From: [d t c] at [acpub.duke.edu] (David Thomas Chappell)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info
Subject: Superman FAQ (Version 2.33)
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 96 22:55:13 GMT
SUPERMAN FAQ
Frequently-Asked Questions about the Man of Steel
VERSION 2.33 January 1996
INTRODUCTION: This FAQ gives comic-book readers an introduction to
Superman. Though most Americans are familiar with the lead character and
his friends at the DAILY PLANET, the current comic books include many
characters and events with which new readers will be unfamiliar. This FAQ
tries to keep new readers from wondering about the background information.
All facts are about the post-Crisis universe (see Q12) and revamped Superman
(see Q13) unless specified.
DATE: All information is accurate as of January 1996, and some details
(notably current story line events and mailing addresses) may change.
Events from the most recent comic issues will not appear in the FAQ to
prevent spoiling the story for readers.
TERMINOLOGY: The term "Superman" implies the character rather than the
comic book of the same name. "Comic" means comic book. ALL CAPS are used
in lieu of italics to indicate a title; a "title" is a series of comics
under the same published title (e.g., ACTION COMICS).
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Superman and all related characters are trademarks of DC
Comics. Mention of these characters in this FAQ is without permission of DC
Comics, but said use is not intended to challenge DC's trademark rights or
copyrights. Readers who want to learn more about Superman are encouraged to
purchase the comic books. The author strongly suggests that this FAQ be
distributed free of charge. While this FAQ is not "official," DC has
recognized its existence (see Q9).
AUTHORSHIP: This FAQ was compiled and maintained by David T. Chappell. It
is based primarily on his memory of Superman stories with the assistance of
various Superman comics and books that he possesses. This FAQ also
incorporates suggestions by various readers. Comments, suggestions, and
corrections may be sent via Internet e-mail to [d t c] at [acpub.duke.edu.]
AVAILABILITY: This FAQ is posted regularly to Internet newsgroups and ftp
sites (see Q43 and Q44). It is also available on GEnie (see Q45) and RIME
(see Q46). Permission is granted to distribute the FAQ in its entirety and
without modification as long as such is done without charge. For other use
beyond that appropriate for using other resource material, please contact
the author for prior permission. David requests that anyone posting the FAQ
to another major computer network contact him.
CONTENTS (+ updated question; * new question since last minor version)
THE BIG ONE
Q1: Who is Superman?
THE COMIC
Q2: What Superman comics are published regularly?
+Q3: I only want to read one Superman title rather than all four monthlies.
Which one should I choose?
Q4: On the cover of each comic there is a triangle with numbers in it.
What do the numbers mean?
Q5: How do I subscribe to Superman comics?
Q6: How do I find old Superman comic books?
Q7: How much money are old Superman comics worth?
THE LETTERS PAGES
Q8: How do I contact the creators of Superman comics?
Q9: What is a Baldy?
SUPERMAN HISTORY
Q10: Who created Superman? When did Superman first appear?
Q11: What are Superman's powers? How did he get his powers? How have his
powers changed over the years?
Q12: What was the Crisis?
Q13: When and how was Superman revamped in recent years?
Q14: How did Superman change after the Crisis and revamp?
Q15: What happened in the Death of Superman? What is Doomsday?
Q16: How did Superman return to life?
Q17: What was the Reign of the Supermen?
Q18: In what other media has Superman appeared?
THE DAILY PLANET AND REPORTERS
Q19: What is the DAILY PLANET?
Q20: Who is Lois Lane?
Q21: Who is Jimmy Olsen?
Q22: Who is Perry White?
Q23: Who is Catherine Grant?
SUPPORTING CAST
Q24: Who is Lex Luthor? Who is Lex Luthor II?
Q25: Who is Supergirl (a.k.a. Matrix)?
Q26: What is the Eradicator?
Q27: Who is Superboy?
Q28: Who is Steel (a.k.a. the Man of Steel)?
Q29: What is Project Cadmus?
Q30: Who is Professor Emil Hamilton?
