
3
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 9, panel 1-pg. 10 panel 2
Shortly after witnessing this speech, Black Zero notes that
Krypton’s internal stresses are weakening, but starts them up again with
a missile device (SUPERMAN #205, pg. 9, panels 1-6)
Jor-El returns and continues work on emergency rockets (ACTION
COMICS #500, pg. 7 panel 2-pg. 8 panel 5, pg. 10 panel 3)
Dahr-Nel’s father sees the imminent destruction of Krypton in
a time-viewer and sends Dahr-Nel to Earth’s future in a time machine (SUPERMAN’S
GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #90)
Dr. Krylo begins his preparations for suspended-animation survival,
but Jor-El refuses to consent to this option. (SUPERBOY #158, pg.
8, panels 2-4)
Lara tells Kal-El the story of Princess Reena and El-Kin (SUPERMAN
#275 (2), pg. 1, panels 2-4, pg. 6, panel 3).
Jor-El accidentally sends Krypto into orbit, but a rocket accidentally
triggered by Kal-El brings him back; this happens about a year before Krypton’s
destruction (SUPERBOY #79 (3))
Kal-El and Krypto help defeat an alien invasion (SUPERBOY #83
(3))
Dev-Em, a juvenile delinquent, gets in trouble with Jor-El and
his family, but believes Jor-El’s prediction of doom for Krypton (ADVENTURE
COMICS #287, pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 10, panel 2)
Kal-El meets a thought-beast in the Scarlet Jungle (SUPERBOY
#87 (3)) SUPERBOY #102 (2), pg. 5, panels 2-5
Kal-El first meets Brainiac (SUPERBOY #106 (2))
Jor-El shows Kal-El the El Family Crypt (ADVENTURE COMICS #313,
pg. 3, panel 3-pg. 4, panel 3)
Jor-El teaches Kal-El about Krypto’s ancestors (SUPERBOY #126
(2), pg. 2, panel 2-pg. 9, panel 3)
Jor-El accidentally turns Kal-El into a giant for a time (ACTION
COMICS #325)
Jimmy Olsen comes to Krypton and becomes Kal-El’s babysitter
(SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #36 (3), pg. 3, panel 1-pg. 7, panel 2)
Jor-El, Lara, Kal-El, Zor-El, and Allura have a get-together,
after which Jor-El launches an experimental rocket that saves baby Lois
Lane’s life (SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #26 (2))
Jor-El sends Krypto to Earth in an experimental rocket (ADVENTURE
COMICS #210, pg. 4, panel 7-pg. 5, panel 2)
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 11
SUPERBOY #97, pg. 6, panel 3
SUPERBOY #117 (2), pg. 6, panel 5-pg. 7, panel 1
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 4, panels 4-5
SUPERMAN #150 (1), pg. 5, panel 6
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 7, panels 1-5
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 11, panels 1-5
To console a grieving Kal-El, Jor-El creates a robot dog, Spot,
for him (SUPERBOY #117 (2), pg. 7, panels 3-5)
Two criminals attack Jor-El and inadvertently send Spot into
the Phantom Zone (SUPERBOY #117 (2), pg. 5, panels 3-5)
Jor-El recovers the Krull spaceship engine and defeats a Science
Council detective (WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 8, panel 1-pg. 11, panel 5)
Jor-El, Lara, and Kal-El go to the Great Krypton Circus (SUPERBOY
#140 (2), pg. 3, panel 4-pg. 4, panel 2)
After the Phantom Zoners almost induce Jor-El to release them,
he does the bidding of the Science Council and sends the Zone projector
into space (SUPERBOY #104, pg. 13, panels 1-4)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 12, panel 1-pg. 15, panel 5)
[Jor-El uses a mechanical mole to penetrate into Krypton’s interior,
is irradiated by deadly radiation, and passes this on to Lara, but not
Kal-El (SUPERBOY #158, pg. 23, panels 3-5) NOTE: This may not be canonical.]
Jor-El programs a robot teacher for Kal-El just before Krypton
explodes (ADVENTURE COMICS #240, pg. 3, panels 4-6)
Shortly before Krypton’s destruction, Jor-El runs a computer
simulation on Kal-El’s life chances on six different planets, and learns
he will become Superman on Earth (ACTION COMICS #313, pg. 3, panel 2-pg.
14, panel 2)
Jor-El designs a protective metallic “egg” for a creature which
lands on Earth (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #237, pg. 18, panel 1)
Jor-El decides Beppo the monkey will be the next passenger in
a test rocket, but never gets to accomplish the test (WORLD OF KRYPTON
#3, pg. 15, panel 5)
Five days before Krypton’s destruction, Jor-El and Lara meet
Mon-El (SUPERBOY #89 (1), pg. ?, panels ?)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 16, panels 1-4
One night before Krypton’s destruction, two lovers are apparently
transformed into stars (SUPERMAN #255 (2))
On the day of Krypton’s destruction, the Legion of Super-Heroes
meet baby Kal-El and take a lens from Jor-El’s workshop (SUPERBOY AND THE
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #255, pg.15, panel 3-pg. 16, panel 2)
Dr. Thomas Ellison tries but fails to prevent Krypton’s destruction
with a neutralizer ray (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #146, pg. 8, panel 4-pg.
9, panel 1)
Tomar-Re, blinded temporarily by a nova star, tries but fails
to reach Krypton in time to save it from destruction (SUPERMAN #257 (2),
pg. 5, panel 1-pg. 6, panel 3)
Jor-El contacts Professor Amos Dunn to try and teleport his
family to Earth, but Dunn tells him the apparatus has malfunctioned (ACTION
COMICS #281, pg. 10, panel 5)
Jor-El and Lara decide that Kal-El will be saved by being placed
in the rocket (SUPERMAN #100 (3), pg. 2, panel 5)
Jor-El includes an iron-destroying device in Kal-El’s rocket
to destroy any meteors that might impede its flight (SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY
OLSEN #56 (2), pg. 7, panels 1-3)
Jor-El creates power pills which will temporarily restore Kal-El’s
powers on Earth if he should lose them, but is unable to get them in the
rocket before launching it (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #87, pg. 3, panel 5)
Shortly before sending Kal-El off in a rocket, Jor-El records
a taped message for him (SUPERBOY #158, pg. 9, panels 1-4)
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 17, panels 4-6
Jor-El leaves another recorded message for Kal-El, with three
tasks he wishes him to perform (ADVENTURE COMICS #232, pg. 3, panel 6-pg.
7, panel 2, pg. 10, panels 2-6)
Nam-Ek goes to the Scarlet Jungle to study the Rondors (SUPERMAN
#282 (2), pg. 5, panels 1-6)
The reporter stops Fel-Kar from escaping in Kal-El’s rocket
(SUPERMAN #375 (2), pg. 4, panel 1-pg. 8, panel 4)
Lara comforts Kal-El just before he is placed in the rocket
(SUPERMAN #150 (1), pg. 4, panel 6)
Jor-El packs Kal-El into the rocket (WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #237,
pg. 17, panel 6)
3) Jor-El and Lara send Kal-El from Krypton in a rocket (pg.
3 panels 3, 4)
ADVENTURE COMICS #240, pg. 3, panel 6-pg. 4, panel 1
ADVENTURE COMICS #242, pg. 2, panels 1-2
SUPERBOY #67 (1), pg. 2, panels 4-5
ADVENTURE COMICS #287, pg. 10, panel 3
SUPERBOY #104, pg. 13, panel 5
SUPERBOY #133, pg. 1, panel 2
SUPERBOY #158, pg. 9, panel 5
SUPERBOY #186 (2), pg. 5, panel 2
SUPERMAN #106 (1), pg. 6, panels 2-3
ACTION COMICS #216, pg. 12, panel 1
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #87, pg. 3, panel 6
SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #36 (3), pg. 7, panel 3
SUPERMAN #137, pg. 2, panel 1
SUPERMAN #146, pg. 4, panel 6
SUPERMAN #150 (1), pg. 5, panel 1
SUPERMAN #172, pg. 3, panel 5
SUPERMAN #189, pg. 10, panel 5
SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 6, panel 4-pg. 7, panel 1
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 5, panel 4-pg. 7, panel
4
ACTION COMICS #487, pg. 1, panel 1
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 13, panel 1-pg. 15, panel 1
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 16, panel 5-pg. 18, panel 4
SUPERMAN #375 (2), pg. 8, panel 5
Jor-El sends flying cape, power gloves, and super-goggles after
Kal-El’s rocket in a smaller rocket (SHOWCASE #10 (3), pg. 7, panel 1)
Dev-Em and his parents escape Krypton’s destruction (ADVENTURE
COMICS #287, pg. 10, panel 4-pg. 11, panel 3)
Jimmy Olsen escapes Krypton’s destruction in a time-bubble (SUPERMAN’S
PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #36 (3), pg. 7, panels 3-4)
Jor-El finishes the last entry in his journal (ACTION COMICS
#223, pg. ?, panel ?)
SUPERBOY #158, pg. 10, panel 1
[Dr. Krylo forcibly places Jor-El and Lara in suspended animation,
puts himself through the same process, places himself and them in space
capsules, and rockets both capsules in to space (SUPERBOY #158, pg. 10,
panel 2-pg. 11, panel 2) NOTE: This may not be canonical.]
[Khai-Zor, later Xonar, escapes Krypton in a rocket, but Val-Arn
dies (SUPERBOY #158, pg. 14, panel 3, pg. 12, panels 3-4) NOTE: This may
not be canonical.]
Shir Kan sends several rockets containing Kryptonian apes to
other worlds (ACTION COMICS #218, pg. 6, panel 6)
Tomar-Re strives to reach Krypton (SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 7,
panels 2-5)
4) The destruction of Krypton (pg. 3 panel 5)
ADVENTURE COMICS #240, pg. 4, panel 1
SUPERBOY #97, pg. 6, panel 4
SUPERBOY AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #255, pg. 16, panel
3
SUPERMAN #100 (3), pg. 2, panel 6
SUPERMAN #106 (1), pg. 6, panel 3
ACTION COMICS #216, pg. 12, panel 2
ACTION COMICS #218, pg. 6, panel 7
WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #87, pg. 4, panel 1
SUPERMAN #128 (1), pg. 5, panel 1
SUPERMAN #130 (1), pg. 2, panel 6
SUPERMAN #137, pg. 2, panel 2
SUPERMAN #146, pg. 5, panel 1
SUPERMAN #150, pg. 5, panel 2
SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #56 (2), pg. 7, panel 4
SUPERMAN #173 (2), pg. 2, panel 1
SUPERMAN #189, pg. 11, panel 1
SUPERMAN #205, pg. 10, panel 1
ACTION COMICS #378, pg. 14, panel 3
SUPERMAN #255, pg. 10, panel 2
SUPERMAN #257, pg. 7, panel 6
SUPERMAN #282 (2), pg. 6, panel 1
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 7, panel 1
SUPERMAN #328 (2), pg. 3, panel 6
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 19
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 17, panel 2, pg. 29, panel 3
SUPERMAN ANNUAL #10, pg. 5, panel 5
Kal-El’s rocket opens space-warp and draws Kryptonite and other
Kryptonian artifacts with it (ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 29, panel 5)
SUPERMAN #130 (1), pg. 3, panel 1
Nam-Ek floats in the void near Krypton (SUPERMAN #282 (2), pg.
6, panels 2-4)
Guardians of the Universe rescue Tomar-Re and later claim to
have guided Kal-El’s rocket to Earth (SUPERMAN #257 (2), pg. 8, panel 1)
[Kal-El’s rocket goes into another dimension, where he spends
almost 100 years before being regressed to babyhood and sent back to the
Earth-One dimension (ACTION COMICS #370, pg. 3, panel 3-pg. 13, panel 5).
Note: This story may not be canonical.]
Jor-El’s iron-destroying device destroys meteors near the rocket’s
flight path (SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #56 (2), pg. 7, panel 5)
Kal-El’s rocket nears Earth’s solar system (SUPERBOY #157, pg.
8, panels 3-4)
SUPERMAN #106 (1), pg. 6, panel 5
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 5, panel 2
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 8, panels 2-3
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 17, panel 3, pg. 18, panel 3
Byrn and Myla encounter Kal-El’s rocket (NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY
#1, pg. 11, panel 3-pg. 12, panel 1)
Kal-El’s rocket strikes a spaceship and causes the creation
of Super-Brat, the future Super-Menace (SUPERMAN #137, pg. 2, panel 3-pg.
3, panel 1)
Kal-El briefly leaves his rocket, fights a giant crystalline
insect, and returns to his rocket (SUPERMAN #106 (1), pg. 6, panel 6-pg.
8, panel 2)
Kal-El’s rocket nears Earth (WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 20, panel
l)
A meteor knocks a food cylinder off Kal-El’s rocket (ACTION
COMICS #217, pg. 12, panel 3)
Kal-El’s rocket wakes up the Abominable Snowman and turns him
into Dr. Phoenix (SUPERMAN #266, pg. 9, panel 5)
5) Kal-El’s rocket lands on Earth (pg. 3 panel 6) NOTE: SUPERMAN
#263 establishes this as happening on June 18th. Clark Kent celebrates
this day as his birthday.
SUPERBOY #8, pg. 4, panel 4
SUPERBOY #133 (1)
SUPERBOY #76 (1), pg. 2, panel 3
SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 2, panels 5-6
SUPERBOY #133, pg. 1, panel 3
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 5, panels 3-4
SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #56 (2), pg. 7, panel 6
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 8, panels 4-5
SUPERMAN #296, pg. 2, panel 1
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 20, panel 2
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 19, panel 1
Kal-El imprints his fingerprints on a piece of metal in the
rocket (SUPERMAN #100 (3), pg. 3, panel 3)
Super-Monkey crawls out of the rocket before it explodes (SUPERBOY
#76 (1), pg. 2, panels 4-5)
6) Jonathan Kent finds Kal-El and the rocket (pg. 4 panel 1)
SUPERBOY #8, pg. 4, panels 4-5
SUPERBOY #23 (1), pg. 3, panel 3
ADVENTURE COMICS #242, pg. 2, panel 3
SUPERBOY #67 (1), pg. 2, panel 6
SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 3, panels 1-4
ADVENTURE COMICS #287, pg. 11, panel 4
SUPERBOY #104, pg. 14, panel 3-pg. 15, panel 1
SUPERBOY #133, pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 3, panel 5
SUPERBOY #186 (2), pg. 2, panel 5
SUPERMAN #100 (3), pg. 2, panel 7
SUPERMAN #105 (1), pg. 2, panel 4
SUPERMAN #106 (1), pg. 8, panel 3
SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #25 (2), pg. 3, panel 2
SUPERMAN #130 (3), pg. 7, panel 6-pg. 8, panel 2
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 5, panels 5-6
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 8, panel 5-pg. 10, panel
1
SUPERMAN #296, pg. 2, panel 2
SUPERMAN #328 (2), pg. 4, panels 1-2, pg. 3, panel 3
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3, pg. 20, panels 2-5
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 19, panel 2-pg. 20, panel 7
7) Kal-El at Smallville Orphanage (pg. 4, panel 2)
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 6, panels 1-2
ACTION COMICS #288, pg. 3, panels 2-3
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 10, panel 2-pg. 11, panel
3
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 20, panel 1
Kal-El yanks a rug from under Bruce Cyrus, who is subsequently
not adopted (SUPERMAN #130 (3), pg. 8, panel 5-pg. 10, panel 4)
Kal-El is briefly adopted by a criminal couple, then returns
to Smallville Orphanage (SUPERBOY #133, pg. 3, panel 6-pg. 11, panel 5)
Jonathan and Martha Kent adopt Kal-El (SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg.
3, panel 5)
SUPERBOY #133, pg. 11, panel 6
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 6, panel 3
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #C-31, pg. 11, panel 4-6
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 21, panel 2
8) Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent with adopted Kal-El, whom they
name Clark Kent (pg. 4, panel 3)
Jonathan and Martha Kent learn of Superbaby’s super-powers (SUPERBOY
#8, pg. 5, panel 3-pg. 7, panel 2)
SUPERBOY #23 (1), pg. 3, panel 4
SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 3, panel 6-pg. 4, panel 2
SUPERBOY #104, pg. 15, panel 2
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 6, panel 4-pg. 7, panel 4; pg. 8, panel
3
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 21, panel 3-pg. 22, panel 1
Superbaby lights cigar for Jonathan Kent, demonstrating his
heat-vision (ACTION COMICS #558 (1), pg. 6, panel 5)
Martha Kent feeds Superbaby Earth foods irradiated with yellow-sun
radiation (SUPERBOY #157, pg. 9, panel 1)
Martha Kent makes a playsuit of ordinary cloth for Superbaby,
but it gets torn repeatedly by his super-activity (SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg.
4, panel 3-pg. 5, panel 3)
SUPERBOY #169 (2), pg. 1
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 22, panel 2
Jonathan Kent discovers that the Kryptonian blankets are invulnerable
(SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 5, panel 4-pg. 6, panel 1)
SUPERBOY #169 (2), pg. 2, panel 1
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 7, panel 5
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 23, panels 3-4
Martha Kent creates Superbaby’s playsuit from the blankets in
his rocket (SUPERBOY #8, pg. 4, panel 6-pg. 5 panel 2)
SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 6, panel 2-pg. 7, panel 1
SUPERBOY #169 (2), pg. 2, panel 2
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 7, panels 6-7
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 23, panels 1-3
The Kents move from their farm into Smallville when they buy
a general store (SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 7, panel 2)
Superbaby captures his first crooks (SUPERBOY #8, pg. 7, panel
3-pg. 12, panel 5)
Superbaby stories:
SUPERBOY #10
SUPERBOY #26
SUPERMAN #90 (2)
ADVENTURE COMICS #221
SUPERBOY #51
ADVENTURE COMICS #231
SUPERBOY #59
ADVENTURE COMICS #242, pg. 2, panel 4
SUPERBOY #71, 73, 76, 77
ACTION COMICS #288, pg. 10, panel 2
SUPERMAN #152 (2)
SUPERBOY #97
SUPERMAN #137, pg. 4, panel 5
SUPERBOY #102, 105
ADVENTURE COMICS #311
SUPERBOY #112
SUPERMAN #173 (2), pg. 3, panel 5-pg. 4 panel 3
SUPERBOY #119, 120, 124
ACTION COMICS #337, pg. 13, panels 1, 2
SUPERBOY #130, 137
SUPERMAN #211 (2), pg. 4, panels 1-3
SUPERBOY #167
ACTION COMICS #399
SUPERBOY #178, 187, 189, 192, 196
SUPERMAN FAMILY #182 (2)
NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #11, 14, 19, 24
SUPERMAN FAMILY #216 (3)
9) Clark Kent’s young boyhood, after his Superbaby days (approx.
age 5; pg. 4 panels 4-6)
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 23, panel 5
Clark Kent displays his powers to his parents (LIMITED COLLECTORS’
EDITION #C-31, pg. 12, panel 1-pg. 13, panel 2)
10) Clark Kent goes to school (pg. 4 panel 7)
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 8, panel 1
Martha Kent packs Superbaby’s playsuit away, having given Clark
a regular suit to wear to school (SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 7, panel 3)
Clark Kent’s first day in class (SUPERBOY #75 (1))
Clark Kent finds a needle in a haystack at age 7 (SUPERBOY #7
(3), pg. 11, panel 1)
Clark Kent carries ten wooden cases in one hand at age 8 (SUPERBOY
#7 (3), pg. 11, panel 7; ADVENTURE COMICS #173, pg. 5, panel 1)
Clark Kent jumps over a barn (SUPERMAN #128 (1), pg. 5, panel
2)
Clark Kent almost encounters Kryptonite, but is shielded by
lead (SUPERMAN #173 (2), pg. 4, panel 5-pg. 5, panel 3)
11) Clark Kent lifts a truck off a man (pg. 5 panels 1-4)
Jonathan Kent and Clark Kent decide it is time for Superboy
to begin his career (SUPERBOY #78, pg. 7, panel 4)
SUPERMAN #128 (1), pg. 5, panel 5
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 23, panel 6
Clark Kent unravels his playsuit to make yarn for his Superboy
costume (SUPERBOY #78, pg. 7, panel 5)
Martha Kent presents Clark with his Superboy costume (ADVENTURE
COMICS #173, pg. 5, panel 2)
SUPERBOY #69 (1), pg. 2, panels 3-4
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 8, panel 2
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 24, panel 1
Superboy and Jonathan Kent fashion Superboy’s boots and belt
from material in the rocket, and Martha Kent knits Superboy a cape and
a chest emblem of his own design (SUPERBOY #78 (2), pg. 8, panels 1-5)
SUPERMAN ANNUAL #10, pg. 6, panels 1-3 (NOTE: This account states
that Jonathan Kent, not Superboy, created the “S” symbol, after seeing
it in a dream which was probably inspired by the Sword of Superman.)
