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Comic Book Timeline
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1938
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Action Comics #1 introduces
Superman and Lois Lane.
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1939
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Superman #1 published.
First daily syndicated strip appears in newspapers.
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1940
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The Adventures of
Superman radio serial begins on a five-day-a week
schedule. Action Comics #23 introduces Luthor. Superman
#7 introduces Perry White.
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1941
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Superman animated
cartoons produced by Fleischer Studios for Paramount.
All-Star Comics #7 has cameos of Superman and Batman
as honorary members of the Justice Society of America.
World's Best Comics #1 (later World's Finest Comics
after #2) stars Batman and Superman in separated stories.
Superman #13 features the comics debut of Jimmy Olsen.
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1942
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Superman novel by
George Lowther published by Random House.
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1944
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Mr. Mxyzptlk debuts
in Superman #30.
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1945
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Superboy debuts in
More Fun Comics #101.
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1946
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Superboy moves to
Adventure Comics with #103 when More Fun Comics changes
to a funny animal format.
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1947
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Superman and Batman
guest star in All-Star Comics #36 with the Justice
Society.
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1948
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Superman, the Columbia
movie serial, is released. Superman's origin is updated
in Superman #53.
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1949
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Superboy #1 premieres.
Kryptonite first appears in the comics Superman #61.
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1950
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Atom Man Vs. Superman,
Columbia's second movie serial is released. Lana Lang
debuts in Superboy #10.
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1951
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Superman and the Mole
Men feature film released.
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1953
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Superman teams with
Batman in Superman #76, as a pilot for their regular
team-ups in World's Finest Comics beginning with #71.
The Adventures of Superman staring George Reeves in
released.
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1954
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Superman's Pal Jimmy
Olsen #1 premieres.
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1957
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Lois Lane tries out
for her own magazine in Showcase #9-10.
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1958
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Superman's Girl Friend,
Lois Lane #1 premieres. Bizarro first appears in Superboy
#68. Brainiac and the city of Kandor first appear
in Action Comics #242. The Legion of the Super-Heroes
first appears in Adventure Comics #247.
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1959
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Supergirl and Metallo
debuts separately in Action Comics #252.
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1960
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The Justice League
of America (an updated version of the Justice Society),
with Superman as a member receives a tryout in Brave
& The Bold #28-30. Justice League of America #1
premieres afterward. Superman Annual #1 is published.
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1962
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The Phantom Zone appears
in Superboy #100.
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1964
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"Superman's Mission
For President Kennedy" appears in Superman #170.
Concerning the government's fitness program, it was
originally pulled from publication due to John F.
Kennedy's assassination. It was subsequently published
at the request of President Lyndon Johnson and the
Kennedy family.
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1965
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Superman cover featured
(as well as an interior reprint) in Jules Feiffer's
book, The Great Comic Book Heroes, published by Dial
Press.
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1966
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Broadway musical,
"It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!"
produced. Filmation animates The New Adventures of
Superman for CBS-TV's Saturday morning line-up/
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1971
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Clark Kent becomes
a television reporter in Superman #233, in DC's first
revamping of the character.
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1973
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Super Friends from
Hanna Barbera premieres with Superman as one of the
featured heroes.
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1975
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ABC Special Presentation
shows a version of Superman musical.
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1976
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Superman meets Marvel's
Spider-Man in a giant-size collector's special: Superman
vs. The Amazing Spider-Man.
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1978
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Superman's 40th anniversary.
DC Comics presents begins as a Superman team-up title.
The World's Greatest Superheroes Starrinf Superman
begins as a syndicated strip. Superman: The Movie
starring Christopher Reeve premieres from Warner Brothers.
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1981
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Superman II debuts
from Warner Brothers.
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1983
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Superman's 45th anniversary.
Superman III premieres from Warner Brothers. Luthor
and Brainiac redesigned in Action Comics #544.
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1984
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Superman action figure
part of Kenner's Super Powers toy line. Supergirl
movie released from Warner Brothers.
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1985
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Crisis on Infinite
Earths #1 premieres to clean up the DC universe. Supergirl
dies in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7.
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1986
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Alan Moore writes
the last Superman story in Superman #423 and Action
Comics #583. Batman battles Superman in Batman: The
Dark Knight Returns #4. John Byrne rejuvenates Superman
in the wake of Crisis with Man of Steel #1. A new
Superman #1 follows with the first Superman series
is retitled Adventures of Superman with #424.
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1987
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Superman IV premieres
from Warner Brothers.
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1988
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Superman's 50th anniversary.
Superman animated series from Ruby-Spears is broadcast
on CBS-TV while the Supeboy live-action series premieres
in syndication. Superman kills three kryptonians in
Superman #22, John Byrne leaves the book.
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1990
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Clark proposes to
Lois in Superman #50.
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1991
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Superman: The Man
of Steel #1 debuts.
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1992
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Superman dies November 18th in Superman
#75 at the hands of Doomsday.
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1993
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Four Supermen claims
to be the real one in Adventures of Superman #500.
Superman returns in Superman #82. Lois & Clark:
The New Adventures of Superman debuts in ABC-TV.
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1994
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Zero Hour rewrites
DC Universe.
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1995
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Superman: The Man
of Tomorrow #1 debuts.
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1996
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Kingdom Come by Mark
Waid and Alex Ross speculates over Superman's future.
Clark marries Lois in Superman: Weeding Album #1 in
the same week Clark married Lois in Lois & Clark
TV series. Superman: The Animated Series is released
in Kids-WB.
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1997
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Superman changes his
outfit when his powers became electric in Superman
#123.
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1998
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Superman 60th anniversary.
Superman returns to his old costume in Superman Forever
#1. Superman fights world hungry in Superman: Peace
on Earth by Alex Ross and Paul Dini. Superman's first
year is retold in Superman For All Seasons.
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2001
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Superman's kryptonian
origins is retold in Superman #166.
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2003
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2003 - Mark Waid tweaks Superman's origin in "Birthright," which reveals Superman's crest is a Kryptonian symbol meaning "Hope".
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2004
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Kara Zor-El, of Krypton, is reintroduced and becomes Supergirl in "Superman/Batman" No. 8.
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2006
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Superman loses his powers; the DC Universe's year without a Superman is chronicled in the series "52."
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2007
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Superman's powers return. Lois and Clark decide to raise the son of Gen. Zod as their foster son, calling him "Christopher Kent."
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2009
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100,000 Kryptonians recovered from Brainiac's ship found "New Krypton" in Earth's solar system. A character named "Superwoman" is introduced.
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2011
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Superman is rebooted as part of DC Comics' "New 52," which leads to a new "Action Comics" No. 1 written by Grant Morrison featuring a T-shirt-wearing, blue jean-clad Superman.
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2012
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Single in the new continuity, Superman begins a relationship with Wonder Woman.
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2013
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A new series, "Superman Unchained," launches on June 12.
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