Superman No. 184: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Superman issue number 184 was published by DC Comics in February of 1966. The cover art by Curt Swan and George Klein depicts Superman tied to a pole surrounded by the people of Zhongar holding Death-Glow talismans. Fearing he is a demon, and sapped by his powers due to the red sun, Superman must prove himself to the people of the alien planet. The 36 page issue sold for 12 cents and contained two stories, “The Demon Under the Red Sun” and part two of “The Test of the Talisman.” Superman first appeared in the June 1938 Action Comics No. 1, before the Superman title launched in May of 1939 and continued until 1986 when it was renamed Adventures of Superman.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1966-02
• publisher: National Periodical Publications, Inc.
• maker: National Periodical Publications, Inc.
• maker: Action Comics
• Object Name: comic book
• Physical Description: paper (overall material)
• Physical Description: ink (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 10 in x 6 1/2 in; 25.4 cm x 16.51 cm
• place made: United States: New York, New York City
• Subject: Superman
• Subject: Comics
• ID Number: 1988.3095.06
• catalog number: 1988.3095.06
• nonaccession number: 1988.3095
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.