ACTION COMICS #494, pg. 9, panel 5-pg. 10, panel 2 (NOTE: This
account confirms that there were two separate “S” symbols designed, one
of which, a red “S” in a yellow circle, was designed by Martha Kent and
rejected in favor of Jonathan Kent’s “S” shield.)
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 24, panels 2-3
12) Clark Kent becomes Superboy (pg. 5 panels 5-6).
One hour after getting his costume, Superboy accidentally misuses
his powers; he is not seen identifiably by Smallvillers (ADVENTURE COMICS
#173, pg. 5, panel 3-pg. 8, panel 5)
Superboy begins learning to fly (SUPERBOY #69 (1), pg. 2, panel
5-pg. 3 panel 5)
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 8, panel 4
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 26, panel 2
Clark Kent and Jonathan Kent devise ways of making Clark seem
different from Superboy (ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 26, panel 4-pg. 27, panel
2)
Superboy’s “first mission” (SUPERBOY #196 (1))
Superboy is seen by Captain Burton while still learning to fly
(SUPERBOY #69 (1), pg. 3, panel 6-pg. 8, panel 5)
Superboy’s first public appearance (SUPERMAN #144 (2))
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 8, panels 5-6
Superboy captures plane with jewel smugglers and saves Captain
Burton’s reputation (SUPERBOY #69 (1), pg. 8, panel 6-pg. 10, panel 3)
Prof. Amos Dunn sees Superboy and realizes he is the former
baby Kal-El (ACTION COMICS #281, pg. 11, panel 1)
Superboy’s next public appearance (NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY
#1)
Superboy’s next public appearances, after which he creates his
super-glasses (SUPERBOY #70 (3), pg. 2, panel 6-pg. 9, panel 3)
SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #34 (3), pg. 4, panels 4, 5
SUPERMAN #130 (1), pg. 3, panel 2
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 9, panels 1-4
SUPERMAN #330, pg. 22, panels 4-6
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 27, panels 3-5
Martha Kent claims that Superboy saved her foster son, Clark,
from a plunge over a cliff, hoping to protect his secret identity (SUPERBOY
#12 (3), pg. 9, panel 4)
Superboy saves a truck driver (SUPERMAN #105 (1), pg. 2, panel
5)
Superboy endangers his secret identity by flying through a window
into the Kent house (SUPERMAN #105 (1), pg. 2, panels 6-7)
Superboy designs his secret tunnel from the Kent house and makes
his first robots (ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 28, panels 1-3)
Superboy overtakes light-rays from Krypton to learn of his past
(SUPERMAN #146, pg. 10, panel 7)
Superboy deduces that Earth’s lower gravity and Sol’s yellow
sun-rays are the cause of his super-powers (SUPERMAN #146, pg. 11, panels
1-3)
Superboy brings in “Bull” Hogan and his gang (SUPERBOY #50 (2),
pg. 2, panel 1-pg. 8, panel 4)
Superboy’s encounter with the Uniform Gang (SUPERBOY #72 (2))
Superboy’s first encounter with Kryptonite (ADVENTURE COMICS
#251)
SUPERMAN #136 (2), pg. 2, panel 5
SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 11, panels 4-5
ACTION COMICS #500, pg. 28, panel 6-pg. 29, panel 1
Superboy’s weakness to Kryptonite is revealed to the world on
his Earthday (SUPERMAN #136 (2), pg. 3, panel 1-pg. 9, panel 1)
Superboy attempts to avoid Kryptonite poisoning by wearing a
lead uniform, which doesn’t work (SUPERMAN #130 (1), pg. 4, panel 5-pg.
5, panel 2)
Superboy misbehaves and is taught a lesson by his parents (SUPERBOY
#75 (3))
Lana Lang tries to expose Clark Kent as Superboy during a dental
appointment (SUPERBOY #87 (1))
Superboy creates a Superboy robot to throw off Lana Lang’s suspicions
that he is Clark Kent (SUPERMAN #146 (1), pg. 9, panels 5-6)
Superboy creates the secret tunnel to his basement (SUPERMAN
#146 (1), pg. 10, panels 1-3)
After Bash Bashford almost learns Superboy’s secret identity
from Clark’s discarded clothes, Clark has Martha Kent design a pouch for
his cape (NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #9 (2))
Synopsis: When the planet Krypton explodes due to its unstable uranium
core, the scientist Jor-El and his wife Lara send their baby Kal-El to
Earth in an experimental rocket. The rocket lands on Earth and Kal-El
is discovered and later adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a farm couple.
They name Kal-El Clark Kent, and soon discover he has incredible powers.
However, Clark knows that he must conceal them from other people by the
time he starts school. When Clark is approximately eight years old,
he lifts an auto off of a man who had been pinned under it. Clark
explains the incident away to his friends, but later realizes he must put
his powers to good use. Thus he conceives the identity and helps
design the costume of Superboy, and begins his public career.
More Fun Comics No. 102
March-April 1945
Story: “The Cruise of the Jolly Roger” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Ira Yarbrough?
Feature Character: Superboy (last chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES
OF SUPERBOY #9 (2))
Supporting Characters: Squint (first and only appearance), Tiny, Ted
(first appearance for both)
Villains: Duke, Lefty (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Two escaped convicts commandeer a raft manned by Clark Kent
and three of his friends, and appear to kill Clark, but Superboy takes
a hand in matters.
More Fun Comics No. 103
May-June 1945
Story: “A Modern Cave Man” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Tiny, Ted (?: last appearance for both)
Intro: Prof. Henry Macon (only appearance)
Villains: Roscoe, Slappy (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Clark Kent and his friends run across two gangsters and an
apparent caveman, and Superboy helps the kids bring the hoods to justice.
More Fun Comics No. 104
July-August 1945
Cover: Superboy selling war bonds to Dover and Clover //Henry Boltinoff?
Story: “Good Hunting” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Johnny Meadows, Mrs. Meadows (only appearance for both)
Villains: Pedro, Slug, Rufus Sludge (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps Johnny Meadows and his mother keep from being
evicted and catches a gang of crooks.
More Fun Comics No. 105
September-October 1945
Cover: Superboy at marbles tournament //Henry Boltinoff?
Story: “The Million-Dollar Marbles Tournament” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Plummer, Withers, Jim, Jerry (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When a plastic marble with a secret formula inside is taken
by a boy, Superboy stages a giant marbles tournament to get it back.
More Fun Comics No. 106
November-December 1945
Cover: Superboy flipping hotcakes as Dover and Clover watch //Henry
Boltinoff?
Story: “Crimes On Delivery” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Ezra Bicker, Daffington “Daffy” Dilbert, Midas Prandell, principal
of Clark Kent’s school (only appearance for all)
Villains: Mr. Migraine and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Comments: Clark Kent is said to be in high school in this story, but
this is probably a textual error. He is the editor of his school’s
paper, The Student Star, in this story, the first instance of his formal
involvement in journalism.
Synopsis: Daffy Dilbert makes trouble for school paper editor Clark
Kent when he makes a mistake and “exposes” a “milk racket” in town, only
to lead Superboy to a gang of crooks who operate from the local dairy.
More Fun Comics No. 107
January-February 1946
Story: “Ordeal On Wheels” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #103)
Intro: Billy Benton, Miss Fletcher (only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy lends a hand to Billy Benton to help him win a soapbox
derby.
Adventure Comics No. 103
April 1946
Cover: Superboy lifting car for tire change //
Story: “Happy Birthday” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in MORE FUN COMICS #107)
Supporting characters: Jonathan Kent (next appears in issue #119),
Martha Kent (next chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY
#12)
Intro: Betsy Marr, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Marr, Chief Inspector of the
police force, Joan Reynolds, Mrs. Reynolds, Marian, Tim (only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story takes place on Clark Kent’s 10th birthday, June
18th.
Synopsis: Clark Kent and Betty Marr have a birthday on the same day.
Clark is concerned that if everyone comes to his party, none will go to
Betty’s. Meanwhile, Betty’s father, John Marr, is named as a suspect
in a hotel robbery, but is released after a questioning. Smallville
gossips believe Marr could be the real culprit, and forbid their children
to attend Betty’s birthday party. Superboy sets things to rights
by learning from the Chief Inspector of the police that the real culprit
has been arrested, helping to spread the word of Mr. Marr’s innocence,
ensuring that kids come to Betty’s party, refreezing melted ice cream and
making new candles for her cake. After the party, Superboy comes
home as Clark Kent, and learn that his parents have a birthday cake and
party waiting for him.
Adventure Comics No. 104
May 1946
Cover: Superboy finding a needle in a haystack //
Story: “Toytown, U.S.A.” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Joie Matthew (only appearance)
Villains: Cawley, Gooding (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: Superboy is established as living in Metropolis in this story.
Synopsis: Blind boy Joie Matthew is a genius at toymaking, which genius
two crooks named Cawley and Gooding are eager to exploit. They host a toy-making
competition, intending to steal the inventions and patent them in their
own names. But Superboy bollixes their scheme, makes sure they give
Joie the $5,000 prize money as they promised, and gets him to an eye-surgeon
who restores his sight. Joie also begins a toy manufacturing company,
employing many Smallville children as designers.
Adventure Comics No. 105
June 1946
Cover: Superboy guessing the number of beans in a jar //
Story: “The Palace of Fantasy” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Princess Blenda, Jack the Giant, a midget, and three Smallville
youths (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Three of Clark’s friends stumble across a secret movie set
in the woods and meet a giant and two midgets playing parts in a fantasy,
until Superboy comes and straightens things out.
Adventure Comics No. 106
July 1946
Cover: Superboy and beaten-up crooks //
Story: “Weather, Hurricane” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Joe Shuster
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Captain Maynard, Jim Sutton, Martha Sutton, Billy Sutton, Dr.
Blythe, Dr. John Wells (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy rescues a family from a hurricane and, when their
son is injured, fetches a famous brain surgeon to save his life.
Adventure Comics No. 107
August 1946
Cover: Superboy and other boys on teeter-totter //
Story: “The Sky Is the Limit” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Villains: Hoke, Pedro (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy cracks down on two counterfeiters who use kites
to drop packages of “funny money” to confederates.
Adventure Comics No. 108
September 1946
Cover: Superboy saving boy from lightning bolt //
Story: “The Proof of the Proverbs” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Charlie Ross, Caleb Smith (only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy teaches a lesson to Charlie Ross, a man who scoffs
at the truths of proverbs.
Adventure Comics No. 109
October 1946
Cover: Superboy high-jumping over pole-vaulter’s bar //
Story: “You Can’t Lose” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Joe, George, Mr. Ennis (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy exposes a crooked pinball racket that deprives kids
of their lunch money.
Adventure Comics No. 110
November 1946
Cover: Joe Marsh watching Superboy smash thru brick wall //
Story: “The Farmer Takes It Easy” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Joe Marsh, Mr. Marsh (only appearance for both), Jack
Smart
Synopsis: Superboy helps out a farm boy and his father and gives a
scoop to Jack Smart of the Metropolis Daily Planet.
Adventure Comics No. 111
December 1946
Cover: Superboy guiding bowling ball with super-breath //
Story: “The Whizz Quiz Club” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
GS: Jack Smart (next appearance possibly in issue #133)
Intro: Ed Moon, Bobby Wilkins, Johnny Lee, Al Devlin (only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: When a quizmaster tries to rig his game with “impossible”
questions, Superboy induces him to keep things on the up and up.
Adventure Comics No. 112
January 1947
Cover: Superboy stopping two crooks from dynamiting bridge //
Story: “Super Safety First” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Harry Vane, Tom, Joe Martin, Inspector Hamer, City Council of
Smallville (first and only appearance for all), Mayor Horace Higgins (next
appears in SUPERBOY #2; mayor of Smallville; last name revealed in issue
#175; first name revealed in issue #20)
Synopsis: Superboy teaches his classmates some lessons about safe driving.
Adventure Comics No. 113
February 1947
Cover: Superboy helping Santa Claus distribute Christmas gifts //
Story: “The 33rd Christmas” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Nicholas Brown, Ellen Brown, Tom, Joe, Pete, Alec, George, Mr.
Wales, Mr. Rudge (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy gets the rest of Smallville to help him help out
Nick Brown, who has played Santa Claus for 32 years straight but may miss
the 33rd due to his wife’s hospitalization.
Adventure Comics No. 114
March 1947
Cover: Superboy relaxing atop Yellowstone Park geyser //
Story: “S-U-P-E-R-B-O-Y Spells Danger” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Oswald Murgatroyd, John Baker
Villains: A gang of crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When Clark Kent and a classmate go to Yellowstone Park to
compete in a spelling bee, Superboy has to stop a gold buillion theft.
Adventure Comics No. 115
April 1947
Cover: Superboy defeating two crooks under palm tree //
Story: “The Adventure of Jaguar Boy” (7 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: The Jaguar Boy (Kenneth McKinley), a tribal chieftain (only
appearance for both)
Villains: Trader Speer, Mole (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: A message in a bottle leads Superboy to rescue a jungle boy
from villainous traders.
Adventure Comics No. 116
May 1947
Cover: Superboy stopping model train from falling off bridge //
Story: “Superboy, Toy-Tester” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Miss Berry, Tommy, Mr. Moore, Mr. Manton (only appearance for
all)
Villains: Drago, his accomplice, and a gang of crooks (first and only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: To gain money for a teacher’s gift, Superboy becomes a toy-tester
and stops a rival company from pulling a swindle on the firm.
Adventure Comics No. 117
June 1947
Cover: Superboy directing machine-gun bullets at a crook’s feet //
Story: “The Miracle Plane” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Gene Dekker, Mr. Dekker (only appearance for both)
GA: Miss Berry
Villains: Tipper, Dropper (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy helps a kid win an invention contest and get his
father’s job back, while capturing a couple of crooks.
Adventure Comics No. 118
July 1947
Cover: Superboy putting out building fire with water from a hydrant
//
Story: “The Quiz Biz Broadcast” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Ray Sneed, Miss March, Quentin Quale, Frank, owner of Mammoth
Soap Co.
Comment: This story establishes that Clark Kent is in high school in
Metropolis, but this may be a textual error; Clark may be in junior high.
Synopsis: Superboy helps a quiz kid answer some “impossible” questions
and so earn money for playground equipment in a Metropolis slum.
Adventure Comics No. 119
August 1947
Cover: Superboy helping two kids run a cocoanut drink stand //
Story: “Superboy Meets Girl” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent (last seen in issue #103; next
chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #12), Betty, Joe
Daly (first appearance for both; next appear in issue #131)
Intro: Betty’s father (only appearance)
Villains: Mitch and another convict (first and only appearance for
both)
Synopsis: When Clark Kent finally gets a date with Betty, the school
beauty, he ends up having to save her and her father from escaped convicts
as Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 120
September 1947
Cover: Superboy lifting 2,000 pound weight for Perry White and kid
photographers //
Story: “Perry White, Cub Reporter” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES
OF SUPERBOY #12)
Supporting Character: Perry White (of Earth-One; first appearance;
last chronological appearance in flashback in WORLD’S FINEST COMICS #171;
next chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #12; becomes
a Daily Planet reporter in this story)
Intro: Mr. Hobb (editor of the Daily Planet)
Villains: The Ringmaster, Grillo, Swoop, Loop, Musculo (first and only
appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superboy and Perry White nab a crook
in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #12.
Synopsis: Superboy helps young Perry White get a job as a reporter
on the Daily Planet by having him get an interview with the Ringmaster
and his crime circus, after which Superboy saves Perry and jails the crooks.
Adventure Comics No. 121
October 1947
Cover: Kids looking at Superboy commemorative stamp //
Story: “The Great Hobby Contest” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY
#12; next appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #20, 21)
Intro: Orville Orville, Bobby, Pete, President Antuar, Teddy, Titus
Canby (only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superboy has an adventure on a red-sun
planet in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #20-21.
Synopsis: Superboy helps thwart a rich boy’s plans to win a hobby contest
by giving the judge the first-ever autograph signed “Superman”.
Adventure Comics No. 122
November 1947
Cover: Superboy in top hat, turning crook’s machine gun into candy
cane //
Story: “Superboy--Super-Magician” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (between NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #21
/ 23)
Intro: Mrs. Van Porter (only appearance)
Villain: Maginno (first and only appearance)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superboy deals with an emergency
and creates his secret signal lamp in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #23 and
meets President Kennedy in flashback in SUPERMAN #296.
Synopsis: When he has to jail a crooked magician who was to put on
a show at an orphanage, Superboy substitutes for him and puts on a super-magic
show.
Adventure Comics No. 123
December 1947
Cover: Superboy winning tug-of-war with an elephant //
Story: “A Lesson For a Bully” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last chronological appearance in flashback
in SUPERMAN #296; next appears in flashback in NEW ADVENTURES OF
SUPERBOY #26)
Intro: Tom Dawson, Mr. Kolb, Mr. Jones, Mary Conner, Anthony Rocci
(only appearance for all)
Villains: Pete Brant and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Superboy stops a gang of rocket saboteurs,
as shown in flashback in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #26-27.
