8/12/2019 Copy (7) of 34587

1/3

Supermanis a fictional character, a superherothat appears in

comic bookspublished by DC Comics, and is considered an

Americancultural icon.[1][2][3][4]Superman was created by writer

Jerry Siegeland artist Joe Shuster, high school students living

in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1933; the character was sold to Detective

Comics, Inc. (later DC Comics) in 1938.[5][6]Superman first

appeared in Action Comics#1(June 1938) and subsequently

appeared in various radio serials, television programs, films,

newspaper strips, and video games. With the success of his

adventures, Superman helped to create the superhero genre and

establish its primacy within the American comic book.[1]

Superman's appearance is distinctive and iconic. He usually

wears a blue costume, red cape, and stylized red-and-yellow "S"

shieldon his chest.[7][8][9]This shield is used in a myriad of

media to symbolize the character.[10]

The origin story of Supermanrelates that he was born Kal-Elon

the planet Krypton, before being rocketed to Earthas an infant

by his scientist father Jor-El, moments before Krypton's

destruction. Discovered and adopted by a Kansasfarmer and his

wife, the child is raised as Clark Kentand imbued with a strong

moral compass. Very early on he started to display superhuman

abilities, which, upon reaching maturity, he resolved to use for

the benefit of humanity. Superman resides and operates in the

fictional American city of Metropolis. As Clark Kent, he is a

journalist for the Daily Planet, a Metropolis newspaper.

Superman's primary love interest is Lois Laneand his archenemy

is supervillainLex Luthor.[11]

Superman has fascinated scholars, with cultural theorists,

commentators, and critics alike exploring the character's impact

and role in the United Statesand worldwide. The character's

ownership has often been the subject of dispute, with Siegel and

Shuster twice suing for the return of legal ownership. Superman

has been labeled as the greatest comic book hero of all time by

IGN, as the editors pointed out that Superman was the blueprint

for superheroes as we know them today.[12]

Contents

1 Publication historyo 1.1 Creation and conceptiono 1.2 Publicationo 1.3 Influenceso 1.4 Copyright issues

2 Fictional character biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superherohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_bookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Comicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS11-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Siegelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Shusterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SteelRootsCle-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Comicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Comics_1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_striphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_comic_bookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS11-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_logohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_logohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS18-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krypton_%28planet%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jor-Elhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_and_abilities_of_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_%28comics%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Planethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lanehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supervillainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_Luthorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-Comics_166-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGNhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-top_heroes-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Publication_historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Creation_and_conceptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Publicationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Influenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Copyright_issueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Fictional_character_biographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Fictional_character_biographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Copyright_issueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Influenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Publicationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Creation_and_conceptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Publication_historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-top_heroes-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGNhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-Comics_166-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_Luthorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supervillainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lanehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Planethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_%28comics%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_and_abilities_of_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jor-Elhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krypton_%28planet%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS18-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS18-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_logohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_logohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS11-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_comic_bookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_striphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Comics_1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Comicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SteelRootsCle-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SteelRootsCle-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Shusterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Siegelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS11-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS11-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Comicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_bookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhero

8/12/2019 Copy (7) of 34587

2/3

o 2.1 Age and birthdayo 2.2 Personalityo 2.3 Other versions

3 Powers and abilities 4 Supporting cast

o 4.1 Enemies 5 Cultural impact

o 5.1 Inspiring a marketo 5.2 Merchandisingo 5.3 In other mediao 5.4 Musical references, parodies, and homageso 5.5 Literary analysiso 5.6 Critical reception and popularityo 5.7 Video games

6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links

Publication history

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, then students at Cleveland's Glenville

