The comic book character Superman was co-created by Canadian artist Joseph Shuster and Cleveland, Ohio writer Jerry Siegel.
Superman's origin was inspired by the biblical story of Moses, whose parents abandoned him as a baby to save his life.
Born in Toronto, Shuster is a cousin of Frank Shuster, one-half of the beloved Canadian comedy duo Wayne and Shuster.
Joseph Shuster passed away in 1992 at the age of 78.
Though it has always been a fictional American city, Siegel modeled the Metropolis skyline after Toronto.
The first publisher to which Siegel and Shuster showed their comic strip super hero to was Chicago's Humor Publishing in 1933. Although Humor showed interest in The Superman, it pulled out of the comics business before any book deal could be made.
Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel sold all rights to Superman to their publishers National Allied Publications for $130 on March 1, 1938.
Superman, made his debut on April 18, 1938 (cover date June) in Action Comics #1, the first true superhero comic book.
In the late 1930s Superman was a vigilante fighter. In one instance was fired upon by the National Guard after he destroyed a slum to force the government to build better housing for the poor. He was also often depicted using lethal force and attacking wife beaters, profiteers, and lynch mobs. By 1942, however, Superman was working side-by-side with the police.
Superman was originally incapable of flying in the 1940s; hence the phrase "Able to LEAP tall buildings in a single bound."
The character Lois Lane also first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938). She was based on pioneering investigative journalist Nellie Bly, known for her undercover exposé as an inmate of a mental institution in 1887.
Clark Kent first used a phone booth to transform into Superman in a comic strip published in 1942.
According to the Superman comics, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the Man of Steel's favorite novel.
The first adaptation of Superman beyond comic books was a radio show, The Adventures of Superman, with Bud Collyer in the title role. It ran from 1940 to 1951 for 2,088 episodes.
Kryptonite was introduced in the Superman story five years after the comic was first published. It was created as a way to give Bud Collyer some time off the radio show so he could take a vacation.
There are actually seven different types of Kryptonite in the Superman comics universe causing different reactions, including Pink Kryptonite which switches the gender of Kryptonians like Superman.
In 1947, the Superman radio show did a series called "Clan of the Fiery Cross" in which they exposed many of the Ku Klax Klan's most guarded secrets. Within two weeks of the broadcast, KKK recruitment was down to zero. And by 1948, people were showing up to Klan rallies just to mock them.
The comic actor Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man) wore a Superman cape underneath his clothing until he was 13, "just in case there was trouble."
In 1948, the 15-part black-and-white Columbia movie serial Superman made Kirk Alyn the first actor to portray the hero onscreen.
Marlon Brando received more money ($4 million) for his short appearance as Jor-El in Superman (1978) than Christopher Reeve did in the title role. Brando later sued for a percentage of the film's profits.
In 2011 a near-pristine copy of Action Comics #1 - better known as the first appearance of Superman - was sold at an online auction for a staggering $2.16 million. The seller was the cash-strapped actor Nicholas Cage and the sale rescued him from bankruptcy.
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| Superman with his cape billowing. Wikipedia |
Superman's origin was inspired by the biblical story of Moses, whose parents abandoned him as a baby to save his life.
Born in Toronto, Shuster is a cousin of Frank Shuster, one-half of the beloved Canadian comedy duo Wayne and Shuster.
Joseph Shuster passed away in 1992 at the age of 78.
Though it has always been a fictional American city, Siegel modeled the Metropolis skyline after Toronto.
The first publisher to which Siegel and Shuster showed their comic strip super hero to was Chicago's Humor Publishing in 1933. Although Humor showed interest in The Superman, it pulled out of the comics business before any book deal could be made.
 |
| Inked cover of The Superman, a rejected 1933 comic story proposal. Wikipedia |
Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel sold all rights to Superman to their publishers National Allied Publications for $130 on March 1, 1938.
Superman, made his debut on April 18, 1938 (cover date June) in Action Comics #1, the first true superhero comic book.
 |
| Action Comics #1 (June 1938), the debut of Superman. |
In the late 1930s Superman was a vigilante fighter. In one instance was fired upon by the National Guard after he destroyed a slum to force the government to build better housing for the poor. He was also often depicted using lethal force and attacking wife beaters, profiteers, and lynch mobs. By 1942, however, Superman was working side-by-side with the police.
Superman was originally incapable of flying in the 1940s; hence the phrase "Able to LEAP tall buildings in a single bound."
The character Lois Lane also first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938). She was based on pioneering investigative journalist Nellie Bly, known for her undercover exposé as an inmate of a mental institution in 1887.
Clark Kent first used a phone booth to transform into Superman in a comic strip published in 1942.
According to the Superman comics, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the Man of Steel's favorite novel.
The first adaptation of Superman beyond comic books was a radio show, The Adventures of Superman, with Bud Collyer in the title role. It ran from 1940 to 1951 for 2,088 episodes.
Kryptonite was introduced in the Superman story five years after the comic was first published. It was created as a way to give Bud Collyer some time off the radio show so he could take a vacation.
There are actually seven different types of Kryptonite in the Superman comics universe causing different reactions, including Pink Kryptonite which switches the gender of Kryptonians like Superman.
In 1947, the Superman radio show did a series called "Clan of the Fiery Cross" in which they exposed many of the Ku Klax Klan's most guarded secrets. Within two weeks of the broadcast, KKK recruitment was down to zero. And by 1948, people were showing up to Klan rallies just to mock them.
The comic actor Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man) wore a Superman cape underneath his clothing until he was 13, "just in case there was trouble."
In 1948, the 15-part black-and-white Columbia movie serial Superman made Kirk Alyn the first actor to portray the hero onscreen.
Marlon Brando received more money ($4 million) for his short appearance as Jor-El in Superman (1978) than Christopher Reeve did in the title role. Brando later sued for a percentage of the film's profits.
In 2011 a near-pristine copy of Action Comics #1 - better known as the first appearance of Superman - was sold at an online auction for a staggering $2.16 million. The seller was the cash-strapped actor Nicholas Cage and the sale rescued him from bankruptcy.
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