Notes on "Pre-Crisis" DC Universe

Notes on "Earth-2".  Starting in the 1960s, DC implemented a "multiple Earths" system (otherwise known as the "DC Multiverse").  This placed most of the super-hero comics DC published from the 1930s through the 1950-1960s (depending on the title) retroactively on "Earth-2".  All of the more modern super-hero adventures published from roughly the 1960s up were considered to be occuring on "Earth-1".  The heroes of the Golden Age (or "Earth-2") were kept alive in modern adventures told in titles such as Justice League of America, All-Star Comics #58-74, Adventure Comics, All-Star Squadron (which told new stories interwoven with the original 1940s All Star Comics issues), Infinity, Inc., America vs. the Justice Society, and others.  There were duplicate versions of many characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman & Robin on both "Earth-1" and "Earth-2" since these heroes were never out of print such as the Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), etc., and were never replaced by entirely new versions (such as the Barry Allen Flash, Hal Jordan Green Lantern, etc).

However, this was all ended by the Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series which was released by DC in 1985-1986.  In effect, all but five of the multiple Earths were destroyed, and the remaining ones (Earth-1, Earth-2, Earth-X, Earth-S, and Earth-4) were merged into a new Post-Crisis "DC Universe".  At this time, the separate Earths (with all of their existing history) ceased to exist.  Any Pre-Crisis stories deemed important enough to remain were retold in the new Post-Crisis setting (or at least mentioned in one).

This index features the original Golden Age/"Earth-2" Superman, and his supporting characters.  It's scope runs from Action Comics #1 (1938; the first appearance of Superman) to Crisis on Infinite Earths and The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special (1986).  Crisis on Infinite Earths effected the "DC Multiverse" retroactively and crossed over into almost all of DC's titles in 1985-1986, so it's impact is seen first on the issues of All-Star Squadron which take place cerca 1942 and then finally at the end of this index cerca 1986.

See the upcoming "Earth-1 Superman" and "Post-Crisis Superman" indexes for appearances by Superman in the Pre-Crisis "Earth-1" universe and the Post-Crisis DC Universe.

Back to Golden Age Superman Index.