This cover is the only surviving part of the comic.
The Superman is an early comic book by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster prior to Action Comics 1, featuring an early version of Superman. It was never published.
The comic book was destroyed in a fire by Joe Shuster, but luckily the cover was saved by Jerry Siegel.
The Character[]
This version of Superman was described as either being simply a strong, crime-fighting hero (according to Joe Shuster) or as super strong with skin invincible to bullets but less fantastically strong that finalized Superman will be (according to Jerry Siegel's unpublished memoir), as opposed to the bald, telepathic villain Superman who appeared in Reign of the Superman, and the modern version of Superman who appeared in Action Comics, but just like villain of the previous story he too was a "victim" of an experiement by evil scientist but unlike former he would use his new abilities for more noble causes. He can be considered an intermediate character. It is unknown what the occupation or other characters were like in this prototype.
The creators likened him to Slam Bradley.
Characters[]
- The Superman
Trivia[]
According to Siegel and Shuster (in the interview in Nemo #2 magazine) character of The Superman was one time depicted crouching on a rooftop with bat-like cape. Years before finalized Superman came out which inspired creation of Batman. In fact there is theory that Bob Kane actually borrowed idea of bat-like character from working along with Siegel and Shuster on the More Fun Comics in which in one of Doctor Occult story in 1937 , there was panel of bat-like creatures standing in a pale moonlight with narration literally naming creature "Bat-man" which will be exact name for the first introduction of The Dark Knight ever. Later on, decades later in Superman: American Alien comics Superman will wear cape that he violently teared from Batman as a prototype suit, moment which will be redone in Superman Man of Tomorrow animated film where Superman will simply be inspired by Batman's photo.
| Versions of the character Superman | ||
| Historical Versions | William Dunn • The Superman • Kal-El | |
| Alternate Universes | Earth-One • Earth-Two • Earth-31 • Red Son • Tangent • Calvin Ellis • Ultraman • Injustice | |
| Future Versions | Kingdom Come • Superman X • Willigig • Kaleb • Superman of the 30th Century • Superman of the 67th Century • Superman XII • Superstar • Superego • Kal Kent • Supercilia • Titano • Kan • Layna • Superman of Xudar | |
| In Other Media | Serials Continuity • Adventures of Superman TV Series Continuity • Films Continuity • DCAU Continuity • Lois & Clark Continuity • Smallville Continuity • Superman Returns Continuity • Superman of Tokyo • Man of Steel Continuity | |