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''Superman'' is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 in June 1938. The strip proved so popular that National launched Superman into his own self-titled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with cover date Summer 1939. Between 1986 and 2006 it was retitled ''The Adventures of Superman'' while a new series used the title ''Superman''. In May 2006, it was returned to its original title and numbering. The title was canceled with issue #714 (October 2011) and relaunched with a new #1 the following month. ==Publication history== Due to the Superman character's popularity after his premiere in ''Action Comics'' #1, National Allied Publications decided to launch an entirely new magazine featuring a single character, which at that time was unprecedented. ''Superman'' #1 appeared on the shelves in the summer of 1939. Superman now also had the distinction of being the first ever hero-character featured in more than one comic magazine. By issue #7, Superman was being hailed on the covers as the "World's Greatest Adventure Strip Character". Perry White, a supporting character who had originated on the Superman radio program was introduced into the comic book in issue #7 (October 1940).〔Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 33: "Perry White muscled his way into comics in a story by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, replacing George Taylor as Clark Kent's gruff but good-hearted boss. The character had originated in ''The Adventures of Superman'' radio show earlier in the year."〕 Editor Mort Weisinger began his long association with the title with issue #11 (July–August 1941).〔(Mort Weisinger's run on ''Superman'' ) at the Grand Comics Database〕 Jimmy Olsen first appeared as a named character in the story "Superman versus The Archer" in ''Superman'' #13 (November–December 1941).〔Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 37 "''Superman'' #13 (November–December 1941) Jimmy Olsen made his first appearance as a named character in this issue."〕〔(''Superman'' #13 (November/December 1941) ) at the Grand Comics Database〕 In the early 1940s, ''Superman'' was selling over a million copies per month. By 1942, artist Wayne Boring, who had previously been one of Shuster's assistants, had become a major artist on Superman. ''Superman'' #23 (July–August 1943) featured the first Superman comic book story written by someone other than Jerry Siegel.〔Pasko, p. 63: "In 1943, ''Superman'' #23 had contained the first Superman story Siegel could not write himself."〕 The story "America's Secret Weapon!" was written by Don Cameron despite bearing Siegel's signature.〔(''Superman'' #23 (July/August 1943) ) at the Grand Comics Database〕 Siegel introduced Mister Mxyzptlk in issue #30 (September 1944).〔Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 46: "Jerry Siegel promised that readers had never met anyone more unusual than the 'absurd being known as Mr. Mxyzptlk' and his debut back-up feature in ''Superman'' #30 proved his point."〕 A more detailed origin story for Superman was presented in issue #53 (July 1948) to mark the character's tenth anniversary.〔Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 59: "Superman's origin was retold—and slightly revamped—for this special tenth anniversary issue."〕 Another part of the Superman mythos which had originated on the radio program made its way into the comic books when kryptonite was featured in a story by Bill Finger and Al Plastino.〔Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 61: "Kryptonite finally appeared in comics following its introduction in ''The Adventures of Superman'' radio show back in 1943. In a story by writer Bill Finger and artist Al Plastino...the Man of Steel determined that the cause of his weakness was a piece of meteorite rock."〕 ''Superman'' was the first DC title with a letters column as a regular feature beginning with issue #124 (September 1958).〔Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 91: "This issue of ''Superman'' was the first DC comic to include a letters column that would become a regular feature, though readers' letters were published in issue #3 of ''Real Fact Comics'' in July 1946."〕 In the view of comics historian Les Daniels, artist Curt Swan became the definitive artist of Superman in the early 1960s with a "new look" to the character that replaced Wayne Boring's version.〔Daniels "The Superman Family Strength in Numbers", p. 118: "By 1961, Swan's new look would replace Wayne Boring's patriarchal version. Swan's Superman became definitive, and ultimately he would draw, as he says, 'more Superman stories than anybody else.'"〕 Writer Jim Shooter and Swan crafted the story "Superman's Race With the Flash!" in ''Superman'' #199 (Aug. 1967) which featured the first race between the Flash and Superman, two characters known for their super-speed powers.〔McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 124: "Since the dawn of comics' Silver Age, readers have asked 'Who's faster: Superman or the Flash?' Writer Jim Shooter and artist Curt Swan tried answering that question when the Man of Steel and the Fastest Man Alive agreed to the U.N.'s request to race each other for charity."