Synopsis: Superboy helps Tom Dawson win a school election over bully
Pete Brant, despite Brant’s underhanded tactics.
Adventure Comics No. 124
January 1948
Cover: Superboy tackling practice dummy //
Story: “Barbed-Wire Boystown” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Warden Smith (only appearance)
Villains: Slick Lewis, Socker, Red (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When Warden Smith threatens to quit his job at the State
Reformatory because he has failed with two delinquent boys, Superboy helps
get them on the straight and narrow and Smith reconsiders.
Adventure Comics No. 125
February 1948
Cover: Superboy blowing up bicycle tire //
Story: “The Weight Before Christmas” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Regan, a store manager (only appearance for both)
Villains: Blimp Snowden and other crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps a skinny store employee fatten up so that
he can become a Santa Claus for the store again, while frustrating Blimp
Snowden’s attempt to gain the job so that his gang can rob the store.
Adventure Comics No. 126
March 1948
Cover: Kids working Superboy jigsaw puzzle //Win Mortimer?
Story: “Superboy: Crime-Fighting Poet” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: George Elmore (only appearance), Smallville High School principal
Danforth (first appearance; last name revealed in issue #?; next appears
in issue #131)
Villains: Gentleman Joe Barr and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: The captions and dialogue from page 5 panel 6 thru the end
of the story are all written in rhyme.
Synopsis: Gentleman Jim Barr, pretending to be a substitute teacher
so as to hide out from his vengeful gang, is nabbed along with his old
accomplices by Superboy, with some help from the students at school.
Adventure Comics No. 127
April 1948
Cover: Superboy bringing water cooler to guests at penthouse apartment
//
Story: “Super-Bellhop” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: A hotel manager, Mrs. Venner, Rajah Jara, Robert Hilton (only
appearance for all)
Villains: Nick, Joe, and another crook (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: While substituting as Clark Kent for a sick friend who has
a bellhop’s job, Superboy brings in a gang of crooks who steal the hotel’s
guest file for inside information with which to pull robberies.
Adventure Comics No. 128
May 1948
Cover: Superboy carrying Lois Lane away from burning house //
Story: “How Clark Kent Met Lois Lane” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lois Lane (last chronological appearance in
flashback in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #26 (2); next chronological
appearance in SUPERBOY #63)
Intro: Morton (editor of the Daily Planet, Tom Obers (only appearance
for both)
Villains: Paul Kory and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: This is the first meeting of Lois Lane and Superboy (also
her first meeting with Clark Kent).
Clark Kent is established as living in a small town different
from Metropolis, but the town’s name--Smallville--is not revealed until
SUPERBOY #2.
Synopsis: Clark Kent and Lois Lane both win an annual contest for school
reporters, landing them a free trip to Metropolis to work as cub reporters
for a week on the Daily Planet. Clark finds Lois attractive, but
Lois finds Clark dull, and tries to pump him for information on Superboy.
The two have a competition over filing stories, which Lois wins repeatedly
because Clark must appear as Superboy in each incident, and Clark Kent
is observably not present. Superboy rescues Lois from a gang of crooks
using construction equipment. Then, as Clark Kent, he pays up on
his ice-cream bet, and says goodbye to Lois after a week’s work.
Adventure Comics No. 129
June 1948
Cover: Superboy outracing canoeing team //
Story: “The Pupils of the Past” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Miss Shipley, Edward Dexter, Mark Rice, Paul High, Peter Wilysmyk
(only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When Miss Shipley retires from 40 years of teaching at a
Smallville school, Superboy searches for the one student who has left a
rose on her desk on her last day. It turns out to be the school handyman,
whose proposal of marriage to her is accepted.
Adventure Comics No. 130
July 1948
Cover: Superboy flying kids in box //
Story: “Superboy--Super-Salesman” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Herbert Binns, Peter Inuit (only appearance for both)
Villain: Hugo Crowl (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When Herbert Binns refuses to sell faulty equipment anymore
for his boss and insists on staying on to make sure he sells no more such
goods, his boss Hugo Crowl gives him “impossible” selling tasks that Superboy
helps him perform, teaching Crowl a lesson in the process.
Adventure Comics No. 131
August 1948
Cover: Superboy jumping over multiple hurdles with one leap //
Story: “The Million-Dollar Athlete” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Betty, Joe Daly (last appearance of both in
issue #119; last appearance for both, though Betty may appear next in issue
#189), Principal Danforth (last appearance in issue #126; next appears
in issue #133)
Intro: Coach Kandinski (only appearance)
Villains: Joe, Harper, and their gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Comment: Cover scene taken from splash page of story.
Synopsis: Coach Kandinski tries to make a “man” out of Clark Kent with
athletic conditioning, but Superboy takes the opportunity to capture some
trophy-stealing crooks.
Adventure Comics No. 132
September 1948
Cover: Superboy riding bucking bronco //
Story: “Superboy--Super-Cowboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Edwin Sayers, Jimmy (only appearance for both)
Villain: Ben Torpe and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A Smallville math teacher inherits a ranch, and Superboy
must discover why a rival rancher wants to drive him off the property.
Adventure Comics No. 133
October 1948
Cover: Superboy catching meteor as teacher grades him //
Story: “Superboy’s Report Card” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Principal Danforth (between issues #131 / 143),
Jack Smart (?; last appearance in issue #111; last appearance; an unnamed
reporter)
Intro: Perkins, Miss Davis, Mr. Brown (only appearance for both)
Villains: A gang of thieves
Synopsis: When truant officer Perkins faces transferral, he insists
that Superboy attend classes.
Adventure Comics No. 134
November 1948
Cover: Tom Burke dreaming of Superboy kayoing five boxers //
Story: “Silver Gloves Sellout” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Tom Burke, Kayo Burke, Jerry (only appearance for all)
Villains: Tip and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When a gang of gamblers tries to make a teenage boxer take
a dive for $10,000, Superboy arranges for the fight to go on and keeps
everything on the straight and narrow with his powers.
Adventure Comics No. 135
December 1948
Cover: Superboy and circus elephant lifting weights //
Story: “The Masked Mystery Boy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Miss Bailey, John Smith, Tommy Wilks, Ed Corliss, Carl James
(only appearance for all)
Villain: Hench (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A masked student, John Smith, appears at Smallville High
and seems to be a whiz at athletics, math, music, and acting, but Superboy
exposes the “Mystery Boy” as four separate boys.
Adventure Comics No. 136
January 1949
Cover: Superboy outracing jet plane and train //
Story: “My Pal--Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Joe Vance, a shop owner, a probation officer (only appearance
for all)
Villains: A gang of crooks, Roger Belding (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps reform school graduate Joe Vance get a new
start in life, despite the presence of the school bully.
Adventure Comics No. 137
February 1949
Cover: Superboy taking machine-gun barrage from crooks //
Story: “The Treasure of Tondimo” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Tommy
Villains: The Forger (first appearance; dies in this story), Spud and
another crook (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy helps out some Smallville boys striving to reach
some treasure (which turns out to be $20 engraving plates) ahead of two
crooks.
Adventure Comics No. 138
March 1949
Cover: Superboy lifting busload of kids on a tour //
Story: “Around the World In 80 Minutes” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #1)
Intro: Matt Briggs, his sister, her three sons (only appearance for
all)
Villains: Shifty, Arty, Joe, and other crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Matt Briggs, bus driver, hates kids until he has to drive
a busload of Smallville kids on a cross-country trip, in which Superboy
appears to defeat a gang of counterfeiters.
Superboy No. 1
March-April 1949
Cover: Superman talking with kids //Wayne Boring
Story: “The Man Who Could See Tomorrow” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #138)
Intro: Superman (of Earth-One; Clark Kent; last chronological appearance
in SUPERMAN#135 (1); next appears in issue #15)
Supporting Character: Lois Lane (last chronological appearance in SUPERMAN
#135 (1); next appears in SUPERMAN #76)
Intro: Dr. Stanton, Dr. Frank Vaughn, Margo Griffiths Vaughn, Mrs.
Griffiths, a policeman (only appearance for all), Brandar the Great (dies
in this story)
Villains: Haskins, a gang of crooks
Comment: This story takes place in two distinct time periods--in the
present, during Superman’s time, and in flashback, during Superboy’s era.
Superman is probably 22 years old during this story.
Synopsis: Superboy is present when performer Brandar the Great makes
several prophecies--among them, that his friend Margo Griffiths will cease
to exist on her 21st birthday. All the prophecies come true, including
one which predicts Brandar’s death. But years later, Superman meets
Margo again, and sees Brandar’s prophecy for her come true, when she marries
Dr. Frank Vaughn and begins a new “existence” as Margo Vaughn.
Story: “The Boy Vandals” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: A gang of vandals (only appearance)
Villains: The Smash-and-Grab Bandits (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy teaches a lesson to a group of teenage vandals and
apprehends the Smash-and-Grab Bandits.
Story: “Superboy Meets Mighty Boy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #139)
Intro: Mighty Boy (Reuben) and his father (first and only appearance
for both)
Villains: Jay V. Atkins, the Professor, and a gang of crooks (only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: A crooked promoter and a crackpot scientist pretend to give
a simple farm youth super-strength, create the identity and costume of
Mighty Boy for him, and put him through a competition with Superboy which
is rigged for him to win. But when Mighty Boy is kidnapped by gangsters,
Superboy comes to the rescue and helps expose the swindlers as well.
Adventure Comics No. 139
April 1949
Cover: Superboy “skiing” without skis //
Story: “Superboy, ‘Telegraph Boy’” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #1)
Intro: Axel, Eddie, Dan, Martha (only appearance for all)
Villains: Joey King (first appearance; dies in this story), Mr. X (Baxter)
and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Clark Kent takes a job as telegraph delivery boy in order
to trap gangleader Mr. X as Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 140
May 1949
Cover: Six Superboys on the moon //Win Mortimer
Story: “Journey To the Moon” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #2)
Intro: Prof. Starr, moon creatures, It (a beast; first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: Mention of the names Clark Gable, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey
Rooney in this story tends to date it in the late Forties.
Synopsis: When Clark Kent accidentally takes a trip to the moon with
absent-minded Professor Starr, his Superboy identity is discovered by the
professor. But, when Superboy returns them both to Earth, Starr cannot
remember just which boy in Smallville is the Boy of Steel.
Superboy No. 2
May-June 1949
Cover: Superboy towing Superboy balloon in Superboy Day parade //Win
Mortimer
Comment: Smallville is named for the first time on this issue’s cover.
Story: “The Stunts of Superboy” (11 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #140)
Intro: Ray, Otto (only appearance for all)
GS: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #112; next appears
in next issue)
Villains: Schemer and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Smallville’s name is first mentioned in this story.
Synopsis: When Smallville hosts a Superboy Day with Superboy performing
feats for a panel of judges, the criminal Schemer tries to capitalize on
the stunts by pulling crimes with their aid, but the Boy of Steel thwarts
him. The film of the stunts is sunk in a Superboy Time Capsule, to
be opened someday in the future by Superman.
Story: “George Washington’s Drum” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock,
John Paul Jones of Earth-One; a drummer boy (only appearance)
Villains: Gen. Cornwallis of Earth-One, Hessians (first appearance
for all), British
Comment: The tracking of historical Earth-One characters has not yet
been completed, but many Revolutionary War characters appear in the TOMAHAWK
series.
Synopsis: When Clark Kent is baffled by the sight of a Superboy cape
in a drum dating from the American Revolution, he goes back in time, helps
General Washington and his forces triumph over Cornwallis and the British,
and makes a flag for a drummer boy out of his red cape, white bandages,
and blue cloth. The flag is kept in the drum afterwards. When
Superboy returns to the present, he reconstructs his cape, the other cloth
having long deteriorated.
Story: “Superboy...John Doe” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #141)
Villains: Pedro Bancas, “Natural” Keene (first and only appearance
for both)
Intro: Wong, a Burmese girl, Tom Falco (only appearance for all)
Comment: The “strange metal” in the comet’s core which robs Superboy
of his memory is probably red Kryptonite.
Synopsis: When Superboy gets amnesia after diverting a comet from Earth
due to the radiations of a strange metal in its head, he has a series of
adventures in the Phillipines, Burma, and the Himalayas before a lightning
bolt striking him restores his memory.
Adventure Comics No. 141
June 1949
Cover: Superboy on ropes, fighitng crooks //
Story: “When Superboy Lost His Power” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #2)
Villains: Bully Hines and his gang, the Chopper Gang, Prof. Winslow
(first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When a steel ball striking Superboy’s head appears to rob
him of his powers, he agrees to work with gangster Bully Hines if Professor
Winslow, Hines’s hireling, can restore them. In reality, Superboy
is pulling a ruse to locate some platinum Hines has stolen. Once
he discovers its hiding place, he brings in Hines, his mob, Winslow, and
the rival Chopper Gang.
Adventure Comics No. 142
July 1949
Cover: Superboy stopping locomotive //
Story: “The Man Who Walked With Trouble” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #3)
Intro: Paul “Jinx” Blakeston, Evans, Smith, Loring (only appearance
for all)
Villain: Cyrus Maxon and his confederate (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps a “jinxed” forest ranger convince himself
and others that he is not unlucky, and brings in a crooked lumber magnate
turned arsonist.
Superboy No. 3
July-August 1949
Cover: Superboy trimming hedges for Jonathan and Martha Kent //John
Sikela
Story: “Superboy’s Hall of Fame” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #142)
Intro: Walter, Casabianca, William Tell and his son (next appears in
issue #84); Martin (only appearance), Abraham Lincoln of Earth-One (as
a statue; cameo)
Cameo appearance: George Washington (as a statue)
Villains: Gessler (of Earth-One; first appearance; next appears in
issue #84); Dutch criminals (first and only appearance)
Comment: The chronology of William Tell and other historical figures
on Earth-One has not yet been determined.
Synopsis: When his classmates scoff at the existence of boy heroes
such as Walter, the Dutch boy at the dike, Casabianca, or William Tell’s
son, Superboy goes back in time, lends a helping hand to the youths, and
proves they did exist.
Story: “Superboy, Bodyguard” (9 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Hubert Harley, Wallace Harley (only appearance for both)
Villains: Victor Flaine and his confederate (first and only appearance
for both)
Synopsis: When wealthy Victor Harley hires Superboy to be temporary
bodyguard to his spoiled son Hubert, the Boy of Steel teaches Hubert a
lesson in humility, wrecks the plans of a swindler, and earns a tract of
land for a youngsters’ playground.
Story: “Superboy’s Great Amateur Hour” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #143)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (last chronological
appearance for both in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #12; next appearance
for both in ADVENTURE COMICS #145)
GS: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in last issue; next appearance in
issue #5)
Intro: Artie Barnes, Joe, Sally Webster (first and only appearance)
Villains: The Maestro, Taps, Canary, Biceps, Mahout, Mrs. Montgomery
Mint, Wordsworth Mint (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When the Maestro, a criminal, tries a talent-scout swindling
scheme on Smallville youth and wealthy Wordsworth Mint tries to further
sabotage his rivals’ chances, contestant Clark Kent, as himself and Superboy,
sets things to rights and teaches Wordsworth a well-deserved lesson.
Adventure Comics No. 143
August 1949
Cover: Superboy being cheered by a pep squad //
Story: “The Superboy Savings Bank” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #3)
GA: Principal Danforth (last appearance in issue #132; next appears
in SUPERBOY #6)
Intro: Donald Meed, Wooden-Head Jones, Tommy Rand (only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy begins a savings bank at the urging of Smallville
High’s student countil and helps kids who take out loans from him to prosper.
Adventure Comics No. 144
September 1949
Cover: Superboy towing three skiiers //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Way To Stop Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #4)
Villains: Silver Smith and his gang (including the Professor and Limpy;
first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Gangster Silver Smith tries to make Superboy afraid of using
his powers when his men pretend to be innocent bystanders hurt by his deeds,
but Superboy exposes his plot and brings him to justice.
Superboy No. 4
September-October 1949
Cover: Superboy carrying question-faced boy and girl //Win Mortimer
Comment: This issue features a “Why I Like Superboy” contest, as indicated
by the cover.
Story: “The Oracle of Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #144)
Intro: Dick Saunders (only appearance)
Villain: Finger Phelps (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: To earn money for a new wing of the Grecian Museum, Superboy
pretends to be an Oracle and answers questions for $1 a pop. But
when a crook tries repeatedly to get him to reveal Superboy’s secret identity,
the Boy of Steel just as many times has to prevent the questioners from
hearing him say, “Superboy is Clark Kent!”
Story: “Super Safety Boy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: John Sikela
Inker: Ray Burnley
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Johnny West, Mrs. Green, Miss Green (her daughter; only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story prepared in conjunction with the National Safety
Council and the Advertising Council.
Synopsis: When Superboy saves Johnny West from getting killed during
a careless stunt, Johnny makes amends by making a safety film with Superboy’s
help.
Story: “The Backwoods Boy” (4 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Daniel Boone
Story: “The Submarine Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #145)
Intro: Pop Harper, Joe Harper, Frank Adams, Leo (only appearance for
all)
Villain: Mr. Griffin and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps Pop Harper, who owns a salvage company, stay
in business by raising the Hesperus, the Monitor, the Merrimac, and the
Titanic, while thwarting the attempts of a rival operator to ruin him.
Adventure Comics No. 145
October 1949
Cover: Superboy bending steel girder at “one-man circus” //
Story: “The Holiday Hijackers” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #4)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent (last seen in SUPERBOY #3; next
appears in issue #147), Martha Kent (last seen in SUPERBOY #3; next
appears in SUPERBOY #5)
Villains: Cyrus Barton, the Holiday Hijackers (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story takes place on July 4, October 12, October 31,
January 1, and February 14, and segments of it probably take place in between
other Superboy stories.
Synopsis: On holidays when Clark Kent goes with his parents to Metropolis,
he helps thwart a gang called the Holiday Hijackers, and finally nabs their
boss, a member of the Merchants’ Club.
Adventure Comics No. 146
November 1949
Cover: Superboy rescuing cat in tree //
Story: “The Substitute Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #5)
Intro: Horace Holly (only appearance)
Villains: Dimples Miller and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps out Horace Holly, the class “goat”, by making
him appear to be Superboy, and nabs racketeer Dimples Miller in the process.
Superboy No. 5
November-December 1949
Cover: Superboy and Lucy Regent //Curt Swan
Story: “Superboy Meets Supergirl” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #146)
Supporting Character: Martha Kent (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS
#145)
Intro: Lucy Regent, Elena (first and only appearance for both)
GS: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in issue #3; next appears in issue
#7)
Villain: Duke Norvello (first and only appearance)
Comment: Lucy Regent briefly wears an “S” emblem on her costume and
is nicknamed “Supergirl” for a time, making her the first “Supergirl” in
comics.
