The Big Book of Superman, 22 (DC Super Heroes)

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Since Action Comics #1 (1938), Superman has superhuman strength. The cover of Action Comics #1 shows him effortlessly lifting a car over his head. Another classic feat of strength on Superman's part is breaking steel chains. In some stories, he is strong enough to shift the orbits of planets [171] and crush coal into diamond with his hands. Superman: The Animated Series (with the voice of Tim Daly on the main character) aired from 1996 to 2000. After the show's conclusion, this version of Superman appeared in the sequel shows Batman Beyond (voiced by Christopher McDonald) aired from 1999 to 2001 and Justice League and Justice League Unlimited (voiced by George Newbern), which ran from 2001 to 2006. All of these shows were produced by Bruce Timm. This was the most successful and longest-running animated version of Superman. [115] Johnston, Rich (February 4, 2014). "Scoop: The New Look For John Romita Jr's Superman – And Confirmation That Geoff Johns Will Be Writing It". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on February 6, 2014. In Action Comics #1 (1938), Superman is born on an alien world to a technologically advanced species that resembles humans. Shortly after he is born, his planet is destroyed in a natural cataclysm, but Superman's scientist father foresaw the calamity and saves his baby son by sending him to Earth in a small spaceship. The ship is too small to carry anyone else, so Superman's parents stay behind and die. The earliest newspaper strips name the planet "Krypton", the baby "Kal-L", and his biological parents "Jor-L" and "Lora"; [149] their names were changed to "Jor-el", and "Lara" in a 1942 spinoff novel by George Lowther. [150] The ship lands in the American countryside, where the baby is discovered by the Kents, a farming couple. In Action Comics #1 and most stories published before 1986, Superman's powers begin developing in infancy. From 1944 to 1986, DC Comics regularly published stories of Superman's childhood and adolescent adventures, when he called himself " Superboy". From 1986 on (beginning with Man of Steel #1), Superman's powers emerged more slowly and he began his superhero career as an adult.

In the Arrowverse, the main Superman (played by Tyler Hoechlin), appears as a guest star in several television series: Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. A Supergirl spin-off, Superman & Lois, premiered on February 23, 2021. Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 59: "Superman's origin was retold—and slightly revamped—for this special tenth anniversary issue." Daniels "The Superman Family Strength in Numbers", p. 118: "By 1961, Swan's new look would replace Wayne Boring's patriarchal version. Swan's Superman became definitive, and ultimately he would draw, as he says, 'more Superman stories than anybody else.'" A sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), featured Superman alongside Batman and Wonder Woman, making it the first theatrical film in which Superman appeared alongside other superheroes from the DC Universe. The pair collected comic strips in their youth, with a favorite being Winsor McCay's fantastical Little Nemo. [58] Shuster remarked on the artists who played an important part in the development of his own style: " Alex Raymond and Burne Hogarth were my idols– also Milt Caniff, Hal Foster, and Roy Crane." [58] Shuster taught himself to draw by tracing over the art in the strips and magazines they collected. [3]

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From his blue uniform to his flowing red cape to the "S" shield on his chest, Superman is one of the most immediately recognizable and beloved DC Super Heroes of all time. The Man of Steel is the ultimate symbol of truth, justice, and hope. He is the world's first Super Hero and a guiding light to all. Joe Shuster, illustrator " The Reign of the Superman", a short story by Jerry Siegel (January 1933) Clark Kent's foster parents are Ma and Pa Kent. In many stories, one or both of them have died by the time Clark becomes Superman. Clark's parents taught him that he should use his abilities for altruistic means, but that he should also find some way to safeguard his private life. For specially created articles, original videos, free-to-read comics, limited edition merchandise and more celebrating Superman’s anniversary month, be sure to visit our official Superman hub. Having lost his home world of Krypton, Superman is very protective of Earth, [166] and especially of Clark Kent's family and friends. This same loss, combined with the pressure of using his powers responsibly, has caused Superman to feel lonely on Earth, despite having his friends and parents. Previous encounters with people he thought to be fellow Kryptonians, Power Girl [167] and Mon-El, [168] have led to disappointment. The arrival of Supergirl, who has been confirmed to be his cousin from Krypton, relieved this loneliness somewhat. [169] Superman's Fortress of Solitude acts as a place of solace for him in times of loneliness and despair. [170] Powers, abilities, and weaknesses

