Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. Created in 1932, and rejected by a number of publishers, the character first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938). With a premise that taps into adolescent fantasy, Superman is born Kal-El on the alien planet Krypton, before being rocketed to Earth as an infant by his scientist father moments before the planet's destruction. Adopted and raised by a Kansas farmer and his wife, the child is raised as Clark Kent, and imbued with a strong moral compass. Upon reaching maturity the character develops superhuman abilities, resolving to use these for the benefit of humanity. With the success of his adventures, Superman helped to create the superhero genre and establish its primacy within the American comic book.^[1] Superman is widely considered to be both one of the most famous and popular comic book superheroes of all time,^[2] and an American cultural icon.^[3][4][5][1] DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Cover of Action Comics #1 Action Comics #1 is is a DC Comic that was published in April 1938 (cover-dated June). ... Jerome (Jerry) Siegel (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996) was the co-creator of Superman, the first of the great comic book heroes and one of the most recognizable fictional characters from the 20th century. ... Joseph Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1 (March 1938). ... For other uses, see Clark Kent (disambiguation). ... Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe. ... The Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper that appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. ... The Justice League, sometimes called the Justice League of America or JLA for short, is a fictional DC Universe superhero team. ... Team Superman is the name of DC Comics informal team of heroes who all wear the S shield of Superman. ... Nightwing is a name used by at least six fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. ... Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? is a DC Comics trade collection of the final issues of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths titles Superman #423 and Action Comics #583. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... DC One Million was a crossover event published by DC Comics in 1998. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Alice, a fictional character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... For the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode, see Super Hero (Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode). ... Jerome (Jerry) Siegel (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996) was the co-creator of Superman, the first of the great comic book heroes and one of the most recognizable fictional characters from the 20th century. ... Joseph Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1 (March 1938). ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Cover of Action Comics #1 Action Comics #1 is is a DC Comic that was published in April 1938 (cover-dated June). ... June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with a length of 30 days. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... A 1967 Soviet Union 16 kopeks stamp. ... Lara, Jor-El, and Superman on Krypton. ... Adjectives: Terrestrial, Terran, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly Atmosphere Surface pressure: 101. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) none Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... For other uses, see Clark Kent (disambiguation). ... A superhuman is an entity with intelligence or abilities exceeding normal human standards. ... An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States containing a narrative in the comics form. ...

Whilst referred to less flatteringly as "the big blue Boy Scout" by some of his fellow superheroes,^[6] Superman is hailed as "The Man of Steel," "The Man of Tomorrow," and "The Last Son of Krypton," by the general public within the comics. As Clark Kent, Superman lives among humans as a "mild-mannered reporter" for the Metropolis newspaper The Daily Planet (the Daily Star in original stories). Here he works alongside reporter Lois Lane, with whom he is romantically linked. This relationship has been consummated by marriage on numerous occasions across varying media, and the union is now firmly established within the current mainstream comics continuity. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Metropolis as depicted in the Superman Returns video game Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. ... The Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper that appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. ... Lois Joanne Lane-Kent is a fictional character who appears in DC Comics’ Superman stories. ... In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer. ...

The character's cast, powers and trappings have slowly expanded throughout the years. Superman's backstory was altered to allow for adventures as Superboy, and other survivors of Krypton were discovered, including Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. In addition, Superman has been licensed and adapted into a variety of media, from radio to television and film. The motion picture Superman Returns was released in 2006, with a performance at the international box office which exceeded expectations.^[7] The character has been revamped and updated, most recently in 1986. John Byrne recreated the character, reducing Superman's powers and erasing several characters from the canon in a move which attracted media attention. Press coverage was again garnered in the 1990s with the Death of Superman, a storyline which saw the character briefly killed. Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... For other uses, see Supergirl (disambiguation). ... Krypto, also known as Krypto the Superdog, is a fictional character, Supermans pet dog in the various Superman comic books published by DC Comics. ... Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Superman. ... John Lindley Byrne (born July 6, 1950) is a British-born naturalised American author and artist of comic books. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... ...

