Superman Timeline

1886 John Hamilton, Perry White in the "Adventures of Superman" television series, born on January 16th. 1900 Agnes "Endora" Moorehead, Lara (Kal-El / Superman's mother) on "The Adventures of Superman" ( Radio ) Born on December 6th. 1902 Lyle Talbot, Lex Luthor in "Atom Man Vs. Superman" born on February 8th. 1905 Artist Wayne Boring (Superman, Action Comics) born on June 5th. 1908 Michael Fitzmaurice, "The Adventures of Superman" (Radio) Born on April 28th. Bud Collyer, "The Adventures of Superman" (Radio) Born June 18th. 1909 Billy Curtis, "Superpup", and "Superman and the Mole Men", born on June 27th. 1910 Kirk Alyn star of Columbia Pictures "Superman" and "Atom Man vs. Superman" born on October 8th.

1914
George Reeves, star of the "Adventures of Superman" television series, born on January 5th. Superman artist and co-creator Joe Shuster born on July 10th. Superman writer and co-creator Jerry Siegel born on October 17th.

1915
Superman editor Julius Schwartz born on June 19th.

1916
Glenn Ford, Johnathan Kent in "Superman: The Movie", born on May 1st.

1917
Writer and artist Jack Kirby (Superman's Pal: Jimmy Olsen) born on August 28th.

1919
Artist Win Mortimer (Action Comics, Supergirl) born on May 23rd.

1920 Long-time Superman artist Curt Swan born on Febuary 17th. Noel Neill, Lois Lane in the Columbia movie serials "Superman", and "Atom Man Vs. Superman", and in "The Adventures of Superman" television series, born on November 25. Artist Kurt Shaffenberger (Lois Lane, Superboy) born on December 15th. 1921 Phyllis Thaxter, Martha Kent in "Superman: The Movie", born on November 20th. 1922 Jackie Cooper, Perry White in the Superman films, born on September 15th. 1924 Marlon Brando, Jor-El in "Superman: The Movie", born on April 3rd. 1925 Artist Ross Andru (Action Comics) born on June 15th. 1926 Stuart Whitman, Johnathan Kent on "The Adventures of Superboy" (1988), born on February 1st. Tommy Bond, Jimmy Olsen in the Columbia movie serials "Superman", and "Atom Man Vs. Superman", born on September 16th. 1927 Phyllis Coates, Lois Lane in "Superman and the Mole Men" (1951) and the first year of "Adventures of Superman" television series, born on January 15th. 1930 Gene Hackman, Lex Luthor in the Superman films, born on January 30th. 1932 Bob Holiday, Superman in the broadway musical "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!" born on November 12th. 1933 Jack Larson, Jimmy Olsen on "The Adventures of Superman" Born on February 8th. 1935 Salome Jens, Martha Kent on "The Adventures of Superboy"(1988), born on May 8th. 1936 Lane Smith, Perry White on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", born on April 29th.

1938
Action Comics #1 introduces Superman and Lois Lane. "Superman Day" at the New York World's Fair, featuring the first public appearance of Superman. Ray Middleton was the man in the costume and is credited as being the first actor to ever play Superman

1939
Superman #1 published. January 16, Superman first appeared in a newspaper strip. Terence Stamp, General Zod in "Superman: the Movie" and "Superman II", born on July 22nd.

1940
Feb 12th, "The Adventures of Superman" radio serial begins on a five-day-a week schedule. Action Comics #23 introduces Luthor. Superman #7 introduces Perry White.

1941
Superman animated cartoons produced by Fleischer Studios for Paramount, ( September 26th "Superman",- November 21st "The Mechanical Monsters"). All-Star Comics #7 has cameos of Superman and Batman as honorary members of the Justice Society of America. World's Best Comics #1 (later World's Finest Comics after #2) stars Batman and Superman in separated stories. Superman #13 features the comics debut of Jimmy Olsen.