Synopsis: Queen Lucy of the Latin-American nation of Borgonia is spirited
away to America by her guardian Elena, due to the evil Duke Norvello’s
attempts to keep her under his influence. She arrives in Smallville,
where her superb athletic abilities and quick wit make her an outcast of
sorts. But Clark Kent and then Superboy befriend her, and she appears
as “Supergirl”, doing stunts with Superboy at the athletic festival.
Superboy finds himself falling in love with her, but, when she is kidnapped
back to Borgonia by the Duke and locked in an iron mask, he goes to her
rescue, frees her from the mask, and exposes Norvello’s perfidy to the
populance. Even though Lucy wants to return to America with Superboy,
her guardian Elena and Superboy convince her that she must remain in Borgonia
and rule her people wisely. But Clark Kent still finds her on his
mind for many days thereafter.
Story: “A Zoo For Sale” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Curt Swan
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Eddie and his wife, Jimmy, Jenny, Mr. Hidge (only appearance
for all), Mrs. Wiggins (in flashack; dies in this story)
Villain: Henchey (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: After Superboy jails a wealthy smuggler who owns a private
zoo, he must somehow find homes for all the animals therein, or see them
put to death.
Story: “The Isle of Menace” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #147)
Supporting Character: Martha Kent (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS
#147)
Intro: Joyce, Paul (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Planner (aka the Big Boss) and other crooks (first and
only appearance for all)
Synopsis: An unseen criminal, The Planner, helps Smallville mobsters
pull off robberies safely by attacking Superboy’s senses. Eventually,
the Teen of Steel learns of the plan, baits a trap for the Planner and
his men, and apprehends them all.
Adventure Comics No. 147
December 1949
Cover: Superboy leading class in sitting-up exercise //
Story: “Clark Kent--Orphan” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #5)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent (last appearance in issue #145;
next appears in SUPERBOY #6), Martha Kent (between SUPERBOY #5 / 6)
Intro: Tommy and his foster parents, Eddie, Mr. and Mrs. Vanderdost,
Henry Vanderdost (only appearance for all)
Comment: This story reveals that Clark has an aunt Martha, who is not
depicted.
Synopsis: After Jonathan and Martha Kent are believed dead when a plane
they were taking is found wrecked, Clark Kent is sent to the orphanage,
and is later adopted by wealthy Mr. and Mrs. Vanderdost. Superboy
helps them find their long-lost son Henry, teaches them that money can’t
buy everything, and almost reveals his secret identity to them before the
Kents are found alive and sent back home for a reunion with Clark.
Adventure Comics No. 148
January 1950
Cover: Superboy as “human bridge” for teenagers fleeing fire //Win
Mortimer?
Story: “Superboy Meets the Mummer” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #6)
Intro: Mr. Flower, George, Mr. Ross (only appearance for all)
Villains: The Mummer (first and only appearance), Middo, Mite, and
another dummy (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Mummer, a frustrated vaudevillian, commits crimes with
his three robot “dummies” in Smallville until Superboy finally outwits
and jails him.
Superboy No. 6
January-February 1950
Cover: Girls looking at Superboy pinups //Wayne Boring
Story: “The Hobby Robber” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #148)
Villain: Humpty Dumpty (Robert Hobb; aka the Hobby Robber; first appearance;
real name revealed in issue #8)
Synopsis: Humpty Dumpty, the Hobby Robber, astride a jet-powered rocking
horse, commits hobby thefts in Smallville until Superboy finally brings
him down.
Story: “Superboy Storekeeper” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent (between ADVENTURE COMICS #147
/ 149), Martha Kent (between ADVENTURE COMICS #147 / 152)
GS: Principal Danforth (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #143; next
appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #158)
Intro: Mrs. Edwards, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Olsen, Lucy Olsen, J. H.
Smith (only appearance for all)
Villains: A gang of spies (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Jonathan Kent sprains his ankle and Clark has to substitute
for him in the Kent general store. During this time he learns of
a plot to duplicate a new U.S. secret weapon by enemy agents, and foils
it as Superboy.
Story: “The Man Who Captured Geronimo” (4 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Jimmy Thompson
Comment: Historical Western story; no continuing characters.
Story: “The Hercules of Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #149)
Intro: Hercules Mafiades (only appearance)
Villains: Buster Crain and his gang (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When bully Buster Crain tries to make Greek immigrant boy
Hercules Mafiades perform the legendary labors of Hercules in order to
win a part in the school play, Superboy lends the new kid a hand and teaches
Buster a lesson.
Adventure Comics No. 149
February 1950
Cover: Superboy nabbing crooks with tires //
Story: “Fake Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #6)
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent (between SUPERBOY #6 / 8)
Intro: Henry Winters, Johnny Winters, Mrs. Smith (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Shark Sloan, Whitey (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Two crooks from Metropolis force Johnny Winters to double
for Superboy in a swindle, or face having his ex-convict’s father’s past
revealed. The real Superboy steps in to impersonate his impersonator
and sets things to rights.
Adventure Comics No. 150
March 1950
Cover: Superboy and parachutists //
Story: “Superboy’s Initiation” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #7)
Intro: Arthur Dark, Reggie and other members of Smallhi Fraternity
(only appearance for all)
Comment: This story is recycled in SUPERBOY #94.
Synopsis: When a Smallville High School fraternity snubs a friend of
Clark’s, Superboy pledges the frat to teach the members a lesson in “initiationship”
and non-snobbery.
Superboy No. 7
March-April 1950
Cover: Superboy vs. Humpty Dumpty //John Sikela
Story: “Around the World With Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Wayne Boring
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #150)
Intro: Doris Faris and Fred Leeds of Earth-One (only appearance for
both)
GS: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in issue #5)
Comment: Doris Faris of Chicago, Illinois and Fred Leeds of Cincinnatti,
Ohio were the winners of the “Why I Like Superboy” contest, and their likenesses
and names are used in this story.
Synopsis: Doris Faris and Fred Leeds, the winners of the “Why I Like
Superboy” contest, are brought to Smallville with an airport reception
headed by Superboy. The Boy of Steel promises to grant their most
heartfelt wishes. Doris says she would like to take a round-the-world
trip, and Fred wants to see Superboy use all his super-powers. Superboy
combines the two, using his powers on a round-the-world trip on which he
takes them. He tells them that there is a puzzle connected with the
places they visit, and they deduce it at the end...the first letters of
Formosa, Rhodesia, Etah, Donghoi, Dera Bust, Old Faithful, Rio de Janeiro,
Iran, and Smallville spell out FRED and DORIS.
Story: “Dolls of Danger” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Villain: Humpty Dumpty
Intro: Mr. Parker (only appearance)
Synopsis: Humpty Dumpty breaks jail and tries to confound Superboy
with a series of doll thefts for his collection, but the Boy of Steel prevails
and recaptures him.
Story: “The Man Who Knew Superboy’s Secret Identity” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #151)
Intro: Pete Bates
GA: Martha Kent (in flashback; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101
for chronology)
Comment: This story contains two one-panel flashbacks, to Clark Kent’s
7th and 8th years of age. Their place in Superboy’s chronology is
noted in the Comment to MORE FUN COMICS #101.
Synopsis: Reporter Pete Bates thinks he has determined Superboy’s secret
identity to be Clark Kent from clues left behind in the late curiosity-seeker
Rod Rudley’s notebook, but Clark manages to convince Bates that he is wrong.
Adventure Comics No. 151
April 1950
Cover: Superboy saving deer from poacher //
Story: “The Boy Who Talked Too Much” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #7)
Intro: Danny “Gabby” Peale, Freddy Finger, Coach Stevens, Tom Benton,
Jack Davis, Emily Chase, Mary, Stretch Talbot (only appearance for all)
Villains: Chips Chandler and his confederate (only appearance for both)
Comment: Fred Finger is probably named after the son of comics scripter
Bill Finger, and Jack Davis may be named for the famous EC and Mad comics
artist.
Synopsis: When school gossip Gabby Peale starts an “inside scoop” show
on his ham radio, Superboy shows him the error of his ways.
Adventure Comics No. 152
May 1950
Cover: Superboy dreaming of taking three jobs //
Story: “Superboy Hunts For a Job” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #8)
Supporting Characters: Perry White (last chronological appearance in
NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #12; next chronological appearance in SUPERBOY
#63; becomes editor of the Daily Planet in this story), Martha Kent (between
SUPERBOY #6 / 8)
Intro: Miss Jensen, the Patagonian ambassador (only appearance for
both), mayor of Metropolis
Villains: Two spies (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: This story takes place over Easter vacation.
Synopsis: Clark Kent, unable to decide what he wants to do when he
grows up (even when he has to write a paper for class on that subject),
goes to Metropolis on his Easter vacation and tries work as a hotel busboy,
an ice-cream salesman, and a ship’s steward. In each instance, he
finds that he has to become Superboy to take care of an emergency, that
it endangers his job to do so, and that he keeps running into Daily Planet
reporter Perry White. Realizing that White has the mobility and the
power to visit trouble spots, Clark decides that he wants to become a reporter.
He writes an essay on the subject, and is awarded the first-place prize
for it by the guest of honor, Perry White, who has just been named editor
of the Daily Planet.
Superboy No. 8
May-June 1950
Cover: Superboy and Martha Kent in kitchen //
Story: “When Superboy Was a Superbaby” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Curt Swan
Feature Character: Superboy (also appears as Superbaby in flashback;
origin retold in detail; origin of Superboy’s costume revealed in this
story)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent (first name revealed in this story;
in flashback; see Comment below), Martha Kent (between ADVENTURE COMICS
#152 / 153; also appears in flashback; see Comment below)
Intro: Alice (in flashback; only appearance)
Villain: Marty and his gang (in flashback; first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: This is the first story in which Clark Kent appears as Superbaby.
The chronology is tracked in the Comment for MORE FUN COMICS #101.
A caption on page 4, panel 3 is labelled “Superboy At Age One
Year.” This is inaccurate, as Kal-El was 3 years old when he came
to Earth.
Synopsis: When Clark Kent and Martha Kent look through a scrapbook
of Superboy’s, she tells Clark how she and Jonathan found him in a rocket
that landed on Earth, how they adopted him, how they created his red-and-blue
playsuit from the blankets in the rocket, how he first exhibited super-powers,
and how, while still a baby, he caught his first gang of crooks.
Story: “The Flags of Crime” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent (between ADVENTURE COMICS #149
/ 153)
GS: Mayor Higgins (next appears in issue #10)
Intro: John Bondy (only appearance)
Villains: Humpty Dumpty, Whitey (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Humpty Dumpty escapes jail again and begins a string of crimes
with a flag motif until Superboy finally recaptures him.
Story: “The Boy Without a World” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #153)
Villains: “Ruby” Dexter and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: When gangster “Ruby” Dexter forces Superboy to remain off
the Earth for 24 hours or see hostages gassed to death, the Boy of Steel
manages to save the hostages, catch Dexter, and save his secret identity
without breaking his promise.
Adventure Comics No. 153
June 1950
Cover: Superboy defeating crooks with punching bag //
Story: “Clark Kent, Boy Hobo” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #8)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (both between SUPERBOY
#8 / 10)
Intro: Mr. Reed (next appears in issue #160), Jack Watson, Jimmy Guy,
Blackie Watson
Synopsis: To research a story on boy hoboes for the Smallville News,
Clark Kent, aspiring cub reporter, follows editor Reed’s advice and becomes
a hobo himself, helping out other boys of the road as Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 154
July 1950
Cover: Superboy blowing kid with beanie off the ground //
Story: “The Carnival Boat Crimes” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #9)
Intro: Lea Holliday, Cap’n Holliday, Tadpole, Ezra, Joe, Marino (only
appearance for all)
Villains: Doc Quackenbush and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps out a lovely “mermaid” and her father when
he finds the crook who is plaguing a carnival boat.
Superboy No. 9
July-August 1950
Cover: Superboy chasing Humpty Dumpty //John Sikela
Story: “Superboy’s Man of Steel” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #154)
Intro: Professor Harmon, Percy (a robot; PRC 47), Farmer Graham, other
robots (only appearance for all)
Villains: Trigger and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy “inherits” a robot named Percy from Professor Harmon,
and the mechanical man’s incredible powers and blind devotion prove more
hindrance than help.
Story: “The Boy Who Stole a Brain” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Miss Marian, Fred, Mrs. Wimbledon, Dr. Baines (only appearance
for all)
Villain: Charlie Hendricks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy helps teach an ingenious class cheat a lesson in
honesty.
Story: “Ship Ahoy, Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #155)
Intro: Mr. Miller
Villain: Humpty Dumpty (next appears in issue #11)
Synopsis: Humpty Dumpty breaks jail again with the help of a ship,
and thus begins thefts of model ships when he starts his crime career anew.
Superboy scuttles his schemes and returns him to jail.
Adventure Comics No. 155
August 1950
Cover: Superboy and Reginald Snoddish rescuing girl in movie scene
//
Story: “Superboy, Hollywood Actor” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #9)
Intro: Reginald Snoddish, Jenkins, B. C. Crandon, Fred, Joe, A. C.
Wilson, the “Hobby Robber” (an actor; only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When a Hollywood movie company films The Adventures of Superboy
on location in Smallville, Clark Kent is cast as Superboy’s “secret identity”
and gets a chance to teach snobbish star Reginald Snoddish a lesson in
humanity.
Adventure Comics No. 156
September 1950
Cover: Superboy flying kids on “magic carpet” //
Story: “The Flying Peril” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #10)
Intro: John Martell (only appearance)
Villains: Smiley and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Flight museum owner John Martell lost his nerve about flying
long ago, but, when gangsters use his museum as a hideout, Superboy helps
him regain his courage and captures the crooks at the same time.
Superboy No. 10
September-October 1950
Cover: Superboy doing lariat trick in mid-air //Wayne Boring
Story: “The Girl In Superboy’s Life” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next chronological appearance in issue
#87)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (first appearance; last chronological
appearance in flashback in SUPERMAN #136 (2); next chronological appearance
in issue #87), Prof. Lewis Thomas Lang (first appearance; chronologically
between flashbacks in issues #69 / 87; first name revealed in ?;
middle name, Thomas, inferred from his being called Tom Lang in issue #19;
also called John Lang in issue #18), Sarah Potter Lang (first appearance;
last chronological appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #11; next appears
in ADVENTURE COMICS #167; first name revealed in Superman: Last Son of
Krypton by Elliot S! Maggin), Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (last appearance
for both in ADVENTURE COMICS #153), Mayor Higgins (last appearance in issue
#8; next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #165)
Intro: Police chief of Smallville, John Garris (only appearance for
both), the Superboy Club
Villain: Ezra Keener (the “Man Who Hates Smallville”; first and only
appearance)
Comments: As is shown in issues #69, 70, 75, and other “untold” or
flashback stories, the Langs have been living in Smallville before this
story. This is the story in which they become next-door neighbors
to the Kents.
Since Mrs. Lang’s first name was never revealed in the comics,
and since Elliot S! Maggin’s two Superman novels do have a connection to
the canonical DC universe through a character who appears in DC COMICS
PRESENTS ANNUAL #2 and 4, we have given her the first name of Sarah, which
she was given in the novels.
Shortly after this story, Lana Lang again tries to prove that
Clark is Superboy in issue #87 (1; flashback), Lois Lane comes back in
time to try and prevent the romance between Superboy and Lana in SUPERMAN’S
GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #50, and Superboy tries out a differently-colored
costume in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #18 (2).
Synopsis: Shortly after Professor Lewis Lang and his family move next
door to the Kents, they ask their daughter Lana to be a house guest with
Clark and his family when they go to Africa to collect animals for zoos.
While Lana is staying with the Kents, she first begins to suspect Clark
is Superboy, beginning a long-running series of attempts to prove the two
boys are one and the same. Both become involved in a case in which
an ex-convict is wrongly suspected of being a terrorist, and Superboy goes
to Africa to help the Langs round up animals so they can come home early.
Story: “The Toughest School in the World” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY
#18 (2))
Intro: Sheriff of Smallville, Sandy, Red, Blackie, Miss Grady (only
appearance for all)
Villain: Burlington Smith (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Three classmates of Clark Kent’s find phony get-rich-quick
schemes when a con man is driven from town by Superboy. They think the
schemes are real, drop out of school, and are taught a lesson in expecting
something for nothing by Superboy, after which they return to school.
Story: “Superboy Meets Centuryman” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #157)
Intro: Will Ferris, Centuryman (a comic strip character; first and
only appearance for both)
Villains: Waxey, Flatnose, and Jimbo (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Crooks hold cartoonist Will Ferris, creator of the superhero
comic strip Centuryman, hostage and force him to send coded instructions
to their boss through his strips, until Superboy manages to rescue him
with a daring ruse.
Adventure Comics No. 157
October 1950
Cover: Superboy blowing stream from water gun back in Paul Westley’s
face //
Story: “The Worst Boy In Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Dr. John Westley (in flashback; dies in this story), Mr.
Hilton, Paul Westley, governor of Smallville’s state (only appearance for
all)
Villain: Dr. Westley’s assistant (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Paul Westley goes on a campaign of wrongdoing so that he
can get himself sent to reform school and find an envelope there that clears
his late father’s name, but Superboy turns Paul’s deeds into constructive
ones and, once he is clued in, finds the evidence himself for Paul.
Adventure Comics No. 158
November 1950
Cover: Superboy conducting Superboy puppet show //
Story: “The Impossible Task” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #11)
Intro: Thaddeus Brainley, Fred, Dick, Charles, Johnny, Ann Edwards
(only appearance for all)
GS: Principal Danforth (last appearance in SUPERBOY #6; last appearance)
Villain: Whitey (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy tries to help out a young teacher win the approval
of his students by taking the challenge of three impossible tasks the teacher
sets for him.
Superboy No. 11
November-December 1950
Cover: Lana Lang watching Superboy chop log with his hands //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Town That Was Out of This World” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #158)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang
Intro: Prof. John Dorman (only appearance)
Villains: Frosty and his partner (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: When two crooks steal a vial of metal-eating gas, Superboy
must prevent anyone from leaving Smallville until he catches the malefactors.
Story: “The Pen-Pal Crimes” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Miss Pringle, Richard, Pierre Couton, Simi and his mother, Dirk
Koljen, Johann (only appearance for all)
Villains: Emile, Jean, and their boss, Halder and his gang, Raneesi,
Panta, and their gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Strange and seemingly worthless “gifts” sent to Superboy
from Smallville school’s overseas pen-pals lead the Boy of Steel to thwart
three crimes in other nations.