THE STORIES
Q31: What is Superman's origin?
Q32: What are Superman's nicknames?
Q33: What is the L. L. connection for Superman?
+Q34: What is Kryptonite? Why is it dangerous?
Q35: How old is Superman?
Q36: Where does Superman live?
+Q37: What and where is Metropolis?
Q38: What and where is Smallville?
Q39: What was the Fortress of Solitude? Where was it?
Q40: Since he doesn't wear a mask, why doesn't anyone realize that Clark
Kent is Superman?
+Q41: Who knows Superman's secret identity?
Q42: Are Clark Kent and Lois Lane really engaged to be married?
COMPUTER NETWORK RESOURCES
Q43: What Internet newsgroups cover Superman topics?
Q44: Where can I find various Superman-related files on Internet?
Q45: Where can I find comics-related files on GEnie?
Q46: Where can I find comics-related files on BBSs?
Q47: Where can I find comics data on America Online (AOL)?
Q48: What is THE KRYPTONIAN CYBERNET?
THE BIG ONE
Q1: Who is Superman?
A1: Superman is probably the best-known superhero in the world. Superman
comic books have been around for over 50 years (see Q10), though his
appearances in movies and television (see Q18) have probably done more to
make him famous.
Superman has various superhuman abilities (see Q11) that he uses to
uphold good. He captures criminals, rescues people in danger, strives for
justice, and has a strong sense of morals. In short, Superman fights for
Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
Superman wears a special costume while fighting crime, but he also has
a life outside of being a superhero. As Clark Kent, he grew up in the town
of Smallville, Kansas (see Q38), and attended Metropolis University. Clark
is a Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper reporter for the DAILY PLANET (see
Q19), and he strives to keep his Superman identity secret. Clark Kent is
well-known for his DAILY PLANET articles, and he has published several
books.
Superman is 6'3" tall and weighs 225 pounds. He has black hair and
blue eyes. (WHO'S WHO #1, Aug.90)
THE COMIC
Q2: What Superman comics are published regularly?
A2: SUPERMAN, ACTION COMICS, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, and SUPERMAN: THE
MAN OF STEEL are monthly comics published by DC Comics. With four monthly
comics and one quarterly, a new Superman comic book comes out every week.
In addition, one special annual comic is published for each title.
There are three additional Superman-related monthly series. Superboy
(see Q27) now has his own regular title, and John Henry Irons (see Q28)
stars in the STEEL title. Both series started at the end of 1993 in what DC
calls the "Reign of Tomorrow." Furthermore, each issue of SHOWCASE '96
features a story starring a Superman character. Other occasional mini-
series, such as the recent LOOSE CANNON and SUPERMAN VS. ALIENS, also
feature Superman and his supporting cast.
A new quarterly Superman book entitled SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF TOMORROW
has recently begun in spring 1995. This title is published during the
former "skip weeks" in which none of the four monthly titles are printed.
Q3: I only want to read one Superman title rather than all four monthlies.
Which one should I choose?
A3: Though each comic contains a story unto itself, the story lines flow
smoothly from comic to comic across the titles. Thus, a plot in ADVENTURES
one week will continue in ACTION the next. At various times in the past, DC
tried to make each title distinct in some way. This distinction was clear
during the Reign of the Supermen, for example, but apart from the creative
teams that work on them, there is generally little to distinguish the
titles. The only criteria I can suggest is if you prefer one writer or art
team. However, the MAN OF TOMORROW quarterly is being written so that it
can stand alone if fans choose not to read only that title.
Q4: On the cover of each comic there is a triangle with numbers in it.
What do the numbers mean?
A4: These are called "triangle numbers." The lower, boldfaced number
indicates the order in which the stories flow. Because the story line flows
continuously from title to title each week, it is difficult to otherwise
discern in which order the comics should be read. For example, issue
numbers do not indicate whether THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #505 precedes
ACTION COMICS #692, but triangle numbers (31 vs. 32) show that it does. The
top number is the year; triangle numbering starts over at 1 each year.
