The Superman Family | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
Schedule | Bimonthly #164–207 Monthly #208–222 |
Format | 100 pages (#164–169) 64 pages (#170–176, 191–204) 48 pages (#177–181, 205–222) 80 pages (#182–190) |
Publication date | The Superman Family: April/May 1974 – September 1982 Superman Family Adventures: July 2012 – June 2013 |
No. of issues | The Superman Family: 59 (#164–222) Superman Family Adventures: 12 |
Main character(s) | Lois Lane Supergirl Jimmy Olsen Krypto Nightwing and Flamebird Clark Kent Superboy Kal-L and Lois Lane Kent |
Creative team | |
Written by | List
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Penciller(s) | List
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Inker(s) | List
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Letterer(s) | List
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Colorist(s) | List
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Editor(s) | List
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The Superman Family is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1974 to 1982 featuring supporting characters in the Superman comics. The term "Superman Family" is often used to refer to the extended cast of characters of comics books associated with Superman. A similarly titled series, Superman Family Adventures, was published in 2012.
The Superman Family was an amalgamation of the titles Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane , Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen , and Supergirl . The first issue, #164, took its numbering from Jimmy Olsen, [1] which had reached issue #163 and thus had the most issues published. [2] Lois Lane ended at #137, while the newly launched Supergirl book had only made it to #9 at the time. A 10th and final issue of Supergirl was published five months after Superman Family's launch.
The Superman Family went through two distinct phases. In its inception the three leads Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, and Supergirl rotated new stories each issue with reprints for the other characters. [3] The first six issues (#164–169) of the series were in the 100 Page Super Spectacular format [4] and Nick Cardy was the cover artist. [5] Changes were made in the setting of Supergirl's adventures during the character's run in the title. She moves to Florida to join the faculty at the New Athens Experimental School in issue #165. [6] In an "imaginary tale" set in a possible future in issue #200, Supergirl, now known as Superwoman, is depicted as being the Governor of Florida in her secret identity of Linda Danvers. [7] She leaves Florida and relocates to New York City to become a soap opera actress in issue #208. [8]
After the cancellation of Super-Team Family , a Supergirl/Doom Patrol team-up originally scheduled to appear in that title was published in The Superman Family #191–193. [9] Supergirl battled the Enchantress in issues #204–205 [10] [11] and teamed with the Legion of Super-Heroes in issue #207. [12]
The Superman Family became the first DC Comics series in the 80-page Dollar Comic format, consisting of 64 pages of new stories, beginning with issue #182 (March–April 1977). [13] With that issue, the "framing element" was removed from the covers, and the book switched to printing all-new material. It became a monthly series in 1981, starting with issue #207.
DC published several other ... Family titles concurrently with The Superman Family. These included Batman Family (1975–78), Super-Team Family (1975–78) and Tarzan Family (1975–76). As a rule, DC's other ... Family titles contained mostly reprints and featured a higher page count and higher price than DC's other titles.
With issue #222 (September 1982), The Superman Family was canceled and replaced with The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, which briefly featured a "Lois Lane" backup series.
In 2012, DC launched a new series titled Superman Family Adventures [2] written by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani and drawn by Baltazar. [15] Baltazar and Aureliani are the winners of the 2011 Eisner Award in the category "Best Publication for Kids" for their work on the Tiny Titans title for DC. [16] Fuzzy the Krypto Mouse, a character who appeared in a single story in Superboy #65 (June 1958), [17] inspired a similar character created by Baltazar for Superman Family Adventures. [18] Superman Family Adventures ended with issue #12. [19]
Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1. Lois is an award-winning journalist for the Metropolis newspaper the Daily Planet and the primary love interest of the superhero Superman and his alter ego, Clark Kent. In DC continuity, she is also his wife and the mother of their son, Jon Kent, the newest Superboy in the DC Universe.
Streaky the Supercat is a fictional superhero cat that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Action Comics #261 and was created by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.
Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Olsen is most often portrayed as a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane and Clark Kent, and has a good working relationship with his boss Perry White. Olsen looks up to his coworkers as role models and parent figures. From 1954 to 1982, Olsen appeared in 222 issues of the comic series Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and Superman Family, in addition to the main Superman titles.
Krypto, also known as Krypto the Superdog, is a fictional superhero dog appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the character Superman. In most continuities, Krypto is Superman's pet dog, usually depicted as a white dog of a generic pedigree. Krypto is sometimes depicted as resembling a Labrador Retriever, a plain white Dalmatian, a White Shepherd, or even a primitive dog such as a spitz-type dog such as a husky or a laika, a dingo, a pye-dog, or a tugou, but his specific breed is almost never specified.
Adventure Comics is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1938 to 1983 and revived from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues, making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman. The series was revived in 2009 through a new "#1" issue by artist Clayton Henry and writer Geoff Johns. It returned to its original numbering with #516. The series ended again with #529 prior to a company-wide revision of DC's superhero comic book line, known as "The New 52".
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics. The series focusing on the adventures of Lois Lane began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1974, with 137 regular issues and two 80-page Annuals. Following the similar themed Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane was the second comic series based on a Superman supporting character.
Lucy Lane is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics. She is the younger sister of Lois Lane, and one of several characters who have assumed the Superwoman identity.
Kurt Schaffenberger was an American comics artist. He was best known for his work on Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family during both the Golden Age and Bronze Age of comics, as well as his work on the title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane during the 1950s and 1960s. Schaffenberger used the alias "Lou Wahl" on certain comics, when he was moonlighting from his main job of drawing Lois Lane at DC Comics.
80-Page Giant was the name used for a series of comic books published by DC Comics beginning in 1964. The series was named for its unusually high page count. The cover price was initially 25 cents, while other comics of the day were rarely above 12 cents. Many of these "Giant" issues contained reprinted material, often including material from the Golden Age era of comics. Each issue would focus upon a particular DC character or group, such as Superman, Batman, or Jimmy Olsen. The 80-Page Giant format and numbering would later be used for special extra-large, reprint-heavy issues of their regularly published titles.
Flamebird is the name used by six different fictional comic book characters who have appeared in books published by DC Comics, specifically from the Superman and Batman mythos.
Bob Oksner was an American comics artist known for both adventure comic strips and for superhero and humor comic books, primarily at DC Comics.
Cary Bates is an American comic book, animation, television and film writer. He is best known for his work on The Flash, Superman, Superboy, the Legion of Superheroes and Captain Atom.
James Winslow "Win" Mortimer was a Canadian comic book and comic strip artist best known as one of the major illustrators of the DC Comics superhero Superman. He additionally drew for Marvel Comics, Gold Key Comics, and other publishers.
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from September-October 1954 until March 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues. Featuring the adventures of Superman supporting character Jimmy Olsen, it contains stories often of a humorous nature.
Christopher Kent (Lor-Zod) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #844 and was created by Richard Donner, Geoff Johns, and Adam Kubert.
"New Krypton" is a 2008–09 comic book story arc featuring character Superman, published by American company DC Comics; it was written by Geoff Johns, James Robinson and Sterling Gates, with art by Gary Frank, Alex Ross, Renato Guedes, Jamal Igle and Pete Woods. The arc is an inter-title crossover, published in Action Comics, Superman and Supergirl.
Arthee "Art" Baltazar is an American comics artist and writer who currently works for DC Comics.
Superman: War of the Supermen is an American comic book limited series from DC Comics that serves as the culmination to the Superman line-wide event New Krypton. The series began on Free Comic Book Day 2010, with a zero-issue released free of charge before the main limited series began the following week.
DC's 100-Page Super Spectaculars were proving popular, so DC said goodbye to Supergirl, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, and housed the characters together in The Superman Family. Continuing the numbering from where Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen ended, the series featured classic reprints with new tales in the lead spot.
DC Comics has revealed the cover to the first issue of Superman Family Adventures, the new all-ages title by the former Tiny Titans team of Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani.