Secret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of several comic book series published by DC Comics which featured the origin stories of the publisher's various characters.
Publication history
Secret Origins was first published as a one-shot in 1961 and contained only reprinted material. The title became an ongoing reprint series in February-March 1973 which ran for seven issues and ended in October–November 1974. The title was used on various compilations of origin stories, including Limited Collectors' Edition #C-39: Secret Origins Super-Villains and #C-45: More Secret Origins Super-Villains as well as DC Special Series #10 and 19. Its most well-known incarnation was a 50-issue series that ran from April 1986 to August 1990, plus three Annuals and one Special. Typically, an issue would clarify the post-Crisis origins of a number of characters, usually two as most of the issues were double-sized, i.e. 48 pages. Roy Thomas was the initial writer/editorial consultant on the series; later issues were overseen by Mark Waid. Two more Specials followed in 1998 and 1999. In 2004, it returned to the all-reprint format with a Weird Secret Origins special featuring Doctor Fate, the Spectre, Animal Man, Enchantress, Metamorpho, Congorilla, El Diablo, and Bizarro World.A new monthly incarnation focusing on characters in The New 52, launched in April 2014 with a June cover date. The first issue featured the origins of Superman, Supergirl and the Dick Grayson version of Robin. This series was cancelled as of issue #11.
Characters featured in the 1986–1990 series
- #1 : The Golden Age Superman; this was intended as a tribute to the original version of the character, as the latter-day version of Superman was being concurrently introduced by John Byrne in The Man of Steel miniseries; art by Golden Age Superman artist Wayne Boring and Jerry Ordway.
- #2 : The Blue Beetle, both the Dan Garrett and Ted Kord versions; art by Gil Kane.
- #3 : Captain Marvel credited by the Shazam! title; a retelling of the story from WHIZ Comics #2, albeit updated to the modern day. Much of this was changed in the Legends crossover. Thomas himself would retcon this some months later in SHAZAM! The New Beginning, all of which was changed again by Jerry Ordway in his graphic novel The Power of Shazam!.
- #4 : Firestorm.
- #5 : the original Crimson Avenger; art by Gene Colan.
- #6 : Halo of the Outsiders; the Golden Age Batman. This was the first double-sized issue.
- #7 : Guy Gardner; the Golden Age Sandman
- #8 : Shadow Lass; Doll Man.
- #9 : The original Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy; the Golden Age Flash.
- #10 : The Phantom Stranger. This was a Legends tie-in that related four possible origins for the character; one by Mike Barr and Jim Aparo was a variation on the Wandering Jew myth, while another by Alan Moore and Joe Orlando postulated that the Stranger was a fallen angel.
- #11 : the Golden Age Hawkman; Power Girl. Both stories presented have since been retconned, with Power Girl's backstory being redefined by Geoff Johns in the pages of JSA Classified, which served as part of the buildup to Infinite Crisis.
- #12 : The Challengers of the Unknown; Fury.
- #13 : Nightwing ; Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt; the Whip.
- #14 : Suicide Squad. Another Legends tie-in, it served as a prequel to the later series and was written by that series' writer, John Ostrander.
- #15 : The Spectre; Deadman.
- #16 : Hourman; the Warlord; 'Mazing Man.
- #17 : Adam Strange; Doctor Occult.
- #18 : The Golden Age Green Lantern ; Creeper.
- #19 : Uncle Sam; the Guardian.
- #20 : Batgirl; Doctor Mid-Nite.
- #21 : Jonah Hex; Black Condor.
- #22 : Manhunters. This was a tie-in with Millennium as was the subsequent issue, and aligned the various histories of the characters with the Manhunter name together.
- #23 : the Guardians of the Universe written by Todd Klein; the Floronic Man written by Rick Veitch.
- #24 : Doctor Fate; Blue Devil. Mark Waid became editor beginning with this issue.
- #25 : The Legion of Super-Heroes ; the Golden Age Atom.
- #26 : Black Lightning; Miss America.
- #27 : Zatanna, her father Zatara, and Doctor Mist.
- #28 : Midnight art by Gil Kane; Nightshade art by Rob Liefeld. Nightshade's origin doubled as an introduction/backdrop to a three-issue Suicide Squad story arc where she returned to her place of origin to save her brother.
- #29 : The Atom; the Red Tornado ; Mr. America.
- #30 : Plastic Man; Elongated Man.
- #31 : The Justice Society of America. A full-length story, and Roy Thomas' last contribution to the series, excluding the Grim Ghost story in #42.
- #32 : The Justice League. In a full-length story by Keith Giffen and Peter David, the Justice League is formed by Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman, the Martian Manhunter and the Black Canary. Superman and Batman were not founding members, and Wonder Woman's revised continuity precluded her from the same. The events depicted were later expanded upon in JLA: Year One and JLA: Incarnations.
- #33 : Fire, Ice and Mister Miracle. This and the subsequent two issues dealt with the members of Justice League International.
- #34 : Captain Atom, G'nort and Rocket Red.
