1958 showed steady sales for DC's ongoing publications with virtually no cancellations. Genres such as war, science-fiction and western comics rose in popularity, gradually nudging out demand for super-hero comics. Although the super-hero genre was slowly waning in popularity, milestone characters such as Superman still dominated the spinner racks. Superman was featured in no less than seven ongoing titles. He was the feature character in Action Comics and Superman (Volume 1), shared the spotlight with Batman in World's Finest Comics, and was a supporting character in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane and Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, appearing in every issue of each title. A younger Superman also made appearances in Superboy (Volume 1) and Adventure Comics. Only slightly less popular than the Man of Steel was the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin. Batman was the spotlight character in his own eponymous title, and dominated the title-card in Detective Comics. Like Superman, Batman and Robin shared the spotlight in World's Finest Comics.
1958 also ushered in the era of the "Imaginary Story", a unique writing convention that allowed writers to convey tales set outside the mainstream DC Universe, often with strange twists that would never take place in the continuity of the regular titles. Such imaginary stories later paved the way for DC's Elseworlds imprint in the 1990s. In 1958, the Legion of Super-Heroes made their first appearance in the pages of Adventure Comics Volume 1 #247. Although they only made one appearance that year, they would return in subsequent years, making several guest appearances, quickly gaining in popularity, much to the surprise of DC editors. Eventually, the popularity (as well as roster) of the Legion of Super-Heroes proved strong enough that they were regularly featured in the pages of Adventure Comics and eventually, their own title. To accommodate space for his rapidly growing gallery of friends and foes, Superman also required a larger place to hang his cape. In June of 1958, Superman established his private headquarters in the frozen North - the Fortress of Solitude.
Creators
The following creative talent are known to have been born in 1958:
- Alastair Duncan
- Andrew Helfer
- Angela Bassett
- Bill Sienkiewicz
- Bob Forward
- Bruce Campbell
- Brynne Stephens
- Charity James
- Christian Clemenson
- Colm Feore
- Corinne Bohrer
- D.B. Cooper
- Dave Campiti
- Gary Oldman
- Giancarlo Esposito
- Howard Mackie
- Isabella Hofmann
- Jeff Tyler
- Jeph Loeb
- Joe Chiodo
- Joe Rubinstein
- John Totleben
- Jon Bogdanove
- Julian Sands
- Karen Berger
The following creative talent passed away in the year 1958:
Titles
The following comic titles debuted with a 1958 cover date:
- Challengers of the Unknown Vol 1
- New Adventures of Charlie Chan Vol 1
- Sergeant Bilko's Private Doberman Vol 1
- Space Adventures Vol 2
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Vol 1
The following Comic titles were last published with a 1958 cover date:
- Big Town Vol 1
- Buzzy Vol 1
- Jackie Gleason and the Honeymooners Vol 1
- Mutt & Jeff Vol 1
- Peter Panda Vol 1
- Robin Hood Tales Vol 1
The following One Shots were published with a 1958 cover date:
- No One Shots were published in 1958.
Characters
The following characters debuted with a 1958 cover date:
- Adam Strange (Earth-One)
- Alanna (Earth-One)
- Alanna (New Earth)
- Albert Desmond (New Earth)
- Albrecht Raines (Earth-One)
- Alec Royer (Earth-One)
- Alpha (Earth-One)
- Armand Lydecker (New Earth)
- Bark Bent (The Adventures of Super Pup)
- Bizarro Superboy (Earth-One)
- Black Cat (New Earth)
- Brice Rogers (Earth-One)
- Clark Kent (Lois Lane's Super-Dream)
- Cryll (New Earth)
- Darius Tiko (New Earth)
- Diana of Paradise Island (Earth-One)
- Dragon (Earth-One)
- False Face (Earth-One)
- Fatman (Earth-One)
- Fuzzy the Mouse (Earth-One)
- Garth Ranzz (Pre-Zero Hour)
- Gibson (Earth-One)
- Gunther Hardwicke (New Earth)
- Hippolyta (Earth-One)
- Imra Ardeen (Pre-Zero Hour)
- Jax-Tor (Earth-One)
- Jonathan Hunter (Earth-One)
- Jonathan Mallory (Earth-One)
- Julian Day (New Earth)
- Kil-Lor (Earth-One)
- Kimda (Earth-One)
- Klax-Ar (Earth-One)
- Koko (Earth-One)
- Lois Lane (Lois Lane's Super-Dream)
- Mirage Maker (Earth-One)
- Mogo (Earth-One)
- Montgomery Moran (New Earth)
- Mute Minstrel (Earth-One)
- Myra Mason (Earth-One)
- Oliver Queen (New Earth)
- Orana (Earth-One)
- Paula von Gunta (Earth-One)
- Phillip Darnell (Earth-One)
- Powerman (Earth-One)
- Professor Dalton (Earth-One)
- Richard Starr (New Earth)
- Roc (Earth-One)
- Roger Hart (Earth-One)
- Rokk Krinn (Pre-Zero Hour)
- Ronald Van Horton (Earth-One)
- Roy Harper (New Earth)
- Roy Pinto (New Earth)
- Sardath (New Earth)
- Simon Ecks (New Earth)
- Sky Raven (Earth-One)
- Steven Trevor (Earth-One)
- Super-Girl (Earth-One)
- Tlano (Earth-One)
- Ty Master (Earth-One)
- Vril Dox (Earth-One)
- Vulture-Man (Earth-One)
- Warren Lawford (New Earth)
- Wonder Woman (Dimension X)
- Xeen Arrow (Earth-One)
- Xtar (New Earth)
- Zak-Kul (Earth-One)
