Comics Talk News Blog: Action Comics #1

Welcome to Superman's First Origin

Superman: The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, high school students living in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1933. They sold Superman to Detective Comics, the future DC Comics, in 1938. Superman debuted in Action Comics #1 (cover-dated June 1938) and subsequently appeared in various radio serials, newspaper strips, television programs, films, and video games. With this success, Superman helped to create the superhero archetype and establish its primacy within the American comic book.

In January 1933, Jerry Siegel wrote a short prose story titled "The Reign of the Superman", which was illustrated by his friend Joe Shuster and self-published in a science fiction magazine. It told the story of a bald villain with telepathic powers. Trying to create a character they could sell to newspaper syndicates, Siegel re-conceived the "superman" character as a powerful hero, sent to our world from a more advanced society. He and Shuster developed the idea into a comic strip, which they pitched unsuccessfully.

Creators: Jerry Siegel · Joe Shuster
Occupation: Reporter · Superhero
Related TV shows: Adventures of Superman · Lois and Clark
Parents: Jor-El and Lara
Organization: Justice League
Related movies: Superman · Man of Steel

Read Action Comics #1
Superman's 1st Appearance

Action Comics #1 (June 1938) is the first issue of the original run of the comic book series Action Comics. It features the first appearance of several comic book heroes—most notably the Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster creation, Superman. For this reason it is widely considered both the beginning of the superhero genre and the most valuable comic book of all time.

More About Superman

Action Comics #1 From National Allied Publications:
Creation and Writer: by Jerry Siegel · Joe Shuster
Art: Joe Shuster
First Superman
Published (June, 1938)