Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told #1

([October] 2004)

Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told (Table of Contents: 1)

illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Alex Ross (painting)

Inks

Alex Ross (painting)

Colors

Alex Ross (painting)

Letters

typeset

Characters

Superman

Indexer Notes

Title page. Illustrated with a differently-cropped version of the same poster which supplied the image for the cover.

[Publication Data] (Table of Contents: 2)

credits, title page / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

John Byrne

Inks

Dick Giordano

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Characters

Superman

Indexer Notes

Illustrated with a detail from the story from The Man of Steel (DC, 1986 series) #1.

Contents (Table of Contents: 3)

table of contents / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

? (illustration)

Inks

? (illustration)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Introduction (Table of Contents: 4)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Michael Uslan

Pencils

Joe Shuster (illustrations); Al Plastino (illustrations); Curt Swan (illustrations); Mike Mignola (illustration); Doug Mahnke (illustrations); Tim Bradstreet (illustration)

Inks

Joe Shuster (illustrations); Al Plastino (illustrations); George Klein (illustrations); Karl Kesel (illustration); Tim Bradstreet (illustration); ? (Doug Mahnke illustrations)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Characters

Superman

Indexer Notes

All illustrations taken from stories reprinted in this volume except the Tim Bradstreet illustration which comes from the cover to Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #775.

[The Origin of Superman & His Powers] (Table of Contents: 5)

Superman / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Jerry Siegel (signed as Jerome Siegel)

Pencils

Joe Shuster (signed)

Inks

Joe Shuster (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

Joe Shuster

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Ma Kent; Pa Kent

Synopsis

A rocketship, carrying an infant, rockets from the planet Krypton as it blows up, and lands on the Earth where a couple named the Kents find the baby inside the rocket and eventually adopt him. This infant boy grows up to be Superman.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #[1] ([Summer 1939])

Indexer Notes

Title from Table of Contents and meant to include the next sequence.

Scientific Explanation of Superman's Amazing Strength--! (Table of Contents: 6)

Superman / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Jerry Siegel

Pencils

Joe Shuster

Inks

Joe Shuster

Colors

?

Letters

Joe Shuster ?

Genre

superhero

Synopsis

Superman's strength is attributed to the lighter gravity found on Earth, and is compared to the ant and the grasshopper, both insects whose strength and jumping ability, by comparsion, would be considered super strength.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #[1] ([Summer 1939])

[What If Superman Ended the War?] (Table of Contents: 7)

Superman / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Jerry Siegel

Pencils

Joe Shuster

Inks

Joe Shuster

Colors

Elizabeth Safian

Letters

?

Genre

superhero; war

Characters

Superman; Adolf Hitler; Josef Stalin

Reprints

• from The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told (DC, 1987 series) (1987 [March 1988])
which is reprinted
• from Look (Cowles, 1937 series) #v4#5 (February 27, 1940) [recolored]

Indexer Notes

Title from Table of Contents.

Three Supermen from Krypton! (Table of Contents: 8)

Superman / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Woolfolk

Pencils

Al Plastino

Inks

Al Plastino

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Kizo; Mala; U-Ban; Jor-El (flashback); Perry White; Lois Lane

Synopsis

Superman meets three Kryptonian brothers who were convicted and sentenced by Krypton's Ruling Council to suspended animation adrift in space due to their efforts to overthrow the Council and rule Krypton. Now that they have crashed on Earth they plan to rule it instead. Superman tricks them into turning on each other and they knock themselves out. Superman returns them to suspended animation and exiles them back into space.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #65 (July-August 1950)

The Last Days of Superman! Part I: Superman's Death Sentence! (Table of Contents: 9)

Superman / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Superman Emergency Squad; Jimmy Olsen; Jor-El (flashback); Tharb-El (flashback); Lois Lane; Lana Lang; Perry White; Supergirl; Krypto; Legion of Super-Heroes [Saturn Girl; Lightning Lad; Cosmic Boy]

Synopsis

A Kryptonian artifact containing samples of Virus X crashes on Earth, and though Superman drives it deep underground with a huge boulder, he appears to have been exposed to the virus, which kills Kryptonians in 30 days.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #156 (October 1962)

Part II: The Super-Comrades of All Time! (Table of Contents: 10)

Superman / comic story / 7.67 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Superman Emergency Squad; Legion of Super-Heroes [Bouncing Boy; Triplicate Girl; Sun Boy; Chameleon Boy; Brainiac 5; Lightning Lad; Saturn Girl; Cosmic Boy; Invisible Kid; Shrinking Violet]; Supergirl; Krypto; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Lori Lemaris

Synopsis

As Superman lies near death, Supergirl recruits Superman's allies to help perform all the great tasks Superman planned to do before he died to secure the safe future of Earth.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #156 (October 1962)

Indexer Notes

Cosmic Boy is mistakenly referred to as Cosmic King in one panel.

Part III: Superman's Last Day of Life! (Table of Contents: 11)

Superman / comic story / 7.67 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Supergirl; Jimmy Olsen; Superman Emergency Squad; Legion of Super-Heroes [Saturn Girl; Shrinking Violet; Invisible Kid; Lightning Lad; Cosmic Boy; Bouncing Boy; Triplicate Girl; Brainiac 5; Chameleon Boy; Sun Boy]; Lois Lane; Jonathan Kent (flashback); Martha Kent (flashback); Lana Lang; Lyla Lerrol (flashback); Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Lori Lemaris; Krypto; Mon-El; Tharb-El

Synopsis

After Superman says his final good-byes, Supergirl discovers that Superman was not exposed to Virus X, and Mon-El is finally able to make contact from the Phantom Zone to reveal the real cause of Superman's distress.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #156 (October 1962)

The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman! Part I (Table of Contents: 12)

