The Superman (lost early comic from superhero series; 1933): Difference between revisions
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{{InfoboxLost | |||
'''Superman''' | |title=<center>The Superman</center> | ||
|image=thesuperman.jpg | |||
|imagecaption=The surviving front cover. | |||
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
}} | |||
'''''Superman''''' is an American fictional superhero character often thought to be one of the first of his kind. He remains one of the most recognizable pop culture icons and established many of the tropes that have become standard within the superhero genre. | |||
It is often thought that the character's debut was in 1938 with ''Action Comics No. 1''. However, Superman had two other known (or, in this case, planned) appearances before this issue. The first was a depiction of the character as a villain in a short story called ''The Reign of the Superman'' dated for June 1933.<ref name="R1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20061005154917/http://theages.superman.ws/siegel.php Article written by Jerry Siegel for Superman's 45th anniversary.] Retrieved 28 Jan '18 & Archived 05 Oct '06</ref> This short story, though extremely rare in physical form, is readily available online. | |||
Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster started playing | After ''Reign'', Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster started playing with the idea of making the character a hero instead of a villain. They got in contact with a publishing company, Consolidated Book Publishing. The duo worked enthusiastically and hard, even receiving a promising letter for publication.<ref name="R2">[https://is.gd/QWB2AN Excerpt from ''Superman: The Complete History'', by Les Daniels.] Retrieved 28 Jan '18</ref> Eventually, though, Consolidated pulled out, leaving Siegel stressed. After trying again with a few other publishing companies that denied them, Siegel threw the entire issue into a fire out of rage and frustration.<ref name="R1"/><ref name="R2"/> It wouldn't be for another 5 years that the hero would finally see his first publication. | ||
All that survives of this comic is the cover, where Superman is seen in an entirely different design (notably bare-chested). Little is known about its plot, or what other character designs may have looked like. Siegel and Shuster later described - of what little they remembered - that this early Superman was a non-alien crime fighter, crouching on rooftops and wearing a bat-like cape, ironically making him more like Batman, years before the actual Batman would be created. | |||
Superman Collectors and historians have contacted multiple sources of whom may hold a copy. It is more than likely, however, that this work is forever lost due to its creators' shame and rage. | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery mode=packed heights=275px> | |||
File:The superman sketch.jpg|A surviving cover sketch that still bears "The Superman" appellation. | |||
</gallery> | |||
==See Also== | |||
*[[Superman: The New Superman Adventures (found build of cancelled PlayStation port of Nintendo 64 action-adventure game; 1999-2000)]] | |||
*[[Superman and Jimmy Olsen art by Jack Kirby (partially found comic material; early 1970s)]] | |||
*[[Superman: The New Superman Adventures aka "Superman 64" (partially found deleted content of Nintendo 64 action-adventure game; late 1990s)]] | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Lost comics|Superman]] | [[Category:Lost comics|Superman]] | ||
[[Category:Lost literature|Superman]] | |||
[[Category:Completely lost media|Superman]] | |||
[[Category:Historic|Superman]] |
Latest revision as of 16:30, 8 July 2024
Superman is an American fictional superhero character often thought to be one of the first of his kind. He remains one of the most recognizable pop culture icons and established many of the tropes that have become standard within the superhero genre.
It is often thought that the character's debut was in 1938 with Action Comics No. 1. However, Superman had two other known (or, in this case, planned) appearances before this issue. The first was a depiction of the character as a villain in a short story called The Reign of the Superman dated for June 1933.[1] This short story, though extremely rare in physical form, is readily available online.
After Reign, Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster started playing with the idea of making the character a hero instead of a villain. They got in contact with a publishing company, Consolidated Book Publishing. The duo worked enthusiastically and hard, even receiving a promising letter for publication.[2] Eventually, though, Consolidated pulled out, leaving Siegel stressed. After trying again with a few other publishing companies that denied them, Siegel threw the entire issue into a fire out of rage and frustration.[1][2] It wouldn't be for another 5 years that the hero would finally see his first publication.
All that survives of this comic is the cover, where Superman is seen in an entirely different design (notably bare-chested). Little is known about its plot, or what other character designs may have looked like. Siegel and Shuster later described - of what little they remembered - that this early Superman was a non-alien crime fighter, crouching on rooftops and wearing a bat-like cape, ironically making him more like Batman, years before the actual Batman would be created.
Superman Collectors and historians have contacted multiple sources of whom may hold a copy. It is more than likely, however, that this work is forever lost due to its creators' shame and rage.
Gallery
See Also
- Superman: The New Superman Adventures (found build of cancelled PlayStation port of Nintendo 64 action-adventure game; 1999-2000)
- Superman and Jimmy Olsen art by Jack Kirby (partially found comic material; early 1970s)
- Superman: The New Superman Adventures aka "Superman 64" (partially found deleted content of Nintendo 64 action-adventure game; late 1990s)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Article written by Jerry Siegel for Superman's 45th anniversary. Retrieved 28 Jan '18 & Archived 05 Oct '06
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Excerpt from Superman: The Complete History, by Les Daniels. Retrieved 28 Jan '18