Friday, December 25, 2020

Superman Super Library #6

K.G. Murray's Superman Super Library #6 was published c.November 1964:


 The cover originally appeared on DC Comics' Superman #170:

The contents:

Part I: If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father! and Part II: The Wedding of Lara and Luthor, originally published in Superman #170, July 1964

The Super-Reporter of Metropolis, originally published in Superman #82, May-June 1953

The Search for the Bravest Woman!, originally published in Superman #83, July-August 1953

Superman Super Library is a digest-sized series, hence all the stories are reformatted. Each page contains either one or two panels, and the art is subject to modifications - typically, an extension to the background art.

Superman Super Library ran for 44 issues over a span of 4 years in the mid-1960's. It was a second tier companion series to Superman Supacomic, however it had its own distinct profile. The typical issue repurposed the splash page to the lead story for cover duties and, similarly to Colossal Comic, it was a repository of recycled material previously published by K.G. Murray. 

However, the first six issues of the series carried previously unpublished lead features along with the authentic covers. These first six issues amount to a first phase of this series, similarly to the the first few issues of Superman's Supacomic.

I have dated Superman Super Library #6 as per AusReprints. My copy has a handwritten date 17/12 on the rear cover, which is, presumably, the 'use-by' shelf life date for the issue. On this basis we might assume the publication date to be 17 November 1964. TBC. 

Speaking of the regular format for the Superman Super Library series... Many years ago I posted my thoughts on Superman Supacomic #97, commenting that the similarities to the Superman Super Library series suggested that it may have been originally intended as an issue of Superman Super Library. Superman Supacomic #97 is dated c.September 1967, and the final issue of Superman Super Library appears to be around the of 1967... Not saying, just saying...

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