Triangle numbers currently appear on the four monthly titles plus THE
MAN OF TOMORROW. Mini-series and cross-overs in other books typically do
not include triangle numbers.
Q5: How do I subscribe to Superman comics?
A5: Many comic-book stores will hold incoming comics each week for
customers in what they call a "subscription service." In addition, you can
order a mail subscription from the publisher. Write to DC Comics
Subscriptions, P. O. Box 0528, Dept. DC-8, Baldwin, NY 11510, or check
current comics for subscription advertisements.
Q6: How do I find old Superman comic books?
A6: Many comic-book dealers will sell old comics. Comic-book conventions
feature many new and used comics for sale. Furthermore, many current comics
will include advertisements for dealers who sell old comics by mail order.
Finally, DC reprints some collections of Superman stories in books. Do not
try to contact the publisher for old issues of comics. In addition to
current titles (see Q2), comics from the past that featured Superman include
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERBOY, DC COMICS PRESENTS, and WORLD'S FINEST.
Q7: How much money are old Superman comics worth?
A7: The crude answer is that they are worth whatever someone is willing to
pay for them. In general, the value depends on the importance of the story,
the number of copies printed, the physical quality of the book, and whether
it is the first printing or a reprint. For example, the comic in which
Superman died (SUPERMAN #75) is valuable because fans consider the story
important and the demand exceeded the supply. Second and third printings of
that book are worth much less, and a poor-condition copy would not be worth
as much. The OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE is often accepted as the
best guide to comic prices.
THE LETTERS PAGES
Q8: How do I contact the creators of Superman comics?
A8: The address for DC Comics is 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. To
ensure that a letter gets to the desired title's creative team, use the
appropriate letters-page name:
ACTION COMICS Re: Action
SUPERMAN Metropolis Mailbag
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN Krypto Grams
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL Tempered Steel
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF TOMORROW Quarterly Reports
SHOWCASE Case Studies
Due to the continued popularity of the Man of Steel, a personal reply or
printing of your letter is unlikely, but the team is likely to read your
correspondence.
In addition, it is now possible to send e-mail to the letter columns.
The Internet address is [d c conline] at [aol.com.] Letter writers should mention
the letters-page name in the subject to ensure that their correspondence
reaches the right title.
Q9: What is a Baldy?
A9: In the letters page of each Superman comic, the editor bestows a Baldy
award to the best printed letter. An actual award is mailed to recipients,
and in a few cases the editors have mentioned what the prize was (e.g.,
platinum-edition SUPERMAN #75). Even aside from the physical prize, receipt
of a Baldy is a great honor to Superman fans.
Doug Shaw ([doug shaw] at [math.lsa.umich.edu]) received a Baldy in 1990. He
reports that the actual award is a personalized postcard signed by Lex
Luthor. In 1994, editor Mike Carlin sent the author of this FAQ (David
Chappell) "an honorary Baldy for keeping such complete tabs on us!" David's
award was also a personalized postcard.
DC has explained that, in the comic-book world, the Baldy is a special
award established by Lex the First for journalistic achievement in
Metropolis. The official name for the award is the Zenith Award for
Excellence in Journalism, and Metropolis journalists provided the nickname
(ACTION #693, Nov.93).
SUPERMAN HISTORY
Q10: Who created Superman? When did Superman first appear?
A10: Superman was created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist).
The first appearance of Superman was in ACTION COMICS #1 (cover date June
1938).
Q11: What are Superman's powers? How did he get his powers? How have his
powers changed over the years?
A11: In the first stories from the 1930s, Superman relied primarily on his
superhuman strength. Over the years, he gained more powers and greater
strength. After the Crisis (see Q12) and revamp (see Q13), Superman's
powers were lessened to make him more mortal.
Superman's powers include unusual strength, flight, extra-dense skin,
invulnerability, super hearing, and super-speed. As a result of his super
strength, he also has a powerful breath. An electro-chemical aura that
surrounds Superman's body protects him (and his costume) and seems to be
part of his flight ability.