Superman / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Lex Luthor; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Jor-El (flashback)

Synopsis

When Luthor escapes from jail, he challenges Superman to meet him in a fair fight without his super powers. The two head to a desert-like world where they brawl until Superman knocks out the villain. Luthor retaliates by using secret weapons hidden in his shirt pocket.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #164 (October 1963)

Part II: The Super-Duel! (Table of Contents: 13)

Superman / comic story / 8.67 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Lex Luthor; Jor-El (hallucination); Lara (hallucination)

Synopsis

While Superman struggles to survive, Luthor meets the few remaining inhabitants of the planet and becomes their hero when he reactivates their scientific machines and temporarily solves their water shortage problem. But Superman finds Luthor, defeats him in combat, and returns him to prison on Earth, after providing the people of the planet with sufficient water on which to survive.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #164 (October 1963)

Must There Be a Superman? (Table of Contents: 14)

Superman / comic story / 17 pages (report information)

Script

Elliot Maggin

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

Murphy Anderson

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Guardians of the Universe; Green Lantern [Katma Tui]; Harley; Jor-El (flashback)

Synopsis

The Guardians of the Universe tell Superman that his actions may be impeding the progress of the human race. While Superman considers what they said, he gets involved in the problems in a migrant camp.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #247 (January 1972)

Indexer Notes

Art credits confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.

The Exile at the Edge of Eternity (Table of Contents: 15)

Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Jim Steranko

Pencils

Jim Steranko

Inks

Jim Steranko

Colors

Jim Steranko; Drew Moore (color reconstruction)

Letters

Jim Steranko

Genre

superhero

Synopsis

The history of the human race, and the children of Superman, as they spread out among the stars.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #400 (October 1984)

Pinup / Moebius (Table of Contents: 16)

Superman / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

Moebius

Inks

Moebius

Colors

Drew Moore

Letters

typeset

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #400 (October 1984)

Prologue: From Out the Green Dawn... (Table of Contents: 17)

Superman / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

John Byrne

Pencils

John Byrne

Inks

Dick Giordano

Colors

Tom Ziuko

Letters

John Costanza

Genre

superhero

Characters

Jor-El; Lara; Kelex; Kelor; Kal-El

Synopsis

Lara and Jor-El discuss their unborn son, and how Jor-El intends to protect him. As Krypton begins its final eruptions, Jor-El sends Kal-El to Earth.

Reprints

• from The Man of Steel (DC, 1986 series) #1 ([October] 1986)

Indexer Notes

This entire four-part story called "The Man of Steel" in the Table of Contents.

Chapter One: The Secret (Table of Contents: 18)

Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

John Byrne

Pencils

John Byrne

Inks

Dick Giordano

Colors

Tom Ziuko

Letters

John Costanza

Genre

superhero

Characters

Clark Kent [Kal-El]; Jonathan Kent; Martha Kent; Lana Lang

Synopsis

Clark Kent is now a star football player, helped by additional strength. But his foster father reveals that he is adopted and is an alien from another planet.

Reprints

• from The Man of Steel (DC, 1986 series) #1 ([October] 1986)

Chapter Two: The Exposure (Table of Contents: 19)

Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

John Byrne

Pencils

John Byrne

Inks

Dick Giordano

Colors

Tom Ziuko

Letters

John Costanza

Genre

superhero

Characters

Clark Kent [Kal-El]; Jonathan Kent; Martha Kent; Lois Lane

Synopsis

After helping out secretly for years, Clark Kent is forced into doing his first public super-deed, saving the space-plane Constitution. In doing so, he has his first meeting with Lois Lane.

Reprints

• from The Man of Steel (DC, 1986 series) #1 ([October] 1986)

Epilogue: The Super-Hero (Table of Contents: 20)

Superman / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

John Byrne

Pencils

John Byrne

Inks

Dick Giordano

Colors

Tom Ziuko

Letters

John Costanza

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent; Kal-El]; Jonathan Kent; Martha Kent

Synopsis

The Kents design and make a costume for Clark, and come up with a way for him to look different in both identities as he adopts his Superman identity.

Reprints

• from The Man of Steel (DC, 1986 series) #1 ([October] 1986)

Return to Krypton (Table of Contents: 21)

Superman / comic story / 22 pages (report information)

Script

John Byrne

Pencils

Mike Mignola

Inks

Karl Kesel

Colors

Petra Goldberg; Drew Moore (color reconstruction)

Letters

Bill Oakley

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent; Kal-El]; Hawkman [Carter Hall; Katar Hol]; Hawkwoman [Shiera Hall; Shayera Thal]; Jor-El (hallucination); Lara (hallucination)

Synopsis

Hawkman and Hawkwoman take Superman to Krypton.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1987 series) #18 (June 1988)

What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way? (Table of Contents: 22)

Superman / comic story / 39 pages (report information)

Script

Joe Kelly

Pencils

Doug Mahnke; Lee Bermejo

Inks

Tom Nguyen; Dexter Vines; Jim Royal; José Marzán Jr.; Wade von Grawbadger; Wayne Faucher

Colors

Rob Schwager

Letters

Comicraft

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Lois Lane; Lex Luthor; Jimmy Olsen; Sam Lane; Perry White; Mercy; Steel; Jonathan Kent; The Elite [Manchester Black; Coldcast; The Hat; Menagerie]

Synopsis

A new group of super-humans appears on the scene, with more violent solutions for the world's problems. Now Superman must demonstrate his is the correct way to be a super-hero.

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #775 (March 2001)

Contributors (Table of Contents: 23)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Al Plastino (illustration)

Inks

Al Plastino (illustration)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Illustrated with a detail from "Three Superman from Krypton!" from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #65.

He Is the First, and Greatest, Super-Hero of All Time! (Table of Contents: 24) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)