From: [d t c] at [acpub.duke.edu] (David T. Chappell)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info,rec.arts.comics.dc.universe
Subject: Superman Timeline (Version 1.40)
Date: 19 Jan 1998 07:30:01 -0700
SUPERMAN TIMELINE
A List of Major Superman Events
Version 1.40 January 1998
INTRODUCTION: This document contains a timeline of major events in
Superman's life that fit into the current continuity. Ever since the 1986
revamp that restarted Superman from square one, the Superman comic books have
fit into a tightly-woven continuity. Events from one story often lead into
another, and subplots carry over from one major story line to the next. When
a character re-appears after a long absence, he will recall and may have been
affected by the events of the story in which he last appeared. Due to this
tight integration, all previous stories (in the current continuity) are "real
history" and thus possibly relevant to any other Superman story. I have
included few events from the current comic story lines since they are
recorded in the books themselves as well as my Superman Comic List. Although
this timeline does not perfectly match that in SUPERMAN: SECRET FILES, the
author believes that the SECRET FILES timeline is inaccurate and ignores the
existence of several stories and facts about time relationships.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Superman and all related characters are trademarks of DC
Comics. Mention of these characters in this document 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 document
be distributed free of charge.
AUTHORSHIP: This list was compiled by David T. Chappell, and it was his
opinion alone that determined whether a Superman story was worthy of
inclusion in this document. It is based on the Superman comic books that he
possesses. Comments, suggestions, and corrections may be sent via Internet
e-mail to [d chappell] at [ieee.org.]
AVAILABILITY: This file is available on Internet via anonymous ftp at
ftp.hiof.no (numeric address 158.36.33.3) in the file
/pub/Comics/Superman/Superman.TimeLine. Mosaic users can access the above
site via the WWW page ftp://ftp.hiof.no/pub/Comics/Superman. The Superman
FAQ is available at the same site in /pub/Comics/FAQs.
TITLE ABBREVIATIONS: The following abbreviations are used within the list to
indicate the titles of the various comic books.
Abbreviation Title
==========================================
ACTION ACTION COMICS
ADVENTURES THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
MAN O'STEEL SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL
S:TMOS THE MAN OF STEEL mini-series
SUPERMAN SUPERMAN (Volume 2)
ZH ZERO HOUR: CRISIS IN TIME
ZERO HOUR ZERO HOUR: CRISIS IN TIME
TIMELINE: Below is a general timeline showing events in the life of
Superman. References are given where appropriate from both the comics
stories and the ZERO HOUR #0 timeline.
~15 Billion Years Ago (the Big Bang)
Superman and other heroes present for start of the universe (ZERO HOUR #0)
100 Million Years Ago (Cretaceous Period):
Superman in prehistoric times; dinosaurs and Chronos (Time and Time Again)
500 Thousand Years Ago (Pleistocene Period):
Superman visits city-state of A'r'ven (Time and Time Again)
Dark Ages:
Superman visits Camelot, fights Morgaine Le Fey (Time and Time Again)
1938 A.D.:
Planet Krypton explodes; Kal-El's birthing matrix launched towards Earth
1943 A.D.:
Superman joins circus, saves FDR, stops Mr. Z (Time and Time Again)
<-----S----->
Age 0:
Winter: Kal-El born on Earth (MAN OF STEEL #1)
Kal-El arrives on Earth, landing near Smallville (ZH*33 ya)
Age 5:
Clark enrolled at Eisenhower Elementary School; met Lana Lang and Pete Ross
(ACTION #655)
Age 8:
Bull trampled Clark; Jonathan Kent saw that Clark is unharmed
(MAN OF STEEL #1)
Clark lifts pickup truck; Martha Kent witnesses (MAN OF STEEL #1)
Age 9:
Clark takes lead role in 3rd grade class play: "Snow White and the Seven
