The Golden Age Superman and the Old Time Radio Adventures of Superman: A TVCU Timeline

THE GOLDEN AGE TVCU

Note that the Superboy theory is that Krypton's explosion created a series of divergent timelines. The Golden Age timeline is one of them. Ignore any previous TVCU theories out there. The "Post-Crisis/New Earth" version is another of these divergent timelines. These timelines may resemble Earth-2 and Earth-0 of DC Comics, but are in the TVCU Multiverse and include crossovers not part of DC Comics canon.

SUPERMAN (KAL-L/CLARK KENT)--Superman was Kal-L, from Krypton. Krypton was a world where its inhabitants were super-men. When the world faced destruction, scientist Jor-L sent his son to Earth, where he was found in Smallville, Kansas by John and Mary Kent. He was named Clark Joseph Kent, and raised by the farmers. As an adult, he moved to Metropolis, where he became a reporter for the Daily Star, while also using his powers to fight crime as Superman. In the Golden Age TVCU, Superman is represented by the golden age/Earth-2 comic book version of Superman, and the radio drama.

BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE)--The Batman was Bruce Wayne, represented by the Golden Age/Earth-2 Batman comics, the Batman’s appearances in the Adventures of Superman radio drama, and the two serials. Bruce Wayne had a ward, Dick Grayson, who acted as Robin. He also had a daughter, Helena Wayne, with Selina (Catwoman) Kyle, who would become the Huntress.

Summer 1916--Birth of Kal-L on the planet Krypton.  

January 1917--Krypton explodes.  Prior to it's doom, Jor-L sends his son off planet in a rocket headed towards Earth.
 

March 1917--TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN VOLUME 4: LORDS OF TERROR--"Three Men, A Martian, and a Baby"--En route to Earth, Kal-L's rocket crashes into the Doctor's TARDIS. The Doctor fixes the rocket and sends the baby onto its original destination. NOTES: THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SUPERMAN, KAL-L, AS A BABY ON HIS WAY TO EARTH. THE DOCTOR HERE IS DOCTOR OMEGA, WHO HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS SHOWN IN PUBLISHED WORKS TO ACTUALLY BE THE DOCTOR FROM DOCTOR WHO. Shortly after, Kal-L lands on Earth in Smallville where he is found and adopted by John and Mary Kent.

1928--Richard (Dick) Grayson is born to John and Mary Grayson.  The year is that shown on Dick's tombstone. An episode of the Adventures of Superman radio series (aired Sept. 25, 1946) gave Dick's mother's name as Yvonne and indicated that she was of French extraction. Neither point was ever reflected in the comic books.  (Last Days of the JSA, 1986)

TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN VOLUME 5: THE VAMPIRES OF PARIS “THE MOST EXCITING GAME” (SHORT STORY BY XAVIER MAUMEJEAN)

Release Date: 2009 (Setting is 1930)

Series: Tales of the Shadowmen

Horror Crosses: Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos

Non-Horror Crosses: The Shadow; Superman; Allan Quatermain; Hareton Ironcastle; The Lost World; Kull; Tarzan; Tintin; Nero Wolfe; Philo Vance; Doc Savage (see Notes); Lost Horizon; From the Earth to the Moon; Sherlock Holmes; The People of the Pole; the Most Dangerous Game

The Story: A ship arrives in the harbour of New York, the entire crew brutally murdered. D.A. Markham must solve the case, hopefully with some assistance from a certain vigilante.

Notes: Captain Marsh, from Lovecraft’s Shadow over Innsmouth is mentioned, thus providing the horror link. All the non-horror crosses above are mentioned or appear, thus bringing them all in. In this story, Margo Lane (girlfriend of the Shadow) mentions her sister Lois (as in Lois Lane, from Superman). This is a reference to Farmer’s joke in Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life that they are sisters. Later, an online essay “The Amazing Lanes” on Mark Brown’s website expands on that. Though I don’t include internet essays, this story indeed makes official for TVCU canon that Margo and Lois are sisters in the Golden Age timeline. This doesn’t bring in all Superman stories, but it does bring in at the very least the golden age (1938 to 1949 or so).



