Since 1938, Motion Comics has stood as one in every of DC’s central pillars, giving us the best hero in comedian guide historical past and constructing his legend by way of 5 generations. In the present day, Motion Comics adjustments the established order of an ever-changing Superman as soon as extra with Motion Comics #1051, bringing a brand new anthology strategy to Superman’s world. It’s absolutely applicable, as Motion Comics started as an anthology title. It’s additionally not the primary time there have been huge adjustments for Superman and the title. To look at your entire historical past of Motion Comics—a comic book that debuted in 1938—could be an train in exhaustion. So as a substitute, let’s take a sequence of snapshots…by checking in on the title and seeing what it’s as much as each fifty points.
Motion Comics #50 (1942)
Motion Comics started with Superman lifting a automobile above his head on the duvet, however the situation itself featured co-stars from Pep Morgan to Sticky-Mitt Stimson. From the start, Motion Comics was designed as an anthology meant to showcase all kinds of tales. This was nonetheless the case by situation #50, the place Motion Comics #1 star Zatara was nonetheless going sturdy alongside Superman. Congo Invoice, Mr. America, Vigilante and a bunch of WWI veteran mercenaries referred to as the “Three Aces” featured within the comedian this time as effectively. This situation’s “Three Aces” story, “The Island The place Time Stood Nonetheless,” introduces the idea of “The Conflict That Time Forgot” in DC historical past practically twenty years earlier than its nominative debut in Star-Spangled Conflict Tales.
Motion Comics #100 (1946)
Zatara, Congo Invoice and Vigilante are nonetheless going sturdy as co-features by the point we get to Motion Comics #100, however the Three Aces fell from the roster in Motion Comics #63. In situation #100’s lead story, Inspector Hawkins, a detective from Scotland Yard arrives in Metropolis to infer the true identification of Superman. Strongly suspecting mild-mannered Clark Kent, the inspector practically will get his man earlier than Kent diverts him from the path with a phony will that leaves all the things Clark owns to Superman within the occasion of his dying. I don’t assume that may have fooled me, however I’m not the detective right here.
Motion Comics #150 (1950)
Congo Invoice and Vigilante are nonetheless holding on in Motion Comics #150. The Zatara characteristic, ongoing in practically each situation since Motion Comics #1, took its final curtain name in situation #141. It’s changed right here by the “thrills of the twenty first century with Tommy Tomorrow,” a space-traveling journey story which provides Motion Comics a extra cosmic taste. Clearly an indication of America’s burgeoning curiosity within the coming house age. Within the lead characteristic, Superman investigates six mysterious statues of himself which seem scattered all over the world.
Motion Comics #200 (1954)
Motion Comics #200 is a surprisingly lean situation. Vigilante and his sidekick Stuff, the Chinatown Child have ridden off into the sundown as of Motion Comics #198, and Superman right here is accompanied solely by Congo Invoice and Tommy Tomorrow. The lead story is a woefully culturally insensitive one, the place Superman and the Each day Planet get unnecessarily concerned in a management battle inside a Native American group—all main as much as a foul gag the place Jimmy Olsen will get to name Perry White “Chief.” Looking back a fairly disappointing story for Motion Comics’ two hundredth situation, and one we should always solely recall as a historic doc for a way to not strategy this topic sooner or later.
Motion Comics #250 (1959)
Motion Comics remains to be a three-feature guide after we attain situation #250, and nonetheless co-starring Tommy Tomorrow and Congo Invoice. It’s actually laborious to impress how ubiquitous Congo Invoice was once, even earlier than he obtained the facility to swap our bodies with a golden gorilla—one thing which first occurred simply two points earlier than this milestone. The lead story offers us one other identification scare, with Clark Kent showing on a chat present to advertise the Each day Planet information staff solely to search out the host intends to grill him on his double life. Clark will get out of it by stopping the needle on the present’s lie detector take a look at together with his freeze breath.