Superman has also held fascination for scholars, with cultural theorists, commentators and critics alike exploring the character's impact and role in America and the wider world. Umberto Eco discussed the mythic qualities of the character in the early 1960s, and Larry Niven has pondered the implications of a sexual relationship the character might enjoy with Lois Lane.^[8] The character's ownership has often been the subject of dispute, with Siegel and Shuster twice suing for the return of legal ownership. The copyright is again currently in dispute, with changes in copyright law allowing Siegel's wife and daughter to claim a share of the copyright, a move DC parent company Warner Bros. disputes. Cultural studies is an academic discipline popular among a diverse group of scholars. ... A commentator is an individual who comments on sports, politics, current events, or public issues; synonyms include pundit. ... A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ... Umberto Eco (born January 5, 1932) is an Italian medievalist, semiotician, philosopher and novelist, best known for his novel The Name of the Rose (Il nome della rosa) and his many essays. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Laurence van Cott Niven (born April 30, 1938 Los Angeles, California) is a US science fiction author. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Articles with similar titles include copywrite. ... Warner Bros. ...

Publication history

Creation

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first created a bald telepathic villain bent on dominating the entire world. He appeared in the short story, "The Reign of the Superman", from Science Fiction #3, a science fiction fanzine that Siegel published in 1933.^[9] Siegel re-wrote the character in 1933 as a hero, bearing little or no resemblance to his villainous namesake, and 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-white comic book entitled Detective Dan: Secret Operative No. 48. Although they received an encouraging letter, Consolidated never published in the comic book market again. Shuster took this to heart, and destroyed all pages of the story, the cover surviving only because Siegel rescued it from the fire. Siegel and Shuster have both reported this version of the character as being comparable to Slam Bradley, a character the pair created in 1937 for the first issue of Detective Comics.^[10] Jerome (Jerry) Siegel (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996) was the co-creator of Superman, the first of the great comic book heroes and one of the most recognizable fictional characters from the 20th century. ... Joseph Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1 (March 1938). ... Telepathy, from the Greek τῆλε, tele, remote; and πάθεια, patheia, to be effected by, describes the hypothetical transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five classical senses. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... A fanzine (see also: zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular subject for the pleasure of others who share their interest. ... For information about the caricaturist/performance artist, see Dan Dunn (cartoonist). ... Slam Bradley is a fictional character in the DC Universe. ... See also: 1936 in comics, other events of 1937, 1938 in comics, 1930s in comics and the list of years in comics Publications: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Publications This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Cover of Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). ...

By 1934 the pair had once more re-envisioned the character. He became more of a hero in the mythic tradition, inspired by such characters as Samson and Hercules,^[11] who would right the wrongs of Siegel and Shuster's times, fighting for social justice and 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 S on his chest, and a cape, make him as colorful as we can and as distinctive as we can."^[12] 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,^[13] and also partly suggested by the traditional circus strong-man outfit.^[12][14] However, the cape has been noted as being markedly different from the Victorian tradition, Gary Engle describing it as without "precedent in popular culture" in Superman at Fifty: The Persistence of a Legend.^[15] The pants-over-tights outfit was soon established as the basis for many future superhero outfits. This third version of the character was given extraordinary abilities, although this time of a physical nature as opposed to the mental abilities of the villainous Superman.^[12] Heroine (female hero) redirects here. ... Samson and Delilah, by Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) This article is about Biblical figure. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Heracles. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This page is about the religious concept of Tyranny. ... This article is about the comic strip, the sequential art form as published in newspapers and on the Internet. ... Flash Gordon is a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1934. ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Ascension to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ...

