Secret Origins (2nd Series)

This short-lived series reprinted origin stories for DC’s most popular and enduring super-heroes, including Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

Although many of the super-heroes had already, by the mid-seventies, had a variety of origin stories, this series always reprinted the “secret” origin story for a character, rather than the current, or most popular one. Readers may have been delighted at being able to enjoy the first origins of their heroes, or may have been dismayed at the sketchy quality of comic book art for early issues. If so, these qualms seem to have been addressed in 1986 when DC launched its expanded second series of Secret Origins.

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#1

Mar 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Robert Kanigher, E. Nelson Bridwell, Jerry Siegel · A: Joe Kubert, Carmine Infantino, Joe Shuster

Reprints from Showcase #4, Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #33, Flash Comics #88; Origin of Batman; Origin of Flash; Origin of Superman; Batman: Detective Comics #33; Hawkman I (Carter Hall): Flash Comics #88; Superman: Action Comics #1; The Flash: Showcase #4

9 copies from $9.99
#2

May 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Otto Binder, John Broome, Gardner Fox · A: Al Plastino, Gil Kane

Reprints from Showcase #22, Action Comics #252, Showcase #34; Origin of Green Lantern; Origin of Supergirl; Origin of The Atom; Green Lantern: Showcase #22; Supergirl: Action Comics #252; The Atom: Showcase #34

5 copies from $2.99
#3

Aug 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: William Moulton Marston, Bill Finger · A: Harry G. Peter, Irwin Hasen

Reprints from Wonder Woman #1 and Sensation Comics #1; Origin of Wildcat; Origin of Wonder Woman; Wildcat: Sensation Comics #1; Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman #1

7 copies from $4.75
#4

Oct 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Mort Weisinger, Otto Binder · A: Mort Meskin, Sheldon Moldoff

Reprints from Action Comics #42 & Hit Comics #25; Origin of Kid Eternity; Origin of Vigilante

4 copies from $4.56
#5

Dec 1973

Cover: $0.20

W: Jerry Siegel · A: Bernard Baily

Reprints from More Fun Comics #52 and #53; Origin of Spectre (Earth-2); Spectre (Earth-2). Reprints from More Fun Comics #52 and #53

7 copies from $4.32
#6

Feb 1974

Cover: $0.20

W: E. Nelson Bridwell, Will Eisner · A: Pete Costanza, Chuck Cuidera

Reprints from Superman (1st Series) #147 and Military Comics #1; Origin of Blackhawk; Origin of The Legion of Super-Heroes

5 copies from $2.75
#7

Oct 1974

Cover: $0.20

W: Bill Finger, Mort Weisinger · A: Bob Kane, Paul Norris

Reprints from Detective Comics #38; Reprints from Detective Comics #38 & More Fun Comics #73; Reprints from Detective Comics #38, More Fun Comics #73; Reprints from More Fun Comics #73; Origin of Aquaman; Origin of Robin (Dick Grayson)

5 copies from $3.50