30's to the 50's--Atomic Legion--From TVCU Crew member Matt Hickman:  reading the Atomic Legion about a Group of SuperHeroes/ form the 30's to the 50's. who now live in secret base at the North pole doing super science and sometimes still saving the world behind the scenes. Their main means of Transport is a captured Martian Tri-pod they also have The Nautilus which has been modified to also act has a space ship. Among those who live in the base but aren't actual members the team is Robby the Robot.  also among there members are clear stand in for superman called here Tomorrow man, Wonder Woman called simply the Amazon but of course Daina is the only amazon ever , The Shadow called the shroud his powers no longer working like the used to because T.V. made it harder to cloud men's minds a guy who looks like Frankenstein thou he's said just be a guy who looks like the monster and not the actual monster, a guy who looks like Rondo Hutton it strongly this is actually The Creeper and all of Rondo's movies are his adventures and he was never really a villain just mistaken for one due to his looks, And the Professor who is clearly Albert Einstein The rest of the legion and residents base are based on diffnert 1950's sci fi archetypes




June 1938--ACTION COMICS # 1--"Superman, Champion of the Oppressed"--Superman, Clark Kent (Kal-L) makes his debut as Superman. He does not operate secretly though he is considered an urban legend in the beginning just because he's just too fantastic. But soon the whole world knows of him and he inspires a golden age of super-heroes.

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN 3: EVEN MORE NEW STORIES OF OLD-TIME RADIO “WAR BETWEEN TWO WORLDS” (SHORT STORY BY RICKY LOUIS PHILLIPS)

Release Date: 2006 (Setting is October 30, 1938, during the events of the War of the Worlds radio broadcast)

Series: Superman; War of the Worlds (radio)

The Story: During the second Martian invasion, a “man of action” fights of the invaders.

Notes: The first invasion was told in the 1898 novel version of War of the Worlds. The 1980s War of the Worlds television series ties together the novel, radio broadcast, and 1950s film as having been three previous invasion attempts. The “man of action” has the described characteristics of Superman. The “man of action” is a clue, as Superman debuted in Action Comics # 1. This should be the golden age version of Superman from the comics. But since this anthology is about stories featuring old time radio characters, we should assume this to be the radio version of the hero. This isn’t a contradiction, as a 1980s story in DC Comics’ World’s Finest Comics shows the original Superman of the golden age talking with the original Robin (Dick Grayson) of the golden age about an adventure they had once that was originally portrayed on the radio show. Thus we can assume that the golden age version of Superman from the comics is the radio show version, and that he exists in the Golden Age TVCU, along with all versions of the War of the Worlds up to the 1980s television series.

June 1939--Action Comics #13 --Superman first encounters the Ultra-Humanite, who is an old man in a wheelchair (presumably his original body).

Summer 1939--Superman & Batman: Generations--"The Vigilantes"--Superman (Clark Kent) and The Bat-Man (Bruce Wayne) meet for the first time at the Metropolis World's Fair.  I don't included the entire Elseworlds series, but this first story fits well into golden age canon.

January 1940--CAPTAIN GRAVITY:  ONE TRUE HERO--Captain Gravity has a new rival, Captain Marvelous.  Headlines about the new hero appear in the Daily Star, the newspaper that Clark Kent works at.  



February 12, 1940 to March 1, 1951--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (RADIO)--Next, there's the old time radio program, "The Adventures of Superman". Now most of this show won't work, as there are too many contradictions. Most of this show takes place in the Old Time Radio Universe. But in the 1980s, Clark Kent has a discussion with Dick Grayson in which they recount having those adventures that were depicted in the Adventures of Superman storylines in which Batman and Robin had been guest-stars. So those team-ups are in the TVCU. I've decided that Batman'66 and Wonder Woman'77 have to take precedent over the comics for the TVCU. Thus, the golden age Batman and Robin exist in this Golden Age TVCU. Note that the Superboy theory is that Krypton's explosion created a series of divergent timelines. The Golden Age timeline is one of them. Ignore any previous TVCU theories out there. The "Post-Crisis/New Earth" version is another of these divergent timelines. These timelines may resemble Earth-2 and Earth-0 of DC Comics, but are in the TVCU Multiverse and include crossovers not part of DC Comics canon.



March 1940--PEPIN # 409--"Adelita y La Guerrillas"--Adelita and Nancy are on a case when investigating a gang of bandits in Mexico. Adelita find herself rescued by Superman after she is captured, bound and gagged and sent over a cliff in her car.



Apr. 1940--Action Comics #23 --Superman has his first encounter with Alexei Luthor.



April 15, 1940--Superman meets Daily Planet cub reporter Jimmy Olsen, who becomes known as Superman's Pal. Superman provides him with a signal watch to alert Superman in the event of trouble.  Jimmy was first introduced in the April 15, 1940 episode of the Adventures of Superman radio series. An unnamed office boy of similar appearance debuted in Action #6 (Nov. 1938), sometimes considered to be Jimmy's first appearance; he was first named in Superman v.1 #13 (Nov. 1941). 

