The Superman Family

{{Short description|US comic book}} {{Infobox comic book title|  | image = Superman Family 164.jpg | caption = Cover of ''The Superman Family'' #164 (April–May 1974), the initial issue published under that title. Cover art by [[Nick Cardy]]. | schedule = Bimonthly #164–207 Monthly #208–222 | format = 100 pages (#164–169) 64 pages (#170–176, 191–204) 48 pages (#177–181, 205–222) 80 pages (#182–190) | publisher = [[DC Comics]] | date = '''''The Superman Family''''': April/May 1974 – September 1982 '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': July 2012 – June 2013 | issues = '''''The Superman Family''''': 59 (#164–222) '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': 12 | main_char_team = [[Lois Lane]] [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]] [[Jimmy Olsen]] [[Krypto]] [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] [[Clark Kent]] [[Superboy]] [[Kal-L]] and Lois Lane Kent | writers = {{List collapsed|'''''The Superman Family''''': [[Cary Bates]], [[E. Nelson Bridwell]], [[Cary Burkett]], [[Gerry Conway]], [[Tom DeFalco]], [[Leo Dorfman]], [[Scott Edelman]], [[Jack C. Harris]], [[Paul Kupperberg]], [[Paul Levitz]], [[Elliot S. Maggin]], Tamsyn O'Flynn, [[Martin Pasko]], [[Bob Rozakis]], [[Roy Thomas]], Bob Toomey, [[Marv Wolfman]] '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': [[Franco Aureliani]], [[Art Baltazar]]}} | artists = | pencillers = {{List collapsed|'''''The Superman Family''''': [[Jack Abel]], [[Bob Brown (comics)|Bob Brown]], [[John Calnan]], [[John Celardo]], [[José Delbo]], Luis Dominguez, [[Arvell Jones]], [[Ken Landgraf]], [[Win Mortimer]], [[Irv Novick]], [[Bob Oksner]], Juan Ortiz, [[Carl Potts]], [[Marshall Rogers]], [[John Rosenberger]], [[Art Saaf]], [[Alex Saviuk]], [[Kurt Schaffenberger]], [[Joe Staton]], [[Chic Stone]], [[Curt Swan]], [[George Tuska]], [[Alan Weiss (comics)|Alan Weiss]] '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': Art Baltazar}} | inkers = {{List collapsed|'''''The Superman Family''''': [[Dan Adkins]], [[Murphy Anderson]], [[Tex Blaisdell]], [[Brett Breeding]], [[Frank Chiaramonte]], [[Vince Colletta]], [[Frank Giacoia]], [[Joe Giella]], [[Don Heck]], [[Dave Hunt (comics)|Dave Hunt]], [[Jimmy Janes]], [[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|Frank McLaughlin]], [[Al Milgrom]], Steve Mitchell, Bob Oksner, [[Joe Orlando]], Juan Ortiz, Marshall Rogers, John Rosenberger, [[Josef Rubinstein]], Kurt Schaffenberger, [[Bob Smith (comics)|Bob Smith]], Joe Staton, [[Romeo Tanghal]], [[Sal Trapani]] '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': Art Baltazar}} | letterers = {{List collapsed|'''''The Superman Family''''': Pierre Bernard, [[Janice Chiang]], [[John Costanza]], Albert DeGuzman, Phil Felix, Anette Kawecki, [[Todd Klein]], [[Adam Kubert]], Shelly Leferman, Bill Morse, [[Ben Oda]], Clem Robins, [[Gaspar Saladino]], Debra Schulman, Jean Simek, Milton Snapinn, Mike Stevens, Morris Waldinger, [[John Workman]] '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': Art Baltazar}} | colorists = {{List collapsed|'''''The Superman Family''''': Cory Adams, [[Liz Berube]], Gene D'Angelo, John Drake, [[Bob LeRose]], Phil Rachelson, [[Adrienne Roy]], Bob Rozakis, Mario Sen, Jerry Serpe, Anthony Tollin, [[Tatjana Wood]], Tom Ziuko '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': Art Baltazar}} | creative_team_month = | creative_team_year = | creators = | editors = {{List collapsed|'''''The Superman Family''''': [[Murray Boltinoff]] (#164, 166–167, 169–170, 172–173, 175–176, 178–179, 181) [[Julius Schwartz]] (#165, 168, 171, 174, 177, 180, 195–222) [[Dennis O'Neil]] (#182–184) [[E. Nelson Bridwell]] (#185–194) '''''Superman Family Adventures''''': Kristy Quinn}} }} '''''The Superman Family''''' is an [[American comic book]] series published by [[DC Comics]] from 1974 to 1982 featuring [[Superman character and cast#Supporting characters|supporting characters in the ''Superman'' comics]]. The term "Superman Family" is often used to refer to the extended cast of characters of comics books associated with Superman. A similarly titled series, '''''Superman Family Adventures''''', was published in 2012.

