We begin our Superman in Order series here… appropriately enough in the very beginning with Action Comics Issue 1. These reviews will be less about the creators, behind the scenes, and the process of it all, and more about the story of Superman, the character, and how he has changed and evolved and often represented or stood against common conventions of the time.
Much has been written and discussed about the creation of the Superman character over the years, and I will leave that discussion to others as I want our focus here at When It Was Cool to be about the Superman character itself. Superman was and is published by DC Comics. The character was created by Jerome Sigel and Joe Shuster and Action Comics hit the news stand in June 1938.
Action Comics was originally an anthology series with an assortment of other action-crime stories inside. Originally, the world where Superman came from was not named. Superman originally came from, “… a distant planet… destroyed by old age.” As we now know, the planet would later be named Krypton and its destruction would get a much more detailed story.
Superman’s original powerset was much more limited than it has become in more recent years. Superman could leap great distances (but not fly), he could stop bullets (but not ‘bursting shells’), and he was faster than a train (not more powerful and not yet faster than a speeding bullet). In fact, page one of Action Comics issue 1 contained a scientific explanation of Clark Kent’s strength and leaping ability!
Superman is introduced to us with very little origin story. Superman also acted differently early on. He essentially kidnaps a lady who is essentially forced into confessing to a crime in order to save a condemned man. Superman also forces his way into the Governor’s house and endures gunfire from a security officer in the process.
Superman’s outfit has also undergone several tweaks over the years. In Action Comics issue 1 in 1938, Superman’s logo is significantly different than it would be in later years.
The strangest (and creepiest) subplot of the original Superman story involves Superman speeding to the scene of a ‘wife beating’ in which a man is shown literally holding a belt over his head as he beats his wife (insert wide-eyed emoji here). Of course, Superman doesn’t let that go on.
Next in the story, Clark Kent escorts co-worker Lois Lane to a dance where a heavy breaks in to dance with Lois and makes Clark look foolish. Clark Kent, the alter-ego of Superman of course, senses there is more to the story and decides to follow the antagonist’s car as it stalks Lois.
It is from this series of events that we get the iconic imagery of Superman smashing the sedan of the bad guys which graces the cover of Action Comics issue 1 (and is now also available as a Hot Wheels car!)
The final story arc of Action Comics issue 1 features Superman confronting a corrupt politician and… well… kidnapping him too.
Superman’s story in Action Comics issue 1 ends on a cliffhanger as Superman seems to have misjudged his leap and now, not yet with the ability to fly, it appears as though both Superman and the corrupt politician will crash to their deaths. Stay tuned for the next appearance of Superman by joining our Patreon page!
The Superman Timeline and Chronology:
04-1938: 1st Appearance of Superman and Lois Lane. Action Comics issue 1.
Superman Kill Count: 0
Superman in Order Podcast 01 - Action Comics Issue 1
Join When It Was Cool on this new series following the chronological history of Superman from his debut in 1938 through history. This is not a documentary series about the creators and artists (though they are mentioned) but instead is a study of the character of Superman himself and the changes he has gone through over the years. Episode one takes a look back to 1938 and the debut of Superman in the pages of Action Comics.
Direct Link - https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/01_Superman_in_Order_Action_Comics_1_Remix.mp3
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