Although they were by now selling material to comic book publishers, notably Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's National Allied Publishing, the pair decided to feature this character in a comic strip format, rather than in the longer comic book story format which was establishing itself at this time. They offered it to both Max Gaines, who passed, and to United Features Syndicate, who expressed interest initially but finally rejected the strip in a letter dated February 18, 1937. However, in what historian Les Daniels describes as "an incredibly convoluted turn of events", Max Gaines ended up positioning the strip as the lead feature in Wheeler-Nicholson's new publication, Action Comics. Vin Sullivan, editor of the new book, wrote to the pair requesting that the comic strips be refashioned to suit the comic book format, requesting "eight panels a page". However Siegel and Shuster ignored this, utilising their own experience and ideas to create page layouts, with Siegel also identifying the image used for the cover of Action Comics #1, Superman's first appearance, published in June, 1938.^[16] Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, a pulp magazine writer and entrepreneur, pioneered the American comic book, publishing the first such periodical consisting of all-original material rather than reprints of newspaper comic strips. ... National Publications was one of the companies that would later become DC Comics. ... Maxwell Charles Gaines a. ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Cover of Action Comics #1, which featured the debut of Superman. ... The vocabulary of comics consists of the many different techniques and images which comics artists will employ in order to convey a narrative within the medium of comics. ... Cover of Action Comics #1, which featured the debut of Superman. ... See also: 1937 in comics, other events of 1938, 1939 in comics, 1930s in comics and the list of years in comics Publications: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Publications This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ...

Publication

See also: List of Superman comics

Action Comics #1 (June 1938). The début of Superman. Cover art by Joe Shuster.

Superman's first appearance was in Action Comics #1, in 1938. In 1939, a self-titled series was launched. The first issue mainly reprinted adventures published in Action Comics, but despite this the book achieved greater sales.^[17] 1939 also saw the publication of New York World's Fair Comics, which by Summer of 1942 became World's Finest Comics. With issue #7 of All Star Comics, Superman made the first of a number of infrequent appearances, on this occasion appearing in cameo to establish his honorary membership of the Justice Society of America.^[18] This is a list of comics regularly featuring superman. ... Cover of Action Comics #1. ... Cover of Action Comics #1. ... Cover of Action Comics #1, which featured the debut of Superman. ... Joseph Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1 (March 1938). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... Superman began as a feature in Action Comics #1 in June 1938. ... Worlds Finest Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. ...

Initially Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster would provide the story and art for all the strips published. However Shuster's eyesight began to deteriorate, and the increasing appearances of the character saw an increase in the workload. This led Shuster to establish a studio to assist in the production of the art,^[17] although he insisted on drawing the face of every Superman the studio produced. Outside the studio, Jack Burnley began supplying covers and stories in 1940.^[19] Wayne Boring, initially employed in Shuster's studio began working for DC in his own right in 1942, providing pages for both Superman and Action Comics.^[20] Jerome (Jerry) Siegel (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996) was the co-creator of Superman, the first of the great comic book heroes and one of the most recognizable fictional characters from the 20th century. ... Joseph Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1 (March 1938). ... For a one-room apartment, see Apartment. ... Jack Burnley is the pen name of Hardin Burnley, a comic-book artist active from 1929 until 1976. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Wayne Boring (born 1905, Minnesota; died 1987) is an American comic book artist, most known for his work on Superman from the late 1940s to 1950s. ...

The scripting duties also became shared. In late 1939 a new editorial team assumed control of the character's adventures. Whitney Ellsworth, Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff were brought in following Vin Sullivan's departure. This new editorial team brought in Edmond Hamilton, Manly Wade Wellman and Alfred Bester, established writers of science fiction.^[21] See also: 1938 in comics, other events of 1939, 1940 in comics, 1930s in comics and the list of years in comics Publications: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Publications This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Look up editorial, op-ed in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Mortimer Weisinger (1915-1978) was an American magazine and comic book editor. ... Edmond Hamilton (November 21, 1904 - February 1, 1977) began writing science fiction with the story The Monster God of Mamurth in 1928. ... Manly Wade Wellman (May 21, 1903 - April 5, 1986) was an American writer of fiction and non-fiction. ... Alfred Bester (born December 18, 1913 in New York City, died September 30, 1987) was a science fiction author and the winner of the first Hugo Award in 1953 for his novel The Demolished Man. ...

By 1943, Jerry Siegel was drafted into the army in a special celebration, and his duties there saw high contributions drop. Don Cameron and Alvin Schwartz joined the writing team, Schwartz teaming up with Wayne Boring to work on the Superman comic strip which had been launched by Siegel and Shuster in 1939.^[20] Don Cameron founder of Cameron Balloons the worlds largest hot air balloon manufacturer. ... This article is in need of attention. ... The daily Superman newspaper comic strip began in January 6, 1939, and a separate Sunday strip was added on November 5, 1939. ...

