Publishers / DC / The Man of Steel (1986) / #1
1[October] 1986
$0.75; 1.00 CAD; 0.40 GBP

The Man of Steel #1

DC · [October] 1986 · on sale 1986-06-17

First appearance: KelexFirst appearance: Emmett ValeFirst appearance: Kelor3 variants
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
The Man of Steel (DC, 1986 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
[October] 1986
Key date
1986-10-00
On-sale date
1986-06-17
Indicia publisher
DC Comics Inc.
Price
$0.75; 1.00 CAD; 0.40 GBP
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Kelex - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Emmett Vale - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Kelor - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: John Byrne; inks: John Byrne; letters: Alex JayClark Kent, Superman
1The Man of Steelin-house column1script: Dick Giordano
2Prologue: From Out the Green Dawn...comic story8script: John Byrne; pencils: John Byrne; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: John CostanzaJor-El, Clark Kent, Kelex First, Lara, Kelor First
3Chapter One: The Secretcomic story10script: John Byrne; pencils: John Byrne; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: John CostanzaClark Kent, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lana Lang, Emmett Vale First
4Chapter Two: The Exposurecomic story10script: John Byrne; pencils: John Byrne; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: John CostanzaClark Kent, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lois Lane
5Epilogue: The Super-Herocomic story4script: John Byrne; pencils: John Byrne; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: John CostanzaClark Kent, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Superman
6Superman: A Personal Viewtext article1script: John Byrne
7Coming Every Two Weeks!promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: John Byrne; inks: John Byrne

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Special Collector's Edition CoverSee the GCD record for identification notes.
Standard Cover - Newsstandprice 0.75 USD; barcode 0709893177301
Canadianprice 1.00 CAD; barcode 0709893177301

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Millennium Edition: The Man of Steel 1 #[nn]2000On eBay ›
Superman: The Man of Steel [Best Buy Edition] #12006On eBay ›
The Man of Steel #[nn]
ISBN 0-930289-28-5		1988On eBay ›
Superman in the Eighties #[nn]
ISBN 1-4012-0952-1		2006On eBay ›
Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told #1
ISBN 1-4012-0339-6		2004On eBay ›
Superman: The Man of Steel #1
ISBN 0-930289-28-5		2003On eBay ›
Superman: Cover to Cover #[nn]
ISBN 1-4012-0770-7; 978-1-4012-0770-0		2006On eBay ›
Superman, Man of Steel #11989On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
  • Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
  • Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

1 of 6#2 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com