The Man of Tomorrow also has several forms of super-vision. With his
x-ray vision, he can see through solid objects (with the exception of dense
materials such as lead). Superman's heat vision has been explained as
either telekinesis or the release of excess solar energy through his eyes.
His telescopic and microscopic visions allow him to see farther and in
greater detail than normal humans. With infrared vision, he can see heat
sources.
Superman's ability to fly has been explained as a result of Earth's
gravity being much less than that of his home world, but it seems to be at
least partially psychokinetic in nature. Most of his other powers are due
to Earth's yellow sun (Krypton had a red sun).
Superman was not born with his powers, but they developed as he grew.
They began to show themselves during puberty, but he did not fully realize
his powers until he became an adult.
Of recent note, Superman's powers greatly increased after his return
from death (see Q16). His strength, speed, and vision powers were greater
than before. He could also survive in space without oxygen for extended
periods of time. Superman's powers increased because his exposure to
Kryptonite passing through the Eradicator (see Q26) changed his metabolism
(SUPERMAN #82, Oct.93). His strength grew to the point where it was nearly
uncontrollable and he was a danger to everyone around him. Eventually, an
encounter with the Parasite removed Superman's extra powers and reduced him
to his normal levels (ADVENTURES #512, May 94). After the entire sequence,
Superman's powers returned to their pre-Death levels with no net increase or
decrease (ACTION #699, May 94).
Q12: What was the Crisis?
A12: The Crisis on Infinite Earths was a major event in DC stories. In
1985, the 50th anniversary of DC Comics was highlighted by a comic-book
maxi-series, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, which included all of DC's heroes
and also had cross-overs in most DC titles.
Prior to the Crisis, DC explained the existence of many heroes in
different times by having multiple universes. On Earth-1, for example, all
the major heroes were in their prime in modern times, whereas the Earth-2
heroes were in their prime during the 1940s. This explained how Superman
stories from both WWII and today showed him at roughly the same age.
In the Crisis on Infinite Earths, an evil force (the Anti-Monitor)
tried to destroy the multiverse, but a good force (the Monitor) combined a
few surviving universes into one while the major heroes battled the Anti-
Monitor. Afterwards, everyone in the universe forgot about the events of
the Crisis and everything proceeded as though there had only ever been one
Earth. In the modern story, the one and only Superman arrived on Earth a
few decades ago, and other heroes (mystery men) existed during WWII. The
entire Crisis story is much more detailed than presented here, and
interested readers are encouraged to read other Internet Crisis discussions
(see Q44) or read the comic books. The Crisis affected Superman in several
ways (see Q14).
A recent sequel to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths is Zero Hour:
A Crisis in Time. It centered around an attempt to remake the universe into
a multiverse. Superman joined other heroes to streamline the proper flow of
time. Although the DC universe was again rebooted after the Crisis in Time,
it did not affect Superman's past.
Q13: When and how was Superman revamped in recent years?
A13: Following the Crisis (see Q12), DC decided to streamline Superman in
1986. They hired John Byrne to return Superman to his position as DC's
paramount hero. Marv Wolfman and other comics experts joined the team. A
special six-part mini-series, THE MAN OF STEEL, retold Superman's origin
from the destruction of Krypton to his early years as the first modern
superhero. THE MAN OF STEEL trade paperback reprints this recent classic
series.
At that time, the SUPERMAN title was renamed to THE ADVENTURES OF
SUPERMAN and a new SUPERMAN title was started. In addition, three mini-
series helped redefine more about the characters in Superman comics: THE
WORLD OF KRYPTON (1987), THE WORLD OF SMALLVILLE (1988), and THE WORLD OF
METROPOLIS (1988).
The revamp was done for several reasons. DC wanted to make Superman
seem more human (i.e., a real person rather than a two-dimensional
character). His powers were lessened (see Q11) to keep him from being god-
like. Other changes have made Superman the ONLY survivor of Krypton. While
Superman is still the same character, the changes made during the revamp
were substantial (see Q14). This FAQ includes only information about the
revamped Superman.