The Man of Steel #1 (July 1986), written and drawn by John Byrne.

In 1945 Superboy made his début in More Fun Comics #101. The character moved to Adventure Comics in 1946, and his own title, Superboy, launched in 1949. The 1950s saw the launching of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (1954) and Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane (1958). By 1974 these titles had merged into Superman Family, although the series was cancelled in 1982. In 1986 a decision was taken to restructure the fictional universe the Superman character inhabited with other DC universe characters. This saw the publication of "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow", a two part story written by Alan Moore, with art by Curt Swan, George Perez and Kurt Schaffenberger.^[22] The story was published in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583, and presented what Les Daniels notes as "the sense of loss the fans might have experienced if this had really been the last Superman tale."^[23] Image File history File links Mansteel1. ... Image File history File links Mansteel1. ... The Man of Steel was a six-issue comic book limited series released in 1986 by DC Comics, several months after the 12-issue limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths completed. ... John Lindley Byrne (born July 6, 1950) is a British-born naturalised American author and artist of comic books. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... More Fun Comics was a DC Comics title which began as New Fun Comics in February 1935 and changed to More Fun with its seventh issue. ... Adventure Comics #296 Adventure Comics is a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... The Silver Age Jimmy Olsen in a scene from Supermans Pal, Jimmy Olsen #36(1959). ... Lois Joanne Lane is a fictional comic book character who appears in DC Comics’ Superman stories. ... Superman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring primarily stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics. ... Cover to the History of the DC Universe trade paperback. ... Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton) is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... Curt Swan (born February 17, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota; died June 16, 1996) was an American comic book artist, most known for his work on the Superman comics. ... George Pérez (born June 9, 1954 in The Bronx, New York) is a Puerto Rican-American illustrator and writer of comic books. ... Kurt Schaffenberger (December 15, 1920-January 24, 2002) was an American comic book artist. ...

Superman was relaunched by writer & artist John Byrne, initially in the limited series The Man of Steel (1986). 1986 also saw the cancellation of World's Finest Comics, and the Superman title renamed The Adventures of Superman. A second volume of Superman was launched in 1987, running until cancellation in 2006. This cancellation saw The Adventures of Superman revert back to the Superman title. Superman: The Man of Steel was launched in 1991, running until 2003, whilst the quarterly book Superman: The Man of Tomorrow ran from 1995 to 1999. In 2003 Superman/Batman launched, as well as the Superman: Birthright limited series, with All Star Superman launched in 2005 and Superman Confidential in 2006. John Lindley Byrne (born July 6, 1950) is a British-born naturalised American author and artist of comic books. ... The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ... The Man of Steel was a six-issue comic book limited series released in 1986 by DC Comics, several months after the 12-issue limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths completed. ... The death of Superman and its aftermath ran through a number of issues of the Superman comics in 1992-93. ... The death of Superman and its aftermath ran through a number of issues of the Superman comics in 1992-93. ... Superman/Batman is a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publishers two most popular characters: Superman and Batman. ... All Star Superman, launched in November 2005, is an ongoing comic book series featuring Superman, written by Grant Morrison, drawn by Frank Quitely, digitally inked by Jamie Grant and published by DC Comics. ... Superman Confidential is an upcoming monthly comic book series from DC Comics and set to debut its first issue on November 2006. ...

Influences

See also: Cultural influences on Superman

An influence on early Superman stories is the context of the Great Depression. The left-leaning perspective of creators Shuster and Siegel is reflected in early storylines. Superman took on the role of social activist, fighting crooked businessmen and politicians and demolishing run-down tenements.^[24] This is seen by comics scholar Roger Sabin as a reflection of "the liberal idealism of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal", with Shuster and Siegal initially portraying Superman as champion to a variety of social causes.^[25] In later Superman radio programs the character continued to take on such issues, tackling a version of the KKK in a 1946 broadcast.^[26][27] Cultural influences USPS stamp honoring Supermans first appearance Some people incorrectly believe that Superman is partly based on philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s Übermensch, which literally translates to “overman” but could also mean “superman. ... The Great Depression was a time of economic down turn, which started after the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ... Roger Sabin is a comics writer and lecturer at Central St. ... Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ... Announcer Jackson Beck (left) with Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander The Adventures of Superman, adapted from the DC Comics character created in 1938 (see Superman), came to radio as a syndicated show on New York Citys WOR on February 12, 1940. ...