1942
K Callan, Martha Kent on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", born on January 9th. Superman animated cartoons produced by
Fleischer Studios for Paramount, ( January 9th "Billion Dollar Limited",- Febuary 26th "The Arctic Giant",- March 26th "The Bulleteers",- April 24th "The Magnetic Telescope", - May 15th "Electric Earthquake" - July 10th "Volcano" - August 30th "Terror On The Midway" - September 18th "The Japoteurs" - October 16th "Showdown" - November 20th "Eleventh Hour" - December 25th "Destruction Inc." ). Superman novel by George Lowther published by Random House.

1943
Superman animated cartoons produced by Fleischer Studios for Paramount, ( Febuary 19th "The Mummy Strikes", - March 26th "Jungle Drums", - June 18th "The Underground World", - July 30th "Secret Agent" ).

1944
Mr. Mxyzptlk debuts in Superman #30.

1945 Superboy debuts in More Fun Comics #101. 1946 Superboy moves to Adventure Comics with #103 when More Fun Comics changes to a funny animal format. Writer Marv Wolfman (The Adventures of Superman) born on May 13th. Writer Louise Simonson (Superman: The Man of Steel) born on September 26th. 1947 Superman and Batman guest star in All-Star Comics #36 with the Justice Society. Artist Mike Grell (Superboy and the Legion of Super Heroes) born on September 13th. Michael McKean, Perry White in the TV series Smallville, born on October 17th. 1948 "Superman", the Columbia movie serial, staring Kirk Alyn as Superman is released. Superman's origin is updated in Superman #53. Artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Action Comics) born on March 26th. Margot Kidder, Lois Lane in the Superman films, born on October 17th. 1949 Superboy #1 premieres. Kryptonite first appears in the comics Superman #61. John Shea, Lex Luthor in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV series, born on April 14th. 1950 "Atom Man Vs. Superman", Columbia's second movie serial staring Kirk Alyn as Superman is released. Lana Lang debuts in Superboy #10. Writer and Artist John Byrne (Man of Steel, Superman, Action Comics) born on July 6th. Writer Roger Stern (Action Comics) born on September 17th. 1951 The film "Superman and the Mole Men" premieres on November 23rd, leading to the successful television series. 1952 Artist Rick Burchett (Superman Adventures) born on March 9th. Christopher Reeve, star of the Superman films, born on September 25th. Writer and artist Keith Griffen (Legion of Super-Heroes) born on November 30th. Sarah Douglas, Ursa in Superman and Superman II, born on December 12th.

1953
Superman teams with Batman in Superman #76, as a pilot for their regular team-ups in World's Finest Comics beginning with #71. "The Adventures of Superman", staring George Reeves makes its debut on television on Febuary 3rd.

1954
Annette O'Toole, Lana Lang in Superman III and Martha Kent in Smallville, born on April 1st. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1 premieres.

1957
Lois Lane tries out for her own magazine in Showcase #9-10. Marc McClure, Jimmy Olsen in "Superman The Movie", "Superman II", "Superman III", "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace", and "Supergirl" born on March 31st. Writer Paul Dini (Superman: The Animated Series) born on August 7th. Writer and artist Jerry Ordway (Superman) born on November 28th.

1958
January 14th, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1 premieres. Bizarro first appears in Superboy #68. Brainiac and the city of Kandor first appear in Action Comics #242. The Legion of the Super-Heroes first appears in Adventure Comics #247. "Superpup" tv pilot made. Gerard Christopher, star of "The Adventures of Superboy" television series, born on May 11th.

1959
Supergirl and Metallo debuts separately in Action Comics #252 on March 31st. George Reeves, star of "The Adventures of Superman" television series, dies on June 16th. Writer and artist Dan Jurgens (Superman) born on June 27th.

