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Issue: Secret Origins #1
Publication Date: January 1961
 
Disclose Detail
Issues: #1 of 1 Issue
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating: Approved by the Comics Code Authority
Publisher: FlagDC
Brand: Superman DC National ComicsView Brand Images3
Indicia Publisher: National Comics Publications Inc.
On Sale Date: 06/15/1961
Volume: none
Pages: 84
ISBN: none
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.25 USD
Indicia Frequency: none
Content Items: 17 (8 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
Disclose Notes: On-sale date from copyright registration.
  Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color
Dimensions: standard Silver Age US
Paper Stock: glossy cover; newsprint interior
Binding: squarebound
Publishing Format: one-shot
Format Notes:  
Disclose Reprinted In2
Disclose Reprinted From8
Disclose Images3
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets1
Indicia
 
 
spacer
Disclose Content Items (17 total)
Disclose Issue Images
A Super-Collection of the Most Sought-After Stories Ever Published!

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure, science fiction, superhero
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagSecret Origins Replica Edition #1 published February 1998
as [untitled] [Illustration on Cover, with Gatefold]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Illustrated with vignettes from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #94 (May-June 1958) [Superman, Batman & Robin vignette], from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #53 [Adam Strange vignette], from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #225 (November 1955) [Martian Manhunter vignette], from Showcase (DC, 1956 series) #4 (September-October 1956) [Flash vignette]. Vignettes for Challengers, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Green Arrow with Speedy need to be sourced.
Disclose
Table of Contents

Table of Contents  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside front cover.
Disclose
The Origin of the Superman-Batman Team

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Character(s): Powerman (a robot, introduction)
First Line: The mightiest team in the world--
Synopsis: When Luthor develops a liquid kryptonite gun, Superman replaces Batman with a new partner, Powerman. The Caped Crusader, hurt by the change, believes that Powerman has some sort hold over the Man of Steel, not realizing Superman has a motive in mind for his own protection from the criminal genius, Lex Luthor!
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagWorld's Finest Comics #94 published May 1958
was Origin of the Superman-Batman Team [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12
Disclose Notes: Silver Age origin of the Superman-Batman team.
Disclose
Secret of the Eternal City!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure, science fiction
Character(s): inhabitants of Samakand; The Eternals (villains, introduction for all)
Synopsis: An Earth archaeologist is caught by a "zeta-beam" and teleported to Rann near Alpha Centauri where he meets Alanna and Sardath. Alien invaders, called The Eternals, attack the planet while Adam and Alanna journey to the Brigadoon-like city of Samakand to locate a life-metal called "vitatron". Adam tricks the aliens so they're stuck in Samakand, but then he fades away, returning to Earth, awaiting the next zeta-beam.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagShowcase #17 published November 1958
was Secret of the Eternal City! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 14.34
Disclose Notes: Origin and first appearance Adam Strange. Though most sources have credited Sachs with the inks to this story, Gene Reed notes that Giacoia and Giella often co-inked stories and this is their work, not Sachs'. Bob Hughes also mentions that the first Adam Strange and Space Rangers stories were worked out in conference, so Ed Hamilton should be given co-plotting credit here. (Thanks to Victor Lim for bringing up this issue on the GCD Error Tracker.)
Disclose
[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure, superhero
First Line: For the very best ...and still 10ยข
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.33
Disclose Notes: At the bottom of page 22. Promo ad for Superman (DC, 1939 series) #147, August 1961 and Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #21, August-September 1961.
Disclose
Adam Strange

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ? (background illustration)
Inker(s): ? (background illustration)
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure, science fiction
Character(s): The Kirri (first appearance, villains)
First Line: Roam the black gulfs of interplanetary space...
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.33
Disclose Notes: At the bottom of page 29. Promo ad for Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #69, August 1961.
Disclose
The Planet of Doomed Men

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Character(s): Calorians; The Dryg (villain)
First Line: An incredible mental force from this huge creature...
Synopsis: Hal Jordan's energy-duplicate is summoned by the Guardians for the first time. After he is returned to Earth, the Guardians send him to Calor, a nearby planet, to save the Calorians from the ape-monster Dryg.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagGreen Lantern #1 published July 1960
was The Planet of Doomed Men [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 15
Disclose Notes: First appearance of the Guardians.
Disclose
The Secrets of the Sorcerer's Box!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure
Character(s): unnamed radio show host; 4 unnamed radio show women
First Line: What's out there? -- Places we cannot see!
Synopsis: Four heroes are being flown to appear on the radio show "Heroes" when their jet crashes in a storm. Miraculously, all four survive unharmed, even down to a working watch. Since they are "living on borrowed time", they vow to make the best use of it, taking risks to benefit others, challenging the unknown. In their first official case, they are summoned by Morelian, a descendant of Merlin, to open four chambers of a dangerous alchemist's box and "witness things not seen on this Earth since the dawn of Man!"
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagShowcase #6 published January 1957
was The Secrets of the Sorcerer's Box! [Chapter 1] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: This reprints only Chapter 1 of the story from Showcase #6.