1940--New York World's Fair Comics #2--At various points during the summer, Batman and Robin, Superman, Hourman, Johnny Thunder, and the Sandman visit the 1940 New York World's Fair. NOTES: This issue was released on May 11, 1940. The cover is the first time Superman, Batman, and Robin were pictured together, although they appeared in separate stories within the issue.

November 9, 1940--DC Special #29 (Sep. 1977)--At the behest of British Intelligence, President Roosevelt sends Batman, the Flash, and Green Lantern on a mission to Scotland to investigate rumors of a planned Nazi invasion of Great Britain. The three heroes are captured by Major Helmut Streicher (first chron. appearance ) and taken to Berlin, where Hitler nearly executes them with the Spear of Destiny before they are rescued by the arrival of Doctor Fate and Hourman. Hitler uses the power of the Spear to summon Valkyries to destroy the heroes and orders attacks on England and Washington, D.C. With the help of the Spectre, who single-handedly destroys the German invasion fleet in the English Channel, and Superman, who intercepts the German bomber bound for Washington, the heroes thwart the Nazi assault and prevent Hitler's Valkyries from slaying FDR. At FDR's suggestion, they form a team, using a name suggested by Superman: the Justice Society of America (first chron. appearance). NOTES: Some time after this story, Hitler uses the Spear to erect the "Sphere of Influence," which brings any metahuman under Hitler's mental control if they enter Axis territory. Helmut Streicher's first appearance in print, as the Red Panzer, was in Wonder Woman #228 (1976). first appearance (unnamed) of the Valkyrie, Gudra. Reprinted in Best of DC Digest #21 (1983).

November 22, 1940--All-Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940)--ALL-STAR COMICS--The Justice Society of America (first appearance in print) holds its first official meeting in Gotham City. Members present are the Atom, Doctor Fate, the Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman, the Sandman, and the Spectre. Johnny Thunder and the Red Tornado make brief appearances, although the Tornado flees after accidentally tearing out the seat of her pants. Superman and Batman are mentioned as honorary members. NOTES: Until the end of the war the unofficial real-world rule for JSA membership was that any character with his or her own title left the team to become an honorary member. Superman and Batman were honorary members from the outset because they already had their own books and because most of the characters in All-Star were published by All-American Comics, a separate company owned by DC. Although All-American books carried the DC logo, they were produced through separate editorial offices until the two companies fully merged in 1945. This story was reprinted in Famous First Editions F-7 (1975) and in a DC Millennium Edition (1999).

Late June 1941--All-Star Comics #8 (Dec. 1940/Jan. 1941)--Doctor Mid-Nite joins the JSA, which battles Professor Elba. During the course of the adventure, Shiera Sanders once again aids Hawkman as Hawkgirl. NOTES: Doctor Mid-Nite went on to appear in every subsequent Golden Age issue of All-Star. This was Doctor Fate's first JSA case with his new helmet. The JSA, including honorary members Superman, Batman, Flash and Green Lantern, also appear in the one-page Hop Harrigan text story in this issue.



November 1941--THE INVISIBLE BOX MURDERS--This Doc Savage story features the Daily Planet, though it's meant to be the New York Planet from Lester Dent's Foster Fade stories.  But there is strong evidence that Metropolis is New York, so...

December 8, 1941: All-Star Squadron #4 --The Japanese invade the Philippines and attack Guam and Hong Kong. The All-Star Squadron attempts to attack the Japanese mainland, only to discover that Premier Tojo, with the help of the Dragon King, has used the Holy Grail to extend the Sphere of Influence over Japanese territory. Some of the most powerful All-Stars fall under the Dragon King's control, but their comrades manage to lure them outside the Sphere's range. The All-Stars retreat, realizing that they must fight the war from Allied territory. Only those heroes vulnerable to magic (e.g., Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, the Spectre, Superman, the Thunderbolt and Wonder Woman) are affected by the Sphere of Influence.

December 1941--Tales of the Shadowmen Volume 9: La Vie en Noir--"AS TIME GOES BY…"--The Doctor uses Kryptonite as a power source for the TARDIS.  OTHER CROSSOVERS INCLUDE:  DOCTOR OMEGA, CASABLANCA, THE SPIDER, BATMAN, BLACK CAT, CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE INVADERS, THE COMING RACE, FUTURE TIMES THREE.

