Publication history of Superman

Superman is an American fictional character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and featured pervasively in DC Comic books. The character debuted in Action Comics issue #1 in June 1938^[1] and has since become a paradigm for superhero characters.

Creation

Siegel and Shuster met at Cleveland's Glenville High School. The two published a science fiction magazine together, aptly titled Science Fiction. It was a stapled, mimeographed pamphlet containing drawings by Shuster and stories by Siegel under various pseudonyms. Only five issues were produced and are now considered collectible. One copy was sold in 2018 for $50,000.^[2] Siegel's short story "The Reign of the Superman" (with illustration by Shuster) concerned a bald-headed villain, vaguely reminiscent of Flash Gordon's Ming the Merciless, bent on dominating the world.

Siegal and Shuster formulated a concept of the superman, with the character being a physically powerful hero. They pitched this unsuccessfully to newspaper syndicates as a comic strip. Siegel sent it to National Comics in New York where it remained unpublished. When a publisher had difficulty deciding on an appropriate cover for a new magazine called Action Comics, an employee produced Siegel's and Shuster's proposal, which depicted Superman lifting a car with his hands. The publisher allegedly called it "ridiculous" but ultimately decided to put it on the cover. He wrote Siegel and Shuster and asked them if they could put together a 13-page story for the debut of Action Comics.

Siegel and Shuster cut and pasted their newspaper strip into comic book form and sent it off. In the summer of 1938, the first issue of Action Comics was published. By the fourth issue of Action Comics, its popularity had grown a significant amount. Astounded, the publisher is reported to have gone down to his local newsstand and asked a nearby child why he chose Action Comics. The child supposedly replied by expressing his favor for the featured Superman comic.^[3]

Early years

Superman first appeared in

By the time the US had entered

Clark grows up on the Kent family farm, slowly discovering that he possesses various superpowers, but at first unaware of his Kryptonian origins. After the deaths of his adoptive parents, Clark decides to use his powers for the benefit of humanity, constructing a stylized costume and moving to the nearby city of Metropolis. Clark begins work as a reporter at the Daily Star newspaper and soon makes his debut as the world's first superhero, Superman.

The earliest Superman stories were written by Siegel, and drawn by Shuster in a style heavily influenced by comic strip artist Roy Crane. According to Jules Feiffer, "Shuster represented the best of old-style comic book drawing. His work was direct, unprettied - crude and vigorous; as easy to read as a diagram.... Slickness, thank God, was beyond his means" (Feiffer, The Great Comic Book Heroes, 1965). In the last interview Shuster gave before his death, he explained that he had modeled the visual appearance of Clark Kent on himself and movie star Harold Lloyd, and that of Superman on Douglas Fairbanks Senior. Lois Lane was modeled after Joanne Carter, who would later marry Jerry Siegel after the comic became a success. The skyscape of Metropolis was inspired by that of the city of Toronto, where Shuster had spent most of his childhood, and the newspaper employing Clark Kent, originally the Daily Star, was named after the Toronto Star for which Shuster had been a paperboy. (Mietkewicz, above)

With Superman's quick success, the demand for Superman stories exceeded the creator's ability to produce them. Although the stories continued to carry the Siegel and Shuster byline, progressively more of the work was done by assistants in the Siegel and Shuster studio (Les Daniels, Comix: A History of Comic Books in America (1971)), but the use of assistants was not always successful. According to Jules Feiffer, Shuster "could not draw well, but he drew single-mindedly -- no one could ghost that style. It was the man. When assistants began 'improving' the appearance of the strip it went downhill. It looked as though it was being drawn in a bank" (Feiffer, above). One story in which Superman encountered a fictional cartoonist provided a tongue-in-cheek look at how such work was delegated. The story, which purported on the title page to tell "how comic strips are written and drawn", showed a studio filled with "artists -- stacks of them -- figure men, background specialists, inkers, letterers" as well as script-writers, all devoted to the production of stories about a Superman-like character, while the original creator of the strip was, to Superman's consternation, kept busy answering his fan mail ("King of the Comic Books", Superman #25, 1943).

In the early stories, Superman is the only science-fiction element. He is described as the champion of the helpless and the oppressed, and he combats real-world social evils: munitions manufacturers, dangerous conditions in mines and a hit-and-run drunk driver (in Superman #1), rigged prize fights and corrupt businessmen (in Superman #2), child abusers and wife beaters (in Superman #3) and crooked cops and politicians (in Superman #7). By 1940, more extraordinary antagonists began to appear in the stories, including giants, mad scientists and dinosaurs. Superman's powers also developed during the 1940s, including vast increases in strength and acquiring the ability to fly - the earliest comics depict Superman able to leap only an eighth of a mile at a time. In Superman #61 (1949), Superman finally learns of the existence of

Golden Age

stories (All-Star Comics #8 and 36).