The more recent Zero Hour did not retcon any of the "modern" Superman
history.
Q14: How did Superman change after the Crisis and revamp?
A14: During the Crisis on Infinite Earths (see Q12), Supergirl saved
Superman (of Earth-1) when he was battling the Anti-Monitor, and--at the
cost of her own life--she destroyed a machine that the Anti-Monitor planned
to use to destroy the Earths. Her death was the main effect that the Crisis
directly had on the Superman saga.
The Byrne revamp (see Q13) was actually responsible for most changes in
Superman. Since the revamp was done soon after the Crisis, most people
treat the Crisis as the dividing line and refer to "pre-Crisis" or "post-
Crisis" events.
Several elements may differ from new readers' expectations because they
changed after the Crisis and revamp. The original Supergirl (Kara Zor-El,
Superman's cousin) no longer exists, and the bottled city of Kandor never
was. Pre-Crisis stories had a young version of Superman--Superboy; in the
post-Crisis stories, Superman developed his powers later in life (see Q11),
and he never was Superboy. In the current continuity, Lex Luthor (see Q24)
is a brilliant but corrupt businessman and scientist and no longer a
convicted criminal. Ma and Pa Kent are alive in the post-Crisis universe,
while they had died during Clark's teen years in the pre-Crisis version.
Streaky, Beppo, and the other super-powered animals do not exist in the
current stories. There are numerous other changes in elements such as
super-villains, the supporting cast of characters, and the extent of
Superman's powers (see Q11). All of these changes are retroactively
permanent. Thus, in the current universe, Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) did not
die battling the Anti-Monitor: she simply NEVER EXISTED.
Most Superman stories from the pre-Crisis years are no longer part of
the continuity. This FAQ includes only information about the post-Crisis
Superman, though sufficient demand could result in a separate pre-Crisis
FAQ.
Q15: What happened in the Death of Superman? What is Doomsday?
A15: In 1992, Superman endured an extensive battle with a monster called
Doomsday. The Creature destroyed numerous towns and much of Metropolis
before Superman was able to stop it. At the end of the battle (SUPERMAN
#75, Jan.93), Superman and Doomsday apparently killed each other with their
final blows.
According to interviews with DC staff, they decided to create a new
enemy to defeat Superman rather than have one of his old enemies accomplish
the heinous deed.
Two compiled books reprint the comics that make up the story of the
Death of Superman. THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN includes the battle with Doomsday.
The Funeral for a Friend series is reprinted in WORLD WITHOUT A SUPERMAN.
These trade paperbacks are published by DC Comics and are available at
comic-book stores. Furthermore, the hardback novel THE DEATH AND LIFE OF
SUPERMAN by Roger Stern retells the entire story from the battle with
Doomsday to the end of the Reign of the Supermen.
After his return to life, Superman had a rematch with Doomsday in the
SUPERMAN/DOOMSDAY: HUNTER/PREY mini-series. The story revealed that
Doomsday was an artificially engineering being created millennia ago on the
planet Krypton. At the conclusion of the mini-series, Doomsday was
apparently destroyed for good at the end of time.
Q16: How did Superman return to life?
A16: Due to a coincidental chain of circumstances, Superman was able to
return from his apparent death. On the physical level, his dying body still
contained some residual energy, and it absorbed more energy from the Sun and
the experiments performed on it. The Eradicator (see Q26) stole Superman's
body from its tomb and took it to the Fortress of Solitude (see Q39), where
it used the body to convert solar energy to energy it could use. Meanwhile,
Superman's spirit was trapped between life and death, and various demons
struggled for possession of it. With the assistance of Pa Kent's spirit,
Superman decided to return to Earth (ADVENTURES #500, May 93).
Superman's essence returned to his physical body, but he lay dormant in
the Fortress of Solitude for many days until he was able to escape the
energy-siphoning device. A much-weakened Superman traveled to Coast City to
battle alien invaders. At the end of the battle, the Eradicator gave most
of its energy to Superman and restored him to full strength.
