I'm Robert Gillis. My profession is computer geek (20+ years) but my love is writing. Since 1996, I've written a regular Op-Ed column for the Foxboro Reporter, and since 2006, for the Boston City Paper. My first book, "Nana: My grandmother, Anne Gillis" is published commercially and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. You can buy it now or get more information at www.NanaGillisBook.com. My professional photography is www.GillisPhotos.com. Welcome. Browse. Enjoy.

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Silver Age Comics: Spanking your super kids, a great reason for Superman not to marry, and Cluck Kent! And we still hate Lucy Lane.
by Robert Gillis 6/2009
What was so special about the silver age of comic books? Read about it HERE



  • So Superman spotted the trouble from… (Wait for it) … ANOTHER GALAXY???!!!
  • Just how the hell fast is Superman, anyway? Even if he’s talking about Andromeda, the closest galaxy to Earth, that’s 2.5 MILLION light-years away. In other words, it would take two and a half million years traveling at the SPEED OF LIGHT to get there!
  • And Superman just happened to check in on Earth with his super vision (which also must travel faster than light) and saw Supergirl’s troubles and raced back in a few seconds from ANOTHER GALAXY?
  • And exactly what is so important in ANOTHER GALAXY that Superman goes there, anyway? Look, we know the Silver Age was ridiculous but this is going about 2.5 million times too far!
Speaking of going too far:


These pictures are just so wrong on so many levels.
  • I always get a kick out of how Ma and Pa Kent can forget that their son is invulnerable. As if the costume, the rocket ship, the flying, the bullets bouncing off, surviving explosions, etc, wasn’t enough of a clue.
  • Superboy looks WAY too comfortable in that position -- You almost expect him to yell, “Thank you sir, may I have another!”
  • Why would Pa ever need to punish Clark? Any silver age story had Clark as a PERFECT child. What did he do that was so bad, accidentally knock Jupiter out of orbit?
Ways that Ma and Pa COULD punish Superboy:
  • Tell him he’s grounded, no trips to the 30th century for one week.
  • Force him to go on a date. With a girl.
  • Send him to the Phantom Zone. “You didn’t do your chores son, so you’ll stay in the Phantom Zone and think about what you’ve done!”
  • Make him watch “Superman IV: the Quest for Peace.”

Let's face it, if you're still spanking your child who is old enough to drive, vote and drink, we're clearly gone from corporal punishment to kinky. Which brings us to Lana Lang, Superboy's next door neighbor:

  • "Whew, what a narrow escape. Now excuse me while I call social services!"

Here's another panel from the grievously quaint and sexist 1960s:


  • Aw, what a nice reason for Superman to get married. So someone can do his housecleaning. In his gigantic fortress. At the North Pole.
  • Revealed: The lost "Mad Men" Superman script.

Finally, an exciting preview of Smallville, Season 9!


  • I assume that because Jimmy is wearing Mr. Mxyzptlk's hat he has the imp's powers and is being a real jerk. So he turns "Cluck" Kent turned into a chicken (literally), Lois made into some futuristic super-mutant.
  • And people thought "Superman III" was bad.
  • Strangely, all I can think of is is how much I hate Lucy Lane. She ALWAYS wore that flight attendant uniform -- I mean, always. With the little hat and everything. She always had that look of disapproval on her face and was always chastising Jimmy.
  • OK, Clark with a chicken-head is frackking HILARIOUS. Now THAT's how Ma and Pa Kent could punish Superboy -- have Mr. Mxyzptlk turn him into a chicken.
01 May 2009
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