==Publication history== ''The Superman Family'' was an amalgamation of the titles ''[[Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane]]'', ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'', and ''[[Supergirl (comic book)|Supergirl]]''. The first issue, #164, took its numbering from ''Jimmy Olsen'',<ref>{{cite book|last=McAvennie|first= Michael|editor-last = Dolan|editor-first = Hannah|chapter= 1970s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9|page= 159|quote = DC's ''100-Page Super Spectaculars'' were proving popular, so DC said goodbye to ''Supergirl'', ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'', ''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'', and housed the characters together in ''The Superman Family''. Continuing the numbering from where ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'' ended, the series featured classic reprints with new tales in the lead spot.}}</ref> which had reached issue #163 and thus had the most issues published.<ref name="Overstreet">{{cite book|last1= Overstreet|first1= Robert M.|title= [[Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide]]|edition= 49th|publisher= [[Gemstone Publishing]]|date= 2019|location= Timonium, Maryland|page= 1059|isbn= 978-1603602334}}</ref> ''Lois Lane'' ended at #137, while the newly launched ''Supergirl'' book had only made it to #9 at the time. A 10th and final issue of ''Supergirl'' was published five months after ''The Superman Family''{{'}}s launch.

''The Superman Family'' went through two distinct phases. In its inception the three leads [[Jimmy Olsen]], [[Lois Lane]], and [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]] rotated new stories each issue with reprints for the other characters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sacks |first1=Jason |last2=Dallas |first2=Keith |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490564 |page=144}}</ref> The first six issues (#164–169) of the series were in the [[DC 100 Page Super Spectacular|100 Page Super Spectacular]] format<ref>{{cite journal|last= Eury|first= Michael|author-link= Michael Eury|title= A Look at DC's Super Specs|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= #81|page= 13|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date= July 2015|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> and [[Nick Cardy]] was the cover artist.<ref>{{cite book|last = Coates|first = John|chapter= Art Index|title = The Art of Nick Cardy|publisher = Coates Publishing|year = 1999|page = 167|isbn = 1-887591-22-2}}</ref> Changes were made in the setting of Supergirl's adventures during the character's run in the title. She moved to Florida to join the faculty at the New Athens Experimental School in issue #165.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Elliot S. Maggin|Maggin, Elliot S!]]|penciller= [[Art Saaf|Saaf, Art]]|inker= [[Vince Colletta|Colletta, Vince]]|story= Princess of the Golden Sun!|title= The Superman Family|issue= #165|date= June–July 1974}}</ref> In an "imaginary story" set in a possible future in issue #200, Supergirl, now known as Super''woman'', is depicted as being the [[List of fictional politicians|Governor of Florida]] in her secret identity of Linda Danvers.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Gerry Conway|Conway, Gerry]]| penciller= [[Win Mortimer|Mortimer, Win]]|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= Something Swims the Time Stream|title= The Superman Family|issue= #200|date= March–April 1980}}</ref> She leaves Florida and relocates to New York City to become a soap opera actress in issue #208.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Jack C. Harris|Harris, Jack C.]]|penciller= Mortimer, Win|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= The Super-Switch to New York|title= The Superman Family|issue= #208|date= July 1981}}</ref>