Kent is a journalist because Siegel often imagined himself becoming one after leaving school. The love triangle between Lois Lane, Clark, and Superman was inspired by Siegel's own awkwardness with girls. [62]Superman is also vulnerable to magic. Enchanted weapons and magical spells affect Superman as easily as they would a normal human. This weakness was established in Superman #171 (1964). Adventures of Superman, which aired from 1952 to 1958, was the first television series based on a superhero. It starred George Reeves as Superman. Whereas the radio serial was aimed at children, this television show was aimed at a general audience, [121] [122] although children made up the majority of viewers. Robert Maxwell, who produced the radio serial, was the producer for the first season. For the second season, Maxwell was replaced with Whitney Ellsworth. Ellsworth toned down the violence of the show to make it more suitable for children, though he still aimed for a general audience. This show was extremely popular in Japan, where it achieved an audience share rating of 74.2% in 1958. [123] Ordway, Jerry( w),Grummett, Tom( p), Hazlewood, Doug( i)."The Big Drain!" Adventures of Superman,no.481(August 1991).

McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 182: "Scribe Len Wein and artist Curt Swan brought in Supergirl to support Superman during his successful restoration of the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor to full size." In the earliest comic book stories, Clark Kent's employer is George Taylor of The Daily Star, but the second episode of the radio serial changed this to Perry White of the Daily Planet. [179] Segura, Alex (March 8, 2010). "J. Michael Straczynski to write Superman and Wonder Woman Starting in July". DC Comics. Archived from the original on March 13, 2010 . Retrieved July 23, 2012. Starting in July with Superman #701 and Wonder Woman #601, superstar writer J. Michael Straczynski— a man who's created layered and compelling characters and worlds on the big screen, on television and across the comic book spectrum—dives head-first into the DC Universe by taking the ongoing writing reins for two-thirds of the fabled DCU trinity. Exclusive: Bendis To Write Superman, Revive Jinxworld, And Oversee New Custom Imprint At DC Comics -Forbes Taylor, Robert (July 1, 2008). "Reflections: J. Michael Straczynski Part II". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012 . Retrieved July 23, 2012. There is a personal connection to the character for me. Growing up, I identified with the character the most.Initially, Siegel was allowed to write Superman more or less as he saw fit because nobody had anticipated the success and rapid expansion of the franchise. [90] [91] But soon Siegel and Shuster's work was put under careful oversight for fear of trouble with censors. [92] Siegel was forced to tone down the violence and social crusading that characterized his early stories. [93] Editor Whitney Ellsworth, hired in 1940, dictated that Superman not kill. [94] Sexuality was banned, and colorfully outlandish villains such as Ultra-Humanite and Toyman were thought to be less nightmarish for young readers. [95] McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 124: "Since the dawn of comics' Silver Age, readers have asked 'Who's faster: Superman or the Flash?' Writer Jim Shooter and artist Curt Swan tried answering that question when the Man of Steel and the Fastest Man Alive agreed to the U.N.'s request to race each other for charity." In his first appearances, Superman was considered a vigilante by the authorities, being fired upon by the National Guard as he razed a slum so that the government would create better housing conditions for the poor. By 1942, however, Superman was working side-by-side with the police. [161] [162] Today, Superman is commonly seen as a brave and kind-hearted hero with a strong sense of justice, morality, and righteousness. He adheres to an unwavering moral code instilled in him by his adoptive parents. [163] His commitment to operating within the law has been an example to many citizens and other heroes, but has stirred resentment and criticism among others, who refer to him as the "big blue boy scout". Superman can be rather rigid in this trait, causing tensions in the superhero community. [164] This was most notable with Wonder Woman, one of his closest friends, after she killed Maxwell Lord. [164] Booster Gold initially had an icy relationship with the Man of Steel but grew to respect him. [165] Kesel, Karl; Ordway, Jerry( w), Dodson, Terry( p), Story, Karl( i)."Curtain Call" Adventures of Superman,no.540(November 1996).

Damore, Meagan (April 14, 2016). "Tomasi Paves the Way to 'The Final Days of Superman' & 'Superman: Rebirth' ". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman aired from 1993 to 1997. This show was aimed at adults and focused on the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane as much as Superman's heroics. [115] Dean Cain played Superman, and Teri Hatcher played Lois. Since then, many other creators have run with the Superman legacy, embracing Siegel and Shuster's original story, adding their own ideas and directions and, sometimes, even flipping the script on its head.

Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 37 " Superman #13 (November–December 1941) Jimmy Olsen made his first appearance as a named character in this issue." Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 253: "In this seven-part adventure...writers Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Roger Stern, and Louise Simonson, with artists Brett Breeding, Tom Grummett, Jon Bogdanove, and Bob McLeod assembled many of DC's favorite characters to defend the world."