February 1942--All-Star Squadron #21 (May 1983), All-Star Comics #12 (Aug./Sept. 1942)--THE ULTRA-HUMANITE / INFINITY, INC. SAGA--The All-Stars adopt the Perisphere (leftover from the 1939 World's Fair) as their permanent headquarters. Hawkman reveals that the JSA has been called to reform as the Justice Battalion. Cyclotron steals the Hammer of Thor and Superman's mountain retreat is invaded by the Ultra-Humanite and Deathbolt (Jake Simmons), who are after the Powerstone. Wonder Woman joins as the JSA's secretary.NOTES: The Hammer of Thor is revealed to be the same one that Hawkman used in All-Star Comics #3 (1940). The Powerstone first appeared in Superman #14 (1942). Superman's mountain retreat first appeared in Superman #17 (1942).

Late February 1942: All-Star Squadron #36 --Captain Marvel is magically transported from an alternate timeline to the Golden Age TVCU's Berlin. Under Hitler's spell, Captain Marvel attacks England and butts heads with Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, the Flash, Green Lantern and Plastic Man.

Early April, 1942: All-Star Squadron #60 --THE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS

May 1942--STING OF THE GREEN HORNET (NOW COMICS)--In this story, we find the Green Hornet encountering THE SHADOW (also a pulp hero who started in radio), and CAPTAIN AMERICA (though including Cap doesn't include all his appearances, just as with the TVCU Superman.) Also appearing are Clark Kent (SUPERMAN) and Lois Lane, NICK FURY, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (Note that when real people appear in the TVCU, it is their TVCU counterparts, who usually are very similar to the real world versions, but have had additional experiences that replace real world experiences.) Also referenced are the SUB-MARINER and the YANKEE COMMANDO.




June 1942--DC COLLECTOR'S EDITION C-54--Superman and Wonder Woman find themselves on opposite sides of a moral issue during the war.

August 1942--Action Comics #51--"The Case of the Crimeless Crimes"--After staging a series of small robberies, a gang led by the Prankster begins leaving money with bank managers. At first the gang is suspected of crimes and arrested, but when the managers realize they are being given money, they drop the charges.  The Prankster then uses his newfound fame to stage similar operations. When one bank manager allows him into the vault, the crooks begin robbing the vaults of millions. Superman, having suspected trouble is on hand to stop the crime, but Lois is taken as a hostage. The Man of Steel replaces one of Prankster’s gang and rescues Lois, but the villain makes good on his escape.  Reprinted In:  Superman Chronicles Vol. 9 TPB (2011)

ACTION COMICS # 55 “A GOOF NAMED TINY RUFE” (DC COMICS)

Release Date: December 1942

Series: Superman (Golden Age)

Animated Series Crosses: Li’l Abner

The Story: Cartoonist Al Hatt gets the idea for his most famous strip from observing a very real hillbilly couple. When the couple plans on getting married, Hatt fears it would ruin his strip and thus tries to get them to call it off.

Notes: Al Hatt is based on real life cartoonist Al Capp, and the hillbilly couple, called Tiny Rufe and Maisie Day here, are meant to be Li’l Abner and Daisy Mae.

June 1943: World's Finest #271 --Superman discovers the existence of Kryptonite and learns that he is a survivor of the planet Krypton. NOTES: This story aired on the Adventures of Superman radio series; in the comics, Superman did not learn of his origins until Superman #61 (1948); however, World's Finest Comics #271 established that the later radio saga, "Superman versus the Atom Man," was part of Earth-Two continuity. In that storyline, Superman is aware of his Kryptonian origin and Kryptonite by September 1945; therefore, the introduction of Kryptonite on the radio series also is part of Earth-Two continuity.

March 1945--THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--While working together, Superman learns the identities of Batman and Robin, but they don't learn his. (The Adventures of Superman radio show is in the TVCU because of a story in It's that Time Again, which features Superman fighting the Martians during 1938's War of the Worlds. Since the book's theme was old time radio characters, this means that it was indeed the version from the radio show. Since War of the Worlds is in the TVCU, then the Superman of the radio show is the Superman of the Golden Age TVCU.) The Superman/Batman team-ups included are from the Radio show, not from the comic book.  Because Batman'66 must take precedence for the TVCU, Bruce Wayne was only 15 in 1945.  This Batman and Robin were for TVCU purposes the Batman and Robin of the Golden Age TVCU.  Note that the Superboy theory is that Krypton's explosion created a series of divergent timelines. The Golden Age timeline is one of them. Ignore any previous TVCU theories out there. The "Post-Crisis/New Earth" version is another of these divergent timelines. These timelines may resemble Earth-2 and Earth-0 of DC Comics, but are in the TVCU Multiverse and include crossovers not part of DC Comics canon.