Siegel himself noted that the many mythic heroes which exist in the traditions of many cultures bore an influence on the character, including Hercules and Samson.^[12] The character has also been seen by Scott Bukatman to be "a worthy successor to Lindhberg ... (and) also ... like Babe Ruth", and is also representative of the United States dedication to "progress and the 'new'" through his "invulnerable body ... on which history cannot be inscribed."^[28] Further, given that Siegel and Schuster were noted fans of pulp science fiction,^[9] it has been suggested that another influence may have been Hugo Danner. Danner was the main character of the novel Gladiator by Philip Wylie, and is possessed of same powers of the early Superman (along with many other pulp characters of the twenties and thirties).^[29] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Heracles. ... Samson and Delilah, by Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) This article is about Biblical figure. ... Hugo Danner is the protagonist of the 1930 novel Gladiator, by Philip Gordon Wylie. ... Gladiator is an American science fiction novel first published in 1930 and written by Philip Wylie. ... Philip Gordon Wylie (May 12, 1902 - October 25, 1971) was a U.S. author and writer. ...

Because Siegel and Shuster were both Jewish, it is thought that their creation was partly influenced by Moses,^[30][31] and other Jewish influences. Superman's Kryptonian name, "Kal-El," resembles the Hebrew words קל-אל, which means "vessel of God".^[32] The suffix "el", meaning "of God"^[33] is also found in the name of angels (e.g. Gabriel, Ariel); flying humanoid agents of good with super-human powers. Jewish legends of the Golem have been cited as worthy of comparison,^[34] a Golem being a mythical being created to protect and serve the persecuted Jews of 16th century Prague and later revived in popular culture in reference to their suffering at the hands of the Nazis in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. Superman is often seen as being an analogy for Jesus, being a saviour of humanity.^{[31][34][25][35]} The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Ä’l (אל) is a Northwest Semitic word and name translated into English as either god or God or left untranslated as El, depending on the context. ... 12th-century icon of Archangel Gabriel from Novgorod In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel (גַּבְרִיאֵל, Standard Hebrew Gavriʼel, Latin Gabrielus, Greek , Tiberian Hebrew Gaḇrîʼēl, Arabic جبريل JibrÄ«l or Jibrail, literally Master, of God, i. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... For instances of Golem in popular culture, see Golem in popular culture. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Nickname: Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area  - City 496 km²  (191. ... The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Whilst the term Superman was initially coined by Nietzsche, it is unclear exactly how influential Nietzsche and his ideals were to Siegel and Schuster.^[31] Les Daniels has speculated that "Siegel picked up the term from other science fiction writers who had casually employed it", further noting that "his concept is remembered hundreds of millions who may barely know who Nietzsche is."^[12] However, it has also been argued that Siegel and Schuster "could not have been unaware of an idea that would dominate Hitler's National Socialism. The concept was certainly well discussed."^[36] It has also been argued that in many ways Superman and the Übermensch are polar opposites.^[30] Nietzsche envisioned the Übermensch as a man who had transcended the limitations of society, religion, and conventional morality while still being fundamentally human. Superman, although an alien gifted with incredible powers, chooses to honor human moral codes and social mores. Nietzsche envisioned the perfect man as being beyond moral codes; Siegel and Shuster envisioned the perfect man as holding himself to a higher standard of adherence to them.^[37] The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Siegel and Shuster have themselves discussed a number of influences which impacted upon the character. Both were avid readers, and this love of reading, particularly science fiction helped to drive their friendship. Siegel has noted the John Carter stories as an influence: "Carter was able to leap great distances because the planet Mars was smaller that the planet Earth; and he had great strength. I visualized the planet Krypton as a huge planet, much larger than Earth".^[38] The pair were also avid collectors of comic strips in their youth, cutting them from the newspaper, with Winsor McKay's Little Nemo firing their imagination with its sense of fantasy.^[39] Shuster has remarked on the artists which played an important part in the development of his own style, whilst also noting a larger influence: "Alex Raymond and Burne Hogarth were my idols—also Milt Caniff, Hal Foster, and Roy Crane. But the movies were the greatest influence on our imagination: especially the films of Douglas Fairbanks Senior."^[40] Fairbanks' role as Robin Hood was certainly an inspiration, as Shuster admitted to basing Superman's stance upon scenes from the movie.^[41] The movies also influenced the storytelling and page layouts,^[42] whilst the city of Metropolis was named in honor of the Fritz Lang movie of the same title.^[38] Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... John Carter and Dejah Thoris from the cover of the first edition of A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, McClurg, 1917 John Carter of Mars may also refer to John Carter of Mars (novel) and John Carter of Mars (film). ... Winsor McCay (September 26, 1871 - July 26, 1934) was a prolific artist and pioneer in the art of animation. ... Little Nemo is the main fictional character in a series of weekly comic strips by Winsor McCay (1871-1934) that appeared in the New York Herald and William Randolph Hearsts New York American newspapers from October 15, 1905—April 23, 1911 and April 30, 1911—1913; respectively. ... Alex Raymond (October 2, 1909- September 6, 1956) was an American comic strip artist, best known for his work on Flash Gordon. ... Burne Hogarth (December 25, 1911 - January 28, 1996) was an American cartoonist, illustrator, educator, and author, and theoretician. ... Milton Arthur Paul Caniff (February 28, 1907-May 3, 1988) was an American cartoonist most famous for Terry and the Pirates. ... Harold Rudolph Foster (August 18, 1892 in Halifax, Nova Scotia - July 25, 1982) created the comic Prince Valiant. ... Royston Campbell Crane (November 22, 1901 - July 7, 1977), who signed his work Roy Crane, was an American cartoonist and creator of the comic strip characters Wash Tubbs, Captain Easy, and Buz Sawyer. ... Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Fairbanks (May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer, who became noted for his swashbuckling roles in silent movies such as The Mark of Zorro (1920), The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922), The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and The Black... Robin Hood was the first motion picture ever to make a Hollywood premiere, held at Graumans Egyptian Theatre on October 18, 1922. ... Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ... Friedrich Anton Christian Lang (December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976) was an Austrian-American film director, screenwriter and occasional film producer, one of the best known émigrés from Germanys school of expressionism. ... Metropolis is a silent science fiction film created by the famed Austrian director Fritz Lang. ...

