Superman’s Original Story Surprisingly Different, Yet Iconic

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Back in 1938, I found myself making my sensational first appearance in Action Comics #1. The Man of Steel, as I’m fondly known today, was quite different from the image people have of me now. You see, I wasn’t always a beacon of hope and justice. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the brilliant minds behind my creation, initially envisioned me as a telepathic antagonist in their 1933 short story “The Reign of the Superman”. However, they later reimagined their character, transforming him into a heroic alien visitor with extraordinary powers, dedicated to safeguarding the citizens of his new world. And so, my redefined persona, the Champion of the Oppressed, graced the pages of Action Comics #1, marking the inception of a modern superhero legend.

In the story “Champion of the Oppressed”, some fundamental aspects of Superman’s lore are set up. For instance, we see that this Last Son of Krypton possesses extraordinary physical strength, leads a double life as Clark Kent, and hails from the destroyed planet Krypton. Despite Superman being beloved worldwide, contemporary readers might find it striking how much the Superman of Action Comics #1 differs from his later incarnations.

Superman Was Strong, But Much Less Powerful Than He Is Now

When you think about “Superman,” the picture that instantly forms is of an extraordinarily powerful and virtually indestructible character. Few other superheroes can match Superman’s degree of superhuman strength or his resistance to physical damage, and flight is a characteristic closely linked with Superman, as well as the notion of superheroes in general. However, the Superman that comic book readers first encountered in Action Comics #1 was considerably less powerful than the character he would later become.

In Action Comics #1, you won’t find flight among Superman’s initial abilities. Instead, he showcases an extraordinary leap, reaching up to one-eighth of a mile – that’s what earned him the famous phrase, “able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” It’s quite a feat, no doubt, but it becomes less remarkable when you consider his later-developed ability to fly. As for his strength, while Superman from Action Comics #1 is stronger than most humans, his physical might falls short compared to the colossal power demonstrated by both Superman and other Kryptonians under Earth’s yellow sun.

As a die-hard film fan, I’ve always marveled at Superman’s strength, but it’s important to remember that his durability, though capable of deflecting bullets, isn’t yet at its full potential – it’s only a fraction of what he’ll eventually achieve. His speed, enough to outrun a train, is a testament to his power, but it’s still a significant leap away from the super-speed he’d eventually match, stepping just shy of The Flash’s astonishing pace.

The creation of Superman by Siegel and Shuster marked the birth of modern superheroes. While Superman may not possess the same mind-boggling power as his contemporaries today, this can be seen as a foundation upon which the current image of Superman has been built.

Much Of Superman’s Backstory Isn’t Seen In Action Comics #1

Reading Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1 now feels like a fascinating throwback, as many crucial elements of Superman’s origin and backstory were either absent or only hinted at in this debut issue. The story of Kal-El’s arrival on Earth from a dying planet is still there, but the reasons behind Krypton’s destruction are merely attributed to its old age. Furthermore, characters such as Superman’s Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, or his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, were not named in this issue. Instead, Jor-El was referred to as just a scientist, and the baby Kal-El was left at an orphanage after being found in a Kansas field.

In Action Comics #1, Superman’s weakness to Kryptonite isn’t portrayed; this element was instead introduced in the 1943 radio series The Adventures of Superman. Although many significant characters from the Superman universe were missing or understated in Action Comics #1, Lois Lane made her comic book debut alongside Superman. However, in this early issue, she is a colleague of Clark Kent at the Daily Star instead of the more well-known newspaper, the Daily Planet.

Superman’s Heroic Deeds Are Relatively Small Scale (But Still Important)

In the early issues of Action Comics, Superman, known as the Last Son of Krypton, is not always battling large-scale villains like Lex Luthor, General Zod, or Darkseid. Instead, he engages in smaller yet crucial acts of heroism. For instance, he saves a woman named Evelyn Curry from execution for a crime she didn’t commit by apprehending the real murderer and presenting him to the governor. He also intervenes to prevent an abusive husband from harming his wife, asks Lois Lane out on a date, and inadvertently sets the stage for his alter ego Clark Kent’s bumbling persona to mask his secret identity. This encounter with Butch, who interrupts their dance, also marks the beginning of this deception, while Lois angrily leaves after slapping Butch, unaware of the truth about Clark and Superman.

In a turn of unfortunate events, Butch struggles to accept Lois’ rejection and, with the assistance of his crew, abducts Lois. Superman manages to save Lois and sabotage their escape vehicle (a scene famously depicted on the cover of Action Comics #1). Subsequently, Superman steps in to foil Congressional lobbyist Alex Greer’s plan to influence a U.S. senator towards engaging in military conflict with Europe. Superman swiftly corrects Greer’s actions by aggressively uncovering the employer behind this scheme. This leaves the storyline hanging on a cliffhanger, as Action Comics #2 continues with Superman confronting Greer.

Action Comics #1 introduced a unique version of Superman unlike the one commonly recognized, deviating from the standard Superman lore and portraying a more aggressive Superman who intimidated bullies and crime bosses. The relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane began on a contentious note as Lois looked down on Clark for seemingly letting Butch push him around. This version of Superman was less about protecting his adopted world as a metahuman immigrant, but more like a super-powered Robin Hood standing up for the oppressed. Given the context of America emerging from the Great Depression, this theme resonated deeply with many people. The heroism, power, and selflessness of Superman were evident in Siegel and Shuster’s first story featuring their character. Despite Superman’s growth into a powerful superhero capable of battling Earth-threatening enemies, his humble beginnings can be traced back to his adventures in Action Comics #1.

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2025-04-18 16:40