April 15, 1945: Last Days of the JSA --Thirteen members of the JSA act as honor guard for FDR's funeral in Hyde Park. The heroes vow to continue the war effort until the Axis powers are defeated. Superman and Batman are present, for a total of 15 JSAers. NOTES: According to Last Days of the JSA, this was the last time in the forties that all of the JSA's members (to that date) were together, including Hourman, Mister Terrific and the Spectre, who had already left the team. In an alternate timeline, the Spectre appears after the burial and sends the JSA on a final raid in Berlin, where they all perish in a failed attempt to stop Hitler from destroying the world with the Spear of Destiny. That timeline was negated by the JSA's entry into the Ragnarok cycle.

September 1945--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--When Lois Lane is accused of murder, Superman turns to Batman and Robin for help.

Early December 1945--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--The Nazis create an Atom Man powered by Kryptonite. Meanwhile, the rest of the meteor has scattered around the world. Superman comes to Batman and Robin to help. He also reveals to them he knows their identities and comes clean with his own. Note in 1980, Superman and Dick Grayson will have a conversation that mentions this adventure in the comics, which made the radio show part of Earth-2 canon.

January 1946--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--After exposure to Kryptonite, Superman begins suffering from blackouts. Shortly after, a series of bank robberies occur which look be be the work of Superman, so Superman seeks out Batman and Robin for assistance.

April 1, 1946--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Batman helps Superman play a prank on his friends.

July 1946--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Batman helps protect Superman's identity.

September 1946--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--When Robin's life is threatened, Superman comes to assist Batman.

November 1946--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Once more, Batman helps keep Superman's secret identity.

December 1946--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Batman and Superman work together to help an alien from the planet Utopia.

February 1947--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--While in Metropolis, Robin is arrested for crimes committed by the Monkey Burglar. Under the request of Superman, they don't remove his mask. Superman and Batman must find the Monkey Burglar to free Robin.

May 1947--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Superman ends up missing due to a crooked politician with kryptonite. Batman and Robin search for him. They find him with amnesia pitching for a minor league baseball team.



Aug./Sept. 1947--All-Star Comics #36 --"Five Drowned Men": The JSA encounters the Koehaha, a.k.a. the Stream of Ruthlessness, which strips people of their conscience. Superman and Batman fill in for the Atom and Johnny Thunder for this adventure (only their second mission as members). NOTES: This story was the first time Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman appeared together in print. Reprinted in Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #3 (1980). The Stream of Ruthlessness reappears in Infinity, Inc. #3 (1984).

September 1947--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Batman comes to Superman's aid when an experimental ray robs him temporarily of his powers.



Fall 1947--BATMAN/THE SPIRIT: CRIME CONVENTION--Batman and Robin meet the Spirit at a law enforcement convention in Hawaii. (Is this the same annual convention that appeared in Magnum P.I. and guest-starred several other famous TV detectives?) The well-know crossoverist Win Scott Eckert places this story in the golden age despite the appearances of silver age and modern age heroes, and I think for the sake of including the Spirit, it's best to follow suit. Batman'66 has recently done a similar thing in incorporating post-Crisis villains into the Batman'66 universe, so if 80s and 90s villains can be retconned to having been around since the 60s then likewise silver age and modern age villains may have been around in the Golden Age TVCU timeline. Superman shows up at the end to help round up the villains. Note that Barbara Gordon also appears as a teenager. This is another indication that the Golden Age TVCU and the Batman'66 timeline are separate timelines. Likewise, it should be clear then that since this story doesn't fit with classic Earth-2 canon (or post-Infinite Crisis/New 52 canon), that the Golden Age TVCU is not Earth-2, despite sharing many similarities.

February 1948--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Crooks learn the identities of Batman and Robin and blackmail them, until Superman comes to the rescue.

February 1948--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--"The Last Knight"--Four men believe they are Arthur and three of his knights.

March 1948--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Clark Kent's apartment is robbed, and one of his Superman costumes is stolen. It's up to Batman and Robin to help protect his secret.

May 1948--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--A case leads Superman out to California, so Batman assists by rounding up the remaining crooks in Metropolis.

