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 (October–November 1975) and #C-45: More Secret Origins Super-Villains (June–July 1976) as well as DC Special Series #10 (1978) and 19 (Fall 1979). 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, the Enchantress, Metamorpho, Congorilla, El Diablo, and the 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 (May 2015) on sale in March 2015.

Characters featured in the 1986–1990 series

Annuals and Specials

Additionally, there was a belated Secret Origins 80-Page Giant issued in 1998 (ISBN 1-56389-440-8), that focused on the members of Young Justice.

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 (ISBN 0930289501). The focus was on DC's major characters: the origins of the Justice League of America (from #32), the Flash (Barry Allen, from Secret Origins Annual #2); Green Lantern (Hal Jordan, from #36); J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter (from #35); and Superman (from The Man of Steel #6). 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.

Characters featured in the 2014–15 series

Collected editions 2014–15 series

Secret Origins of Super-Heroes

During 52, Weeks 12 through 51 featured two-page origins of various superheroes, written by Mark Waid. The origins featured were:

Secret Origins of Super-Villains

Beginning with #37, each issue of Countdown featured the origins of a supervillain, written by Scott Beatty. The origins are:

Other media

Super Friends

In the Challenge of the Superfriends episode "Secret Origins of the Super Friends", the Legion of Doom learn of the Secret Origins of Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. This was the second of three times during the course of the Super Friends animated series in which Superman's secret origin was shown. In this episode, the Legion of Doom attempt to undo their Secret Origins by travelling backward through time to change the outcome of events. Cheetah competed in the tournament on Paradise Island, and she defeated Princess Diana, and therefore she became Wonder Woman instead. Lex Luthor prevented Hal Jordan from getting the Green Lantern Ring from Abin Sur by stealing it himself, thereby becoming the "Green Luthor". As for Superman, the Hall of Doom knocked the Kryptonian Rocket off course, so that it didn't land on Earth, but rather another planet that was under a red sun, thereby preventing him from getting super powers and growing up to become Superman. However, the other Justice League members learn of the Legion's scheme, and they go back in time to set history straight. The episode "History of Doom" showcased the Secret Origin of Lex Luthor, which depicts Luthor as a farm boy in Smallville and a friend of Superboy, just as it was in the Pre-Crisis comic books at that time that were set on Earth-One. The same episode also shows the Secret Origins of Apache Chief and Giganta, whose origins apparently tied together. Batman's Secret Origin wasn't revealed until The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians episode The Fear, which tells the tale of how Joe Chill killed his parents and how as a result, he became Batman, but he had yet to overcome his fear of Crime Alley, a fear that his enemy the Scarecrow would exploit.