1960 The Justice League of America (an updated version of the Justice Society), with Superman as a member receives a tryout in Brave & The Bold #28-30. Justice League of America #1 premieres afterward. Superman Annual #1 is published. John Schneider, Jonathan Kent in Smallville, born on April 8th. "Superboy" tv pilot made with John Rockwell as the Boy of Steel. 1961 Artist Bruce Timm (Superman: The Animated Series) born on Febuary 6th. 1962 The Phantom Zone appears in Superboy #100. 1963 Helen Slater, star of Supergirl, born on December 15th. 1964 "Superman's Mission For President Kennedy" appears in Superman #170. Concerning the government's fitness program, it was originally pulled from publication due to John F. Kennedy's assassination. It was subsequently published at the request of President Lyndon Johnson and the Kennedy family. Teri Hatcher, Lois Lane on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", born on December 8th. 1965 Superman cover featured (as well as an interior reprint) in Jules Feiffer's book, The Great Comic Book Heroes, published by Dial Press. John Haymes Newton, "The Adventures of Superboy" the 1st seson, born on December 29th. 1966 March 29th, Broadway musical, "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!" opens. Dean Cain, star of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, born on July 31st. September 9th, Filmation animates The New Adventures of Superman for CBS-TV's Saturday morning line-up. 1967 Michael Fitzmaurice "The Adventures of Superman" (Radio) dies on August 31st. 1969 Bud Collyer "The Adventures of Superman" (Radio) dies September 8th. 1971 Clark Kent becomes a television reporter in Superman #233, in DC's first revamping of the character. 1972 Michael Rosenbaum, Lex Luthor in "Smallville", born on July 11th. Michael Landes, Jimmy Olsen on the first seson of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", born on September 18th.

1973
September 8th,The Super Friends from Hanna Barbera premieres on ABC-TV, with Superman as one of the featured heroes.

1974
Justin Whalin, Jimmy Olsen, starting in the 2nd seson of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, born on September 6th.

1975
Febuary 21st, ABC Special Presentation of "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!" with David Wilson as Superman.

1976
Superman meets Marvel's Spider-Man in a giant-size collector's special: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man. on January 2nd. The first time that DC and Marvel Comics characters team up.

1977
Tom Welling, Clark Kent in "Smallville", born on April 26th.

1978
Superman's 40th anniversary. DC Comics presents begins as a Superman team-up title. The World's Greatest Superheroes Starring Superman begins as a syndicated strip. December 15th, "Superman: The Movie" starring Christopher Reeve premieres from Warner Brothers.

1979
Brandon Routh, Superman in "Superman Returns" born on October 9th.

1981
Superman II debuts from Warner Brothers.

1982
Kristin Kreuk, Lana Lang on Smallville, born on December 30th.

1983
Kate Bosworth. Lois Lane in "Superman Returns" born on January 2nd. Superman's 45th anniversary. Superman III premieres from Warner Brothers. Luthor and Brainiac redesigned in Action Comics #544. Sam Jones III, Pete Ross in Smallville, born on April 29th.

1984 Superman action figure part of Kenner's Super Powers toy line. Supergirl movie released from Warner Brothers. 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 premieres to clean up the DC universe. Supergirl dies in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7. 1986 Alan Moore writes the last Superman story in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583. Batman battles Superman in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #4. John Byrne rejuvenates Superman in the wake of Crisis with Man of Steel #1 on June the 10th. A new Superman #1 follows with the first Superman series is retitled Adventures of Superman with #424. 1987 Superman IV premieres from Warner Brothers.

1988
March 14th, Superman's 50th anniversary is Time Magazine Cover Story. September 17th, Superman animated series from Ruby-Spears is broadcast on CBS-TV. Supeboy live-action series premieres in syndication on October 3rd. Superman kills three kryptonians in Superman #22, John Byrne leaves the book. Billy Curtis "Superpup" dies on November 9th.

1989
"Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography" Written by James D. Hudnall Art by Eduardo Barreto Colored by Adam Kubert Cover by Eric Peterson. A graphic novel published by DC Comics.