June 1948--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Superman, Batman, and Robin travel to China on a case.

July 1948--Superman, Batman, and Robin team against the Scarlet Widow and Butcher Stark.

December 1948--ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--Once more Batman helps protect Superman's identity, this time from Clark Kent's co-workers.

October 13, 1951--Adventure Comics #466 (Nov./Dec. 1979)--"The Man Who Defeated the Justice Society"--After nearly being killed by Eliminations, Inc., the JSA is called to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities on charges of consorting with a foreign agent. Rather than unmask themselves, Green Lantern dramatically whisks them away from the hearing. All these events were orchestrated by Per Degaton. NOTES: In the 1950s, only Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Robin, along with Aquaman, Green Arrow and Speedy, Johnny Quick, Robotman and the Vigilante continued to be published. It is unclear how many 1950s stories were part of Golden Age TVCU continuity; most 1950s adventures of Aquaman, Green Arrow, and the Vigilante were attributable to the Earth-One characters.

1951--The Wizard enacts revenge against Superman by using his magic to create a world where Superman doesn't exist. This causes Clark Kent to gain amnesia. During this period he marries Lois, who figures out Clark's secret identity and helps him regain his memories.

1953--Superman Family #197--Clark Kent becomes the managing editor of the Metropolis Daily Star after the retirement of George Taylor.

1954--SUPERMAN FAMILY--"Mr. & Mrs. Superman"--There were a series of stories in Superman Family in the 1970s that featured the Golden Age Superman and Lois after their marriage, set in the 1950s.

1954--Superman Family #201--The Ultra-Humanite (as Dolores Winters), returns to Metropolis for revenge on Superman. S/he kidnaps Bruce Wayne to use as a hostage. NOTE: Dolores Winters' body apparently was destroyed by Cyclotron in 1942 (All-Star Squadron Annual #2).

1954--Superman Family #204--With help from Superman, Johnny Thunder regains control of his Thunderbolt and brings democracy to Badhnesia.

1954--Superman Family #206--The Harlequin helps Green Lantern and Superman apprehend the Sportsmaster and reveals that she is an undercover agent for the FBI. She later drops out of sight.

Summer 1955--DC SUPER STARS # 17/SUPERMAN FAMILY # 211--"From Each Ending...A Beginning/The Kill Kent Contract"--Bruce Wayne married Selina Kyle, and Clark Kent reveals to her his alter ego.



1955--Superman Family #215--The Ultra-Humanite, now in the body of a giant ant, returns to Metropolis to battle Superman.

May 1956--WORLD'S FINEST # 82--Superman, Batman and Robin travel back in time to 1696 to solve the mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask, teaming up with the Three Musketeers.

July 1957--World's Finest #89--Formation of Club of Heroes (Batman, Gaucho, Legionary, Musketeer, Superman, Knight & Squire).

Aug.–Sept. 1969--Justice League of America #73-74 --JLA/JSA 7: "Star Light, Star Bright — Death Star I See Tonight"/ "Where Death Fears to Tread": The JLA and JSA battle Aquarius, a malevolent living star. Black Canary I and her husband Larry Lance are mortally wounded by Aquarius. Their daughter Dinah, still in the Thunderbolt dimension, is revived and given her mother's memories. Black Canary I's body is laid to rest in the Thunderbolt dimension; Dinah takes her mother's place and moves to Earth-One. NOTES: First Silver Age appearance of the Earth-Two Superman. The substitution of Dinah Lance for her mother was explained in Justice League of America #220 (1983). Starring: Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, Doctor Fate, Doctor Mid-Nite, Black Canary, Red Tornado II, Starman.



Aug.–Sept. 1970--Justice League of America #82-83 --JLA/JSA 8: "Peril of the Paired Planets"/"Where Valor Fails... Will Magic Triumph?": The JLA and JSA battle Creator². The Spectre defeats Creator², but is apparently destroyed in the process. NOTE: First actual modern appearance of the Earth-Two Batman; he previously appeared in an imaginary story in Detective Comics #347 (1966). Starring: Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Doctor Fate, Doctor Mid-Nite, Hourman, Starman, Spectre, Johnny Thunder, Green Lantern, Sandman, Red Tornado II, Atom, Batman, Mister Terrific, Wildcat.

Aug.–Sept. 1971--Justice League of America #91-92 --JLA/JSA 9: "Earth — The Monster Maker"/"Solomon Grundy — The One and Only": The JLA, JSA, and Robin battle a group of stranded alien children allied with Solomon Grundy. NOTES:First meeting of the Earth-One and Earth-Two Robins. The Earth-One Robin gets a new costume that is adopted by his Earth-Two counterpart in All-Star Comics #58 (1976). Starring: Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Atom, Robin.

