Why were the Bizarro stories popular?

[MatterEaterLad]

I liked almost anything from the Silver Age, weird Jimmy Olsen, thought that Superbaby stories were actually well-written even if I wasn't a fan of the character, didn't buy Lois Lane but they have a strange charm now...but what was it that made the Bizarro line so popular that they had a big run in Adventure comics in the early 60s? ]

Is it Jerry Lewis-type humor, or something like that?

[Super Monkey]

Superman's dad wrote most of them, and because they were silly, funny, and fun!

They became cult classics thanks to the classic SNL skits and the famous Seinfeld episode, and even Adult Swim made a tribute.

Even the term "Bizarro World" has become part of the national language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarro

[MatterEaterLad]

Well, there is no doubt they have that cultural connection now, but that happened with Gumby and Eddie Murphy...its a great "reverse" parody, but I didn't think the comics were that funny, but maybe that's just me...

[Gangbuster]

One of my favorite Superman stories of all time is "the Bizarro who goofed up history."

I think they were probably just popular because Jerry Siegel came back to write them.

[MatterEaterLad]

There are definitely Bizarro stories I like, I think it was the Bizarro World run in Adventure that I didn't like...there are only so many reversed-logic phenomena or sayings that the Bizarros can make...but, a half crazed super being has a lot of potential for making other stories interesting.

[Gangbuster]

My problem with those stories is that I read them all at the same time. I'm sure they were probably better as a once-a-month backup feature than they were as a TPB.

My favorite, though, is Bizarro Comics, the book released in 2001.

[MatterEaterLad]

I think you are probably right...I remember when I bought my copy of "Superman from the 30s through the 70s", I burned through every story almost immediately, but it seemed way heavy on Bizarro stories for the 1960s, maybe that's where my anti-Bizarro bias comes from...

[Lee Semmens]

but I didn't think the comics were that funny, but maybe that's just me...

No, you're not Robinson Crusoe as far as Bizarro is concerned, MEL.

I love Silver Age Superman, but I find the Bizarro stories distinctly unfunny, in fact pretty lame, and terribly obvious "humor"; about as subtle as being hit on the head by a sledgehammer.