Story: “The Famous First Crimes” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Curt Swan
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #160;
also appears in flashback; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Character: Martha Kent (in flashback; see Comment under
MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
GS: Mayor of Smallville
Villain: Humpty Dumpty (last appearance in issue #9; next appears as
the Curator in NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY #24) and his gang (including
Slim; first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Humpty Dumpty breaks jail again and vows to embarrass Superboy
by using famous “firsts” as a theme for his crimes.
Adventure Comics No. 159
December 1950
Cover: Superboy in top hat, with cane and chauffeur //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy, Millionaire” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy of Earth-B (first appearance; last chronological
appearance in issue #123; next appears in SUPERBOY #27)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent of Earth-B (first
appearance for both; both next appear in ?)
Intro: Kendall Clark (only appearance; Martha Kent’s brother; see Comment
below), Dr. Saunders, Simkins, the Rangers, Fenton, Chadwick, Allerton,
Williams
Comment: This story is rewritten and redrawn as a new version in SUPERBOY
#119 (2). In that story, Kendall Kent, Jonathan Kent’s brother, replaces
Kendall Clark from this story. Since Kendall Kent is used in later
stories in the Superboy canon, this story must be relegated to the Earth-B
universe.
Synopsis: When Clark Kent’s rich uncle Kendall Clark suffers a shock
and believes he has adopted Clark, the Boy of Steel has to play along with
him or see his uncle suffer mental imbalance.
Adventure Comics No. 160
January 1951
Cover: Superboy carrying girl with pennant over traffic jam //
Story: “Superboy: Prince Charming” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #11 / 12)
Supporting character: Mr. Reed (last seen in issue #154)
Intro: Alice Norris, Stella Norris, Bella Norris, Joe, Ed (only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy reenacts the story of Cinderella when he has to
play Prince Charming to a plain girl humiliated by her glamourous cousins.
Superboy No. 12
January-February 1951
Cover: Superboy watching kids draw pictures of him on blackboard //Wayne
Boring
Story: “The Heroes Club” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Curt Swan
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #161)
Intro: Lloyd Morgan, Mrs. Morgan, Poynter, Mr. Gordon, Jim Gordon,
Terry Terwilliger III, Stella Mars (only appearance for all)
Synopssi: A club honoring heroic ancestors of current Smallvillians
is formed, and Superboy must help a young man clear his grandfather’s reputation
so that he can join.
Story: “The Puppet That Came To Life” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Carl (Kent?; Superboy’s adoptive cousin), Twinkly (a puppet),
Harold Reynolds, Lem Hawkins (only appearance for all)
Villains: Getaway Gatlin, Wilson, Hennon (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: The presence of television in this story indicates that it
takes place at a time much later than the 1930's.
Synopsis: When Twinkly, the puppet star of a beloved children’s TV
show, comes under the control of a swindler, Superboy must find a way to
get him back to his rightful owner.
Story: “Superboy’s Problem Parents” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Curt Swan
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #161)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (called Marthe in
this story)
Intro: Jed (only appearance)
Villains: Slot Bivins, Slim Perkins (first and only appearance for
both)
Synopsis: Jonathan and Martha Kent lose a contest on a quiz program
and are forced to switch roles for a day, but Superboy discovers that a
pair of gangsters are taking a hand in things.
Adventure Comics No. 161
February 1951
Cover: Superboy clearing snow off sidewalk //
Story: “The Girl Who Was Scoop-Crazy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (also appears as Superman on page 1; last
appearance in SUPERBOY #12)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Martha Kent, Mr. Reed (next appears
in ?)
Intro: Mr. Smith (only appearance)
Villain: Dorset (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story takes place during summer vacation from Smallville
High School.
Synopsis: While Clark Kent is working as a cub reporter for the Smallville
News, Lana Lang hires on as a reporter of teenage news. Both of them
(and Superboy) soon find themselves investigating a case of sub-standard
construction materials.
Adventure Comics No. 162
March 1951
Cover: Superboy blowing hurled shotput high into air //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Supercoach of Smallville High” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #13)
Intro: Joe Fleming, Mr. Fields, Hal, Lucy, Roderick, Dick, Dr. Waters,
Mr. Dean (only appearance for all), Martians
GS: Principal Bascomb (first appearance?; next appears in SUPERBOY
#13)
Villain: Harold Craggs, Fingers and his confederate (first and only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy saves a coach from a suicide attempt and helps him
get Smallville High athletes in shape for a track-and-field competition,
not knowing that a rival has vowed to make sure Smallville loses, no matter
what the cost.
Superboy No. 13
March-April 1951
Cover: Superboy tying knots in trees before Alvin Bolton, Mr. Harris,
and Walt Rockwood //Curt Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Super Boy Scout of Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #162)
Intro: Mr. Harris, Alvin Bolton, Harry Bolton (only appearance for
all)
Villain: Walt Rockwood (first and only appearance)
Comment: Superboy joins the Boy Scouts of America in this story.
Synopsis: In order to get a lumberman to give the Boy Scouts of Smallville
a tract of land, Superboy agrees to help the man’s weak son become a Scout.
Story: “The Confession of Clark Kent” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Martha Kent, Larry Lang (Lana’s brother;
first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Clark Kent is forced to stay with the Langs when his parents
go out of town, and Lana Lang is determined to use the opportunity to prove
he is Superboy.
Story: “The Terrible Twigley Twins” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #163)
GS: Principal Bascomb (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #162; named
as “Balcomb” in this story, but his real name is revealed next issue)
Intro: Mr. Westley, Mr. Finletter, Eddie Roe, Dr. Lawrence, Mr. Twigley,
Johnny
Villains: Oswald Twigley, Oscar Twigley (first and only appearance
for both)
Synopsis: A magician’s twin sons cause havoc for school with their
pranks, until Superboy intervenes to straighten them out.
Adventure Comics No. 163
April 1951
Cover: Superboy, crooks, and Phineas Fenton //
Story: “Superboy’s Phoney Father” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #13)
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent
Intro: Phineas Fenton, Dick Fenton, Paul Stanton, Mr. Lanyard, J. B.
Buxton, Mrs. Van Ardle, Mason, Renwick (only appearance for all), J. B.
Buxton (probably next appears in issue #171)
Villains: Gimpy and his confederate (first and only appearance for
both)
Synopsis: When Superboy has Smallville youth Dick Fenton pretend to
be him while taking care of an emergency elsewhere, Dick’s nebbish father
Phineas comes to believe his son is really Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 164
May 1951
Cover: Superboy withstanding Indians’ arrows //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy Vs. Silent Fox” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #14)
Intro: Sharp Arrow and his tribe (only appearance for all)
Villain: Silent Fox (only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy discovers an isolated tribe of Indians and helps
the rightful claimant to chieftainship, Sharp Arrow, triumph over his evil
rival, Silent Fox.
Superboy No. 14
May-June 1951
Cover: Martians and Marsboy watching Superboy on viewscreen //Curt
Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Boy From Mars” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy of Earth-B (last appearance in ADVENTURE
COMICS #159; next appears in issue #16)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (of Earth-B; first appearance; next
appears in ?)
Intro: Marsboy (Sutri; origin), Martians (of Mars-B; all next
appear in issue #16), Mr. Corkin (only appearance)
Comment: Since the Martians of this story and issue #16 (who
come from Earth’s lost continent of Mu) are not of the same race as J’onn
J’onzz or Commander Blanx, we have assigned this story to Earth-B.
Synopsis: Marsboy, the super-hero of Mars, must go to Earth and bring
back the one thing to save his race by defeating Superboy.
Story: “Superboy Goes To School” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #164)
Supporting Character: Principal Bascomb
Intro: “Doc” Hobson, Miss Selkirk, Mr. Collins, Mr. Evans, Mr. Witherspoon
Synopsis: In order to convince potential dropouts to stay in school,
Superboy agrees to attend Smallville High in costume...but one teacher
insists that he go to school four years to get his diploma.
Story: “Pa Kent’s Dangerous Assistant” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #165)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Roscoe Bowles, Edgar Bowles (only appearance for both)
Villains: Bellows and his gang, an Edgar Bowles impostor (first and
only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Pa Kent takes on a new helper in his store, whom Superboy
learns is deliberately sabotaging the place as part of a hijacking gang’s
scheme.
Adventure Comics No. 165
June 1951
Cover: Superboy doing balancing act with stuntmen and stuntwomen //Win
Mortimer
Story: “Superboy’s School For Stuntmen” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in SUPERBOY #10)
Intro: Fred Edwards, Tumbles Tilton, James Atkinson, Gloria Dennon
(only appearance for all)
Villain: The Masked Stuntman (Flip Wilson; only appearance)
Synopsis: Flip Wilson gets some help from Superboy in starting a stuntman’s
school, but things are complicated by the presence of the Masked Stuntman,
an acrobatic crook who is in reality Wilson himself.
Adventure Comics No. 166
July 1951
Cover: Superboy in tug-of-war between people of Smallville and Hadley
//Win Mortimer
Story: “The Town That Stole Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #15)
Supporting Character: Mayor Higgins (next appears in issue #171)
Intro: Mr. Andrews (only appearance)
Villain: Jeb Williams (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Promoter Jeb Williams gets Smallville’s neighboring town
of Hadley to declare itself the real home of Superboy, sues Smallville
for a million dollars for its “false” claim to be Superboy’s hometown,
and exploits the Boy of Steel’s forced presence in Hadley, until Superboy
himself straightens things out.
Superboy No. 15
July-August 1951
Cover: Superboy looking at Superboy coins //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Secret of the Golden Coins” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #166)
Villains: Captain Crow, Randolph, John, Featherstone, Higgins (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: To solve the mystery of pirate’s coins with his likeness
on them, Superboy goes back to the 16th Century to sign on with the wicked
Captain Crow.
Story: “Clark Kent’s Terrible Report Card” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Principal Bascomb, Jonathan Kent
Intro: Miss Moore, Rodney, Henry Reed, Mr. Reed, a farmer, Bob and
his brother (only appearance for all)
Villains: Slugger, Larry Smithers (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy sets out to help some students who have failing
grades, and stumbles upon a plot by two gangsters, one of whom impersonates
a schoolboy.
Story: “Superboy’s Class Reunion” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superman (between issue #1 and flashback in WORLD’S
FINEST COMICS #94; also appears as Superboy, in flashback, between second
story in this issue and ADVENTURE COMICS #167)
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent (in flashback)
Intro: Irma Sayres, Mr. Sayres, Neale Osborne, Al Peck, Sam Taylor
(only appearance for all)
Villains: Chip Brooks, Rufe Styles, Goldie (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story takes place 15 years after Clark Kent’s junior
high school years. Thus, it confirms that Clark is probably in junior
high at this time in the Superboy chronicles, and that Clark Kent / Superman
is about 29, but the figure given here could be wrong. Most likely
it is 10 years after Clark’s junior high days, and Superman is probably
24.
This is actually a Superman story, with the Superboy segments
presented as flashbacks.
Synopsis: Clark Kent, now an adult reporter for the Daily Planet, goes
back to Smallville to attend a junior high reunion, where three old classmates
tell of how Superboy aided them in the past...and where one standoffish
attendee is secretly packing a gun.
Adventure Comics No. 167
August 1951
Cover: Superboy and Lana Lang as “Super-Girl” //Win Mortimer
Story: “Lana Lang, Super-Girl” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #15)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Intro: Tommy Adams (only appearance)
Villains: Waxey Wilson and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy must pretend that a helmet brought back from Egypt
by Prof. Lewis Lang can give super-powers to those who wear it, as Lana
does, or give away his secret identity.
Adventure Comics No. 168
September 1951
Cover: Superboy, Lana Lang, and Ronald Lang //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Boy Who Outsmarted Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #16)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Martha Kent
Intro: Ronald Lang (Lana’s brother; only appearance)
Synopsis: Lana Lang challenges her pesky brother Ronald to prove his
“detective” skills by finding proof that Superboy is Clark Kent. When he
does, Superboy launches a spectacular ruse to convince Ronald he is imagining
things.
Superboy No. 16
September-October 1951
Cover: Superboy and Lana Lang looking at three Superboys in different
costumes //John Sikela / Win Mortimer
Story: “The Strange Costumes of Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #168;
also appears in flashbacks to indeterminate times)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Martha Kent
Intro: Jennie Hobson, Andrew Hobson, Reynolds (all in flashback),
Miss Benton, editor of Highlight magazine, Marian (only appearance for
all)
Villains: Jack Meyers, a convict, a crooked doctor (all in flashback;
first and only appearance for all)
Comment: This story confirms that Superboy’s costume is made of a “rare
Krypton element”.
Synopsis: Superboy tells a writer and a magazine editor about his three
strangest costumes, but finds that his strangest costume yet is to be created
to throw Lana Lang off the identity-hunting trail.
Story: “The Worst Circus on Earth” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #169)
Intro: Eddie Griffin, Wilbur Griffin, Benjy Zambezi, Mr. and Mrs. Zambezi,
J. J. Rugg, Tina, other members of Jeff’s Travelling Circus (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Jeff, Loki (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy helps a broken-down circus get back in shape for
a performance in Smallville and helps solve an old crime in the process.
Story: “Superboy On Mars” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy of Earth-B (last appearance in issue #14;
next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #195)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (of Earth-B; last appearance in issue
#14; next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #195)
GS: Marsboy (last appearance in issue #14; next appears in ADVENTURE
COMICS #195)
Other characters: Martians (last appearance in issue #14; next
appear in ADVENTURE COMICS #195)
Intro: Mr. Simmons, a para-puppy (only appearance for both)
Comment: Since Marsboy and his fellow Martians are not of the same
race as J’onn J’onzz or Commander Blanx, we have placed his stories in
the “Earth-B” universe.
Synopsis: Marsboy and Superboy exchange costumes and identities to
substitute for each other on their respective worlds, but each one endangers
the other’s secret identity by doing so.
Adventure Comics No. 169
October 1951
Cover: Superboy and Edgar //Win Mortimer
Story: “Clark Kent’s Private Butler” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #16)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Edgar, Frederick, Rafferty, the Blueblood Butlers’ Society (only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: Martha Kent wins three months’ service from a butler in a
contest, which makes it extremely difficult for Clark Kent to operate as
Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 170
November 1951
Cover: Superboy, Lana Lang, and Ted Hawkins //Win Mortimer
Story: “Lana Lang’s Big Crush” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #17)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (mistakenly portrayed as a blonde
in this story), Prof. Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Intro: Ted Hawkins, Jane, Marian, Mona (only appearance for all)
Comment: Dr. and Mrs. Lang are revealed to have married on “the 15th”
of a month in this story.
Synopsis: Superboy must learn why football hero Ted Hawkins has made
a date with Lana Lang for the prom and then intends to drop her, while,
as Clark Kent, he must deal with the unexpected situation of being placed
on the football team.
Superboy No. 17
November-December 1951
Cover: Two Superboys vs. two knights //Al Plastino
Story: “Clark Kent, Problem Pupil” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #170)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Freckles, Wesley Palmer
Villains: Ruffington Van Jones, Snapper, another crook (first and only
appearance for all)
Comment: This story is partially recycled in issue #98.
Synopsis: Superboy discovers that a new exclusive school in Smallville
is a coverup for a gang of thieves.
Story: “The Man Who Shadowed Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Luke Folsum, Mr. and Mrs. Folsum, Sen. Wiggins, Mr. and Mrs.
Bellows (only appearance for all)
Villains: Ellery, Philo, Beetle and his gang, Hal Flint, other crooks
(first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: A would-be detective sets up shop in Smallville, but ends
up almost starving when Superboy solves his every case. Then he receives
a new assignment: shadow Clark Kent.
Story: “Superboy’s Double” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #171)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (mistakenly colored with blonde hair
in this story)
Intro: Prof. Riley, Alan Brent, Mrs. Brent, Crazy Cedric (first and
only appearance for all)
Villains: King Armand and his men (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: This story is recycled in issue #113.
Synopsis: Superboy travels back to the 12th Century to see why a statue
in his image was found in an old castle.
Adventure Comics No. 171
December 1951
Cover: Superboy, Kryptonite meteor, Tops Tremont, and Owl Anders //Win
Mortimer
Story: “Superboy’s Toughest Tasks” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #17)
Supporting Character: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in issue #166;
next appears in SUPERBOY #18)
GA: J. B. Buxton (?; “J. B.”; last appearance in issue #162; last appearance)
Intro: Lefty
Villains: Tops Tremont, Owl Anders (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: This is the first appearance of Kryptonite in a Superboy story.
Synopsis: When Superboy offers to grant five wishes to Smallville residents
to show how damaging getting what one wishes for really can be, one of
his tasks--dreamed up by two gangsters--is to unearth a 100-ton Kryptonite
meteor.
Adventure Comics No. 172
January 1952
Cover: Superboy, Henry Mathers, and Smallville policeman //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Laws That Backfired” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent
Intro: Henry Mathers (only appearance)
Villains: Assorted crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Smallville is revealed as being 190 years old in this story.
Synopsis: City Councilman Henry Mathers convinces the Smallville government
to abolish their police force and fire department in favor of using Superboy
for law enforcement and fire control, thus saving money. But Superboy
reads and memorizes all the laws on the city books, and discovers that
Smallville is about to cease to exist.
Adventure Comics No. 173
February 1952
Cover: Jonathan Kent watching Superboy burn up money in safe with his
x-ray vision //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy’s School of Hard Knocks” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #18)
Supporting Character: Martha Kent (also appears in flashback; see Comment
under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for its chronology)
Intro: Cyril Brown, Joe Barnes, Walter Smith
Comment: Despite his appearance on the cover, Jonathan Kent does not
appear in this story.
Synopsis: Superboy teaches three Smallville teenagers lessons in the
dangers of overconfidence and carelessness, while Martha Kent reminds him
of how he, too, had to learn how to properly use his powers.
Superboy No. 18
February-March 1952
Cover: Jonathan and Martha Kent watching Superboy paint fence
//Win Mortimer
Story: “Lana Lang, Movie Star” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #173)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS
#174), Prof. Lewis Lang (called John Lang in this story), Sarah Lang, Jonathan
Kent
Intro: Mr. Murrel, Jordan, Ron Rendle, Tharka (only appearance for
all)
Comment: This story is recycled in ADVENTURE COMICS #312.
Synopsis: After Superboy secretly makes Lana Lang appear to be a “jungle
queen” with power over animals, a Hollywood film company signs her to star
in a jungle picture. Superboy arranges to co-star, and to keep Lana’s
ego from getting overinflated.
Story: “Superboy’s Big Brother” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Mayor Horace Higgins
Intro: Herbert and his wife, Robert and his parents (only appearance
for all)
Villains: John Jackson and his accomplice, the Rampart Gang (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Kents are chosen by lot to adopt a youth named Robert,
who is older than Clark Kent--and who periodically changes into a Superboy
costume.
Story: “The Men Who Doubted Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #174)
Supporting Character: Mayor Horace Higgins
Intro: Prof. Wooley and other scientists (only appearance for all)
Villain: Jasper Skeel and his accomplice (first and only appearance
for both)
Synopsis: A team of scientists comes to Smallville to verify Superboy’s
powers, but an unscrupulous citizen plans to turn a profit from it.
