Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939–1966

American Comic Strip

Superman: The Complete Comic Strips

Publication information
Publisher| The Library of American Comics
Format| Hardcover
Genre| Superhero
Publication date| August 13, 2013
No. of issues| Golden Age
Newspaper Dailies: 3
Sundays: 2

Atomic Age
Newspaper Dailies: TBA
Sundays: 3

Silver Age
Newspaper Dailies: 3
Sundays: 2

Total: TBA
Main character(s)| Superman
Creative team
Written by| Jerry Siegel
Whitney Ellsworth
Alvin Schwartz
Bill Finger
Artist(s)| Joe Shuster
Wayne Boring
Curt Swan
Stan Kaye
Editor(s)| Dean Mullaney

Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939–1966 is an unofficial umbrella name for the six following titles: Superman: The Golden Age Dailies, Superman: The Golden Age Sundays; Superman: The Atomic Age Dailies, Superman: The Atomic Age Sundays; Superman: The Silver Age Dailies and Superman: The Silver Age Sundays, all published by The Library of American Comics. These six series of books collects the complete run of the American comic strip Superman by DC Comics, which was originally distributed in newspapers by the McClure Syndicate between 1939 and 1966.

## Background

[edit]

In 1998 and 1999 Kitchen Sink Press and DC Comics published hardcover collections, one each of the first years of the daily, and the first years of the Sunday Superman comic strip.[1] Kitchen Sink went out of business the same year, after nearly thirty years in business.

After several years of prior negotiations between Greg Goldstein of IDW Publishing and DC Comics with the goal of getting the reprinting rights to the Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman comic strips, a deal was struck in 2013 to finally include them in The Library of American Comics' line of reprint collections.[2] The IDW books do not feature any of the strips reprinted by Kitchen Sink in their two volumes (Superman dailies 1939–42, Superman Sundays 1939–43), and thus pick up where they left off.

Superman comic strip collector Sidney Friedfertig, who contributed much the source material to these LOAC book series, had succeeded in collecting 97 percent of the daily strips in newspaper clippings from 1959 to 1966 and published it online at his own website in 2012. Since most of these clippings are in good publishable condition, compared to what have been available on microform in libraries, the clippings are far more suitable as source material for reproduction. After Friedfertig's publication of the comic strip on his website he was approached by IDW Publishing and The Library of American Comics about publishing the material he had collected in their upcoming Superman comic strip collections. Friedfertig's accomplishment was very substantial since the original proofs of the Superman daily strips were never archived by DC Comics after their initial publication, therefore there are no originals available.[3]

In December 2015, The Library of American Comics reached out to comic collectors worldwide to acquire missing strips which they themselves had trouble locating, to use as source material for the books.[4]

## Format

[edit]

### Volumes collecting dailies

[edit]

Landscape orientation, 11 inches × 8.5 inches (280 mm × 216 mm), hardcover with sewn ribbon bookmark, Contains approximately 700-800 daily strips each, arranged three per page, reproduced in original black-and-white.[5][6]

The daily strips are divided into three sub sets collections, one for each decade: The Golden Age – The 1940s, The Atomic Age – The 1950s (these volumes have yet to be published as of 2023), and The Silver Age – The 1960s.

Introductions featuring information about the creators, comparison and analysis of the storylines from the comic strips and the comic books.[7] Some of the material used to reproduce the strips have been sourced from comic collectors newspaper clippings collections, therefore some art is not engraver's proof pristine, but can have noticeable smudging, however this is the best reproduction to date. Essays written by Sidney Friedfertig are included in the volumes.[8]

### Volumes collecting Sundays

[edit]

Portrait orientation, 9.25 inches × 12 inches (235 mm × 305 mm),[9] hardcover with clear art reproductions, in sharp full color and with a sewn linen bookmark.[10]

The Sunday strips run is divided into three sub-sets: 1940s – Golden Age, 1950s – Atomic Age and 1960s – Silver Age,[11] just as the daily strips also are collected.