Sept.–Dec. 1973--Justice League of America #107-108 --JLA/JSA 11: "Crisis on Earth-X"/"Thirteen Against the Earth": The JLA and JSA are drawn to the Naziverse, where they help the Freedom Fighters (Uncle Sam, Black Condor, Doll Man, the Human Bomb, Phantom Lady, and the Ray) defeat the Nazis, who this timeline won World War 2. NOTES: First appearance of Earth-X and first modern and DC Comics appearances of these Quality Comics characters. The Freedom Fighters originally were from Earth-Two, per their last chronological appearance was in All-Star Squadron#50 (1985). The heroes in this story are the only survivors of the original group. Starring: Superman, Flash, Doctor Fate, Hourman, Sandman, Red Tornado II.

Nov./Dec. 1976--All-Star Comics #63 --"The Death of Doctor Fate": Doctor Fate is resurrected by Zanadu, whom Fate promptly defeats. The JSA battles the Fiddler and Solomon Grundy. Superman leaves active membership in favor of Power Girl.

Mar./Apr. 1977--All-Star Comics #65 --"The Master Plan of Vandal Savage": In the past, the JSA rescues Superman and Power Girl from Vandal Savage. In the present, a distraught Green Lantern falls under the influence of Psycho-Pirate II.

Nov./Dec. 1977--All-Star Comics #69 --"United We Fall": Bruce Wayne enlists Doctor Mid-Nite, Hourman, Robin, Starman, and Wonder Woman to apprehend the rest of the JSA. Superman breaks up the fight and Doctor Fate discovers that Bruce Wayne is under the influence of the Psycho-Pirate. Bruce is freed from the villain's control and apologizes for his actions. Meanwhile, the Huntress watches unseen.

September 1981--WORLD'S FINEST COMICS # 271--The silver age versions of Superman and Batman team up with the Golden Age TVCU Superman and Batman to defeat a revived Atom Man (spelled Atoman in this story). NOTES: THIS STORY IS A SEQUEL TO A STORY FROM THE OLD RADIO SHOW. Note that the Superboy theory is that Krypton's explosion created a series of divergent timelines. The Golden Age timeline is one of them. Ignore any previous TVCU theories out there. The "Post-Crisis/New Earth" version is another of these divergent timelines. These timelines may resemble Earth-2 and Earth-0 of DC Comics, but are in the TVCU Multiverse and include crossovers not part of DC Comics canon.

Oct.–Dec. 1981--Justice League of America #195-197 --JLA/JSA 19: "Targets on Two Worlds"/"Countdown to Crisis"/"Crisis in Limbo": The JLA and JSA battle the Ultra-Humanite, now in the body of a giant white ape, and a new Secret Society of Super-Villains: Brain Wave, Cheetah II, the Floronic Man, Killer Frost, the Mist, the Monocle, Psycho-Pirate II, Rag Doll and Signalman. NOTES: First modern appearance of the Monocle, who first appeared in Flash Comics #64 (1945). Justice League of America #195 contains a to-die-for pinup of both teams by George Pérez. Starring: Hawkman, Flash, Superman, Hourman, Johnny Thunder.



1982--DC Comics Presents Annual #1--Superman of the silver age timeline teams with Superman of the golden age timeline and the Mirror Universe's Alex Luthor (the Mirror TVCU's first superhero) against Alexei Luthor, Lex Luthor, and Ultraman.

May 1984--Infinity, Inc. #3--THE GENERATIONS SAGA--The young heroes return to the present. With the Star-Spangled Kid, they found Infinity, Inc., with Power Girl and the Huntress as honorary members. The Infinitors battle Solomon Grundy. Under the influence of the Ultra-Humanite, Superman summons Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Green Lantern, the Atom, and Robin to Colorado, where he drowns them in the Stream of Ruthlessness.

LATE JULY 1985--CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS--NOTES: THE CRISIS IS A HUGE TIME/SPACE EVENT THAT JAMES BOJACIUK WILL BE COVERING IN A FUTURE POST.

