There’s no arguing that Superman was a force of nature when he was introduced in 1938 in Action Comics #1– essentially launching the genre of superheroes in the world of comics. His transition to superstar status was fast but I think he really reached his zenith in the 1950s.
In 1940 Superman was the star of a popular daily radio show which ran fifteen minutes on afternoons making him a pop culture figure. The following year Paramount Studios released 17 beautifully rendered cartoons from the Fleischer Bros Studios– a rival to Disney who often surpassed their output. In 1948 and 1950 Columbia Pictures released two serial versions of Superman which led to a low budget feature film in 1951 called SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN– intended to test the waters for a live action TV series to replace the outgoing radio show.
The natural choice for the role of Superman was the star of his two serials, Kirk Alyn, but Alyn had his fill of superheroics and passed. Radio Superman Bud Collyer wasn’t physically up for the role so it went to B-Movie actor George Reeves who would embody the Man of Steel to a generation of fans.
The TV Series aired in syndication and was even more successful than the radio show, making Superman a household word. The show even crossed over with the mega popular Lucille Ball program, I LOVE LUCY.
Reeves’ Superman was at first a very no-nonsense avenger– having little patience for the gangsters and criminals inhabiting Metropolis, and his Clark Kent was far from the bumbler that Christopher Reeve (no relation) would introduce to audiences in the late 1970s. Reeves’ Clark Kent was capable and solid, if occasionally unreliable.
As the series went on, Superman became more of a father figure, and this was mimicked in the DC Comics of the time, which were also advertised at the end of every episode as being available at your local newstand.
The 50s Comics drawn mostly by Wayne Boring and eventually Curt Swan, featured a barrel chested Superman who more closely resembled a hard working blue collar dad than a weight lifter or body builder. Sales of the comics reflected the popularity of the TV series and soon DC Comics added DC SUPERMAN COMICS to the circle logo of all of their comic books.
Today back issues of SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS have cooled with collectors, with many people feeling Superman the character is either out of touch with today’s audience’s or has lost his way in the cinematic DCEU where he’s been made to be a darker character than most of his die-hard fans expect him to be.
While I’m a Batman guy all the way, I love the Superman related titles of the 40s- 60s which included SUPERMAN, ACTION COMICS, ADVENTURE COMICS, WORLD’S FINEST, SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE and SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN.
Superman will have his day again, and smart collectors are buying up the back issues at what will be seen as bargain prices in the future.
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