Superman #257 (1st Series) (1972)

Continuing my 50 Years of Fandom celebration… here it is… the comic that started it all.

Superman #257 cover dated October 1972. This is the very copy that made me the fan I am today. This comic was given to me by my father when I was a mere four years old. As a child, I just could not stop reading it.  The boldness and perspective of the cover art by Nick Cardy… the flying Superman above the masthead by Neal Adams… its colors… spoke volumes to me then… and it still does today.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF FANDOM

It’s been quite a ride.

This month, October 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of my Superman fandom. How did I chart this? Well, those of you who read my blog know that the very first Superman comic I ever owned was given to me by my father. Superman number 257, cover dated October 1972, exploded the mind of the four-year-old I once was. The cover art by Nick Cardy would not let my imagination go. That was it… not just the moment, but the item that turned me into a fan.

Sunbeam Bread DC Superhero Stickers #9 (1978) – signed by artist Dick Giordano

Remember the days when a loaf of bread could yield a prize? I sure do! In 1977, Wonder Bread brought us the now highly sought-after Star Wars cards. In 1978, Sunbeam Bread brought us DC Superhero Stickers! There were 30 stickers in all and featured a host of DC characters like Superman, Batman, Robin, Lois Lane, Jor-El, Lara, Jonathan and Martha Kent, Perry White, Krypto, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Aquaman, and many others.

Mattel Justice League Flextreme Superman & The Flash bendable figures (version 1)(2019)

These Flextreme Superman & The Flash bendable figures each stand at 7-inches tall and are quite hefty. Made by Mattel, they are rubber figures with a thin metal core that allow for the limbs of the figures to bend in different directions. This is the version 1 of the Superman and The Flash 2-pack with Superman wearing a variation of his Rebirth outfit complete with shinier blue suit, no trunks, and a red belt.

Superman: The Animated Series volume one DVD set (2005)

When Superman: The Animated series first aired in 1996, I was thrilled that there was yet another Superman adaptation to watch. It had it all, intriguing stories and compelling characters. After handling the Caped Crusader with style in Batman: The Animated Series, the creative team of Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, and Rich Fogel proved they could do it all over again with the Man of Steel… and, boy, did they!

Whitman Big Little Book – Superman in The Phantom Zone Connection (1980)

Big Little Books got their start in 1932, have always been easy to read for youngsters, and have always been filled with great artwork. Growing up, I was given my fair share of Big Little Books. Some were new, some were hand-me-downs, but never did see a Superman one with the exception of Maximo: The Amazing Superman… which was not the same at all. As far as I’ve been able to research…

Superman: The Complete History book (1998)

This has to be one of the most interesting books in my collection so far. In 1998, Chronicle Books published this excellent hardcover titled Superman: The Complete History. Written by Les Daniels, the book showcases everything you ever wanted to know about Superman’s long legacy though many mediums up until the point of its publishing.

As soon as you open the book, you are hit with full-color photos of some classic Superman artwork, posters, and collectibles. The book opens with a detailed glimpse into the character’s influences and creation as well as Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s other creations like Slam Bradley and Funnyman. Daniels expertly covers Superman’s journey through his radio years, his first animated films, his first live-action films starring Kirk Alyn, and the character’s…

Reach Justice League toothpaste (2004)

Oh, how I loved both the Justice League and the Justice League Unlimited animated series. Actually, I still do. There were so many pieces of memorabilia to collect that it was nearly impossible to keep up with. Fortunately, you could stroll down almost any aisle and find something related to it. Turning into the personal care area in 2004, I found…

Franco Man of Steel beach towel (2008)

I saw this Man of Steel beach towel in Walmart in 2008 from pretty far away. It was hard not to with the huge image of Superman on it. Produced by the Franco Manufacturing Company, I knew this 30-inch by 60-inch towel had to be mine. Who could go wrong with the stunning artwork of José Luis García-López? When the towel is unfolded, the scene of Superman flying past a giant wave can be seen and fully admired.

McFarlane Toys Super Powers Supermobile (2022)

Like the Superman figure I posted several days ago, this collectible is a deep throwback to the Kenner Super Powers days of 1984. However, unlike its 1984 counterpart, this 2022 McFarlane Toys Supermobile was designed to look amazingly like the first appearance version of the vehicle in Action Comics #481 in 1978. Measuring 13-inches long, the Supermobile features…