In his earliest adventures, Superman is pictured as being grim, strong-willed, and not afraid to take the life of an evildoer. These include examples of beating a robber to death after the thief tries to shoot him. Like the Batman of that era, he prompted a small controversy over comic characters killing. While Batman was toned down in terms of violence, Superman imposed a moral code that he would never take a life of any adversary he faced. During World War II, Superman was used as a figure of hope for readers in America and soldiers. This was evident in many of the Superman Fleischer Studios animated shorts of the era, in which Superman is helping the Allies win the war and often shown at odds with Japanese spies and German espionage agents.

Beginning in the 1940s, Superman's life as a boy is gradually fleshed out. The first

Martha Kent, are not mentioned until Superboy #12 in January 1951, 12 years after his debut in Action Comics #1. Other developments in the Superman mythos appear as a result of appearances in other media, including radio and newspaper strips. The Daily Star becomes the Daily Planet - possibly because newspapers called The Daily Star already existed - and Perry White replaces original editor George Taylor in the first episode of the radio serial; a young office boy named Jimmy Olsen

joins the cast soon afterward.

The Silver Age

Main article: Superman (Earth-One)

Early in the

Kal-L) and the version depicted in the 1960s were explained in the same way. The Superman presented during this period was the Superman of "Earth-One

".

Under the editorship of

The New Adventures of Superman

During the 1940s and 1950s, the Superman mythos gradually added familiar elements firmly established by the late 1950s, such as greater emphasis on the science fiction elements of Superman's world, including his Kryptonian origins as well as an updated version of his origins.

In the version that became established by the early 1960s (and memorably summarized at the start of each episode of the 1950s

During this same time period, editor Mort Weisinger was replaced by Julius Schwartz, who wanted to transition Superman to a more modern and realistic form. To this end, Schwartz recruited up-and-coming talents such as writers Dennis O'Neil, Elliot S. Maggin, Cary Bates, and cover artist Neal Adams, as well as veteran Superman artists Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson. This shift was marked by a major storyline entitled Kryptonite Nevermore, written by O'Neil, that significantly lowered Superman's power level and eliminated most of the kryptonite on Earth, but soon after the storyline ended, O'Neil stepped down as writer and both of these changes were eventually reversed.

Also, Superman's Earth-2 counterpart married the Lois Lane of his world, and new rivals such as Terra-Man and the Parasite appeared. In 1978, the film

Due perhaps to the elder Kents surviving into Clark's adulthood, another Byrne change was the relationship between Superman and his "normal" alter-ego. In line with the majority of superheroes Byrne put the emphasis on Superman being a disguise for Clark Kent. Previously the theme had been that Kent was a "secret identity" for Superman: in an adventure published in the 1960s, Kent finds himself at a loose end when staff at the Daily Planet go on strike and seriously considers it a chance to try out a new identity in case he has "to abandon [his] Clark Kent role permanently". His options include becoming a full-time policeman or even a mere tramp "whom no one would ever suspect of being the Man of Steel".^[7]

There was also his relationships with other heroes, most notably Batman. From the 1940s to the 1970s, they had always been depicted as close friends and allies: the "World's Finest". From the 1980s, however, it was depicted it as an edgy and uneasy one: grudging respect and uneasy friendship due to their vast differences. After their first, tension-filled meeting, Batman considers that in "another reality" he and Superman may have been friends.^[8]

Byrne quit the books a few years later, though his changes became the template for Superman's origin and characterization for almost two decades, most notably, his alterations to Lex Luthor, altering him from a mad scientist to an evil businessman, and having Ma and Pa Kent kept alive as supporting characters. One of the most notable revisions was the elimination of the Superboy persona from Superman's life, though a new live action television series starring Superboy premiered in 1988. Despite its following, the series has not been seen in North America and most of Europe since 1992, but its first season was released on DVD in 2006. A subsequent live action television show, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, focused on the relationship between Lois Lane and Clark Kent.

Superman exiles himself to space for a number of issues after he is forced to execute some Kryptonian criminals from a different dimension.^[9] The repercussions of Superman's use of lethal force have been dealt with in several stories by subsequent writers. Clark Kent proposes to Lois Lane and reveals his secret identity; Lane accepts.^[10]

In 1992, DC Comics published the storyline

In 1996, Superman (or rather, Clark Kent) finally married Lois Lane, and while they have had their ups and downs as a couple, they are happily married. That same year, Superman returned to animation in the animated series Superman which was produced by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini of Batman: The Animated Series fame. The series combined elements of both the Pre-and-Post-Crisis versions of the character and featured an all-star cast including Tim Daly as Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, and Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor.

Amidst much controversy, in the Superman comics of the late 1990s, Superman loses his traditional powers and transforms into a being of

In 2004, DC published an updated version of Superman's origin in the 12-issue limited series

arrives and ends their battle.