Introductions written by Mark Waid and John Wells, pinpointing many of the featured storylines and other noteworthy facts.[12] Each Sunday strip has the annotated original strip number and first publishing date noted. The Reproduction size is slightly smaller than the original Sunday paper sizing. Cover art, both front and back have been drawn by Pete Poplaski.[13] Galleries of comic book covers done by the newspaper strips' artists are included.[14]

## Volumes

[edit]

### Golden Age – The 1940s

[edit]

The Golden Age Newspaper Dailies | Volume  | Release date  | Title  | Period  | Artist  | Writer  | Page count | ISBN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2017-04-01 | Superman:
Golden Age Dailies
– Vol. 1: 1942–1944 | 1942–1944 | Joe Shuster
Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel
Whitney Ellsworth | 288 | 978-1-63140-383-5
2 | 2018-05-22 | Superman:
Golden Age Dailies
– Vol. 2: 1944–1947 | 1944–1947 | Wayne Boring | Alvin Schwartz | 272 | 978-1-68405-197-7
3 | 2019-05-21 | Superman:
Golden Age Dailies
– Vol. 3: 1947–1949 | 1947–1949 | Wayne Boring | Alvin Schwartz | 260 | 978-1-68405-437-4
The Golden Age Sundays | Volume  | Release date  | Title  | Period  | Artist  | Writer  | Page count | ISBN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2014-02-11 | Superman:
Golden Age Sundays
– Vol. 1: 1943–1946 | 1943–1946 |  |  | 184 | 978-1-61377-797-8
2 | 2014-11-18 | Superman:
Golden Age Sundays
– Vol. 2: 1946–1949 | 1946–1949 | Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel
Alvin Schwartz | 180 | 978-1-63140-109-1

### Atomic Age – The 1950s

[edit]

The Atomic Age Newspaper Dailies | Volume  | Release date  | Title  | Period  | Artist  | Writer  | Page count | ISBN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | TBA | Superman: Atomic Age Dailies – Vol. 1 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | xxx-x-xxxxx-xxx-x
The Atomic Age Sundays | Volume  | Release date  | Title  | Period  | Artist  | Writer  | Page count | ISBN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2015-07-28 | Superman:
Atomic Age Sundays
– Vol. 1: 1949–1953 | 1949–1953 | Wayne Boring | Alvin Schwartz | 180 | 978-1-63140-262-3
2 | 2016-04-05 | Superman:
Atomic Age Sundays
– Vol. 2: 1953–1956 | 1953–1956 | Wayne Boring | Alvin Schwartz | 180 | 978-1-63140-537-2
3 | 2017-12-26 | Superman:
Atomic Age Sundays
– Vol. 3: 1956–1959 | 1956–1959 | Wayne Boring | Alvin Schwartz
Bill Finger | 184 | 978-1-68405-061-1

### Silver Age – The 1960s

[edit]

The Silver Age Newspaper Dailies | Volume  | Release date  | Title  | Period  | Artist  | Writer  | Page count | ISBN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2013-08-13 | Superman:
Silver Age Dailies
– Vol. 1: 1959–1961 | 1959–1961 | Curt Swan
Stan Kaye
Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel | 288 | 978-1-61377-666-7
2 | 2014-04-29 | Superman:
Silver Age Dailies
– Vol. 2: 1961–1963 | 1961–1963 | Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel | 288 | 978-1-61377-923-1
3 | 2014-12-23 | Superman:
Silver Age Dailies
– Vol. 3: 1963–1966 | 1963–1966 | Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel | 288 | 978-1-63140-179-4
The Silver Age Sundays | Volume  | Release date  | Title  | Period  | Artist  | Writer  | Page count | ISBN

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2018-11-27 | Superman:
Silver Age Sundays
– Vol. 1: 1959–1963 | 1959–1963 | Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel | 184 | 978-1-68405-387-2
2 | 2019-11-19 | Superman:
Silver Age Sundays
– Vol. 2: 1963–1966 | 1963–1966 | Wayne Boring | Jerry Siegel | 184 | 978-1-68405-554-8