1990
Superman races Wally West, The Flash for the first time in The Adventures of Superman #463. Clark proposes to Lois in Superman #50. "Superman og Fredsbomden", the first Superman graphic novel created outside USA is published in Denmark. "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan Released: October 5th, and "Streisand Superman" by Barbra Streisand Released: October 25th.

1991 Superman: The Man of Steel #1 debuts.

1992
Superman artist and co-creator Joe Shuster dies on July 30th. November 18th, Superman dies in Superman #75.

1993
Four Supermen claims to be the real one in Adventures of Superman #500. August 24th Superman returns from the dead in Superman #82. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman debuts September 12th on ABC-TV.

1994
Zero Hour rewrites DC Universe.

1995
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #1 debuts. Canada Post released the first Superman Stamp as part of a package celebrating Canadian comic book heroes.

1996
Superman writer and co-creator Jerry Siegel dies on January 28th. Lyle Talbot, Lex Luthor in "Atom Man Vs. Superman" dies on March 2nd. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross speculates over Superman's future. Clark marries Lois in Superman: Wedding Album #1 in the same week Clark married Lois in Lois & Clark TV series. September 6th, "Superman: The Animated Series" on Kids-WB. Superman is chosen by Unicef to address the mines security to children in Bosnia.

1997 Long-time Superman artist Curt Swan dies on June 16th. Superman changes his outfit when his powers became electric in Superman #123.

1998
Superman 60th anniversary. September 10th, The United States Postal Service issued a Superman Stamp as part of its Celebrate the Century program. Superman returns to his old costume in Superman Forever #1. Superman fights world hungry in Superman: Peace on Earth by Alex Ross and Paul Dini. Superman's first year is retold in Superman For All Seasons. Superman and Wonder Woman is chosen by White House and Unicef to address the mines security to children in Central America.

1999
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow is cancelled in the Fall. Kirk Alyn, Superman in Columbia Pictures "Superman" and "Atom Man vs. Superman" dies at the age of 88 on March 14th. Mario Puzo writer of the screenplay "Superman: The Movie", dies on Friday, july 2nd.

2001
Superman's kryptonian origins is retold in Superman #166. October 16th, Smallville TV series based on teenager Clark Kent debuts on theWB. November 17th, Cartoon Network presents Justice League with Superman.

2002
Adventures of Superman reaches 600 issues in February.

2003
February 25th Christopher Reeve as Prof. Swann on "Smallville".

2004
Superman editor Julius "Julie" Schwartz dies at the age of 89 on February 8th. Danny Dark (Daniel Mellvile Croskery), the voice of Superman from 1973-1985 for Hanna-Barbara, passed away on Sunday June 13th at the age of 65. Marlon Brando, Jor-El in "Superman: The Movie", dies at the age of 80 on Thursday July 1st. July 28th Jackson Beck narator for the "Adventures of Superman" radio show dies at 92, In addition to narrating Superman's adventures on radio, Beck doubled as villains, supporting characters and the Daily Planet copyboy, Beany, on the popular radio broadcasts of the 1940s.He also narrated the 1960s Filmation "The New Adventures of Superman" cartoons. Christopher Reeve, star of the Superman films, and Prof. Swann on "Smallville", dies on October 10th. He was 52.

2005 April 1st "Krypto the Superdog" starts on Cartoon Network. June 13th Lane Smith, Perry White on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", dies at the age of 69. May 15th Paul H. Cassidy, Superman artist ( credited with adding the S to Supermans cape. ) dies of natural causes at the age of 94. September 24th Thomas "Tommy" Bond, Jimmy Olsen in the Columbia movie serials "Superman", and "Atom Man Vs. Superman", dies at 79. 2006 "Superman Returns" debuts from Warner Brothers on June 28th. DC Comics Super Heroes stamps dedicated July 20. Glenn Ford, Johnathan Kent in "Superman: The Movie", dies on August 30th.

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