First appearance of the Challengers of the Unknown. According to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby historians, Jack Kirby brought the proposal for the Challengers to DC. DC bought the concept and folded it into Showcase.

Per Stein's conversations, he did not ink any Challengers stories.

An epilogue occurs in Secret Origins 12 (1987), when the Challengers are reunited with the box to solve its final mystery.
Disclose
Origin of Green Arrow and Speedy

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: One night, as a cruise ship plowed through the South Seas...
Synopsis: Thrown off a cruise ship, Oliver Queen lands on a deserted Shore. Looking to survive, he fashions a crude bow and arrow to hunt food. Seeing an anchored freighter, he swims out only to find a mutiny in progress. Using trick arrows he subdues the mutiny. The captain asks who he is, he declares himself as Green Arrow and dedicates himself as a crime-fighter. Roy Harper, a young orphan, already an expert bowman, wants to become Green Arrow's junior partner. Green Arrow is reluctant at first, however when Roy helps him capture a gang fleeing robbers, G.A. realizes his value as a partner.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagSecret Origins Replica Edition #1 published February 1998
as Origin of Green Arrow and Speedy [Text Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Text story with two small illustrations of Green Arrow and Speedy.
Disclose
Secret Origin of Wonder Woman

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: Who is Wonder Woman? Where did she come from?
Synopsis: Diana is born "centuries ago" and is bequeathed powers by Aphrodite, Athena, Mercury, and Hercules. When Diana is a teenager, her father and all the men are killed in "the wars". Young Diana helps her mother bring the Amazons to their new home on Paradise Island.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagWonder Woman #105 published April 1959
was Secret Origin of Wonder Woman [Story on Interior Page(s)]
From Content Item: FlagWonder Woman #105 published April 1959
was The Secret Origin of Wonder Woman Part 2 [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12.34
Disclose Notes: A Wonder Girl Story. Wonder Girl does not appear in costume.

Silver age origin of Wonder Woman.

The Steve Trevor part of the origin appears in Wonder Woman #98, and the Diana Prince part of the origin appears in Wonder Woman #99.

Penciler credit from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics.
Disclose
The Impossible Day

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: We admit it! It's impossible for the entire Wonder Woman Family to...
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.33
Disclose Notes: At the bottom of page 59. Promo ad for Wonder Woman (DC, 1942 series) #124, August 1961. Cover art shown here is slightly different than the actual printed cover.
Disclose
[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: For the very best ...and still 10ยข
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.33
Disclose Notes: At the bottom of page 64. Promo ad for Green Lantern (DC, 1960 series) #7, August 1961 and The Flash (DC, 1959 series) #122, August 1961.
Disclose
The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Character(s): Lt. Saunders
First Line: You've seen all sorts of detectives in action--
Synopsis: A scientist builds a robot brain which teleports a Martian to Earth. After the scientist dies the Martian is trapped here, so he decides to become a police detective.
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagDetective Comics #225 published November 1955
was The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 6
Disclose Notes: Samachson is current DC credit, as seen in Showcase Presents: Martian Manhunter (DC, 2007 series) #1.

Plot is similar to "The Galaxy Being", first episode of the original "The Outer Limits" television show. The show first aired on 16 September 1963. In it, Allan Maxwell, an engineer for a small radio station, somehow makes contact with a peaceful alien creature, who gets transported to Earth by accident.
Disclose
Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: This is the startling tale of The Flash--
Synopsis: By a freak accident involving lab chemicals and lightning, Barry Allen becomes the fastest man alive and originates a costume based on the comic adventures of the Flash from the 1940's. And it's a good thing too: for he must now face the Turtle Man, termed "The Slowest Man Alive".
Reprinting
From Content Item: FlagShowcase #4 published September 1956
was Mystery of the Human Thunderbolt! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 12
Disclose Notes: In the story, Barry Allen is shown reading a copy of Flash Comics January (1941) #13. However there is no resemblance to #13's actual Hawkman cover.
Disclose
Just Imagine!

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: The mightiest heroes of our time...
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Inside back cover promo ad for Justice League of America (DC, 1960 series) #6, August-September 1961.
Disclose
See the Many Fantastic Faces of Superman

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: In this sensational album of his greatest adventures!
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose Notes: Back cover promo ad for Superman Annual (DC, 1960 series) #3, Summer 1961. On sale everywhere June 22, 1961.
Disclose
The Inside Stories of Batman and Robin's Top Secrets

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
First Line: Behind the scenes with the world's most famous...
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose Notes: Back cover promo ad for Batman Annual (DC, 1961 series) #1, [Summer] 1961. On sale everywhere June 29, 1961.

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