Mar. 1986--Crisis #12--Earth is drawn into the antimatter universe for a final confrontation with the Anti-Monitor, whose shadow demons ravage the Earth. The Golden Age Green Arrow and Huntress are slain and Wonder Woman is reverted to clay. The Anti-Monitor is staggered by an attack by Darkseid and finally destroyed by the Golden Age Superman. Earth is returned to the positive matter universe. The Golden Age Superman, Lois Lane, and Earth-Prime's Superboy and Alexander Luthor Jr. are left in the rapidly disintegrating antimatter universe, where the Golden Age Superman destroys the Anti-Monitor once and for all. Kid Flash (Wally West) discovers that his terminal disease has gone into remission, but has slowed down and somewhat reversed his aging, and becomes Flash III. Psycho-Pirate II, who remembers the full history of the multiverse, is committed to Arkham Asylum. NOTE: Harbinger retains a history of the multiverse.

June 2006--Infinite Crisis --It is revealed that the Golden Age Superman and Lois, the Earth-Prime Superboy, and the Earth-3 Alex Luthor had been trapped in a pocket dimension. Superboy and Luthor turn evil and try to restore their version of the multiverse. The Golden Age Lois dies, and the Golden Age Superman sacrifices his life to help the heroes of "New Earth" to save the day. During this Power Girl of New Earth learns that she is actually the Golden Age Power Girl, her memories restored. Note that the Superboy theory is that Krypton's explosion created a series of divergent timelines. The Golden Age timeline is one of them. Ignore any previous TVCU theories out there. The "Post-Crisis/New Earth" version is another of these divergent timelines. These timelines may resemble Earth-2 and Earth-0 of DC Comics, but are in the TVCU Multiverse and include crossovers not part of DC Comics canon. 

OTHER TVCU DIVERGENT TIMELINES

Earth-Two--Pre-Crisis--DC's Golden Age heroes, including the Justice Society of America, whose careers began at the dawn of World War II (concurrently with their first appearances in comics): Chemistry student Jay Garrick as the Flash; radio engineer Alan Scott as Green Lantern; archaeologist Carter Hall as Hawkman; pint-sized powerhouse Al Pratt as the Atom; and Clark Kent (Kal-L), who began his career as Superman as an adult. Politically, Earth-Two was different from the Earth-One template modeled after Earth-Prime. For example, Quebec was an independent nation autonomous from Canada,South Africa had abolished apartheid sooner, and the Atlantean countries of Poseidonis and Tritonis were ruled by a queen, not a king, their inhabitants displaying surface-dweller features and no capacity for underwater survival, as the Atlantis continent had been raised to the surface (the model was the Atlantis seen in Golden Age Wonder Woman stories). First described as a distinct Earth in Flash (vol. 1) #123 (September 1961), first named in Justice League of America #21 (August 1963). First appeared in New Fun Comics#1 (February 1935).  Earth-2 is not the Golden Age TVCU.  The Golden Age TVCU includes stories that are not part of DC's official canon.

Earth-2A--Pre-Crisis--Earth-2A is the unofficial name of the universe that the Justice Society of America live in. The universe is very similar to the universe known as Earth-Two. In fact, the natives of that earth refer to it as Earth-Two. There was a period between the ending of the Golden Age and the Silver Age where distinct stories were published that were neither part of Earth-One or Earth-Two, the majority of these adventures can be reasoned to have happened on Earth-E. However Earth-E is in many forms a proto-Earth-One and so the initial changes that occurred there are represented here. There is no Superboy in Earth-Two but a Superboy could well have existed on this Earth. First appeared in Superman.

Earth-3898--Elseworlds--Superman and Batman. A world where Superman and Batman started their careers in the 1930s, and started families that would follow in their superhero footsteps all the way to the 30th Century. Designated canon in Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths (2006). First appeared in Superman & Batman: Generations #1 (January 1999).

OLD TIME RADIO UNIVERSE--I have a dilemma here.  The TVCU generally does a "It happened exactly as written" approach.  But while there is a story that conflates the Earth-2 and radio show canons, there are also contradictions.  In the Old Time Radio Universe, Superman arrives on Earth as an adult.  He was not raised by a couple on a farm.  

SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE WORLDS (DC COMICS)

Release Date: 1999 (Setting is 1938)
Series: Superman (Golden Age)
Horror Crosses: War of the Worlds (radio)
The Story: When the Martians invade, it’s a job for Superman!
Notes: This has to be a divergent reality. It ends with the death of Superman and Lois marrying Luthor, as well as major alterations to the entire global political structure and history. In the main Horror Universe timeline, Superman does indeed battle the Martians during the 1938 invasion, as seen in It’s That Time Again: More Stories of Old Time Radio.