The two Supermen team up to confront Luthor, Jr. and Superboy-Prime, whose plan to restore the

Krypton's red sun, and use the last of their strength to defeat him on Mogo, the sentient Green Lantern planet. Fatally wounded in the battle, Kal-L dies in his cousin Power Girl

's arms. He and Lois are buried next to the deceased Superboy.

Infinite Crisis

New Earth, affecting Superman's history further. During the publication of the Infinite Crisis limited series, the majority of DC Comics' superhero line advanced one year. One year later, Superman remains powerless, and Supergirl defends Metropolis

. Unburdened by his responsibility to the world, Clark Kent has re-solidified his reputation as a star reporter. Although he manages to weasel his way out of prison, Lex Luthor's reputation is damaged irreparably (partially due to Clark's writing) and so are his fortune and power over LexCorp, now run by Lana Lang. Under attack, Clark's powers gradually return, and he returns to action. He finds that his sensory powers are enhanced, as are his computational abilities and memory.

The Post-Modern Age

Birthright

Main article: Superman: Birthright

In 2003, DC Comics released a 12-issue miniseries called Superman: Birthright, written by Mark Waid and penciled by Leinil Francis Yu; this series was a retcon of Superman's Post-Crisis origin, replacing Byrne's version, yet using some elements from that version; it also reintroduced various Pre-Crisis elements discarded in Byrne's revamp, along with elements that subtly tie into the Smallville television show. Due to the effects of Infinite Crisis, both Birthright and The Man of Steel were removed from canon.

New Earth

Action Comics #850 (2007) presents the latest revision of Superman's origin, since the history of the DC Universe was reset in Infinite Crisis. The new timeline is indicated to revise the complicated web of origins in a panel which shows a progression of four to five successive versions of Superman that are viewed by Kara Zor-El, clearly aping the art styles of Joe Shuster, Curt Swan, John Byrne, Dan Jurgens and Leinil Francis Yu.

Written collaboratively by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza and Geoff Johns, the new version includes details such as Krypto's presence on Krypton, Jor-El's frustrations with the Council of Krypton refusing to evacuate the planet, Clark's awareness of his adopted status from a younger age, having interacted with Lex Luthor at a younger age, Clark not being the direct cause of Lex's baldness, his wearing glasses as far back as his early teens in Smallville, and using his powers to help others at a younger age. The new version also supports the portrayal and aesthetic design of Jor-El, now similar to Marlon Brando's portrayal of the role, and Krypton, as featured in the ongoing Richard Donner co-authored arcs of Action Comics (essentially rendering Krypton closer in style to his and Bryan Singer's shared film continuity), as well as the fitting in with the discovery in The Lightning Saga that Clark was a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes during his adolescence and still retains possession of a Legion flight ring.^[11] Superman is established as a founding member of the Justice League in Justice League of America (vol. 2) #0.

Ongoing titles

DC universe continuity

.

Following the events of

War of the Supermen devastate New Krypton and cause Superman to battle General Zod. He returns Zod to the Phantom Zone and then returns to Earth. In Superman: Grounded, Superman walks across the United States of America with the goal of reconnecting with the everyday people he is committed to protect. In the Reign of Doomsday

storyline, Superman and his closest allies must defeat the Doomslayer, a mysterious being that seeks to destroy Doomsday and all life on Earth.

The New 52

In 2011, DC Comics rebooted its continuity and relaunched its publications with new #1 issues. Changes to Superman includes making him a single man and the deaths of his parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, which occurred years prior.

lightyears from Earth.^[13][14][15]

• Action Comics was originally set five years in the past and details Superman's early adventures as the protector of Metropolis for the first 18 issues and the first Annual. In this title, Superman wears a shirt with the S symbol, a smaller cape, a pair of jeans and worker boots. A rationale is given later in the title for the acquisition of the battle armor, after which Superman abandons the shirt, focusing into his personal growth as the later, mature Superman.[16] Issues #19-21 focused on a three-part storyline that took place one year before the present and afterwards the series focused on Superman's adventures in the present alongside the main Superman title.
• Superman is set in the character's present years and details his current adventures. In this title, Clark quits working for the Daily Planet and becomes an independent blogger.^[17]

This version of Superman also began a relationship with Wonder Woman, a move which attracted media attention due to Superman's long-standing relationship with Lois Lane in all previous incarnations of the character, with the exception of non-canon stories, which took place in DC's

John Romita, Jr.^[21]

This version of Superman is eventually killed in Superman #52.