Motion Comics #300 (1963)
By situation #300, Motion Comics is lastly an all-Superman Household comedian, with a Superman lead and a Supergirl back-up characteristic. The changeover took maintain in Motion Comics #262, when long-standing help characteristic Congo Invoice lastly withered off the vine. By now, Motion Comics is making overtures at extra severe storytelling, with a lead story the place the Superman Revenge Squad has projected their Kryptonian nemesis 1,000,000 years into the long run, to a desolate Earth underneath a pink solar. Forty years later, this story could be tailored into the two-part Justice League animated sequence episode “Hereafter.”
Motion Comics #350 (1967)
Nonetheless an all-Tremendous guide, with Superman within the lead and Supergirl behind him. Superman is stranded underneath a pink solar as soon as once more in Motion Comics #350, however this time it’s a million years again, in a wholly ahistorical depiction of Earth’s previous. In the meantime, Supergirl investigates rock band sensation “The Supers” the place every member attire up as a longtime superhero whereas secretly committing robberies wherever they play.
Motion Comics #400 (1971)
Motion Comics #400’s freaky Neal Adams cowl clearly marks that we’ve entered the ’70s. By this level, Supergirl’s backup characteristic had been supplanted by a wildcard Superman story. Generally Supergirl, however typically a narrative of historical Krypton, or Kandor, or the Fortress of Solitude, or perhaps a younger Clark Kent as Superbaby. Within the lead story, Superman is appointed the authorized guardian of Gregor, the shapeshifting creation of a departed scientist, who’s obtained this example you see on the duvet right here happening. Though Gregor holds Superman answerable for his situation by interrupting his father’s experiments, he sacrifices his life to observe within the heroic footsteps of his new father and dies in Superman’s arms. In the meantime, two Kandorians struggle over whether or not Superman or Supergirl is cooler. Me, I like them each.
Motion Comics #450 (1975)
No, Superman hasn’t been Jokerfied. On this story, laughter seems to be the one method to defeat a comic mutated right into a horrible monster, as a reminder of his function and humanity. At this level in Motion Comics’ life, the backup story featured rotating visitor stars from all through the DC Universe just like the Atom and Human Goal. Inexperienced Arrow and Black Canary land the supporting characteristic for Motion Comics #450.
Motion Comics #500 (1979)
Whereas Superman’s pursuit of reality and justice by no means rests, 500 problems with Motion Comics is a milestone not even the Man of Metal can ignore. Beginning with situation #478, Motion Comics had retired its backup characteristic to supply one full book-length Superman story per situation. On this situation, Superman recounts his life story at a pageant thrown in his honor, whereas Lex Luthor plots to interchange him with a Superman clone. As a foreword, very long time author and editor E. Nelson Bridwell writes a particular characteristic concerning the journal’s historical past. “What’s arising for Motion Comics?” Bridwell asks. “Will we someday have a good time our 1,000th situation? If we do (and proper now, we don’t see why not), one factor is definite—it’s going to nonetheless be starring Superman!”
Motion Comics #550 (1983)
The final milestone situation of the Pre-Disaster period, and the second to see Superman flying solo. Superman saves the world from alien invaders who’re wrecking the place on an interplanetary treasure hunt.
Motion Comics #600 (1988)
For each Motion’s 600th situation and fiftieth anniversary, this one pulls out the stops. In an anthology of Superman tales for the brand new Publish-Disaster period that includes a few of Superman’s biggest dwelling expertise on the time, Superman squares up with Darkseid, has a blind date with Surprise Girl, trades blows with a Batman villain, and even takes strides in direction of larger illustration as Metropolis detective Maggie Sawyer makes her first allusions to her homosexuality. Motion Comics makes an announcement in stone right here that even fifty years on, its tales are brisker than ever.
Motion Comics #650 (1990)
You’ll have seen that these previous fifty points appear to have passed by much more shortly. That’s as a result of with Motion Comics #601, the guide switched to a weekly format for practically a 12 months, with a large anthology of options like Black Canary, Inexperienced Lantern, Deadman and the Blackhawk Squadron. With situation #643, Motion Comics returned to its month-to-month, single Superman story format. Motion Comics #650 is a contemplative situation between main battles with Brainiac and Maxima concerning the distinction Superman has made, with contributions by each creator engaged on a Superman guide on the time.