Copyright issues

As part of the deal which saw Superman published in Action Comics, Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to the company in return for $130 and a contract to supply the publisher with material.^[43][44] The Saturday Evening Post reported in 1940 that the pair was each being paid $75,000 a year, a fraction of Detective's millions in Superman profits.^[45] Siegel and Shuster renegotiated their deal, but bad blood lingered and in 1947 Siegel and Shuster sued for their 1938 contract to be made void and the re-establishment of their ownership of the intellectual property rights to Superman. The pair also sued Detective in the same year over the rights to Superboy, which they claimed was a separate creation that Detective had published without authorization. Detective immediately fired them and took their byline off the stories, prompting a legal battle that ended in 1948, when a New York Supreme Court ruled that the 1938 contract should be upheld. However, a ruling from Justice J. Addison Young awarded them the rights to Superboy. A month after the Superboy judgement the two sides agreed on a settlement. Detective paid Siegel and Shuster $94,000 for the rights to Superboy. The pair also acknowledged in writing the company's ownership of Superman, attesting that they held rights for "all other forms of reproduction and presentation, whether now in existence or that may hereafter be created",^[46] but DC refused to re-hire them.^[47] Publishing is the activity of putting information in the public arena. ... In law, an exclusive right is the power or right to perform an action in relation to an object or other thing which others cannnot perform. ... A cover of the Saturday Evening Post from 1903 The Saturday Evening Post was a weekly magazine published in the United States from August 4, 1821 to February 8, 1969. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... A lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court in order to recover a right, obtain damages for an injury, obtain an injunction to prevent an injury, or obtain a declaratory judgment to prevent future legal disputes. ... A contract is a legally binding exchange of promises or agreement between parties that the law will enforce. ... In law, void means of no legal effect. ... For the 2006 film, see Intellectual Property (film). ... For the direction right, see left and right or starboard. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... NY redirects here. ... The supreme court functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be challenged, in some countries, provinces and states. ... A reference to colonization, or the resulting communities. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ...