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Superman: The Golden Age Sundays 1943-1946". The Comics Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
2. ^ "INTERVIEW: DEAN MULLANEY ON IDW'S SUPERMAN: SILVER AGE NEWSPAPER DAILIES VOL.1". Retrieved 3 April 2019.
3. ^ Findlay, Kurtis (2018-05-02). "Episode 007 with special guest Sidney Friedfertig". loac.idwpublishing.com.
4. ^ "Hey, BATMAN & SUPERMAN FANS! IDW Needs Your Help!". 13th Dimension. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
5. ^ "Book Review: Superman: The Golden Age Newspaper Dailies (1942–1944)". Cinema Sentries. May 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
6. ^ "Book Review: Superman: The Silver Age Newspaper Dailies, Volume 2: 1961–1963: Super-Ridiculous, Super-Fun". Cinema Sentries. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
7. ^ "Dean Mullaney on IDWS Superman Silver Age Newspaper Dailies Vol.1". Westfield Comics. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
8. ^ "Book Review: Superman: The Silver Age Newspaper Dailies, Volume 2: 1961–1963: Super-Ridiculous, Super-Fun". Cinema Sentries. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
9. ^ "IDW to Republish Superman Sunday Newspaper Strips". Entertainment Fuse. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
10. ^ "Book Review: Superman: The Silver Age Sundays, Volume 1 (1959–1963)". Cinema Sentries. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
11. ^ "Library of American Comics Collects Superman's Sunday Strips". Retrieved 3 April 2019.
12. ^ "Comic Review: Superman: The Silver Age Sundays, Vol. 1 1959–1963 (IDW/DC Comics)". 28 November 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
13. ^ "Superman: The Golden Age Sundays 1943–1946". Retrieved 3 April 2019.
14. ^ "Book Review: Superman: The Atomic Age Sundays, Volume 3 (1956–1959): A Wonderful Time Capsule for Fans of the Man of Steel". February 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* IDW Publishing – The Library of American Comics – Superman
* Preview – Superman: Golden Age Sundays – Vol. 2: 1946–1949

* v
* t
* e

The Library of American Comics

Comic strip collections|

* The Amazing Spider-Man: The Ultimate Newspaper Comics Collection
* Bloom County: The Complete Library
* The Complete Chester Gould's Dick Tracy
* The Complete Little Orphan Annie
* The Complete Terry and the Pirates
* Donald Duck: The Complete Daily Newspaper Comics
* Donald Duck: The Complete Sunday Comics
* For Better or For Worse: The Complete Library
* Li'l Abner: The Complete Dailies & Color Sundays
* Silly Symphonies: The Complete Disney Classics
* Star Wars: The Complete Classic Newspaper Comics
* Superman: The Complete Comic Strips
* Tarzan: The Complete Russ Manning Newspaper Strips
* Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales

* IDW Publishing
* Dean Mullaney

* v
* t
* e

Superman franchise media

Comic strips|

* Superman (1939–1966)
* The World's Greatest Superheroes (1978–1985)
* Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939–1966 (2013–present) – Reprint book collection

Radio|

* The Adventures of Superman (US, 1940–1951)
* The Adventures of Superman (UK, 1988)

Animated films|

* Superman animated shorts (1941–1943)
* Brainiac Attacks
* Doomsday
* Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
* Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
* Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
* All-Star Superman
* vs. The Elite
* Unbound
* The Death of Superman
* Reign of the Supermen
* Red Son
* Man of Tomorrow
* Battle of the Super Sons

Live-action films|

| Serials|

* Superman
* Atom Man vs. Superman

|

1950s films|

* Superman and the Mole Men
* Stamp Day for Superman (short film)

1978–2006 film series|

* Superman
* Superman II
* The Richard Donner Cut
* Superman III
* Supergirl
* Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
* Superman Returns

DC Extended Universe|

* Man of Steel
* Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

DC Universe|

* Superman
* Supergirl

Documentary films|

* Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman
* The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?
* Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

Television|

| Live-action|

* Adventures of Superman
* The Adventures of Superboy (pilot)
* Superboy
* Lois & Clark
* Smallville
* Supergirl
* Krypton
* Superman & Lois

|

Animation|

* The New Adventures of Superman
* The Adventures of Superboy
* Superman
* The Animated Series
* Krypto the Superdog
* Legion of Super Heroes
* My Adventures with Superman

Novels|

* The Adventures of Superman (1942)
* Last Son of Krypton
* Miracle Monday
* Doomsday & Beyond
* Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel
* It's Superman!
* Returns
* Enemies & Allies

Video games|

* Superman (1979)
* Superman: The Game (1985)
* Superman (1987)
* Superman (1988)
* The Man of Steel (1989)
* Superman (1992)
* The Death and Return of Superman
* The New Superman Adventures
* Shadow of Apokolips
* The Man of Steel (2002)
* Countdown to Apokolips
* Returns
* MultiVersus

Music|

* "You've Got Possibilities"
* Superman III (soundtrack)
* Superman Returns (soundtrack)
* "Save Me" (Remy Zero song)
* Man of Steel (soundtrack)
* Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (soundtrack)
* Metropolis Symphony
* Superman (2025 soundtrack)

Other media|

* It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (musical)
* The Adventures of Seinfeld & Superman (advertisement)

Related characters|

* Lois Lane in other media
* Lex Luthor in other media
* Supergirl in other media

Related|

* Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
* "Crisis on Infinite Earths"
* Hollywoodland
* Lucy and Superman
* "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex"
* National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc.
* Sunman (1992 video game)
* Superman curse
* Superman ice cream
* "Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit"
* "The Reign of the Superman"
* Superman and Lois Lane
* Superman '78