Q17: What was the Reign of the Supermen?
A17: In the weeks following Superman's death, several heroes appeared
claiming to be Superman. These include Superboy (see Q27), Steel (see Q28),
the Eradicator (see Q26), and a Cyborg. With the exception of Steel, all
claimed to be the original Superman (or, in the case of Superboy, his true
heir).
After much media hype and a few encounters between the Supermen, it was
uncertain which, if any, of them was the true Superman. Eventually, the
Cyborg was revealed to be an insane, formerly-human life force in alliance
with alien invaders. It wanted to get revenge on Superman, but upon
learning that he had died, the Cyborg tried to conquer the Earth and destroy
the other Supermen while pretending to be the real Superman. Superboy,
Steel, the Eradicator, Supergirl, Green Lantern, and the true, now-revived
Superman joined forces to defeat the Cyborg and the aliens. THE RETURN OF
SUPERMAN trade paperback collects the entire Reign of the Supermen story
line into one book.
[Historical Note: A 1932 science-fiction story by Siegel entitled
"Reign of the Superman" led to his creation of the Superman comic-book
character.]
Q18: In what other media has Superman appeared?
A18: Although comic books are the first and foremost medium for Superman
stories, the Man of Steel has appeared in several others over the years.
Examples include a serialized radio program, movie serials, animated movie
cartoons, television programs, novels, feature films, and a syndicated
newspaper strip. Moreover, several songs mention Superman. Details are too
numerous to list here, and this FAQ deals primarily with the comic series.
For the most part, the stories in these other media do not fit into the
continuity of the regular comic books.
The ABC television series LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
deserves special note because it is new and contemporary. The stories seem
to be set during Clark's early years as Superman and borrow slightly from
the comic stories from the early years (after Byrne's revamping). Thus, in
the TV series, there is no Supergirl, Doomsday has not killed Superman, and
other important events have not yet happened. The series is currently in
its third season.
In addition, there are plans for an upcoming Superman animated TV
series to be done in a style similar to the current ADVENTURES OF BATMAN AND
ROBIN show.
THE DAILY PLANET AND REPORTERS
Q19: What is the DAILY PLANET?
A19: The DAILY PLANET is a major newspaper in the city of Metropolis (see
Q37). The original DAILY PLANET was founded in 1775. It seems to be of
quality comparable to the real-world NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, or
LONDON TIMES. Since Clark Kent works at the paper, the PLANET and its
reporters are major players in many plots and subplots. The building itself
is famous for the large globe (planet) atop it.
Q20: Who is Lois Lane?
A20: Lois Lane is a well-known journalist for the DAILY PLANET (see Q19).
Lois started working for the PLANET when she was sixteen years old, and she
is now one of the paper's best reporters. Her investigative reporting often
gets Lois into trouble, but it also gets her good stories. When she wrote
the first article about a mysterious new superhero, she created the name
"Superman." Despite a long-standing rivalry, Lois and Clark are now engaged
(see Q42). In Metropolis, Lois is known as "Superman's Girlfriend" due to
her friendship with the Man of Steel. Lois's younger sister, Lucy Lane, is
a minor character.
Q21: Who is Jimmy Olsen?
A21: James Bartholomew Olsen is a red-haired, freckle-faced, young
photographer for the DAILY PLANET (see Q19). He started work at the PLANET
as a gopher and has worked to earn respect from the staff. Jimmy endures
the hardships of becoming an adult yet often bumbles. Due to his occasional
association with Superman and the signal watch he once made, Jimmy has
earned the nickname of "Superman's Pal."
Q22: Who is Perry White?
A22: Perry Jerome White is the managing editor of the DAILY PLANET (see
Q19), and the newspaper staff respects him. Perry started at the paper as a
copy boy at age ten and earned his way up. He served 18 months in southeast
Asia (probably Vietnam), and on his return, he learned of Lex Luthor's (see
Q24) plans to dump the paper. Although they grew up as friends, Perry and