In 1973 Siegel and Shuster again launched a suit claiming ownership of Superman, this time basing the claim on the Copyright Act of 1909 which saw copyright granted for 28 years but allowed for a renewal of an extra 28 years. Their argument was that they had granted DC the copyright for only 28 years. The pair again lost this battle, both in a district court ruling of October 18, 1973 and an appeal court ruling of December 5, 1974.^[48] Look up Suit in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Copyright Act of 1909 was a landmark statute in United States statutory copyright law. ... District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Court of Appeals or (outside the United States) Court of Appeal is the title of certain appellate courts in various jurisdictions. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

In 1975 after news reports of their pauper-like existences, Warner Communications gave Siegel and Shuster lifetime pensions of $20,000 per year and health care benefits. Jay Emmett, then executive vice president of Warner, was quoted in the New York Times as stating "There is no legal obligation, but I sure feel there is a moral obligation on our part."^[45] In addition, any media production which includes the Superman character were to include the credit "Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster".^[44] Warner Communications, formerly Kinney National Company, was the parent company for Warner Bros. ... A pension (also known as superannuation) is a retirement plan intended to provide a person with a secure income for life. ... Health care in the United States is provided by legal entities. ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ...

Jerry Siegel, with wife Joanne and daughter Laura in 1976. Joanne and Laura Siegel filed a termination notice on Jerry Siegel's share of the copyright of Superman in 1999.

The year after this settlement, 1976, saw the copyright term extended again, this time for another 19 years to a total of 75 years. However, this time a clause was inserted into the extension to allow a creator to reclaim their work, reflecting the arguments Siegel and Shuster had made in 1973. The new act came into power in 1978 and allowed a reclamation window in a period based on the previous copyright term of 56 years. This meant the copyright on Superman could be reclaimed between 1994 to 1999, based on the initial publication date of 1938. Jerry Siegel having died in January 1996, his wife and daughter filed a copyright termination notice in 1999. Although Joe Shuster died in July 1992, no termination was filed at this time by his estate.^[49] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (957x438, 316 KB) An image of the Siegel family, a modified version of a photograph taken by flickr user alan. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (957x438, 316 KB) An image of the Siegel family, a modified version of a photograph taken by flickr user alan. ... The Copyright Act of 1976 is a landmark statute in United States copyright legislation and remains the primary basis of copyright law in the United States. ... Estate is a term used in the common law. ...

1998 saw copyright extended again, with the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. This time the copyright term was extended to 95 years, with a further window for reclamation introduced. In January of 2004 Mark Peary, nephew and legal heir to Joe Shuster's estate, filed notice of his intent to reclaim Shuster's half of the copyright, the termination effective in 2013.^[49] The status of Siegel's share of the copyright is now the subject of a legal battle. Warner Bros. and the Siegels entered into discussions on how to resolve the issues raised by the termination notice, but these discussions were set aside by the Siegels and in October 2004 they filed suit alleging copyright infringement on the part of Warner Bros. Warner Bros. counter sued, alleging the termination notice contains defects amongst other arguments.^[50][51] The copyright ownership of Superman currently appears uncertain, with a decision "the subject of ongoing negotiation"^[44] and an outcome "still pending".^[52] The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended copyright terms in the United States by 20 years. ... For other uses, see inheritance (disambiguation). ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A similar termination of copyright notice filed in 2002 by Siegel's wife and daughter concerning the Superboy character was ruled in their favour on March 23, 2006.^[52] March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (83rd in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Comic book character