Adventure Comics No. 174
March 1952
Cover: Superboy and Lana Lang (in old-fashioned bathing suit) in beauty
contest //Win Mortimer
Story: “The New Lana Lang” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #18)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (last appearance in SUPERBOY #18),
Sarah Lang, Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent
Intro: Ann, Sylvia, Ted, Chet, Miss Fulton, Norton (first and only
appearance for both)
Comment: Lana Lang wins the Miss Smallville of 1952 contest in this
story; note the date.
Synopsis: At first, Superboy has to give Lana Lang a lesson in tempering
her over-competitiveness. Then, when she wants to lose competitions
in order to prove herself a good loser, Superboy has to reverse gears and
make her a winner.
Adventure Comics No. 175
April 1952
Cover: Superboy and Valaians in front of Prince Power poster //Win
Mortimer
Story: “The Duel of the Superboys” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #19)
GS: Mayor Higgins (last appearance in ?; next appears in SUPERBOY #19;
last name revealed in this story)
Intro: Brendon Oldes, John Dixon, President Olson and the people of
Vala, Hans Borson, Greta, Otto (only appearance for all)
Comment: Since the Kryptonite meteor in this story is colored red,
and Superboy gains amnesia and has his normally-invulnerable costume torn
by contact with it, it is possible that this is the first appearance of
Red Kryptonite in a Superboy story.
This story is recycled in issue #295, in which “Prince Power”
becomes Bronze-Boy.
Synopsis: When emissaries from the small European nation of Vala claim
that their hero, Prince Power, is greater than Superboy, Clark Kent and
two other representatives from Smallville go there to investigate.
Clark discovers that Prince Power was Superboy himself, given amnesia temporarily
by a Kryptonite exposure.
Superboy No. 19
April-May 1952
Cover: Superboy, Mayor Higgins, Jonathan Kent, and Martha Kent at dedication
of Clark Kent statue //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Death of Young Clark Kent” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #175)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Mayor Higgins (last
appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #175)
Intro: Dr. Hoskins, Mr. Perkins (only appearance for both)
Villain: The Gem (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story is recycled in issue #99.
Synopsis: A menace that devours all in its path appears to consume
Clark Kent, and Superboy must cope with the danger without having a secret
identity.
Story: “The Riddle of the Rarest Animals” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Martha Kent, Prof. Lewis Lang (called
Tom in this story), Sarah Lang
Villain: Basil Jennings and his men (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: On a trip to Africa with Prof. and Mrs. Lewis Lang, Clark
Kent must intervene as Superboy to save his friends from a jealous colleague.
Story: “The School Without a Teacher” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Don Cameron
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #176)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Mr. Reddles, Johnny Walters (only appearance for both)
Villain: Mr. Turner and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: An epidemic sidelines Smallville High’s teachers for four
weeks, but Superboy steps in to substitute for them all, to the chagrin
of a crook who hoped to profit by the incident.
Adventure Comics No. 176
May 1952
Cover: Superboy eating dinner with new parents //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy’s New Parents” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist:
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #19)
Adventure Comics No. 177
June 1952
Cover: Superboy pulling teenager in chariot //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Hot-Rod Chariot Race” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #20)
Supporting Character: Principal Bascomb
Intro: Vic Varley, Mr. Varley, Prof. Whitley (only appearance for all),
Judah Ben-Hur (of Earth-1; next appears in SUPERBOY #92)
Villains: Crassus, Festus and their accomplice (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story brings the hero of the Lew Wallace novel, Ben Hur,
into the Earth-One universe. He next appears in SUPERBOY #92, though
Superboy has somehow forgotten his earlier meeting with him.
Synopsis: Superboy sees a chance to vindicate a professor whose credibility
has been questioned and teach a teenaged hot-rodder a lesson by going back
to ancient Rome to learn whether or not Ben Hur really existed.
Superboy No. 20
June-July 1952
Cover: Superboy and Lana Lang seeing Jor-El’s “ghost” over station
GHOST //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Ghost That Haunted Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #177)
Supporting Character: Mayor Higgins
Intro: Jim Morley, Joe Spencer, George (only appearance for all)
Cameo appearance: Jor-El (as an illusion), Old Woman of Innsbruck,
Phantom Lovers of Leeds (first and only appearance for all; as illustrations)
Villains: Dr. Aubrey Barth, Prof. Havens Homer (first and only appearance)
Comment: The “ghost” of Jor-El wears no headband in this story.
Synopsis: Two entrepreneurs come to Smallville with a device that appears
to materialize the ghosts of dead persons--including that of Jor-El, who
exposes the fact that Clark Kent is Superboy.
Story: “Superboy’s Safety Code” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Chief Brann (next appears in issue #25), Mel Blake, Mr. Blake,
Dan, Tom, Eddie (only appearance for all)
Villains: Skip, Pearly (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy teaches a lesson in bicycle safety to a spoiled
rich kid and foils the plans of two crooks at the same time.
Story: “The Dragon’s Teeth Soldiers” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Gardner Fox
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #178)
Intro: Prof. Einlein (only appearance)
Cameo appearance: Julius Caesar (on a coin)
Villains: Big Boy Talbot and his gang (including “Lefty” Larry, “Duke”
Adcook, and Al the Pal; first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy must deal with the emergence of a legion of armored
Greco-Roman soldiers who appear to spring forth from planted dragon’s teeth.
Adventure Comics No. 178
July 1952
Cover: Two crooks watching Superboy in lead mask //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Boy In the Lead Mask” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: John Fischetti
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #20)
Intro: Mr. Howard
Villains: Ten-Pin, Hypo, Joey, Dan, Professor Oslo, Garson, Big Sven,
Topper, Scowl, other crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Comments: This story reveals that Superboy also possesses the sense
of super-smell.
Superboy is revealed to have a secret cavern room inside a giant
boulder in this story, a precursor of his Fortress of Solitude.
Synopsis: A crooked professor gets an entire class of Smallville students
to wear lead masks as part of a “telepathy experiment”, to try and learn
which of them is secretly Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 179
August 1952
Cover: Superboy trying to save Mr. Dornley on his “seven-league” mechanical
boots //Win Mortimer
Story: “The World’s Wackiest Inventions” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: John Fischetti
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #21)
Intro: Caspar Otis, Sam Willenson, Mr. Dornley, Mr. Quibby (only appearance
for all)
Villain: Barton Blount (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: After seeing Superboy rescue a crackpot inventor from his
invention, a swindler sees a way of turning the situation to his own profit.
Superboy No. 21
August-September 1952
Cover: Superboy jumping out of giant top hat at Big-Brain Baines and
his gang as Lana Lang, in magician’s outfit, waves wand //John Sikela
Story: “The Giant That Stalked Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #179)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Freddie Bryson, Jimmy Atlas, Dr. Lionel Reading, Prof.
Jennings (only appearance for all)
Villain: Alan John Gale (first appearance; next appears in ADVENTURE
COMICS #209)
Synopsis: Superboy finds himself in a real-life fairy tale when some
mutated beans produce a giant beanstalk that leads him to a real giant.
Story: “Lana Lang, Magician” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Villains: Big-Brain Baines and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Lana Lang becomes convinced that a magic wand in her possession
really works when Superboy secretly aids her, and embarks on a career as
a magician.
Story: “One Dozen Superboys” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #180)
Intro: Jimmy, Angelo, Vincent, Bill, Bob Hunt, Henry Smith, Prof. Wilkes
(only appearance for all), Frederick Wilkes (in flashback; dies in this
story)
Villain: Mr. Groves (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When a “second Superboy” is reported to exist, the original
Superboy sets up tests to determine if other youths have super-powers.
Adventure Comics No. 180
September 1952
Cover: Superboy led by Sphinx Ferris on a chain to an underworld awards
ceremony //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Grand Prize of the Underworld” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #21)
Supporting Character: Mayor Horace Higgins
Villains: Scragg, Larson, the Pearson Gang, Sphinx Ferris, Bleak Mahoney,
Joe Marlowe, Larkin, Decker, other crooks (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Sphinx Ferris vows to gain the coveted Superboy Award at
the underworld’s Blackjack Awards ceremony for outsmarting the Boy of Steel,
even though a gunshot has temporarily blinded him.
Adventure Comics No. 181
October 1952
Cover: Superboy, crowd, and Masked Hero //Win Mortimer
Story: “A Mask For a Hero” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #22)
Supporting Character: Mayor of Smallville
Intro: The Masked Hero (Henry Darwin), Mr. Aldo, Jim Carlton, Alice
Carlton, Bill Wilder (only appearance for all)
Villains: Owley Manners and his gang, Gaff Drake, Jack C. Reavis
and his gang (including Spots; first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A masked hero appears in Smallville, and Superboy and other
citizens wonder if he may really be a criminal.
Superboy No. 22
October-November 1952
Cover: Superboy watching Lana Lang replace Superboy pictures with one
of Clark Kent //John Sikela
Story: “The Noah’s Ark From Space” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #181)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang
Villains: Alien invaders (as a voice; first and only appearance)
Synopsis: An alien spacecraft lands on Earth with a load of super-powered
monsters as the first phase of an invasion, and Superboy must find a way
to stop the beasts.
Story: “Superboy and the Sleeping Beauty” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang
Intro: Org, Norg, Axel, Maxel, Jaxel, Alice, the Colonel (only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Lana Lang is stricken with a sleeping sickness, and Superboy
is faced with the dual problem of curing her and making sure her father,
who is needed to save lives in Africa, doesn’t find out.
Story: “The New Clark Kent” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #182)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Prof.
Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Intro: Cyrus Vanding, Freddie Taylor, Mr. Edwards, Don (only appearance
for all)
Villain: A thief (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Clark Kent increases his timid act to throw off Lana’s suspicions
that he is Superboy. But when she sees through his pretense, he arranges
to undergo a treatment that appears to turn Clark Kent into a brash he-man.
Adventure Comics No. 182
November 1952
Cover: Superboy supporting cracked tower to save Dick Kampton, Fred,
Horton, and Cuthbert //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super-Hick From Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #22 / 23)
Supporting Character: Martha Kent
Intro: Dick Kampton, Mrs. Kampton, Fred, Horton, Cuthbert (only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy lends a hand to a friend when two others scheme
to cheat the latter out of a rich uncle’s favor.
Adventure Comics No. 183
December 1952
Cover: Superboy bringing jewels to Lana Lang as “Cleopatra” //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy and Cleopatra” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
inker: Creig Flessel
Feature character: Superboy (of Earth-B)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Miss Perkins (both of Earth-B)
Intro: Joe Renfrew, Jed Evans, Rutherford (Lana Lang’s uncle; only
appearance for all)
Comments: Story is recycled in issue #291. Since the latter story
introduces Professor Potter to the Superboy stories, we have chosen to
regard this as the “Earth-B” story.
This story takes place on and around Valentine’s Day.
Synopsis: Superboy claims that the only girl he could be romantically
interested in is Cleopatra, and a professor announces that he has a time
machine that can bring the ancient Egyptian queen to the present.
Superboy No. 23
December 1952 / January 1953
Cover: Superboy wrecking Smallville street with out-of-control powers
//Win Mortimer
Story: “Clark Kent, Miser” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #182;
also appears in flashback; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang
Intro: Arthur Harmon and his foster-parents, Martin Wills (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Swifty and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: This story confirms that Superbaby was found on the road between
Metropolis and Smallville.
Synopsis: Clark Kent is recognized as the long-lost heir to the Arthur
Harmon fortune, and he is put in the predicament of not spending any of
his wealth while he looks for the real heir as Superboy.
Story: “Superboy Goes To College” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent
Intro: George, Dean Forwell, Prof. Blair, Prof. White, Trisby, Manley
(only appearance for all)
Villain: A janitor (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy agrees to substitute for some teachers at Exwell
College, but encounters unexpected hostility from a certain professor,
not long before $2000 is robbed from the college.
Story: “The Super Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #184)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Mayor Higgins
Intro: Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Evans (only appearance for both)
Villains: Jud, Batty (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy appears to have lost control of his super-powers,
causing everyone in Smallville to shun him.
Adventure Comics No. 184
January 1953
Cover: Blake watching kids weaken Superboy with cameras //Win
Mortimer
Story: “The Shutterbugs of Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #23)
Supporting Character: Martha Kent
Intro: Mr. Wilkins, warden of Smallville Prison, Col. Wiggins, Larry
Wright (only appearance for all)
Villains: Blake, Jeff, other convicts (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: A convict plans to make a jailbreak while Superboy is weakened
from exposure to Kryptonite in the cameras of shutterbugs.
Adventure Comics No. 185
February 1953
Cover: Superboy saving Lewis Lang and Strand from griffin //Win
Mortimer
Story: “The Mythical Monsters” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #24)
Supporting Characters: Lewis Lang, Lana Lang
Intro: Morrow (only appearance)
Villain: Strand (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When Prof. Lang claims to have seen a roc, a dragon, and
a griffin on an expedition, Superboy must save his reputation.
Superboy No. 24
February-March 1953
Cover: Fat Superboy ripping his costume as he lifts car out of ditch
for Lana Lang and her friend //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super-Fat Boy of Steel” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #185)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Eddy Bray, Joe Morgan, Coach Gaines, Prof. Moore (only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story is recycled in ADVENTURE COMICS #298.
Synopsis: Teenagers all over Smallville become fat overnight, and Clark
Kent becomes fat as both himself and Superboy in order to learn the cause
of it.
Story: “The Hot-Rodders of the Air” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Lana Lang
Intro: Jimmy Arnold, Pete Noonan, Chuck Arden, Luke, Johnny Porter,
Mrs. Porter (only appearance for all)
Villains: Badger Burke and his gang (including Hinkly; first and only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: Teenagers in Smallville go in big for flying their own prop
planes, and a gangster intends to cash in on it, causing Superboy to go
into action.
Story: “Let Superboy Do It” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #186)
Intro: Brown, Wilson, Mrs. Jones, Henry Kinley, Johnson (only appearance
for all)
Villain: James Girton (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A Superboy Committee in Smallville forms to present the Boy
of Steel with jobs important enough for him to handle, but a swindler is
behind the effort.
Adventure Comics No. 186
March 1953
Cover: Superboy stopping locomotive from hitting youth //Curt
Swan / Ray Burnley
Story: “Smallville Becomes a Ghost Town” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #24)
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent
Intro: Moose, Joey and his mother, Prof. Leeds (only appearance for
all)
Villains: A band of profiteers, two crooks (first and only apperarance
for all)
Comment: Jonathan Kent is depicted as balder in this story then he
will appear in later stories.
Synopsis: To keep the citizens of Smallville from perishing, Superboy
lures them out of town by “salting” a fake gold mine.
Adventure Comics No. 187
April 1953
Cover: Superboy watching flying people of the 25th Century //Curt Swan
/ Ray Burnley
Story: “The 25th Century Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Ray Burnely
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #25)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Lars-112, Elra, Prof. Jod (only appearance for all)
Comment: The 25th Century in this story is probably not the same alternate
future in which the Superman of 2465 operates.
Synopsis: Clark Kent is yanked forward by a time-ray into the 25th
Century, where he discovers that most people do not believe a Superboy
really existed.
Superboy No. 25
April-May 1953
Cover: Superboy bringing carriage to Lana Lang // Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super-Artist of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #187)
Supporting Character: Principal Bascomb
Intro: Mr. Merton (only appearance)
Villains: Arthur Bralley, Adam Bralley, Silky Smithers and his gang
(first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A wealthy Smallville citizen tries to have an art teacher
fired for belittling his son’s talent, until Superboy lends the teacher
a hand.
Story: “The Boy Who Framed Clark Kent” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Larry Wilks, Hunt, Jackson (only appearance for all)
Villains: A gang of crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: On a camping trip, Clark Kent is framed by a phony Superboy
costume as part of a camper’s plans to get favors for himself and Clark.
Story: “The Cinderella of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #188)
Supporting characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Other characters: Martians, Chief Brann (last appearance in issue #20)
Villains: Silas Creech, Aggie Creech, and their two daughters (first
and only appearance for all)
Comment: This story confirms that Lana Lang was fat at age 10 and is
sensitive about it.
Synopsis: After the apparent death of her parents, Lana Lang is sent
to live with Mr. and Mrs. Silas Creech, who had hoped to control Prof.
Lang’s money. When the payoff is delayed indefinitely until the “deaths”
can be proved, the Creechs treat Lana as badly as Cinderella was treated
by her stepmother, until Superboy steps in to play “fairy godfather”.
Adventure Comics No. 188
May 1953
Cover: Superboy saving Jonathan Kent, as a matador, from a bull //Win
Mortimer
Story: “The Bullfighter From Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #25)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Jimmy, Jack, Harry, and their fathers, Tom, Bill Ronson, Mr.
Ronson, Seth (only appearance for all)
Villains: Two crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Jonathan Kent falls down a flight of stairs, takes a crack
on the head, and suddenly believes himself to be a great matador.
Adventure Comics No. 189
June 1953
Cover: Superboy and Lana Lang (as Sky-Girl) vs. crooks //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Girl of Steel” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in flashback in SUPERMAN
#78)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang (becomes Sky-Girl in this one story),
Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang, Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent, Betty (?; possibly
the Betty last seen in issue #131; last appearance)
Intro: Joan (only appearance)
Villain: A crook (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story is recycled in issue #285.
Synopsis: A magic belt Lewis Lang brings back from Easter Island gives
Lana super-powers. She becomes Sky-Girl, a lead-masked heroine, and
gives Superboy competition in Smallville.
Superboy No. 26
June-July 1953
Cover: Superboy, Jonathan Kent, and Martha Kent watching home movies
of baby Clark Kent and Martha Kent //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super-Tot of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (also appears as Superbaby; last chronological
appearance in issue #10; next chronological appearance in ?; see Comment
under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent (both also appear
in flashbacks; see Comment under MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology),
Lana Lang, Alvin Lang (Lana’s brother; first appearance; next appears in
issue #48)
Intro: Denton, Kennedy (in flashback; only appearance for both)
Villain: Three crooks (one in flashback; first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy and his parents peruse a photo album and recall
incidents in which 3-year-old Clark Kent unwittingly used his powers.
But one picture of Clark using his super-strength falls into the hands
of Lana Lang.
Story: “Superboy Hired a Manager” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #189)
Intro: James Rendon (only appearance)
Villains: Ernie Cassell and his gang, Frank the Plotter, various gangsters
(first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy saves a manager from suiciding after a gangster
puts him out of business, then agrees to let the man manage him.
