Gallery: Secret Origin Maps Evolution of DC Comics' Superheroes

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    Larded with talking heads and archival footage, new documentary *Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics* scores its most compelling moments when it lifts images straight from the pages of comic books to rework early superhero stories as motion-graphics mini-movies. Pegged to [DC Comics](http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/)' 75th anniversary, the film at times feels like a 90-minute infomercial for the publisher and its growing brand. But amid the flackery, an intriguing theme emerges: By reshaping characters so they mesh with the zeitgeist, DC has saved itself from irrelevance time and again through infusions of talent from anti-establishment hippies and, later, by literate Brits including Alan Moore, Neal Gaiman and Grant Morrison. Oscar-nominated producer Jeffrey Blitz (*Spellbound*) and writer-director Mac Carter dig into the archives for old black-and-white footage to trace the evolution of *Detective Comics,* co-founded in 1937 by [Harry Donenfeld](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Donenfeld), through a succession of creative peaks and valleys. __Above:__ *Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics* --------------------------------------- Released by Warner Home Video, [*Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics*](http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Origin-Story-DC-Comics/dp/B003ZHR6Q6) features commentary by comic book talents including Neal Adams, Karen Berger, Mike Carlin, Dan DiDio, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Paul Levitz, Dwayne McDuffie, Grant Morrison, Dennis O’Neil, Paul Pope, Louise Simonson, Mark Waid, Len Wein and Marv Wolfman along with comic book images and clips from DC-spawned TV shows and movies. The $25 DVD goes on sale Tuesday.
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    Wonder Woman ------------ Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston got hired by DC Comics in 1941 after he criticized the publisher for being too male-centric. *Secret Origin* points out that besides inventing the lie detector and simultaneously living with his wife and his mistress, Marston demonstrated a fondness for *Wonder Woman* bondage scenes.
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    Batman, Version 1 ----------------- Hoping to boost his $25 paycheck, Bob Kane created Batman one weekend after hearing that Superman's creators were making $800 a week. Kane, who changed his name from Kahn, aspired to become a New York socialite, just like Bruce Wayne, reports *Secret Origin*.
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    Green Lantern and Green Arrow ----------------------------- A new breed of "hippie" talents shocked the industry by picturing Green Arrow sidekick Speedy as a heroin addict.
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    Batman, Version 2 ----------------- During the Reagan era, Frank Miller brought a left-wing perspective to his *The Dark Knight Returns* stories when he reimagined Batman as a brooding renegade.
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    Superman -------- After Superman creator Jerry Shuster's father got killed in a robbery, the incident inspired the 17-year-old Cleveland writer to dream up the concept of a bulletproof hero, according to *Secret Origin* historians.
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