Main article: History of Superman

See also: Kal-L

Superman, given the serial nature of comic publishing and the length of the character's existence, has evolved as a character as his adventures have increased.^[53] The details of Superman's origin, relationships and abilities changed significantly during the course of the character's publication, from what is considered the Golden Age of comic books through the Modern Age. The powers and villains were developed through the 1940s, with Superman developing the ability to fly, and costumed villains introduced from 1941.^[54] The character was shown as learning of the existence of Krypton in 1949. The concept itself had originally been established to the reader in 1939, in the Superman comic strip.^[55] Cover of Superman #14, dated January-February 1942. ... Kal-L is the Kryptonian birth name of the Earth-Two Superman, a fictional character who is a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... Superman, catalyst of the Golden Age: Superman #14 (Feb. ... Wolverine, a member of the X-Men, a popular franchise in the Modern Age, and an anti-hero, a popular character type The Modern Age of Comic Books is an informal name for the period in the history of mainstream American comic books generally considered to last from the mid... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... General Name, Symbol, Number krypton, Kr, 36 Chemical series noble gases Group, Period, Block 18, 4, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 83. ... The daily Superman newspaper comic strip began in January 6, 1939, and a separate Sunday strip was added on November 5, 1939. ...

The 1960s saw the introduction of a second Superman, Kal-L. DC had established a multiverse within the fictional universe its characters shared. This allowed characters published in the 1940s to exist alongside updated counterparts published in the 1960s. This was explained to the reader through the notion that the two groups of characters inhabited parallel Earths. The second Superman was introduced to explain to the reader Superman's membership of both the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America and the 1960s superhero team the Justice League of America.^[56] Kal-L is the Kryptonian birth name of the Earth-Two Superman, a fictional character who is a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Parallel universe, alternate reality, etc. ... Kal-L is the Kryptonian birth name of the Earth-Two Superman, a fictional character who is a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. ... The Justice League is a DC Comics superhero team. ...

Art from Superman #75 (January 1993), where Superman dies in Lois Lane's arms. Pencils by Dan Jurgens.

The 1980s saw radical revisions of the character. DC Comics decided to remove the multiverse in a bid to simplify its comics line. This led to the rewriting of the back story of the characters DC published, Superman included. John Byrne rewrote Superman, removing many established conventions and characters from continuity, including Superboy and Supergirl. Byrne also re-established Superman's adoptive parents, The Kents, as characters.^[57] In the previous continuity the characters had been written as having died early in Superman's life (about the time of Clark Kent's graduation from high school). The 1990s saw Superman killed by the villain Doomsday,^[58] although the character was soon resurrected.^[59] Superman also marries Lois Lane in 1996. In the 2000s Superman becomes a vegetarian, and his origin is again revisited in 2004.^[60] In 2006 Superman is stripped of his powers,^[61] although these are restored within a fictional year.^[62] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (502x773, 214 KB) Death of Superman from Superman #75 by Dan Jurgens It is low resolution. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (502x773, 214 KB) Death of Superman from Superman #75 by Dan Jurgens It is low resolution. ... Lois Joanne Lane-Kent is a fictional character who appears in DC Comics’ Superman stories. ... Dan Jurgens is an American writer and artist of comic books. ... In narratology, a back-story (also back story or backstory) is the history behind the situation extant at the start of the main story. ... John Lindley Byrne (born July 6, 1950) is a British-born naturalised American author and artist of comic books. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... For other uses, see Supergirl (disambiguation). ... Martha Clark Kent and Jonathan Kent, also known as Ma and Pa Kent, are fictional characters published by DC Comics. ... Doomsday is the name of a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe, a supervillain best known for fighting and killing Superman in the Death of Superman storyline in 1993. ...

Personality

In the original Siegel and Shuster stories, Superman's personality is rough and aggressive. The character was seen stepping in to stop wife beaters, profiteers, a lynch mob and gangsters, with rather rough edges and a looser moral code than audiences may be used to today.^[24] Later writers have softened the character, and instilled a sense of idealism and moral code of conduct. Although not as cold-blooded as the early Batman, the Superman featured in the comics of the 1930s is unconcerned about the harm his strength may cause, tossing villainous characters in such a manner that fatalities would presumably occur, although these were seldom shown explicitly on the page. This came to an end late in 1940, when new editor Whitney Ellsworth instituted a code of conduct for his characters to follow, banning Superman from ever killing.^[55] This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Lynching is murder (mostly by hanging) conceived by its perpetrators as extra-legal execution. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ...

In Superman/Batman #3, Batman thinks, "It is a remarkable dichotomy. In many ways, Clark is the most human of us