Convergence

In the miniseries

Jonathan Samuel Kent.^[26] Following the events, in the miniseries Superman: Lois & Clark, they settled into the New 52 reality under the aliases of Clark and Lois White, and witnessed the events revolving the alternate versions of themselves and the former's enemies.^[27]

They would later appear as part of the final issues for the New 52 Action Comics and Superman series, where in the end the New 52 Superman would pass the torch to his predecessor just before he died.

DC Rebirth

In June 2016, DC Comics relaunched its entire line of comic books series with DC Rebirth, including both the Action Comics and Superman series. The Superman of the pre-New 52 reality lives with his wife Lois Lane of his reality and their biological son Jonathan Kent. This Superman wears a costume similar in style to the Superman outfit in the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).^[28][29]

The story arc Superman Reborn smooths over the discrepancies between the two versions of the character. According to Mr. Mxyzptlk, the creation of the New 52 caused Superman to be separated into two people: the New 52 character that served as the protagonist of the Superman books in 2011-2015 and the Pre-Flashpoint character that took part in the Convergence event and sired Jon. Thanks to Jon, the new Superboy, the two Supermen merge into one complete version of Superman, rearranging their shared histories and accommodating them into the restored DC Universe. This complete Superman features a new suit that combines elements from the two eras.^[30][31] To celebrate the release of issue #1,000 for Action Comics which was released on April 18, 2018, Superman was returned to his original Pre-New 52 costume.^[32]

See also

• Golden Age of Comic Books

References

1. ^ "Superman | Creators, Story, Logo, Movies, Actors, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
2. ^ "RR Auction". www.rrauction.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
3. ^ "Superman Born in Cleveland Ohio". Positivelycleveland.com. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
4. The Toronto Star
   , April 26, 1992.
5. ^ Narrator Bill Kennedy intoned at the start of each program: "Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look! Up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Superman! Yes, it's Superman - strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman - who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel with his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way".
6. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Superman movie review & film summary (1978) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
7. ^ Illustration included in the Penguin Book of Comics by George Perry and Alan Aldridge, published in 1967.
8. ^ Man of Steel #3, August 1986
9. ^ Superman (vol. 2) #22
10. ^ Superman (vol. 2) #50 (1990)
11. Pasarin, Fernando (a). "The Lightning Saga Chapter Two" Justice Society of America, vol. 3, no. 5 (June 2007). DC Comics
    .
12. ^ Morrison, Grant (w). Action Comics, vol. 2, no. 17 (December 2012). DC Comics.
13. ^ Wall, Mike (November 7, 2012). "Superman's Home Planet Krypton 'Found'". Scientific American
14. ^ Potter, Ned (November 5, 2012). "Superman Home: Planet Krypton 'Found' in Sky". ABC News.
15. ^ Henderson, David (November 5, 2012). "Neil deGrasse Tyson Consults On "Action Comics" #14, Finds Krypton In Real Life" Archived 2013-06-30 at the Wayback Machine. Multiversity Comics.
16. ^ Morrison, Grant (w). Action Comics, vol. 2, no. 7 (March 2012). DC Comics.
17. ^ Lobdell, Scott (w). Superman, vol. 3, no. 13 (October 2012). DC Comics.
18. ^ Charles Soule And Tony Daniel Discuss Superman and Wonder Woman Comic
19. ^ Soule and Daniel Join Forces for Superman-Wonder Woman
20. ^ Geoff Johns And Jeff Lemire Talk Too Many Justice Leagues
21. ^ Truitt, Brian. "New power, fresh look for Man of Steel in 'Superman'". www.usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
22. ^ "DC's Band-Aid Event? It's Not Blood Moon. It's Called Convergence". Bleeding Cool. October 28, 2014.
23. ^ "New villain, old tales part of DC's 'Convergence'". USA Today. November 3, 2014.
24. ^ "FIRST LOOK: The Complete Convergence". DC Comics. November 6, 2014.
25. ^ "DC's CONVERGENCE Week One: Donna Troy, Oracle, Married Superman, Montoya Question, More". Newsarama.com. November 11, 2014.
26. ^ Jurgens, Dan (w). Convergence: Superman, vol. 1, no. 2 (May 2015). DC Comics.
27. ^ Yehl, Joshua (July 10, 2015). "Comic-Con: Lois and Clark Return For New Superman comic - With Their Son!". IGN. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
28. ^ Whitbrook, James (March 30, 2016). "What Is The Deal With Superman In DC Comics' Rebirth?". Kotaku. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
29. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (May 27, 2016). "REBIRTH SUPERMAN's New Status Quo - Being a SUPER-DAD". Newsarama. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
30. ^ Tomasi, Peter, Gleason, Patrick (w). Superman, vol. 4, no. 18-19 (March 2017). DC Comics.
31. ^ Jurgens, Dan (w). Action Comics, vol. 1, no. 975-976 (March 2017). DC Comics.
32. ^ SUPERMAN's Red Trunks Are Back For ACTION COMICS #1000