Superman’s Legacy After 86 Years

In 2024 superman He’s reached the ripe old age of 86. Not only at the height of pop culture interest, thanks to the new film adaptation of James Gunn’s hero. But also for the ongoing debate about everything that the iconic DC figure represents in the publishing world and beyond. As a symbol of goodness and hope – no longer the American dream – the superhero created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist) is many things at once. This probably explains why it remains extremely popular despite the passage of time.

Which contrasts with its curious, even humble origins. In 1938, its creators, who were going through particularly tough economic times, sold the rights to the image and writing Detective Comics, Inc.., in a desperate attempt to continue his work. The most amazing thing from a distance is that the cost of Superman barely reached $ 130. A small amount for the size that the character later acquired. In particular, it once became a symbol of a difficult time in American history.

It was a Superman in a suit reminiscent of the American flag, and a traditional boy-country man who represented hope and faith in the midst of the post-war period. It was also one that demonstrated the power that pop culture figures could wield in the midst of a chaotic social and cultural environment. Little by little, what began as a play of imagination in the minds of its creators in their native Cleveland became a way of understanding the moral and ethical values ​​of an entire country. Something that will pave his way in history and keep him in a place of honor for decades to come.

It all started in Kansas

On April 18, 1938, the last son of Krypton debuted in Action Comics #1. For the occasion, the same name was used that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had christened him with in 1933 in a science fiction story about an alien with good intentions. The first issues already showed his most notable characteristics. Among them, his ability to fly and everything related to his home planet, from where he had to flee to avoid dying with the rest of his race.

But specifically, the creators wanted to make it clear that Superman is a man who makes decisions for the common good. Including using all of his powers to represent the collective good. In essence, Superman was the embodiment of the sense of patriotic duty of that time. Much more, within the framework of ideas about loyalty, respect for others and the most traditional American customs.

The details of the mythology surrounding the superhero weren’t many at the time, but the general outlines were there. Sooner or later, Superman was revealed to be an immigrant, this time from outer space. One that also paid tribute to a diverse North America that had experienced a complete population explosion as a result of the post-war period. The idea of ​​a hero who was not human but educated on Earth captivated audiences.

Superman quickly became famous. And a year after his appearance on paper and in the cartoon, he already received an individual issue with his name. This new format collects previously published stories. In total, one volume was published, which became a bestseller in 1940 and introduced the character to a wider readership.

A hero who represented the country

Later, this story reached the World Comics Fair in New York, which in 1942 was called “The Best Comics of the World.” By this time, the world associated with Superman had become more complex. Especially for the interaction with other characters from different publishers. And specifically for the recognition that his character achieved in the world of comics. This atypical hero, with a strong character and a sensitive heart, He was the complete opposite of the flat and elemental characters of that time.

But despite its popularity, there were problems behind its creation. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster began having problems with each other and with maintaining the necessary pace of work. This led to the latter founding a studio dedicated exclusively to Superman’s appearance and design. Curious data? Shuster then insisted that each hero have his own face, so he had wide creative control over his image and the dynamics of the story on paper.

In the midst of this accelerated growth, other artists began to get involved in the creative process of bringing Superman to life. This meant that, starting in 1941, Fred Ray drew a series of covers that became iconic. In particular, providing great scenes that became part of the hero’s imagination. From the man in the red cape saving kittens, to him flying through space, to the famous shots of him using his superpower. The truth is that in the early years of the 1940s the figure evolved and became more complex and mature.

New Voices of Man of Steel

But the most interesting thing at this stage happened when the Superman story began to influence not only the writers but also the Superman story. Which included a new editorial staff led by Whitney Ellsworth. The latter recruited Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff, update the stories, make them more modern and less harsh, but at the same time more sensitive.

Gradually, as he followed and upheld the rules of every comic book superhero—do good, strive to be an example, and entertain—a more complex idea emerged. Superman made decisions about how and when to use his powers. He was also better aware of its context and its complex origins.

It was Whitney Ellsworth who hired Edmond Hamilton, Manly Wade Wellman, and Alfred Bester to work on the science-fiction context surrounding Superman. So the team imagined the arduous journey from their native Krypton to Earth, a life of service to human civilization. That’s when the hero transformed from just another one of many comic book influencers into an American icon. So much so that its publication was banned in Nazi Germany and Spain, and it was renamed Cyclone.

The hero in the red cloak finds his target

By the early 1940s, when Superman had become a national symbol of goodness, two events had marked the history of Superman since then. In 1943, Jerry Siegel had to join the army, so he had to put off writing the hero’s stories. Don Cameron and Alvin Schwartz took his place and together they brought a whole new perspective to the son of Krypton.

More patriotic, with his entire image focused on representing good, Clark Kent became more than just an alien who grew up in Kansas. He now symbolized the meaning and purpose of the Allied forces. More than that, he demonstrated that his power came from his fervent conviction in the ideal and necessity of the American way of life.

The publication’s penchant for political activism was so obvious that by 1942, several issues of Superman featured his fight against the Nazis, in addition to his active participation in a fictional version of the military conflict. Some episodes that year showed him fighting at the front and even punching German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Also to Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.

The importance of a hero who represents goodness

The impact of the image of a hero facing real enemies set the tone for the comic book world. So much so that many other publishers followed DC’s lead, including Marvel and its Captain America. But Superman was the first to be widely accepted, conceived and analyzed as an integral part of North America. All the more so as an expression of deep respect for the values ​​and customs of the country with which the hero completely identified himself.

In 1945, the evolution of the vast world of Superman as we know it today began. That same year, the Super Boy V More funny comics. As the decades passed, different authors added characters, settings, relationships, and depth. So in 1972, various publications appeared related to the life and context of the Man of Steel. All of the above was compiled into one number called superman family, which was published monthly until 1982.

But big changes for Superman came in 1986, with the release of the miniseries. Crisis on Infinite Earthsin which the story was divided into two parts, Whatever happens to the man of tomorrowSuperman has become more mature, more complex, less attractive, and downright flawed. A change that affected how his stories and life were analyzed on paper.

Superman’s Influence

In 1992, the writing team of Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, and Karl Kesel wrote a graphic novel. The Death of Superman. It tells the tragic story of the loss of a hero, and also, symbolically, the end of an era. Superman, as he was previously known, had suffered a difficult decline in sales and importance in Washington. And this despite the fact that in the cinematic part, his alter ego had already reached the saga and She was recognized as one of the best representatives of the emerging superhero genre.

But Superman’s natural context has always been the comic book, so his death—symbolic in many ways—was a major event in the entertainment world. But it also showed that the hero could boast of not only being reborn from the ashes, but become much more interesting and popular for a new audience.

This was not a random occurrence. Since his creation, Superman has been subject to all sorts of influences. From the Great Depression, which showed how he fought to restore hope, World War II, and even various political currents. The truth is that the Man of Steel, like no other, embodies the political, social and cultural virtues of the United States and, in a sense, the West as well. Something that has become more obvious and tangible with the passage of decades and the level of importance of the character.

A new era begins

To date, 13 actors have played Superman in film, on the small screen, and even in the world of radio. In 2025 supermanStarring David Corenswet and directed by James Gunn, the film will open the door for the superhero in cinema. But it will also demonstrate — as it does now — its validity, importance, and relevance.

Eighty-six years seems like a long time for a pop culture icon. But not for the last son of Krypton, still a mass hero and a symbol of hope in a cynical world. The best legacy of work that has transcended generations and become part of today’s collective culture.