June 1938 – July 1946 (Issues #1 – #98)
The color of the lettering changed with every issue. The color of the background changed as well starting with Issue #24.Starting with Issue #61, the background and bars were occasionally removed entirely.
A badge was placed in the upper-left hand corner from #5 through #15 (Oct-38 through Aug-39), overlapping the logo. The badge's logo changed coloring from issue to issue.
Starting with #16 (Sep-39), the badge was replaced with this one. The badge's logo changed coloring from issue to issue.
August 1946 – October 1956 (Issues #99 – #221)
All elements of the logo were susceptible to color change. The original Superman badge disappeared with #128 (Jan-49).
Occasional issues would use this version of the logo, which included a "A 52-PAGE MAGAZINE" label over the word "comics", beginning with #109 (Jun-47).
A new Superman badge began appearing every other issue starting with #153 (Feb-51).
November 1954 – October 1968 (Issues #198 – #368)
Starting with #198 (Nov-54), this logo alternated with the previous one every other issue, until it replaced it entirely in #222 (Nov-56), at which point the previous Superman badge disappeared. Unlike its predecessor, the degree to which it was printed on an angle varied, and it was gradually and inconsistently straightened out.
Starting with #334 (Mar-66), it tended to be accompanied by a checkerboard pattern across the top of the cover.