〕 Julius Schwartz became the title's editor with issue #233 (January 1971)〔(Julius Schwartz' run on ''Superman'' ) at the Grand Comics Database〕 and together with writer Denny O'Neil and artist Curt Swan streamlined the Superman mythos, starting with the elimination of Kryptonite.〔McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 144 "New editor Julius Schwartz, new scripter Denny O'Neil, and regular artist Curt Swan removed the Man of Steel's greatest weakness from the face of the Earth."〕 Elliot S. Maggin began his long association with the title with the story "Must There Be a Superman?" in issue #247 (Jan. 1972). Writer Cary Bates, in collaboration with Swan, introduced such characters as the supervillain Terra-Man in issue #249 (March 1972)〔McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 150: "Scripter Cary Bates and artist Curt Swan chose an inopportune time for Superman to meet Terra-Man, a spaghetti Western-garbed menace who rode a winged horse and wielded lethal alien weaponry."〕 and the superhero Vartox in issue #281 (Nov. 1974).〔McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 161: "Fans of John Boorman's 1974 sci-fi film ''Zardoz'', starring Sean Connery in revealing red spandex, could appreciate writer Cary Bates and artist Curt Swan's inspiration for Vartox of Valeron."〕 ''Superman'' #300 (June 1976) featured an out-of-continuity story by Bates and Maggin which imagined the infant Superman landing on Earth in 1976 and becoming a superhero in 2001. The tale was an inspiration for Mark Millar's ''Superman: Red Son'' limited series published in 2003. DC's parent company Warner Communications reinstated the byline for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster which had been dropped decades earlier and the first issue with the restored credit was ''Superman'' #302 (August 1976).〔McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p.170 "For the first time since 1947, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's names were back in ''Superman'' comics, and listed as the Man of Steel's co-creators."〕 Martin Pasko and Swan created the Master Jailer character in issue #331(January 1979).〔McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 180: "Writer Martin Pasko and artist Curt Swan introduced...the Master Jailer."〕 The bottle city of Kandor, which had been introduced in 1958, was restored to normal size in a story by Len Wein and Swan in ''Superman'' #338 (August 1979).〔McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 182: "Scribe Len Wein and artist Curt Swan brought in Supergirl to support Superman during his successful restoration of the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor to full size."〕 The series reached issue #400 in October 1984. That issue featured work by several popular comics artists including the only major DC work by Jim Steranko as well as an introduction by noted science-fiction author Ray Bradbury.〔Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 209 "The Man of Steel celebrated his 400th issue in star-studded fashion with the help of some of the comic industry's best and brightest...the issue also featured a visionary tale written and drawn by Jim Steranko, and an introduction by famous science-fiction author Ray Bradbury."〕 ''Superman'' ran uninterrupted until the mid-1980s, when DC Comics instituted a line-wide relaunch with the 1985 event maxi-series ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Folding their vast multiverse into a single shared universe, Superman and his supporting cast would receive a massive overhaul at the hands of writer/artist John Byrne. One last story, which also marked the end of Schwartz' tenure as editor of the series,〔 was published to give a send-off to the former status quo: Alan Moore's ''Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?''.〔Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 220: "In 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?', a two-part story written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Curt Swan, the adventures of the Silver Age Superman came to a dramatic close."〕 The story's first part saw publication in ''Superman'' #423, which would be the last issue before the title was relaunched with its legacy numbering as ''The Adventures of Superman''.〔Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 226 "The original Superman title had adopted the new title ''The Adventures of Superman'' but continued the original numbering of its long and storied history. Popular writer Marv Wolfman and artist Jerry Ordway handled the creative chores."〕 ''Superman'' was relaunched with a new #1 issue in a second volume in 1986,〔Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 226 "For the second time in his history, Superman's self-titled comic saw a first issue...a new series was introduced...written and drawn by the prolific Byrne."〕 and was published concurrently with ''The Adventures of Superman''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Superman (comic book)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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