Dwarves" (SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #0)
Age 17:
Junior Year in High School
Clark voted Most Likely to Succeed; Clark is class president (SUPERMAN #0)
Clark wins race at state high school track meet (SUPERMAN #0)
Clark and Lana go to prom; elected prom king & queen (SUPERMAN #0)
Summer: Clark learns he can fly (MAN OF STEEL #1)
Age 18:
Senior Year in High School
Fall: Father reveals Clark's rocket-ship origin; Clark immediately leaves
home (MAN OF STEEL #1)
Clark Kent leaves Smallville for Metropolis (ZH*15 ya)
Ages 18-22 (5-year period):
Clark secretly averts disasters and saves people; acts as hero in secret;
wanders the globe as a "free agent"
Age 23:
Clark settles in Metropolis as his adopted "home town"
Clark enrolls at the University of Metropolis as a journalism major
Clark continues to act as secret hero
Age 24:
Clark meets Lori Lemaris at the University of Metropolis (SUPERMAN #12)
Age 25:
Clark graduates from college after just two years
(THE WORLD OF METROPOLIS #3)
Clark studies journalism in Europe (ADVENTURES #0)
Clark saves Spaceplane over Metropolis;
Lois Lane writes article about "Superman"; Pa Kent designs costume;
Superman goes public (MAN OF STEEL #1)
Superman makes his debut, inspiring a new heroic ago (ZH*10 ya)
Intergang forms in Metropolis (ADVENTURES Annual #7)
Superman meets Lois Lane; Clark gets job at Daily Planet
(MAN OF STEEL #2; THE WORLD OF METROPOLIS #3)
Superman's first encounter with magic & Dr. Occult (SUPERMAN Annual #7)
Superman's first trip to outer space (ACTION Annual #7)
Superman first meets Batman (8 mos. after first Superman appearance)
(MAN OF STEEL #3)
Superman meets rest of original JLA (S:TMOS Annual #4)
Superman's first Christmas in Metropolis (DCU HOLIDAY BASH #1 [1997])
Age 26:
The Cadmus Project begins (ZH*9 ya)
Metropolis Police Department organizes Special Crimes Unit
Luthor offers to hire Superman; intense rivalry begins
(1.5 years after first Superman appearance) (MAN OF STEEL #4)
Age 28:
First Bizarro created by Luthor (2 years after rivalry begins)
(MAN OF STEEL #5)
The Universal Crisis (CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS; ZH*4 ya)
Clark learns about Krypton (10 years after left Smallville)
(MAN OF STEEL #6)
Modern, post-Crisis Superman stories begin
(3 mos. after Clark learns about Krypton) (SUPERMAN #1)
Bloodsport (SUPERMAN #4 [Apr 87])
Age 31:
Millennium (MILLENNIUM)
Gangbuster
He Only Laughs When I Hurt (SUPERMAN #16 [Apr 88])
Age 32:
The Supergirl Saga
Invasion
Exiled in Space
Homeless for the Holidays (ADVENTURES #462 [Jan 90])
Age 33:
Clark Kent proposes to Lois Lane (SUPERMAN #50 [Dec 90])
War of the Gods
ARMAGEDDON 2001
Existence of the Linear Men revealed
Metropolis Mailbag (SUPERMAN #64 [Feb 92])
Age 34:
Panic in the Sky
Superman joins JLA as leader
Superman killed by Doomsday (SUPERMAN #75)
Metropolis Mailbag II (SUPERMAN #76 [Feb 93])
Age 35:
Reign of the Supermen: Superboy, Steel, the Eradicator
Superman revived from death
Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey
The Fall of Metropolis
Worlds Collide
Zero Hour (ZERO HOUR)
Dead Again
Christmas Thieves (ADVENTURES #520 [Feb 95])
Age 36:
The Death of Clark Kent
The Trial of Superman
Underworld Unleashed
Kill Fee (SUPERMAN #109 [Feb 96])
Age 37:
Lois breaks off engagement with Clark (ACTION #720)
The Bottle City
Superman joins new JLA
The Final Night
Lois and Clark get married (WEDDING ALBUM #1)
Superman Blue -- new powers and new costume
Genesis
Superman Red / Superman Blue -- Superman splits in two
<-----S----->
30th century:
Superman meets Legion of Super-Heroes (Time and Time Again)
** DAVID T. CHAPPELL ** Team OS/2 ** Keeper of the Superman FAQ **
Duke University -- Stanford International Mars Program
Electrical Engineering Dept. -- Stanford Comics Co-op
[d t c] at [acpub.duke.edu] -- [d chappell] at [ieee.org]