After the cancellation of ''[[Super-Team Family]]'', a Supergirl/[[Doom Patrol]] team-up originally scheduled to appear in that title was published in ''The Superman Family'' #191–193.<ref>{{Citation|last = Wells|first = John|title = 'Lost' DC: The DC Implosion 1976–1980|newspaper = [[Comics Buyer's Guide]]|issue = #1249|page = 128|date = October 24, 1997|location= Iola, Wisconsin}}</ref> Supergirl battled the [[Enchantress (DC Comics)|Enchantress]] in issues #204–205<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Harris, Jack C.|penciller= Mortimer, Win|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= The Earthquake Enchantment|title= The Superman Family|issue= #204|date= November–December 1980}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic|writer= Harris, Jack C.|penciller= Mortimer, Win|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= Magic Over Miami|title= The Superman Family|issue= #205|date= January–February 1981}}</ref> and teamed with the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] in issue #207.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Harris, Jack C.; [[Roy Thomas|Thomas, Roy]]|penciller= Mortimer, Win|inker= Colletta, Vince|story= Look Homeward, Argonian|title= The Superman Family|issue= #207|date= May–June 1981}}</ref>

''The Superman Family'' became the first DC Comics series in the 80-page [[Dollar Comics|Dollar Comic]] format, consisting of 64 pages of new stories, beginning with issue #182 (March–April 1977).<ref>{{cite journal|last= Romero|first= Max|title= I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics|journal= Back Issue!|issue= #57|pages= 39–41|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= July 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> With that issue, the "framing element" was removed from the covers, and the book switched to printing all-new material. It became a monthly series in 1981, starting with issue #207.

==Featured series== * ''[[Lois Lane (comic book)|Lois Lane]]'' - the adventures of Lois Lane, where she regularly battled criminals (#166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181–222). * ''[[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]]'' - the adventures of Supergirl (#165, 168, 171, 174, 177, 180, 182–222). * ''[[Jimmy Olsen (comic book)|Jimmy Olsen]]'' - the adventures of Jimmy Olsen (#164, 167, 170, 173, 176, 179, 182–222). * ''[[Superboy (Kal-El)|Superboy]]'' - the adventures of the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)#Earth-One|Earth-One]] Superman as a teenage superhero. This series continued from ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #458 and led to the feature leaving the title for its own in 1980, ''[[The New Adventures of Superboy]]'' (#182, 191–198). * ''The Private Life of Clark Kent'' - the adventures of [[Clark Kent]] in which he used his powers and skills without becoming Superman. This feature had moved over from ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' after issue #328 of that series (#182, 191-197, 199-215).<ref name="DCImplosion">{{Citation|last = Wells|first = John|title = 'Lost' DC: The DC Implosion 1976-1980|newspaper = Comics Buyer's Guide|issue = #1249|page = 134|date = October 24, 1997|location= Iola, Wisconsin}}</ref> After the cancellation of ''The Superman Family'', it returned to ''Superman'' for two more appearances in issues #371 and 373. * ''Mr. and Mrs. Superman'' - the adventures of the [[Earth-Two]] [[Kal-L|Superman]] and his wife, Lois Lane Kent. This feature had also moved over from ''Superman'' after issue #329 (#195-196, 198-199, 201-222).<ref name="DCImplosion" /> * ''[[Krypto]]'' - the adventures of Superman's dog with the aid of detective Ed Lacy (#182–192). * ''[[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]]'' - the adventures of the second Nightwing and Flamebird team of heroes (Van-Zee and Ak-Var) in the bottle city of Kandor (#183–194).

DC published several other ''... Family'' titles concurrently with ''The Superman Family''. These included ''[[Batman Family]]'' (1975–78), ''Super-Team Family'' (1975–78) and ''[[Tarzan in comics#Comic books|Tarzan Family]]'' (1975–76). As a rule, DC's other ''... Family'' titles contained mostly reprints and featured a higher page count and a higher price than DC's other titles.

With issue #222 (September 1982), ''The Superman Family'' was cancelled and replaced with ''The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl'', which briefly featured a "Lois Lane" backup series.