High School, first conceived Superman as a bald telepathicvillain

bent on world domination.[5][6]The character first appeared in "The

Reign of the Superman", a short story from Science Fiction: The

Advance Guard of Future Civilization#3, a fanzinepublished by Siegel

in 1933.[6]Siegel re-envisioned the character later that year as a

hero bearing no resemblance to his villainous namesake, with Shustervisually modeling Superman on Douglas Fairbanks Sr.and his

bespectacled alter ego, Clark Kent, on a combination of Harold

Lloyd[13][14]and Shuster himself, with the name "Clark Kent" derived

from movie stars Clark Gableand Kent Taylor.[15]Lois Lanewas modeled

on Joanne Carter, who later became Siegel's wife.[15]Comic strips such

as Li'l Abnerand Dick Tracyinfluenced its original artwork.[citation

needed]Siegel and Shuster then began a six-year quest to find a

publisher. Titling it The Superman, Siegel and Shuster offered it to

Consolidated Book Publishing, who had published a 48-page black-and-

whitecomic book entitled Detective Dan: Secret Operative No. 48.

Although the duo received an encouraging letter, Consolidated never

again published comic books. Shuster took this to heart and burned all

pages of the story; the cover surviving only because Siegel rescued it

from the fire. Siegel and Shuster each compared this character to Slam

Bradley, an adventurer the pair had created for Detective Comics#1

(March 1937).[16]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Age_and_birthdayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Personalityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Other_versionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Powers_and_abilitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Supporting_casthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Enemieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Cultural_impacthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Inspiring_a_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Merchandisinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#In_other_mediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Musical_references.2C_parodies.2C_and_homageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Literary_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Critical_reception_and_popularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Video_gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenville_High_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenville_High_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepathyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SteelRootsCle-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reign_of_the_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reign_of_the_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanzinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS13-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fairbanks_Sr.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Lloydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Lloydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SundayClassics-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Gablehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Taylorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-torontostar1992-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lanehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-torontostar1992-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%27l_Abnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Tracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-and-whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-and-whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Dunnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_Bradleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_Bradleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective_Comicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS17-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS17-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS17-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective_Comicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_Bradleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_Bradleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Dunnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-and-whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-and-whitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Tracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%27l_Abnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-torontostar1992-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lanehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-torontostar1992-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Taylorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Gablehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Kenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SundayClassics-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SundayClassics-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Lloydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Lloydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fairbanks_Sr.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS13-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanzinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reign_of_the_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reign_of_the_Supermanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SteelRootsCle-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-SteelRootsCle-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepathyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenville_High_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenville_High_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Video_gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Critical_reception_and_popularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Literary_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Musical_references.2C_parodies.2C_and_homageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#In_other_mediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Merchandisinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Inspiring_a_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Cultural_impacthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Enemieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Supporting_casthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Powers_and_abilitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Other_versionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Personalityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#Age_and_birthday

8/12/2019 Copy (7) of 34587

3/3

Siegel, believing that Superman would not progress with Shuster,

contacted artists Tony Strobl, Mel Graff, and Russell Keaton as

potential collaborators on the strip.[17]Artwork produced by

Keaton based on Siegel's treatment shows the concept evolving.

Superman is now sent back in time as a baby by the last man on

Earth, where he is found and raised by Sam and Molly Kent.[18]

However, Keaton did not pursue the collaboration, and soon

Siegel and Shuster were back working together on the

character.[17]

The pair re-envisioned the character, who became more of a hero

in the mythic tradition, inspired by such characters as Samson

and Hercules,[19]who would right the wrongs of Siegel and

Shuster's times, fighting for social justiceand against

tyranny. It was at this stage the costume was introduced, Siegel

later recalling that they created a "kind of costume and let's

give him a big Son his chest, and a cape, make him as colorful

as we can and as distinctive as we can."[7]The design was based

in part on the costumes worn by characters in outer space

settings published in pulp magazines, as well as comic strips

such as Flash Gordon,[20]and also partly suggested by the

traditional circus strong-man outfit, which comprised a pair of

shorts worn over

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Stroblhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-GJMT-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-GJMT-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TMOS-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS18-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_magazinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS19-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS19-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_magazinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TCS18-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-TMOS-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-GJMT-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#cite_note-GJMT-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Strobl