The Superman (lost early comic from superhero series; 1933): Difference between revisions

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[[File:Thesuperman.jpg|thumb|215px|The surviving front cover.]]
{{InfoboxLost
'''Superman''' needs little to no introduction. He remains one of the most recognizable pop culture icons and is considered one of the first "true" superheroes.
|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.


Most Superman fans know his "official" debut was in 1938 with ''Action Comics No. 1''. What many people don't know is that the Man of Steel had 2 other known (or, in this case, at least planned) appearances before this issue. One was a depiction of the character as a villain in a short story called ''The Reign of the Superman ''dated for June 1933. This short story, though extremely rare in physical form, is readily available online.
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 around with the idea of making the character a hero instead of the villain. They got in touch with publishing company, Consolidated Book Publishing. The duo worked enthusiastically and hard, even receiving a promising letter for publication. 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. It wouldn't be for another 5 years that the hero would finally see his first publication.
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.


Today, all that survives of this comic is the cover. Superman is seen in an entirely different design. Little is known about its plot, or what other character designs may have looked like. 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.
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.
 
==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:Historic|Superman]]
[[Category:Completely lost media|Superman]]

Revision as of 18:50, 25 October 2021

Thesuperman.jpg

The surviving front cover.

Status: Lost

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.

See Also

References