* v
* t
* e

Superman publications and storylines

History

Current series|

* Absolute Superman
* Action Comics
* Batman/Superman: World's Finest
* Supergirl
* Superman

Former series|

* Adventure Comics
* DC Comics Presents
* Power Girl
* Superboy
* Superboy and the Ravers
* Superman (vol. 2)
* Superman (vol. 3)
* Superman/Batman
* Superman Confidential
* The Superman Family
* Superman: The Man of Steel
* Superman: The Man of Tomorrow
* Superman: Son of Kal-El
* Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
* Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
* Superman/Wonder Woman
* Trinity
* World's Finest Comics
* Worlds' Finest

Limited series
and one-shots|

* Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023)
* Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (2003)
* Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame (2000)
* The Kents (1997–1998)
* Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005)
* The Man of Steel (1986)
* The Phantom Zone (1982)
* Birthright (2003–2004)
* Superman and Wonder Woman: The Hidden Killer (1993)
* Superman for All Seasons (1998)
* Superman/Shazam: First Thunder (2006)
* Superman Unchained (2013–2014)
* Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (1978)
* Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton (2010)
* Superman: Secret Origin (2009–2010)
* Superman: World of New Krypton (2009–2010)
* Superman: The Wedding Album (1996)
* Superman: War of the Supermen (2010)
* Superman: Lois and Clark (2015–2016)
* World of Krypton (1979)

Outside
continuity|

* All-Star Superman (2005–2008)
* "The K-Metal from Krypton" (unpublished)
* "The Sandman Saga" (1971)
* Son of Superman (1999)
* Superboy: The Comic Book (1989–1992)
* Superboy's Legion (2001)
* Superman Adventures (1996–2002)
* Superman: At Earth's End (1995)
* Superman: Earth One (Vol 1. 2010, Vol 2. 2012, Vol. 3 2015)
* Superman: The Last Family of Krypton (2010)
* Superman: The Feral Man of Steel (1994)
* Superman: Last Son of Earth (2000)
* Superman: Last Stand on Krypton (2003)
* Superman: Peace on Earth (1998)
* Kingdom Come (1996)
* The Superman Monster (1999)
* Superman: Red Son (2003)
* Superman: Secret Identity (2004)
* Superman: Speeding Bullets (1993)
* Superman: A Tale of Five Cities (1990)
* Superman: The Dark Side (1998)
* Superman: True Brit (2004)
* Superman: War of the Worlds (1998)
* Superman & Batman: Generations (1999, 2001 and 2004)
* Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (1986)
* Whom Gods Destroy (1996)
* Dark Knights of Steel (2021–2023)

Intercompany
crossovers|

* Superman/Aliens (1995 and 2002)
* Superman & Bugs Bunny (2000)
* Superman and Batman versus Aliens and Predator (2007)
* Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976)
* Superman and Spider-Man (1981)
* Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction (1999)
* Superman vs. Predator (2000)
* Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle (2001–2002)
* Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future (1999–2000)

Storylines|

* "For the Man Who Has Everything" (1985)
* "Crisis on Infinite Earths" (1985-1986)
* "The Greatest Hero of Them All" (1987)
* "The Death of Superman" (1992–1993)
* "Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey" (1994)
* "Worlds Collide" (1994)
* "The Trial of Superman!" (1995–1996)
* "Superman Red/Superman Blue" (original: 1963, adaptation: 1998)
* "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?" (2001)
* "For Tomorrow" (2004–2005)
* "Infinite Crisis" (2004–2005)
* "Up, Up and Away!" (2006)
* "Last Son" (2006–2008)
* "Kryptonite" (2007–2008)
* "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" (2007–2008)
* "The Third Kryptonian" (2007–2008)
* "The Coming of Atlas" (2008)
* "Brainiac" (2008)
* "New Krypton" (2008–2009)
* "World of New Krypton" (2009–2010)
* "World Without Superman" (2009)
* "War of the Supermen" (2010)
* "Grounded" (2010–2011)
* "Reign of Doomsday" (2011)
* "H'El on Earth" (2012–2013)
* "Doomed" (2014)
* "Convergence" (2015)
* "Reborn" (2017)
* "Super Sons of Tomorrow" (2017–2018)
* "Warworld Saga" (2021–2022)
* "House of Brainiac" (2024)

Other|

* Superman (comic strip)
* Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939-1966
* Action Comics #1
* Action Comics #1000

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