- #35 : Booster Gold, Maxwell Lord, and the Martian Manhunter rendered apocryphal by events and revelations in J'onn J'onnz' later solo series.
- #36 : Green Lantern story by Jim Owsley; Poison Ivy story by Neil Gaiman.
- #37 : The Legion of Substitute Heroes; the original Doctor Light.
- #38 : The Green Arrow and Speedy.
- #39 : Animal Man story by Grant Morrison; the Man-Bat.
- #40 : Congorilla, Detective Chimp, and Gorilla Grodd.
- #41 : The Rogues - the Weather Wizard, Heat Wave, the Trickster, the Pied Piper, Captain Boomerang, and Captain Cold.
- #42 : Phantom Girl; the Gay Ghost/Grim Ghost.
- #43 : The original Hawk and Dove; Cave Carson; Chris KL-99.
- #44 : Clayface I, II, III and IV. This issue gave background information for a story arc that appeared in Detective Comics #604-607 entitled The Mud Pack.
- #45 : Blackhawk; El Diablo.
- #46 : The headquarters of the Silver Age Justice League of America, the New Titans' Titans Tower, and the 'rocketship clubhouse' of the Legion of Super Heroes. Arm Fall Off Boy makes his first appearance.
- #47 : Ferro Lad, Karate Kid, and Chemical King.
- #48 : Ambush Bug, Stanley and His Monster, Rex the Wonder Dog, and the Trigger Twins.
- #49 : Bouncing Boy, the Newsboy Legion, and the Silent Knight.
- #50 : a 96-page last issue. This consisted of a prose retelling of Dick Grayson's first encounter with Batman by Dennis O'Neil and George Pérez; the first meeting of the Golden and Silver Age Flashes story by Grant Morrison; how Johnny Thunder came to be; the definitive history of Black Canary; and the stories behind the Dolphin and the Space Museum.
''Annual''s and ''Special''s
- Annual #1 : the Doom Patrol art by John Byrne; Captain Comet.
- Annual #2 : The second and third Flashes.
- Annual #3 : the Teen Titans. This was an anniversary tribute with contributions from George Pérez, Tom Grummett, Irv Novick, Dave Cockrum, Kevin Maguire, and Colleen Doran. It also included five pages of Who's Who entries on Flamebird, the Golden Eagle, Bumblebee, Herald, the Antithesis and the Gargoyle.
- Special #1 : the Penguin by Alan Grant and Sam Kieth, the Riddler by Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner and Bernie Mireault, and Two-Face by Mark Verheiden and Pat Broderick.
''Secret Origins'' collected edition
Some issues of the second series were collected in a trade paperback along with other material and some original work in 1989 called Secret Origins, but the official title, as stated in the book's indicia, is given as Secret Origins of The World's Greatest Super-Heroes. The focus was on DC's major characters: the origins of the Justice League of America, the Flash ; Green Lantern ; J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter ; and Superman. There was also an all-new retelling of Batman's origins, Batman: The Man Who Falls, by Dennis O'Neil and Dick Giordano; this story later served as a cited inspiration for the 2005 film Batman Begins.- Showcase Presents: Blue Beetle includes Secret Origins #2. 590 pages. January 2015.
- Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told Vol. 2 includes Secret Origins #6. 208 pages. February 2007.
- Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight - Marshall Rogers includes Secret Origins #6. 484 pages. November 2011.
- Last Days Of The Justice Society Of America includes Secret Origins #7, #9, #11, #13, #15, #16, #18, #20, #24, #25 and #31. 336 pages. May 2017.
- The Phantom Stranger Omnibus includes Secret Origins #10. 1248 pages. August 2023.
- DC Universe by Alan Moore includes Secret Origins #10. 464 pages. April 2013.
- Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies includes Secret Origins #13. 156 pages. August 2013.
- Suicide Squad: Trial By Fire includes Secret Origins #14. 229 pages. February 2011.
- Deadman Omnibus includes Secret Origins #15. 944 pages. December 2020.
- Doom Patrol: The Bronze Age Omnibus includes Secret Origins Annual #1. 1056 pages. November 2019.
- The Flash: A Celebration Of 75 Years includes Secret Origins Annual #2. 480 pages. April 2015.
- Justice League International Omnibus Vol. 3 includes Secret Origins #33, 34 and 35. 1448 pages. May 2024.
- DC Universe by Neil Gaiman includes Secret Origins #36 and Secret Origins Special. 224 pages. October 2016.
- Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters Saga Omnibus Vol. 1 includes Secret Origins #38. 1527 pages. September 2020.
- Animal Man: Origin Of The Species includes Secret Origins #39. 224 pages. July 2002.
- JLA by Grant Morrison Omnibus includes Secret Origins #46. 1486 pages. November 2020.
- Showcase Presents: Ambush Bug includes Secret Origins #48. 488 pages. March 2009.
- Tales Of The Batman: Alam Brennert includes Secret Origins #50. 187 pages. July 2016.