Changes

[[Image:ARoss Superman.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Superman'', by Alex Ross]]

[[Image:ARoss Superman.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Superman'', by Alex Ross]]

'''Superman''' is a fictional character created in the mid-1930s by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and currently published by DC Comics under a variety of titles.  The first comic book superhero, Superman spawed a pantheon of other similar characters, and a comics industry in which Superman alone was selling at well over a million copies as early as 1942 [http://www.nostalgiazone.com/doc/zine/05_Q1/funnybusiness.htm]; he would later star in books, radio, animation, television, and film.  Superman is seen as a symbol of America, reflected in his red and blue costume and marketing material describing his mission as the protector of "truth, justice, and the American way".

'''Superman''' is a fictional character created in the mid-1930s by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and currently published by DC Comics under a variety of titles.  The first comic book superhero, Superman spawed a pantheon of other similar characters, and a comics industry in which Superman alone was selling at well over a million copies as early as 1942<ref> [http://www.nostalgiazone.com/doc/zine/05_Q1/funnybusiness.htm Nostalgiazone.com]</ref>; he would later star in books, radio, animation, television, and film.  Superman is seen as a symbol of America, reflected in his red and blue costume and marketing material describing his mission as the protector of "truth, justice, and the American way".

==Comics lore==

==Comics lore==

==History==

==History==

Superman is the creation of two teenegers from Cleveland, Ohio.  Jerry Siegel, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania, was the writer, collaborating with his friend Joseph Shuster, a recent immigrant from Canada, who did the artwork.  According to typical accounts, both boys had created Superman as a result of shyness in school; both were awkward and unpopular, and the creation of Clark Kent and his super alter-ego was meant as a way to correct the deficiencies.  However, recent authors had made a case for a more profound reason for Superman's creation: on June 2, 1932, Jerry's father died as a result of an armed robbery in Cleveland, either from gunshot wounds or a heart attack; Superman was the creation of a young man who wanted to have someone powerful enough to right all wrongs. [http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-08-25-superman-creators_N.htm]  The boys' first attempt at publishing their character would occur a year later, with a boast of "the most astounding fiction character of all time" on the cover, as Superman comes to the rescue of someone at the mercy of an armed robber.

Superman is the creation of two teenegers from Cleveland, Ohio.  Jerry Siegel, the son of a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania, was the writer, collaborating with his friend Joseph Shuster, a recent immigrant from Canada, who did the artwork.  According to typical accounts, both boys had created Superman as a result of shyness in school; both were awkward and unpopular, and the creation of Clark Kent and his super alter-ego was meant as a way to correct the deficiencies.  However, recent authors had made a case for a more profound reason for Superman's creation: on June 2, 1932, Jerry's father died as a result of an armed robbery in Cleveland, either from gunshot wounds or a heart attack; Superman was the creation of a young man who wanted to have someone powerful enough to right all wrongs. <reF>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-08-25-superman-creators_N.htm ''USA Today'' Online]</ref> The boys' first attempt at publishing their character would occur a year later, with a boast of "the most astounding fiction character of all time" on the cover, as Superman comes to the rescue of someone at the mercy of an armed robber.

==Today's comic value==

==Today's comic value==

Due to the requirements of [[World War II]], scrap paper was among the things needed for the war effort, which resulted in many comic books being recycled; as a result, only 100 examples of ''Action Comics No. 1'' are known to exist.  "It's the Holy Grail of comic books," said comic expert Stephen Fishler, referring to the recent placing of one on the auction block. "This is the one that started it all. There was no such thing as a super hero before it. No flying man. Comics weren't even that popular. It's the single most important event in comic book history." [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,501704,00.html][http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/02/26/2009-02-26_supermans_debut_in_action_comics_no_1_co.html]  The first example of Superman in comic form - indeed, the first comic superhero ever printed - ''Action Comics No. 1'' in "fine" condition can fetch upwards of $125,000 at auction [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,364626,00.html]; several examples have fetched more than $1,000,000. [http://www.nostomania.com/servlets/com.nostomania.CatPage?name=Top100ComicsMain]

Due to the requirements of [[World War II]], scrap paper was among the things needed for the war effort, which resulted in many comic books being recycled; as a result, only 100 examples of ''Action Comics No. 1'' are known to exist.  "It's the Holy Grail of comic books," said comic expert Stephen Fishler, referring to the recent placing of one on the auction block. "This is the one that started it all. There was no such thing as a super hero before it. No flying man. Comics weren't even that popular. It's the single most important event in comic book history." <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,501704,00.html ''Fox News'' Online: "Holy Grail of Comic Books' Looks to Fetch Six-Figures at Auction"]</ref><ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/02/26/2009-02-26_supermans_debut_in_action_comics_no_1_co.html ''New York Daily News'' Online: "Superman's debut in Action Comics No. 1 could fetch $400G"]</ref> The first example of Superman in comic form - indeed, the first comic superhero ever printed - ''Action Comics No. 1'' in "fine" condition can fetch upwards of $125,000 at auction [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,364626,00.html]; several examples have fetched more than $1,000,000. <ref>[http://www.nostomania.com/servlets/com.nostomania.CatPage?name=Top100ComicsMain ''Nostomania'''s Top 100 Comics]</ref>

 

*"The crime that created Superman: Did fatal robbery spawn Man of Steel?", by David Colton, ''USA Today'', August 26, 2008 [http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-08-25-superman-creators_N.htm]

*[http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG02/yeung/actioncomics/cover.html ''Action Comics'' number 1, first appearance of Superman]

*[http://www.archive.org/details/ReignOfTheSuperman ''Reign of the Superman'' (1933), by Seigel and Shuster]

==Links==

==Links==

*[http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=max%20fleischer%20AND%20superman The Fleischer Studios ''Superman'' cartoons of the 1940s, from the Internet Archive]

*[http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=max%20fleischer%20AND%20superman The Fleischer Studios ''Superman'' cartoons of the 1940s, from the Internet Archive]

[[Category:Entertainment]]

[[Category:Entertainment]]

[[Category:DC Comics Superheroes]]

[[Category:DC Comics Superheroes]]

[[Category:Comic Characters]]

[[Category:Comic Characters]]