I've known for a long time that the trend for making sure that every tiny aspect of a given super-hero has been canonically explained isn't exactly new - I'm sure that if bow ties had gone out of style before the Silver Age was done then we'd have even more explanations for why Barry Allen wears one - but I think that this one, from Superboy No 8, 1950, is both the earliest and most ridiculous that I've ever seen:

Not this part: though it is pretty ridiculous it does make sense to justify the fact that Superbaby wears a cape if you plan on writing a lot more Superbaby stories.

I will refrain from questioning the sanity of any decision that would result in more Superbaby in the world. It's done and that's that. All we can do is try to forgive the past.

No, this is what I was talking about. An origin for Superman standing with his arms folded.

An origin of Superman standing with his arms folded.

*crushing despair*

For the last few months I have been reading the exploits of the Legion of Super Heroes, who are as you may know the cream of the crop when it comes to super-powered future-teens. One of the recurring themes of Legion stories were the tryouts, wherein various losers would try to demonstrate their worthiness to join the Legion. Most would screw up horribly and get kicked out, but once in a while someone would qualify, and even more infrequently such an inductee would be something other than a super villain.

Anyway, these tryouts were full of great characters who acted like morons, so I'm writing about them (of course).

First up, appropriately, is the very first applicant at the very first Legion general tryout: Lester Spiffany!

Lester shows up in his very own chauffeured rocket, set to dazzle and amaze:
Now, my two favourite things about this panel: 1) the 'swankiest jewelry establishment' line, which makes me think that the chauffeur used to me a cab driver or something. "Youse want I should take ya to a swanky hotel, mac?" and 2) the use of 'er' which cropped up all over the place in DC during this era, and is the second-most unnatural comic book speech habit of all time (the first being the way that anyone under the age of five in the DC universe used to talk like Tarzan of the Apes. I still have a hard time reading anything featuring Superbaby or Wonder Tot without visibly cringing because of this).

Lester's role in the proceedings quickly emerges: he is there to assure the reader that in the future there will still be douchebags.

Of course the Legionnaires reject his offer of money for membership, as they are honest, upright and incorruptible, as well as funded by the richest man in the galaxy. Showing some genuine class, Lester leaves for his appointment on Mars.

"Gosh, this sure is a swanky planet, boss. And plenty red, too."