Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics

00:00:36 ADAMS: Comic books are the dreams and aspirations of human beings.

00:04:24 He had to talk one of his employees into taking the rap for him...

00:08:15 ...that DC finally brings Superman to Earth's newsstands.

00:12:18 WOMAN: I should like to thank the publishers of Action Comics magazine...

00:16:01 We were innocent, talented guys who were schmucks.

00:19:39 ...until Captain Steve Trevor crash-lands into her world.

00:23:42 ...one grabs young fans more than the others:

00:27:42 ...immigrants and sons of immigrants, answer the call.

00:31:38 The only new superhero comic of the era, Superboy, reflects the demographic shift.

00:35:18 Uh, it was then. Ha-ha-ha. You had to be there.

00:39:11 "Say, why don't we put out The Flash again?"

00:42:42 "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight.

00:46:23 ...makes stars out of Adam West and Burt Ward.

00:50:12 A really competent, decent man.

00:53:48 Took it in to DC, gave it to Julie Schwartz and I said, "This should be our next issue."

00:58:01 [GLEEK GIBBERING]

01:01:21 SUPERMAN: Unh! WOMEN: Aah!

01:05:06 We haven't done a second printing of a comic book for possibly 50 years.

01:08:31 I don't want everybody to agree with me. I want people to think.

01:11:52 And the giant influx of new readers we have is unbelievable.

01:15:42 This time, we said, "You know..."

01:19:54 ...had just become things that fight other things. They don't fight for anything.

01:23:44 ...animated features and series, live-action television, and film.

26:19:07 was the most important day in my life.