Since 1938, Motion Comics has stood as certainly one of DC’s central pillars, giving us the best hero in comedian e-book historical past and constructing his legend via 5 generations. Right this moment, Motion Comics modifications the established order of an ever-changing Superman as soon as extra with Motion Comics #1051, bringing a brand new anthology method to Superman’s world. It’s certainly applicable, as Motion Comics started as an anthology title. It’s additionally not the primary time there have been massive modifications 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 quilt, 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 robust alongside Superman. Congo Invoice, Mr. America, Vigilante and a gaggle of WWI veteran mercenaries known as the “Three Aces” featured within the comedian this time as nicely. This situation’s “Three Aces” story, “The Island The place Time Stood Nonetheless,” introduces the idea of “The Battle That Time Forgot” in DC historical past practically twenty years earlier than its nominative debut in Star-Spangled Battle Tales.
Motion Comics #100 (1946)
Zatara, Congo Invoice and Vigilante are nonetheless going robust 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 every thing Clark owns to Superman within the occasion of his dying. I don’t suppose 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 function, 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 function, Superman investigates six mysterious statues of himself which seem scattered world wide.
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 Every day Planet get unnecessarily concerned in a management battle inside a Native American neighborhood—all main as much as a foul gag the place Jimmy Olsen will get to name Perry White “Chief.” On reflection a reasonably disappointing story for Motion Comics’ 2 hundredth situation, and one we must always solely recall as a historic doc for a way to not method this topic sooner or later.
Motion Comics #250 (1959)
Motion Comics continues to be a three-feature e-book once we attain situation #250, and nonetheless co-starring Tommy Tomorrow and Congo Invoice. It’s actually exhausting to impress how ubiquitous Congo Invoice was, even earlier than he acquired 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 Every day Planet information group solely to seek 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 along 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 function. The changeover took maintain in Motion Comics #262, when long-standing help function Congo Invoice lastly withered off the vine. By now, Motion Comics is making overtures at extra critical storytelling, with a lead story the place the Superman Revenge Squad has projected their Kryptonian nemesis 1,000,000 years into the longer term, to a desolate Earth underneath a purple 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 e-book, with Superman within the lead and Supergirl behind him. Superman is stranded underneath a purple solar as soon as once more in Motion Comics #350, however this time it’s a million years again, in a completely ahistorical depiction of Earth’s previous. In the meantime, Supergirl investigates rock band sensation “The Supers” the place every member clothes 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 function had been supplanted by a wildcard Superman story. Generally Supergirl, however generally 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 acquired this example you see on the quilt right here happening. Though Gregor holds Superman accountable for his situation by interrupting his father’s experiments, he sacrifices his life to comply with 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 solution to defeat a comic mutated right into a horrible monster, as a reminder of his goal 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 function for Motion Comics #450.
Motion Comics #500 (1979)
Whereas Superman’s pursuit of fact 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 function 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 function concerning the journal’s historical past. “What’s arising for Motion Comics?” Bridwell asks. “Will we sooner or later rejoice our 1,000th situation? If we do (and proper now, we don’t see why not), one factor is definite—it can 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 Submit-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 Marvel Lady, 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 more energizing than ever.
Motion Comics #650 (1990)
You’ll have observed that these previous fifty points appear to have passed by much more rapidly. That’s as a result of with Motion Comics #601, the e-book 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 e-book on the time.
Motion Comics #700 (1994)
Within the fifty points since our final milestone, Superman made a giant splash along with his dramatic dying and return, which generally is a tough 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 pals Pete Ross and Lana Lang get married.
Motion Comics #750 (1998)
In Motion Comics #750—our remaining milestone situation of the ’90s—Superman battles a villain named Crazytop who makes an attempt to trick him with faux 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 via 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 quite a lot of autobiographical comedian vignettes in the true 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 offered by the up to date roster of Superman expertise. Supergirl additionally returns for a time-bending team-up along 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 e-book world. In Motion Comics #900’s lead function, 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 certainly one 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. (Your complete run would finally be counted as 56 points, because of the 2013 “Villains Month” specials that includes Cyborg Superman, Zod, Lex Luthor, and Metallo…so possibly we must always depend 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 shocking array of variant covers marking every decade of Superman’s publication. Most significantly, it marks the return of Superman’s purple trunks, previously misplaced within the New 52.
Motion Comics #1050 (2022)
Which brings us to now. The up to date artistic groups on the continued (and near-future) Superman books convene right here as soon as extra in Motion Comics #1050 for a standard State-of-Superman assertion. Discarded in Bendis’ Motion Comics, Superman’s secret identification is restored as soon as once more…at a horrible worth.
With a family-forward philosophy, it looks as if the subsequent 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 at the very least, Motion Comics is turning into a real anthology comedian for the primary time for the reason that 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 out there in print and as a digital comedian e-book.
Alex Jaffe is the writer of our month-to-month “Ask the Query” column and writes about TV, films, comics and superhero historical past for DC.com. Observe him on Twitter at @AlexJaffe and discover him within the DC Neighborhood as HubCityQuestion.