==''Superman Family Adventures''== In 2012, DC launched a new series titled ''Superman Family Adventures''<ref name="Overstreet" /> written by [[Art Baltazar]] and [[Franco Aureliani]] and drawn by Baltazar.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/firs-look-at-the-cover-to-superman-family-adventures-1/|title= First look at the cover to ''Superman Family Adventures'' #1|first= JK|last= Parkin|date= February 10, 2012|publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120429091401/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/firs-look-at-the-cover-to-superman-family-adventures-1/|archive-date= April 29, 2012|access-date= April 23, 2012|quote= DC Comics has revealed the cover to the first issue of ''Superman Family Adventures'', the new all-ages title by the former ''Tiny Titans'' team of Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani.|url-status=dead}}</ref> Baltazar and Aureliani were the winners of the 2011 [[Eisner Award]] in the category "Best Publication for Kids" for their work on the ''[[Tiny Titans]]'' title for DC.<ref name=Eisner2001>{{cite web|url= http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_11win.php#list|title= 2011 Eisner Award Winners List|year= 2011|publisher= [[San Diego Comic-Con International]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501123039/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_11win.php|archive-date= May 1, 2012|access-date= April 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fuzzy the Krypto Mouse, a character who appeared in a single story in ''[[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]'' #65 (June 1958),<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Coleman, Jerry|penciller=Sikela, John|story= The Amazing Adventures of Krypto Mouse|title= [[Superboy (comic book)|Superboy]]|issue= #65|date= June 1958}}</ref> inspired a similar character created by Baltazar for ''Superman Family Adventures''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2012/05/24/superman-family-adventures-character-descriptions|title= ''Superman Family Adventures'': Character Descriptions|first= Alex|last= Nagorski|date= May 24, 2012|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120529001602/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2012/05/24/superman-family-adventures-character-descriptions|archive-date= May 29, 2012|access-date= August 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Superman Family Adventures'' ended with issue #12.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/dc-comics/66076-saucer-country-superman-family-adventures-cancelled.html|title= ''Saucer Country'' And ''Superman Family Adventures'' Cancelled|first= Rich|last= Johnston|work= Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movies and TV News and Rumors|author-link= Rich Johnston|date= January 14, 2013|publisher= BleedingCool.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130124013352/http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/dc-comics/66076-saucer-country-superman-family-adventures-cancelled.html|archive-date= January 24, 2013|url-status=live|access-date= January 27, 2013}}</ref>

==Collected editions== * ''[[Showcase Presents]]: Batgirl Vol. 1'' includes the Supergirl story from ''The Superman Family'' #171, 520 pages, July 2007, {{ISBN|978-1401213671}} * ''Superman: The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen'' includes the Jimmy Olsen story from ''The Superman Family'' #173, 192 pages, July 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1369-3}} * ''Superman: The Adventures of Nightwing and Flamebird'' collects the Jimmy Olsen story from ''The Superman Family'' #173 and the Nightwing and Flamebird stories from ''The Superman Family'' #183–194, 144 pages, October 2009, {{ISBN|140122525X}}<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/superman-the-adventures-of-flamebird-and-nightwing|title= ''Superman: The Adventures of Nightwing and Flamebird''|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129090215/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/superman-the-adventures-of-flamebird-and-nightwing|archive-date= November 29, 2014|url-status=live|access-date= October 14, 2012}}</ref> * ''Superman: The World of Krypton'' includes the ''World of Krypton'' story from ''The Superman Family'' #182, 240 pages, March 2008, {{ISBN|978-1401217952}} * ''Deadman Book Three'' includes the Lois Lane story from ''The Superman Family'' #183, 176 pages, December 2012, {{ISBN|978-1401237288}} * ''Superman: Bottle City of Kandor'' includes the Nightwing and Flamebird story from ''The Superman Family'' #194, 200 pages, October 2007, {{ISBN|978-1401214654}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{gcdb series|id=2154|title=The Superman Family}} * {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=2673|title=''The Superman Family''}} * {{gcdb series|id=65022|title=Superman Family Adventures}} * {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=37181|title=''Superman Family Adventures''}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Superman Family}} [[Category:1974 comics debuts]] [[Category:1982 comics endings]] [[Category:2012 comics debuts]] [[Category:2013 comics endings]] [[Category:Comics anthologies]] [[Category:Comics by Gerry Conway]] [[Category:Comics by Marv Wolfman]] [[Category:Comics by Paul Kupperberg]] [[Category:Comics by Paul Levitz]] [[Category:Comics by Roy Thomas]] [[Category:Defunct American comics]] [[Category:Superhero comics]] [[Category:Superman titles]] [[Category:Superman spinoff titles]]

[[de:Superman (Comicserien)#Superman Family]]