Story: “Lana Lang’s New Boy Friend” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #190)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent
Intro: Joe Gomez, Mr. Gomez, Tim, Harry, Mr. Williams (only appearance
for all)
Villain: Gibson and his confederate (first and only appearance for
both)
Synopsis: After Lana Lang is rescued from drowning by Joe Gomez, she
begins dating him and harbors a suspicion that he, not Clark Kent, might
be Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 190
July 1953
Cover: Superboy washing cars for charity as Jero watches //Curt Swan
/ Creig Flessel
Story: “The Terrible Truant” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #26 / 27)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Hiram Scrabble, Thern, Jero, Tor (only appearance for all)
Villains: Two crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A teenager from the world of Xanadu lands in Smallville,
and causes problems for Superboy with his super-scientific gimmicks.
Adventure Comics No. 191
August 1953
Cover: Superboy seeing Martha Kent scolding Ralph Bridgson //Win
Mortimer
Story: “The Two Clark Kents” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (of Earth-B)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang (all of
Earth-B)
Intro: Ralph Bridgson (only appearance)
Villains: Number One (Johnny Larsen) and his gang (first and
only appearance for all)
Comment: This story is recycled in issue #290. Since the latter
tale is definitely canonical, we have chosen to designate this as an Earth-B
story.
Synopsis: A juvenile delinquent who is a physical double for Clark
Kent escapes to Smallville and is unwittingly taken in by Martha Kent.
Superboy No. 27
August-September 1953
Cover: Clark Kent and hoboes around campfire, near Superboy billboard
//Win Mortimer
Story: “The Pied Piper of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #191)
Supporting Characters: Mayor Higgins, Lana Lang
Intro: Mr. Barnes, Jerry Howes (only appearance for both)
Villain: Gaff Lomar (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A modern “pied piper” seems to have the ability to mesmerize
Smallville youngsters into following him when he plays his clarinet--and
Superboy must learn his secret.
Story: “The Movie Star of Tomorrow” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Jonathan Exo
Villain: Dirl Heston
Comment: This is possibly Superboy’s first journey into the 30th Century,
where he will later meet the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Synopsis: A movie maker from the 30th Century goes 1,000 years into
the past to persuade Superboy to return with him and star in a film that
will rescue him from financial ruin.
Story: “Clark Kent, Runaway” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #192)
Supporting Characters: Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent
Cameo appearance: Lana Lang (appears on splash page, but not in story)
Villains: Two actors (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: After a tiff with his apparent parents, Clark Kent runs away
from home, and the Kents spare nothing to get him (and Superboy) back.
Adventure Comics No. 192
September 1953
Cover: Superboy constructing car for Queen Lana Lang and her two courtiers
//Curt Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Coronation of Lana Lang” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #27)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang
Intro: Queen Marianne, Rodolfo (only appearance for both)
Villains: Two enemies of Marianne (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Lana Lang must stand in for a missing queen who is her double,
and when Superboy enters her kingdom, she forces him to perform her every
whim or be penalized as an illegal alien.
Adventure Comics No. 193
October 1953
Cover: Superboy watching Bob Cummins, Mr. Bell, and Slick Honeywell
reach for his costume //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy’s Lost Costume” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #28)
Intro: Tom, Bob Cummins, Sylvia, Mr. Bell (only appearance for all)
Villain: Slick Honeywell (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Clark Kent loses his Superboy costume while swimming, and
three people find it and try to use it to their advantage.
Superboy No. 28
October-November 1953
Cover: Superboy tiring as he holds up elevated roadway, with Foxy Philip
Foxworth looking on //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Luckiest Boy In the World” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #193)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Mayor Higgins, Lana
Lang
Intro: John Wilders, Irma Jennings, editor of View magazine, Mr. Wilson,
Earl Ellman (only appearance of all)
Villains: Willis Snecker and his aide (first and only appearance for
both)
Synopsis: A national magazine dubs Clark Kent the luckiest boy in the
world for surviving so many potentially deadly accidents, and others try
to exploit his “luck” for their gain.
Story: “The Man Who Defeated Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Villains: Foxy Phil Foxworth, Gentleman Joe Hatch, Light-Fingers Fred,
Machine-Gun Morris, Baby Eyes Belson, Mayhem Mike, various crooks (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A swindler happens upon a machine that appears to have the
power to sap Superboy’s strength, and uses it to bilk gold and precious
gems away from his fellow crooks.
Story: “The Boy Who Proved the Impossible” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #194)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Alan, Mrs. Mead, Miss Henderson (only appearance for all)
Comment: Smallville High’s new principal, Pettigrew, is named in this
story.
Synopsis: A new boy in town has eyes for Lana Lang, and aims to beat
Clark Kent’s time by convincing her Clark is not Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 194
November 1953
Cover: Genius Wemberly and Beetles charging Superboy with electricity
//Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super-Charged Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #28 / 29)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Tom Ferritt (only appearance)
Villains: Genius Wemberly, Beetles, Willie G-Note, Biff Randles, various
crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A criminal scientist supercharges Superboy with electricity,
forcing him to perform his super-feats at long distance.
Adventure Comics No. 195
December 1953
Cover: Superboy, Lana Lang, and Marsboy on Mars //Win Mortimer
Story: “Lana Lang’s Romance on Mars” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye
Feature Character: Superboy of Earth-B
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent (both of Earth-B)
GS: Marsboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #16; last appearance)
Intro: Cytherea (only appearance)
Other Characters: Martians (last appearance in SUPERBOY #16; last appearance)
Villains: Two Martian criminals (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: This story is recycled in issue #285, with Star Boy substituting
for Mars Boy.
Since none of the Martians in this story are of the race of J’onn
J’onzz or Commander Blanx, it probably has to take place in the Earth-B
universe.
Synopsis: Superboy helps his old friend Marsboy catch a Martian crook,
but Lana Lang blackmails Marsboy into a scheme to make the Boy of Steel
jealous.
Superboy No. 29
December 1953
Cover: Superboy watching puppet Superboy stopping cop from chasing
crook //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super Athlete of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #194)
Intro: Tim Collins, Jed Noble, Fred Hawley, Ted (only appearance for
all)
Villain: James Willoughby and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: A promoter rigs a contest between Smallville and Corinth
boy athletes to ensure that Corinth wins, so Superboy enters to help Smallville’s
scores, but finds the promoter has more tricks up his sleeve.
Story: “The Tree That Drove Smallville Wild” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Mayor Horace Higgins
Intro: Mr. Scoville, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Powell, Mr. Bishop,
Miss Mannerwell, J. Whimple Winterby, Jones, Banker Jones, Dillingworth,
Senator Swiffle, Busby, Cringeworthy (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Spores released by a meteor Superboy destroys in space affect
Smallvillians and remove their inhibitions, with wacky results.
Story: “The Puppet Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #196)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Mayor
Horace Higgins
Intro: Zorar (only appearance)
Villains: Samson and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy is on vacation and crooks take the opportunity to
start a crime wave in Smallville, but a puppeteer tries countering them
with a life-sized puppet of the Boy of Steel.
Adventure Comics No. 196
January 1954
Cover: Superboy, Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang, Lana Lang, and Kingorilla
//Win Mortimer
Story: “Kingorilla” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #29 / 30)
Supporting Characters: Lewis Lang (called John Lang in this story),
Sarah Lang (mistakenly depicted as a brunette in this story), Lana Lang,
Martha Kent
Villains: Kingorilla (a giant ape), a witch doctor and his tribe (first
and only appearance of all)
Synopsis: Superboy and Lana Lang go to Africa to try and prevent Prof.
and Mrs. Lewis Lang from being sacrificed to Kingorilla, a giant ape.
Superboy No. 30
January 1954
Cover: Superboy watching Willis lift bus off bridge //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Giant Who Came To Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #196)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Mayor George Dean, Joyce Dean, Willis (only appearance for all),
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Willis (first appearance for both; both die in this story)
Comment: The mayor of Smallville is identified as George Dean in this
story rather than Horace Higgins, which may be a chronicler’s error.
Synopsis: A baby is changed into a giant by a growth serum and comes
to Metropolis, causing Superboy to go into action.
Story: “The Picture That Stopped Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Henry Slade and his butler (only appearance for both)
Villains: “Orchids” Eddie and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Comment: Clark Kent reveals that Jonathan and Martha Kent have been
married for more than 25 years in this story.
Synopsis: A boy whose hobby is snapping pictures of Superboy takes
a shot that proves Clark Kent is the Boy Blockbuster, and a gangster plans
to capitalize on the knowledge.
Story: “Tommy Tuttle--Superboy’s Pal” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #197)
Supporting Characters: Mayor Horace Higgins, Lana Lang, Chief Wilkins
(first appearance)
Intro: Tommy Tuttle
Villains: The Crime Professor (Mr. Oates), various crooks (first and
only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Schoolboy Tommy Tuttle exaggerates his role in an adventure
he shared with Superboy, but his bragging gives Clark Kent a clue that
helps the Boy of Steel track down the Crime Professor.
Adventure Comics No. 197
February 1954
Cover: Superboy vs. Red Dragons //Curt Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “Clark Kent--Toughie” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #30)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Mayor Horace Higgins, Principal Pettigrew
(first appearance)
Intro: Mr. Evans, Tommy Tuttle (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Skull and Crossbones Gang (including Roscoe Morton and
George), the Red Dragons (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Clark Kent becomes a juvenile delinquent in order to join
a youth gang and induce its members to reform.
Adventure Comics No. 198
March 1954
Cover: Superboy, a Jovian, a fire-being, and a crystal-man //Curt Swan
/ Creig Flessel
Story: “The Super-Carnival From Space” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #31)
Supporting Character: Jonathan Kent
Intro: Lamic, Arago, a Jovian, Man of Metal, the Jensha, and other
members of the Circus From the Stars, Pete, Dave (only appearance for all)
Villains: A gang of crooks (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story is recycled in SUPERMAN #145.
Synopsis: Superboy is forced to join an interplanetary circus or see
Smallville eaten up by a rock-and-metal-eating monster.
Superboy No. 31
March 1954
Cover: Superboy saving Tara Madras and Panaki the elephant from Ajuna
and his accomplice //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy’s Advisor” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #198)
Supporting Character: Mayor Horace Higgins
Villains: Brainstorm Barney and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy loses his memory after a cyclotron explodes in his
hands, and a brainy gangster intends to turn the situation to his advantage.
Story: “The Demon Reporter” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang, Chief
Wilkins, Tommy Tuttle (last appearance)
Intro: Alex Jones, editor of the Smallville Herald, Paul Lindell (only
appearance for both)
Villains: The Black Mask Gang, various crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy must help a desperate newsboy win a contest for
gaining new subscribers to the Smallville Herald, and learn how a lazy
reporter seems to get breaking news on his exploits almost before they
are done.
Story: “The Amazing Elephant Boy From Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #199)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Tara Madras and his father, Panaki (an elephant; only appearance
for all)
Villains: Ajuna and his accomplice (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: When Clark Kent learns that the elephant of his pen-pal from
India is falsely accused of crimes and sentenced to execution, Superboy
goes into action to rescue the pachyderm and uncover the real culprits.
Adventure Comics No. 199
April 1954
Cover: Superlad saving Clark Kent and Subbanians from falling stalactite
in cave //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “Superboy Meets Superlad” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #31 / 32)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Principal Pettigrew
Intro: Superlad I (a robot; first appearance; destroyed in this story),
Superlad II (another robot), Queen Vya, Prof. Bailey, Subbanians
(only appearance for all)
Villains: Duke Duvvil and his men, Crystal Men (first and only appearance
for all)
Comment: This story is recycled in issue #302.
Synopsis: Superboy drills down to the land of Subbania, 25 miles below
the surface, to help Queen Lya deal with the evil Duke Duvvil using her
robot Superlad, a duplicate of the Boy of Steel.
Superboy No. 32
April 1954
Cover: Jonathan and Martha Kent and others watching Superboy walk towards
throne //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Silent Doom” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #199)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Villains: Jingles Bailey and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: A gangster causes Smallville to suffer a period of soundlessness,
and Superboy must find a way of coping with the menace.
Story: “When Superboy Couldn’t Fly” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Mayor Horace Higgins (drawn incorrectly in this
story)
Villains: Blimp Beagle and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy appears to have lost control of his powers after
repairing a clock, forcing the mayor of Smallville to ground him.
Story: “His Majesty King Superboy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #200)
Supporting Character: Mayor Horace Higgins
Villains: Richard Bayne and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Smallville turns out not to legally have been incorporated
into the United States, so for the week that it takes for the process to
be completed, the town becomes the kingdom of Smallvania--with Superboy
as its king.
Adventure Comics No. 200
May 1954
Cover: Lewis and Lana Lang watching Superboy and apes swing through
jungle trees //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “Superboy and the Apes” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #32)
Supporting Characters: Lewis Lang, Lana Lang
Intro: Mogo (an ape; only appearance)
Villain: Rhett, Bascom, another crook (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Clark Kent goes with Lewis and Lana Lang to Africa to return
an ailing ape to his home environiment, but a disgruntled aide of Lewis
Lang’s goes along in search of a dead city full of apes to trap--and a
deathtrap for Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 201
June 1954
Cover: Superboy changing from Clark Kent identity, Lewis Lang, Lana
Lang, and lion //Curt Swan / Ray Burnley
Story: “The Safari In Smallville” (13 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Ray Burnley
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #33)
Supporting Characters: Lewis Lang, Lana Lang
Intro: Mr. Bascom, Jason Sanderson, Lewis Lang robot (only appearance
for all)
Villain: Hector Hobson (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy becomes convinced that Prof. Lang is affected by
jungle fever and is stealing animals from private zoos to use in the construction
of robot animals.
Superboy No. 33
June 1954
Cover: Superboy flying off in scarecrow clothes, leaving his costume
on a scarecrow //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Case of the Crying Clown” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #201)
Intro: Clyde Dilling, Jonathan Colby, Avery Blake, Danny Whimble (only
appearance for all)
Villain: Leon Stone (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy helps a clown get an agent by aiding him in making
three people laugh who are deaf, blind, and dumb respectively.
Story: “The Pet From Outer Space” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: A space animal (only appearance)
Synopsis: An animal with chameleon powers lands on Earth, “adopts”
Superboy, and threatens to expose his secret identity.
Story: “The Crazy Costumes” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #202)
Supporting Characters: Mayor Higgins (called Mayor Andrews in this
story), Lana Lang
Intro: Dr. Gregory Horveth, Mr. Rutledge, Mrs. Jones, Tom Jones, Art
Clemens (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: While a dignitary is visiting Smallville, Superboy wears
outlandish costumes (such as that of a scarecrow, or Cupid) and performs
his super-deeds in a manner suggested by his outfits.
Adventure Comics No. 202
July 1954
Cover: Lana Lang seeing Superboy smash his own statue //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy City, U.S.A.” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: John Sikela
Feature character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #33 / 34)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Dr. Worth (only appearance)
Synopsis: An unnamed city is finally named after Superboy, but the
monuments its citizens make to Superboy are formed from a strange blue
meteor that may doom them all.
Superboy No. 34
July 1954
Cover: Superboy as one-man band at dance with Lana Lang in attendance
//Win Mortimer
Story: “The Jewel of Jeopardy” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #202)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Villain: Prof. Jethrow (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Lewis Lang tries to stop his daughter and a professor from
falling victim to a strange jewel’s “curse”. When he fails, Superboy
must find a cure.
Story: “The Hepcats of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Allegro Jones and his Youth Band (only appearance for all)
Villains: Nitro Allen and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Nitro Allen, a gangster, tries to stop Smallville’s Youth
Band from performing a charity concert, and Superboy must learn the reason
why.
Story: “The Runaway Rocket” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in flashback in SUPERMAN
#90 (2); also appears in flashbacks to indeterminate times)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Alice, Bob (only appearance for both)
Villain: A giant wheeled robot (in flashback; first and only appearance)
Comment: After this story Superboy rescues Will Burris and gives Martha
Kent a diamond for her birthday, as shown in flashback in SUPERMAN #90
(2).
Synopsis: A series of accidents sends Clark Kent, Lana Lang, and several
other Smallville youths into orbit around Earth in a spacecraft, and Clark
must find a way of rescuing them all without giving away his secret.
Adventure Comics No. 203
August 1954
Cover: Superboy pulling kids across lake on skiboard //Win Mortimer
Story: “Uncle Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in flashback in SUPERMAN
#90 (2))
Intro: Red, Whitey, Spots, Mr. Wells (only appearance for all)
Villain: Spike Rickert (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy does a stint as a camp counselor for some underprivelaged
boys, and must cope with the pranks of three kids from the toughest neighborhood
in Metropolis.
Adventure Comics No. 204
September 1954
Cover: Superboy “rescuing” dummy as Bradley Ashton watches //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Super Brat of Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #35)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent
Intro: Bradley Ashton, Jonas Fitch (only appearance for both)
Synopsis: Superboy seems stymied at trying to stop the harmful practical
jokes of rich young Bradley Ashton.
Superboy No. 35
September 1954
Cover: Clark Kent and Lana Lang watching Stan Holton see Superboy in
crystal ball //Win Mortimer
Story: “Clark Kent, Dog Catcher” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #204)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Synopsis: As student mayor of Smallville for a day, Lana Lang appoints
Superboy to be police chief and Clark Kent to be dogcatcher, sure that
he will betray his identity by not being able to do both jobs at once.
Story: “The Five Superboys” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Ronald Simmons, Eric Linder, Lester Hardy, John Crandall (only
appearance for all)
Villains: Jack Pendleton, Marko and their gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: A philanthropist, secretly backed by a crook, challenges
four supremely-talented youths to perform a super-feat greater than any
of the other three, believing that one of them will reveal he is Superboy
in doing so.
Story: “The Boy Oracle of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #205)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Stan Holton, the Samaritan Club (only appearance for all)
Villains: Sure-Thing Doone and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: A boy with a crystal ball seems to have the power to predict
Superboy’s next deed, and a gang of crooks capitalizes on it.
Adventure Comics No. 205
October 1954
Cover: Superboy //Curt Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Journey of the Second Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #35 / 36)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Kral (only appearance)
Villains: The Titanians (natives of Titan; first appearance; probably
ancestors of Saturn Girl’s races), a band of crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: The tyrannical natives of Titan send Kral, a super-powered
boy, to Earth to secretly gauge that planet’s prospect as another world
for conquest. But he is shown such kindness by Superboy and the Kents
that he changes his mind and goes along with a plan of Superboy’s to convince
the Titanians that all Earthmen are as powerful as Kryptonians. Kral
leaves Earth for Titan, telling Superboy he will work on his world to teach
his people how to live in friendship.
Superboy No. 36
October 1954
Cover: Superboy serving dinner to Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, and Lana
Lang //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Superboy Souvenirs” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #205)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang, Clancy (first appearance; next appears
in issue #40)
Villain: Anton Burk and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy gives approval to a store that sells mementos of
his adventures, until he learns that most of the “mementos” were manufactured.
Story: “Superboy’s Sister” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent, Prof.
Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Villains: Luke and his accomplice (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: When her parents are reported dead while on a trip to Africa,
Lana Lang is allowed to move in with the Kents, which puts a crimp in Superboy’s
operations.
Story: “The Man Who Knew Superboy’s Identity” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #206)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Mayor Horace Higgins,
Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Intro: Eric Stanton, Albert Crane (Superboy’s adoptive cousins; only
appearance)
Comment: Clark Kent celebrates his birthday in this story, but it is
not indicated how old he is.
Synopsis: A mysterious lead-masked figure called the Mask threatens
to expose Superboy’s secret identity unless the Boy of Steel completes
strange tasks for him.
Adventure Comics No. 206
November 1954
Cover: Superboy, Prof. Lewis Lang, Dr. James Peabody, and three fabulous
creatures //Win Mortimer
Story: “The Impossible Creatures” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #36)
Supporting Characters: Prof. Lewis Lang, Lana Lang, Sarah Lang, Dr.
James Peabody (first appearance; first name revealed in issue #234; last
chronological appearance in flashback in issue #234; next appears in SUPERBOY
#66)
Intro: Betty, Johnny, an alien archaeologist (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy must prove that the remains of fabulous animals
Prof. Lang has unearthed are genuine, or Lang will lose his job.
Adventure Comics No. 207
December 1954
Cover: Superboy carrying Timothy Marker over football goal //Curt Swan
/ Ray Burnley
Story: “Smallville’s Worst Athlete” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #37)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent
Intro: Timothy Marker
Villains: Two crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: After being helped by frail Timothy Marker on a case, Superboy
decides to give him a helping hand at getting involved with his favorite
sport--football.
Superboy No. 37
December 1954
Cover: Superboy watching kids swarm to Thaddeus Lang’s strawberry soda
fountain //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Three Who Defied Death” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #207)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Johnny, John Trent, Henry Trent, Charles Trent (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Hoodwink Harrison (aka Harry Higdon) and his gang (first
and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps three brothers complete dangerous jobs to
pay for their mother’s operation, and trips up a crook at the same time.
Story: “Clark Kent, Prisoner” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Miss Emmons (only appearance)
Villains: Gandy, Pete, Mike (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Clark Kent is kidnapped and held prisoner by a gang of crooks
whom he believes have discovered his Superboy identity.
Story: “Thaddeus Lang, Genius” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #208)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Prof. Lewis Lang,
Sarah Lang, Lana Lang, Mayor Higgins
Intro: Thaddeus Wyndham Lang (only appearance; Lewis Lang’s half-brother)
Comment: Betty Potter, Sarah Lang’s and Prof. Potter’s sister, is named
but not depicted in this story.
Synopsis: After the Langs leave town to tend to Sarah’s ailing sister,
Prof. Lang’s half-brother Thaddeus blows into town and proceeds to swindle
all the Smallvillians he can find, until Superboy intervenes in his schemes.
Adventure Comics No. 208
January 1955
Cover: Superboy //John Sikela / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Rip Van Winkle of Smallville” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Bruno Premiani
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #37 / 38)
Intro: John Blair, Mary Norton, Dr. Harris (only appearance for all)
Villain: Henry Vanning (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When John Blair comes out of a coma after 20 years with some
help from a specialist and Superboy, his doctor warns his friends that
he must not learn all at once how long he has slept, or his mind could
be shattered. Superboy helps perpetrate the ruse that Blair
has only been unconscious a short time, but another party schemes to shock
him back into a coma.
Superboy No. 38
January 1955
Cover: Superboy and Bongo lifting weights on stage //Curt Swan
/ Stan Kaye
Story: “The Impossible Illusions” (6 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #208)
Intro: Zazar (only appearance)
Villains: Torch Marron and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: A magician’s reputation is endangered when a crook uses one
of his tricks to pull an escape, but Superboy finds a way to help the magician
and catch the crook at the same time.
Story: “Through the Eyes of Superboy” (6 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Villains: Doc Devoe and his gang (including Spike and Monk; first and
only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A crook deceives Superboy into wearing a badge fixed with
a camera that relays a picture of his current location, threatening to
expose his secret identity.
Story: “Public Chimp Number One” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #209)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Bongo (a chimpanzee) and his trainer, Mr. Brandywine (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Hot-Shot Hubbard and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: A trained chimpanzee TV star runs away, and Superboy tries
to find him. Unfortunately, a gangster is also interested.
Adventure Comics No. 209
February 1955
Cover: Clark Kent and Lana Lang attending Superboy parade //Curt Swan
/ Stan Kaye
Story: “Superboy Week” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #38)
Supporting Characters: Chief Watkins, Mayor Horace Higgins, Lana Lang
Other Character: Alan John Gale (last appearance in SUPERBOY #21; last
appearance)
Intro: Effie and her husband, Rajah Tara and his son (only appearance
for all)
Villains: Booster Sims and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy agrees to perform one super-deed apiece for seven
lucky people during Smallville’s Superboy Week celebration, which a gangster
hopes to turn to his advantage.
Adventure Comics No. 210
March 1955
Cover: Superboy //Curt Swan / John Fischetti
Story: “The Super-Dog From Krypton” (10 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: John Fischetti
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #39)
Intro and origin: Krypto the Superdog (last chronological appearance
in SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE #26 (2); next appears in issue #214)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Lana Lang; Jor-El, Lara (in flashback;
see MORE FUN COMICS #101 for chronology)
Villains: A gang of crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When a white dog in Smallville exhibits super-powers, Superboy
investigates and finds a Kryptonian rocket ship in which the dog came to
Earth. He learns that the dog is Krypto, his own pet from babyhood,
and that Jor-El sent him into space in an experimental rocket that was
knocked off-course by a meteor. Superboy has a good time romping
with Krypto, but he causes problems with his tasks and his secret identity.
The Superdog eventually returns to exploring space, and, though Superboy
is glad to be free of trouble, he is sorrowful that his dog is gone again.
Superboy No. 39
March 1955
Cover: Superboy watching Chuck Trent catch falling cornice //Curt
Swan / Stan Kaye
Comment: This is the first issue of SUPERBOY to bear the Comics Code
seal of approval.
Story: “The Boy Tycoon of Smallville” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #210)
Intro: Lester McBane (only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy teaches a lesson in business ethics to a would-be
teen tycoon.
Story: “The Great Kryptonite Hunt” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Villains: Duke Dunner and his gang (including Rogey; first and only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: A gang of crooks tries to dupe Superboy into revealing the
whereabouts of a Kryptonite meteor.
Story: “The Boy With Superboy Powers” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #211)
Intro: Chuck Trent, Mr. and Mrs. Trent, Mrs. Peabody, Mrs. Blaine
Villains: Two crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A radioactive cloud appears to give Chuck Trent super-powers
for a time, and Superboy allows him to become a “substitute Superboy”.
Adventure Comics No. 211
April 1955
Cover: Superboy dreaming of himself, Lana Lang, and Lois Lane //Al
Plastino
Story: “Superboy’s Most Amazing Dream” (12 pages)
Editor: Mort Weisinger
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #39 / 40)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Cameo: Lois Lane (in a dream)
Synopsis: After Clark Kent wonders if he will ever have anyone to share
his confidences with after his parents die, he has a dream in which, as
an adult curator of the Metropolis Museum, he reveals his secret identity
as Superman to Lana Lang. However, in his dream, Lois Lane (whom
Clark once met before) is a Daily Planet reporter, overhears Lana referring
to Clark as Superman, and exposes his secret to the world. Upon waking,
Clark decides not to tell Lana his secret, and doubts that he will ever
meet Lois Lane again.
Superboy No. 40
April 1955
Cover: Superboy keeping spears from reaching Lana Lang //Curt Swan
/ Stan Kaye
Story: “The Boy of Clay” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #211)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Prof. Lewis Lang,
Lana Lang, Clancy (last appearance in issue #36; last appearance)
Villains: Crackpot Calhoun, various crooks (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Superboy finds his powers weakening after Clark Kent eats
some strange bananas Professor Lang brings back from the jungle.
Story: “The School For Geniuses” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Miss Pringle (first appearance)
Intro: Roger Jones, Jeff Harris, Brad Hilton, Hal Cummings (only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: A high score on some exams places Clark Kent in a school
for geniuses, whose other members suspect that one of their number is Superboy.
Story: “The Magic Necklace” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #212)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang
Intro: A lama (only appearance)
Villain: Wilkes (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A lama in Tibet gives Clark Kent an amulet that supposedly
protects the wearer from death. After a stray shot strikes him while
Lana Lang is watching, Clark has to pretend that the amulet works...and
Lana takes it.
Adventure Comics No. 212
May 1955
Cover: Superboy and workers watching robot Superboy demolish wall //Curt
Swan / Ray Burnley
Story: “Superboy’s Robot Twin” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #40)
Adventure Comics No. 213
June 1955
Cover: Superboy breaking into Junior Jury session //John Sikela
Story: “The Junior Jury of Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #41)
Superboy No. 41
June 1955
Cover: Superboy doing dishes as Jonathan Kent hears Martha Kent reveal
his secret identity to Lana Lang //Win Mortimer
Story: “Superboy Meets Super-Brave” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #213)
Intro: Little Mouse, White Deer (only appearance for both)
Villain: Jed Blake (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A supposedly-magic outfit gives weak Indian brave Little
Mouse great powers of strength while Superboy’s powers are sapped.
Story: “The Junior Sleuths of Smallville” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang
Intro: Captain Reilly (only appearance)
Synopsis: Students at a night class in criminology get a chance to
practice their skills when Professor Lang gets them to try to track down
a stolen golden mask, which may have been taken by his daughter Lana.
Story: “Pa Kent’s Dilemma” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #214)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang
Intro: Mabel and her baby, manager of Smallville’s radio station (only
appearance for all)
Synopsis: When Martha Kent accidentally drinks a powerful truth serum,
Superboy and Jonathan Kent must stop her from revealing the Boy of Steel’s
secret identity until it wears off.
Adventure Comics No. 214
July 1955
Cover: Superboy watching Krypto crash through brick wall //Curt Swan
/ Creig Flessel
Story: “The Dog of Steel” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Stan Kaye
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #41 / 42)
GS: Krypto (between issues #210 / 220)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang
Intro: Krypto II (a double for Krypto; only appearance)
Villains: Grabby Gordon and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy acquires a dog-double of Krypto to throw off Lana
Lang’s suspicions, but the phony super-dog is soon captured by a crook
who hopes to use his “powers” to commit a crime.
Superboy No. 42
July 1955
Cover: Superboy flying into bullring as Felipo Montoya lassos himself
with his bolas //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “Superboy’s Two Rivals” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: Curt Swan
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #214)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Chad Lewis, Josh Rawlings, Peter Valadny (only appearance for
all)
Villains: Doc, Midge Willis (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A double for Jonathan Kent takes his place in Smallville,
and Superboy must learn the reason why.
Story: “Superboy, Stowaway” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang
Intro: Tim (only appearance)
Villain: Barney Blake (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy adopts another identity to detonate a mine at sea
and keeps it in order to free a seaman from another sailor’s bullying.
Story: “The Gaucho of Smallville” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #215)
Intro: Joe Montoya, Felipo Montoya (only appearance for both)
Villains: A gang of crooks (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Superboy helps a would-be gaucho impress his son by keeping
him from totally flopping at his tasks.
Adventure Comics No. 215
August 1955
Cover: Superboy flying with large bag to hobby club meeting //Curt
Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Super-Hobby of Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #42)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Intro: Freddy, two mountaineers (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Superboy begins a new hobby of collecting precious minerals
from other worlds, and two mountaineers whose lives he has saved repay
him by unwittingly giving him another rare mineral--Kryptonite.
Adventure Comics No. 216
September 1955
Cover: Superboy //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Wizard City” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Bill Finger
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein
Feature Character: Superboy (next appearance in SUPERBOY #43; origin
retold in flashback)
Supporting Characters: Jimmy Olsen (first (?) chronological appearance;
next chronological appearance in SUPERMAN #131), Dr. Mark Olsen (Jimmy
Olsen’s father; first appearance?; next appears behind the scenes in SUPERMAN’S
PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #75 (1)), Mrs. Mark Olsen (Jimmy Olsen’s mother; first
appearance?; next appears in SUPERMAN #131)
Intro: Sir Roland and other knights (only appearance for all)
Villain: Vedders (first appearance; next appears in ACTION COMICS #565)
Synopsis: When Professor Mark Olsen of the Smallville Natural History
Museum is lost in Africa, Superboy investigates, finds him and a race of
lost knights, and discovers a lost city of Krypton which has landed on
Earth--whose Kryptonite land is deadly to him, and whose weapons an evil
man wishes to exploit. Eventually, Superboy sets things to rights
with Prof. Olsen’s help, and brings him back to his wife and his young
son Jimmy.
Superboy No. 43
September 1955
Cover: Superboy plowing field for three other boys //Curt Swan / Creig
Flessel
Story: “The Great Superboy Souvenir Hunt” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #216)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Chief Wilkins
Intro: Dan Mason (only appearance)
Synopsis: Souvenir hunters after mementos of Superboy’s deeds cause
problems for the Boy of Steel.
Story: “The Super-Farmer of Smallville” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Villain: Farmer Brown (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A farmer secretly torches his own barn and blackmails several
boys into working on his farm to make up for it, but Superboy intervenes
to teach him a lesson.
Story: “Clark Kent’s Coach” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Character: Lana Lang
Intro: Trudy Blake, Jimmy, Bobby, Jeannie, Butch, Mrs. Barton (only
appearance for all)
Villain: Butch Bailey (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Lana Lang insists that Superboy become Clark Kent’s coach,
to cure him of his “weakness” and “timidity”.
Superboy No. 44
October 1955
Cover: Clark Kent in Superboy costume, lifting one-ton weight as Lana
Lang watches //Curt Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Amazing Adventures of Superboy’s Costume” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Intro: Professor Todd, Number Two (a robot), Shorty (only appearance
for all)
Villain: Lefty Lloyd (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: When Superboy has to abandon his costume to plug a radiation
leak, it falls into the hands of several other Smallville citizens, each
of whom experiences an adventure as a result.
Story: “Jobs Superboy Lost” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Martha Kent, Jonathan Kent
Intro: Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Rogers (only appearance for both)
Villains: Ernie and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent are erroneously depicted as
celebrating their silver wedding anniversary in this story, which they
have already celebrated in issue #30.
Synopsis: Clark Kent tries to do odd jobs to make much-needed money
for a gift, but finds that his Superboy duties interfere with his work.
Story: “Clark Kent, Strongman” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #217)
Supporting Characters: Miss Pringle, Lana Lang
Intro: Freddy (only appearance)
Synopsis: Clark Kent is scheduled to perform phony feats of strength
at a vaudeville show, but Lana Lang is determined to use the occasion to
prove he is Superboy.
Adventure Comics No. 217
October 1955
Cover: Superboy //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “Superboy’s Farewell To Smallville” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in SUPERBOY #44)
Supporting Character: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
GS: Mayor of Smallville
Intro: Janet (an actress), an actor playing Jor-El
Villains: Duke Mason (first appearance), Monk (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: While a condemned murderer on death row seeks to decipher
a message revealing Superboy’s secret identity, Superboy himself meets
what appears to be his original parents, Jor-El and Lara, and leaves Earth
with them.
Adventure Comics No. 218
November 1955
Cover: Superboy //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Two Worlds of Superboy” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
GS: Janet and the actor playing Jor-El (last appearance for both),
mayor of Smallville
Intro: An ex-convict (in flashback; only appearance)
Villain: Duke Mason (dies in this story)
Comment: This story continues from last issue.
Synopsis: After Superboy leaves Earth, Duke Mason realizes that he
cannot get revenge on the Boy of Steel by having his foster parents killed,
and dies in the electric chair without revealing Superboy’s secret identity.
Superboy returns, having perpetrated a ruse to keep Mason from killing
the Kents.
Adventure Comics No. 219
December 1955
Cover: Superboy //Curt Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Gorilla With X-Ray Eyes” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in SUPERBOY #45)
Supporting Characters: Prof. Lewis Lang, Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent
Villains: Chandu (an ape), Doc Baird and his gang (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: A giant gorilla gains super-vision powers by drinking powdered
kryptonite, and gangster Doc Baird puts his power to work for crime, with
his kryptonite radiations even proof against Superboy.
Superboy No. 45
December 1955
Cover: Superboy weakened by Lana Lang holding Kryptonite //Curt
Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “Incredible Superboy Auction” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #219)
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent
Villains: Silk Simmons (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: A fire in the Kents’ general store forces Clark to auction
off some Superboy mementos, and a crook finds a way to use one souvenir
for his own purposes.
Story: “The Secret of the Super Charades” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang
Synopsis: Superboy plays a secret game of charades to safeguard his
identity from Lana Lang.
Story: “A Trap For Superboy” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #220)
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Jonathan Kent
Synopsis: Superboy creates a fake chunk of Kryptonite from a meteor
to teach Lana Lang a lesson, not knowing a science teacher has recovered
some real Kryptonite.
Adventure Comics No. 220
January 1956
Cover: Superboy and Krypto flying through ring of fire at circus //Curt
Swan / Stan Kaye
Story: “The Greatest Show On Earth” (12 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer: Otto Binder
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Creig Flessel
Feature Character: Superboy (between SUPERBOY #45 / 46)
GS: Krypto (between issues #214 / 226)
Villain: Barney Blake (first and only appearance)
Comment: Krypto’s existence is revealed to the world in this story.
Synopsis: Krypto fetches a circus owner to save Superboy from a Kryptonite
meteor, but the man refuses to do so until Superboy agrees that he and
Krypto will perform in the man’s show.
Superboy No. 46
January 1956
Cover: Clark Kent revealed as Superboy by being shot out of cannon
before the Colonel and his gang //Curt Swan / Creig Flessel
Story: “The Boy Wizard” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #220)
Intro: Tommy Wright (only appearance)
Synopsis: When a freak accident steals Superboy’s super-senses, a Smallville
boy with a powerful telescope offers to help him with his super-deeds.
Story: “The Silliest Joke In the World” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature Character: Superboy
Supporting Characters: Lana Lang, Prof. Lewis Lang, Sarah Lang
Villains: Slick Wilson and his gang (first and only appearance for
all)
Synopsis: Superboy helps out the Langs after Mr. and Mrs. Lang have
suffered an auto accident, not suspecting that “Professor Lang” is really
a criminal impostor.
Story: “The Battle of Fort Smallville” (8 pages)
Editor: Whitney Ellsworth
Writer:
Artist: John Sikela
Feature character: Superboy (next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #221)
Supporting Character: Mayor Horace Higgins
Intro: Freddy (only appearance)
Villains: The Colonel and his gang (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: After Superboy unearths an old fort near Smallville, a military-minded
crime-boss takes it over and threatens to expose the Boy of Steel’s secret
identity.