Motion Comics #700 (1994)
Within the fifty points since our final milestone, Superman made a giant splash together with his dramatic dying and return, which could be a troublesome trick to high. So, for the massive situation #700, Motion Comics lives as much as its identify with a really action-heavy situation that includes a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor for the destiny of Metropolis. In the meantime, in Smallville, Superman’s finest childhood mates Pete Ross and Lana Lang get married.
Motion Comics #750 (1998)
In Motion Comics #750—our ultimate milestone situation of the ’90s—Superman battles a villain named Crazytop who makes an attempt to trick him with pretend Kryptonite. A comparatively uneventful situation, however man, would you take a look at that cowl?
Motion Comics #800 (2003)
Like Motion Comics #500 earlier than it, this 800th spectacular takes us by way of Superman’s life. But it surely’s injected with the flavour of #600 and #650 and instructed in an anthology format with all the best Superman expertise editorial might dial up. We additionally get a variety of autobiographical comedian vignettes in the actual world, as writers and artists specific what Superman and Motion Comics have meant to them.
Motion Comics #850 (2007)
Motion Comics #850 is one other outsized situation introduced by the modern roster of Superman expertise. Supergirl additionally returns for a time-bending team-up together with her former Motion Comics costar, narratively exploring key moments in Superman’s life.
Motion Comics #900 (2011)
A star-studded cinematic spectacular that includes tales from Richard Donner, David S. Goyer and Damon Lindelof lending their movie and tv experience to Superman’s comedian guide world. In Motion Comics #900’s lead characteristic, Paul Cornell brings “The Black Ring Saga” to a conclusion, the place Lex Luthor should select between divine apotheosis and his grudge with Superman. Luthor is as ever who he’s.
Motion Comics #50 (2016)
No, that’s not a typo. In 2011, DC’s “New 52” initiative noticed each single one in every of its comics renumbered from #1, together with the venerable Motion Comics. That includes the collective expertise of the New 52’s two Superman titles, DC’s second Motion Comics #50 doesn’t skimp on the titular motion, as Superman leads a climactic battle between all of the world’s superheroes and Vandal Savage when the immortal villain seizes management of the Fortress of Solitude. After two extra points, Motion Comics would return to its legacy numbering. (The complete run would in the end be counted as 56 points, as a result of 2013 “Villains Month” specials that includes Cyborg Superman, Zod, Lex Luthor, and Metallo…so possibly we should always rely Motion Comics #46 as situation #950? No matter, let’s not overthink this.)
Motion Comics #1000 (2018)
BENDIS IS HERE! Kicking off celebrity author Brian Michael Bendis’ game-changing runs on each Motion Comics and Superman, Motion Comics #1000 additionally options an anthology of tales from a few of comics’ most celebrated creators for eighty years and a thousand points, and a surprising array of variant covers marking every decade of Superman’s publication. Most significantly, it marks the return of Superman’s pink trunks, previously misplaced within the New 52.
Motion Comics #1050 (2022)
Which brings us to now. The modern inventive groups on the continuing (and near-future) Superman books convene right here as soon as extra in Motion Comics #1050 for a conventional State-of-Superman assertion. Discarded in Bendis’ Motion Comics, Superman’s secret identification is restored as soon as once more…at a horrible value.
With a family-forward philosophy, it looks like the following fifty problems with Motion Comics, beginning with at present’s situation #1051, will give us a wider focus as soon as extra. For the near-term a minimum of, Motion Comics is changing into a real anthology comedian for the primary time because the Silver Age and boasting an array of tales specializing in Superman’s closest allies. Time will inform how lengthy this return to its roots stays. Might or not it’s one other fifty points? We’ll see! Both method, we all know one factor for sure—the motion isn’t stopping any time quickly.
Motion Comics #1051 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Dan Jurgens, Lee Weeks, Leah Williams, Marguerite Sauvage and extra is now accessible in print and as a digital comedian guide.
Alex Jaffe is the creator of our month-to-month “Ask the Query” column and writes about TV, motion pictures, comics and superhero historical past for DC.com. Observe him on Twitter at @AlexJaffe and discover him within the DC Group as HubCityQuestion.
