It has been six months since I last rocked the boat of "Common Knowledge" so I figure I'm about due. I was raised to "question authority" so, whenever I encounter a "fact" that "everybody knows" I keep it in the back of my mind until such a time I can verify it for myself. Whenever I find evidence to the contrary, I have no problem bucking the commonly accepted explanation (for whatever it is); in fact, I do so gleefully.
For example, common knowledge has it that the "Silver Age" of Superman began with Action Comics #241 (June 1958). I have recently had occasion to read some of those comics and I have found that assertion to be... TRUE. Not only is there a real-world event (the cancellation of The Adventures of Superman television show) to justify the change in editorial direction, but that theory has been put forth by two Superman SMEs (Mark Waid and Michael Eury). However, because Superboy is so "clearly" a Silver Age concept, there are those who assert that it is Superboy's first appearance (More Fun Comics #101, Jan/Feb 1945) which actually marks that character's entry into the Silver Age. It is that notion that I am here today to refute.
I think we can all agree that, as originally conceived, Superboy was intended to be the same character that was introduced in Action Comics #1 (1938).
Thousands of followers of the great Superman have asked the answers to these questions: "What is the story of Superman's origin?"--and "What was Superman like before he grew to man's estate--was he just an ordinary boy, or was he a 'Superboy'?'
In this story you will find the answers to those questions--and, we believe, you will look forward to the further adventures of the youth who was destined to become the idol of millions as the great Superman! for these stories will deal with... SUPERBOY! [Quoted from More Fun Comics #101]
Superman had only been around for seven years at that point, after all. And, according to Robert Greenberger, the concept of Superboy was "an idea that had been under consideration since 1941" (More Fun Comics #101 "Millennium Edition"). It is only after the fact, in this case decades after the fact, that fans try to divide these stories into "Ages." But I disagree with the classification of the Superboy from More Fun Comics #101 as a "Silver Age" character, and here's why.
First of all, 1945 is smack in the middle of the Golden Age (or closer toward the end depending on where you draw the line, but that's not the point). Second, if you have ever read those early Superboy stories (and if you haven't, you should; the 2010 collection the Adventures of Superboy reprints the first 26 stories) you know that they are nothing like those of the Mort Weisinger Silver Age era. I personally have a hard time reconciling that these are even stories about the same character.
But you know which stories they are like (in tone and style)? Superman #32 (Jan/Feb 1945) and Action Comics #80 (January 1945). I have recently referred to several stories of this era as part of my "Silver Age Superman" reading project, and I am prepared to say that, even if you refuse to accept Superboy as the predecessor of the 1938-1944 Superman, it's pretty clear that there was a Superboy in the past of the 1945-1957 one. I would be willing to postulate that the first appearance of Superboy created a new iteration of Superman.
Further evidence: look at Adventure Comics #247 (the first appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes). How many times has that story been retold or referenced in the last 40 years? Probably a dozen if not more. I can think of at least six off the top of my head. Now, ask yourself this: How many times has a Superboy story older than Adventure Comics #247 even been mentioned in continuity. It's almost as if Superboy continuity began with Adventure Comics #247. But when was Adventure Comics #247 released in relation to Action Comics #241 (June 1958), Superman's entry into the Silver Age? ANSWER: April 1958. It's almost too perfect.
Let's take it a bit further: Superman #233 (January 1971). That's the famous "Kryptonite Nevermore!" issue in which Julius Schwartz took over the editorial reains from Mort Weisinger. Waht was happening in Superboy (#171) that same month? Schwartz's editorial note at the end of the story reads: "But when was this 'beginning' in Superman's youth? Perhaps some sharp-eyed readers have already caught the sneaky 'boo-boo' we planted in our last issue when Superboy returned to his own time... in 1955! And updated technology of this latest story... Well... if Superman is now 29 years old... Superboy had to be in his 'teens' between 1951 and 1957! But... since superman was created full-grown in 1938, his youth had to take place earlier!
"But, as time went on, Superman stayed the same... 29... while superboy reamined stuck in a time slot not of his own making! So-o... we decided to rescue him! And, from now on, he'll tag along behind the eternally 29-year-old Superman... and 'stay with it' as the years roll on! That's it! Superboy has come of age... and it's all yours! Positively the 'living end'... till next issue!"
My interpretation is that every change (editorial or otherwise) in Superman brings about a change in Superboy, and that every change in Superboy brings about a change in Superman. Here's how I see it...
GOLDEN AGE SUPERMAN - 1938-1944
Starting with Action Comics #1 (the first appearance of Superman)
SUPERMAN/SUPERBOY OF EARTH-2 - 1945-1957
Starting with More Fun Comics #101 (the first appearance of Superboy)
SILVER AGE SUPERMAN/SUPERBOY - 1958-1970
Starting with Action Comics #241/Adventure Comics #247 (Mort Weisinger era)
PRE-CRISIS EARTH-1 SUPERMAN/SUPERBOY - 1971-1985
Starting with Superman #233/Superboy #171* - (Julius Schwartz era)
*(I'd be willing to extend this back to #145, the "reinvigoration" of Ma & Pa Kent, and maybe relegate it to the "Pocket Universe.")
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