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About This Series
Issues
Pictures
About This
Series:
Issues:
This
is a rather unique series in a number of ways. It is the most
popular incarnation of "Secret Origins", although the name and basic
premise was toyed with by DC in several prototype forms prior to this
series. The 1960s saw compilation specials called "Secret
Origins", while the 1970s had a short-run reprint series called "Secret
Origins". This series, that ran from 1986 to 1990, has 50
issues. It also spawned three annuals, one special, and a trade
paperback.
Roy Thomas was the initial head writer and editorial consultant for the series. Issues #24 on were overseen by Mark Waid. This series had great art and great writing. There was really only one flaw: THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT CHARACTERS NOBODY CARED ABOUT! It's easy to see why this only lasted 50 issues! When you make a series like "Secret Origins", you're doing it for newer readers that don't know that much about the DC universe. Many of the characters covered in this series were not well-known at all, even by a lot of avid DC readers. Where the heck is the origin story on Wonder Woman? Or Supergirl? And, since we're sometimes spotlighting villains here, where's The Joker? Or Catwoman? Or Penguin? Or Lex Luthor? It's okay to cover an obscure character, but it should be a backup story to an origin of a well-known character.
Roy Thomas was the initial head writer and editorial consultant for the series. Issues #24 on were overseen by Mark Waid. This series had great art and great writing. There was really only one flaw: THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT CHARACTERS NOBODY CARED ABOUT! It's easy to see why this only lasted 50 issues! When you make a series like "Secret Origins", you're doing it for newer readers that don't know that much about the DC universe. Many of the characters covered in this series were not well-known at all, even by a lot of avid DC readers. Where the heck is the origin story on Wonder Woman? Or Supergirl? And, since we're sometimes spotlighting villains here, where's The Joker? Or Catwoman? Or Penguin? Or Lex Luthor? It's okay to cover an obscure character, but it should be a backup story to an origin of a well-known character.
Issues:
#1: Golden Age
Superman.
#2: Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett and Ted Kord versions).
#3: Captain Marvel.
#4: Firestorm.
#5: Crimson Avenger.
#6: Halo of the Outsiders, Golden Age Batman. First double-sized issue.
#7: Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Golden Age Sandman.
#8: Shadow Lass, Doll Man.
#9: Original Star-Spangled Kid & Stripesy, Golden Age Flash.
#10: Phantom Stranger.
#11: Golden Age Hawkman, Power Girl.
#12: March, 1987. Golden Age Fury, Challengers of the Unknown.
#13: Nightwing, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, The Whip.
#14: Suicide Squad.
#15: The Spectre, Deadman.
#16: Hourman, The Warlord, 'Mazing Man.
#17: Adam Strange, Doctor Occult.
#18: Green Lantern Alan Scott, The Creeper.
#19: Uncle Sam, The Guardian.
#20: Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Doctor Mid-Nite.
#21: Jonah Hex, Black Condor.
#22: Manhunters.
#23: Guardians of the Universe, Floronic Man.
#24: Doctor Fate, Blue Devil. Mark Waid became the "leader" of this series as he took over editorial duties.
#25: Legion of Super-Heroes, Golden Age Atom.
#26: Black Lightning, Miss America.
#27: Zatanna and her father Zatara, Doctor Mist.
#28: Midnight, Nightshade.
#29: Atom, Red Tornado, Mr. America.
#30: Plastic Man, The Elongated Man.
#31: Justice Society.
#32: Justice League.
#33: Fire, Ice, Mister Miracle.
#34: Captain Atom, G'nort, Rocket Red.
#35: Booster Gold, Maxwell Lord, Martian Manhunter.
#36: Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Poison Ivy.
#37: Legion of Substitute Heroes, Original (villainous) Dr. Light.
#38: Green Arrow, Speedy.
#39: Animal Man, Man-Bat.
#40: Congorilla, Detective Chimp, Gorilla Grodd.
#41: Weather Wizard, Heat Wave, Trickster, Pied Piper, Gorilla Grodd, Captain Cold.
#42: Phantom Girl, Gay Ghost/Grim Ghost.
#43: Original Hawk & Dove, Cave Carson, Chris KL-99.
#44: Clayface 1, 2, and 3.
#45: Blackhawk, El Diablo.
#46: Headquarters of Silver Age Justice League, New Titans' Titans Tower, Legion of Super Heroes Rocketship Clubhouse.
#47: Ferro Lad, Karate Kid, Chemical King.
#48: Ambush Bug, Stanley and his Monster, Rex the Wonder Dog, Trigger Twins.
#49: Bouncing Boy, Newsboy Legion, Silent Knight.
#50: 96-page last issue! Dick Grayson's (Robin) first encounter with Batman, Golden and Silver Age Flash meet, Johnny Thunder, History of Black Canary, Dolphin, Space Museum.
#2: Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett and Ted Kord versions).
#3: Captain Marvel.
#4: Firestorm.
#5: Crimson Avenger.
#6: Halo of the Outsiders, Golden Age Batman. First double-sized issue.
#7: Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Golden Age Sandman.
#8: Shadow Lass, Doll Man.
#9: Original Star-Spangled Kid & Stripesy, Golden Age Flash.
#10: Phantom Stranger.
#11: Golden Age Hawkman, Power Girl.
#12: March, 1987. Golden Age Fury, Challengers of the Unknown.
#13: Nightwing, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, The Whip.
#14: Suicide Squad.
#15: The Spectre, Deadman.
#16: Hourman, The Warlord, 'Mazing Man.
#17: Adam Strange, Doctor Occult.
#18: Green Lantern Alan Scott, The Creeper.
#19: Uncle Sam, The Guardian.
#20: Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Doctor Mid-Nite.
#21: Jonah Hex, Black Condor.
#22: Manhunters.
#23: Guardians of the Universe, Floronic Man.
#24: Doctor Fate, Blue Devil. Mark Waid became the "leader" of this series as he took over editorial duties.
#25: Legion of Super-Heroes, Golden Age Atom.
#26: Black Lightning, Miss America.
#27: Zatanna and her father Zatara, Doctor Mist.
#28: Midnight, Nightshade.
#29: Atom, Red Tornado, Mr. America.
#30: Plastic Man, The Elongated Man.
#31: Justice Society.
#32: Justice League.
#33: Fire, Ice, Mister Miracle.
#34: Captain Atom, G'nort, Rocket Red.
#35: Booster Gold, Maxwell Lord, Martian Manhunter.
#36: Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Poison Ivy.
#37: Legion of Substitute Heroes, Original (villainous) Dr. Light.
#38: Green Arrow, Speedy.
#39: Animal Man, Man-Bat.
#40: Congorilla, Detective Chimp, Gorilla Grodd.
#41: Weather Wizard, Heat Wave, Trickster, Pied Piper, Gorilla Grodd, Captain Cold.
#42: Phantom Girl, Gay Ghost/Grim Ghost.
#43: Original Hawk & Dove, Cave Carson, Chris KL-99.
#44: Clayface 1, 2, and 3.
#45: Blackhawk, El Diablo.
#46: Headquarters of Silver Age Justice League, New Titans' Titans Tower, Legion of Super Heroes Rocketship Clubhouse.
#47: Ferro Lad, Karate Kid, Chemical King.
#48: Ambush Bug, Stanley and his Monster, Rex the Wonder Dog, Trigger Twins.
#49: Bouncing Boy, Newsboy Legion, Silent Knight.
#50: 96-page last issue! Dick Grayson's (Robin) first encounter with Batman, Golden and Silver Age Flash meet, Johnny Thunder, History of Black Canary, Dolphin, Space Museum.