When was the first superman comic book published

Kennedys assassination, cbr explores the ongoing saga behind a 1964 superman tribute story. Comic book collectors are often lifelong enthusiasts of the comic book stories, and they usually focus on particular heroes and attempt to assemble the entire run of a title. A couple of years back, i wrote about when superman s leap day birthday was first established period. The character regularly appears in comic books published by dc comics, and has been adapted to a number of radio serials, movies, and television shows superman was born on the planet krypton and was given. Superman the dark side of apokolips is a book that is part comic and part chapter book about superman who, in addition being super strong and able to fly, has some interesting powers, like ice breath.

The book renamed worlds finest after the first issue, established superman and batman lived in the same world and. It is narrative, which means it tells a story using words it is graphic. Published on april 18, 1938 coverdated june, by national allied publications, a corporate predecessor of dc comics, it is considered the first true superhero comic. He leads a rebellion against an evil villain, darkseid, who enslaved the people of planet apokolips. George reeves played him after that on the 1950s tv show. Dc comics also published a super friends comic book aimed at younger readers, which ran for 29 issues from february 2008 to september 2010. New fun was the first comic book series to consist entirely of original material. Publisher jack liebowitz was looking for material to fill a new monthly anthology, action comics, so siegel and shuster dusted off superman and submitted it one more time. Recent high school graduate jerry siegel selfpublished a story in. Originally published in several languages in europe in 1837, among them an english version designed for britain in 1941. Far from the fullcolor glossy comic books of today, this book featured black and white reprints of popular newspaper comic strips. The leader of the justice league, also known as clark kent, made his comic book debut in.

Superman appeared in the newspapers again in 1978, with the newspaper strip the worlds greatest superheroes, which was retitled in his name in 1982 and lasted until 1985. In 1938 dc published the first superman story in action comics no. Superman was created by jerry siegel and joe shuster. The massive commercial success of that character was responsible for creating the costumed superhero genre, which has been a mainstay for the comic book industry ever since. The golden age of comic books describes an era of american comic books from 1938 to 1956. This comic book marked the beginning of fictional universe that will soon dominate the us superhero comics industry. It is thought that there are less than one hundred copies of the issue in existence, and the find is. The collectible marked the first appearance of superman, and was originally published in 1938. The first issue of a longrunning comic book series is commonly the rarest and most desirable to collectors. In 1939, martin goodman founded timely publications, which he planned to use as an expansion of his pulp magazine business by getting into comic book publishing, as well, as it seemed like it was a really lucrative new area following the smash success of national allied publications superman feature in action comics which led to superman even. Feb 29, 2020 knowledge waits is a feature where i just share some bit of comic book history that interests me. The story only appeared in an issue of the superman comic book published a year after the release of the cartoon and around the same time as the release of the second animated superman short the mechanical monsters. The comic consisted of an abnormal man who had incredible strength and wore a skintight suit, commonly known as superman.

Nov 27, 2019 the swiss artist rodolphe topffer is credited with creating the first multipanel comic in 1827 and the first illustrated book, the adventures of obadiah oldbuck, a decade later. The strip proved so popular that national launched superman into his own selftitled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with the cover date summer 1939. This facsimile is an exact reproduction of the original with the addition of a new introduction by bestselling superman comic book. Its format, 7 x 9 inches, was determined by the size of a standard american newspaper page. Superman appears in the dc comics and dark horse comics miniseries superman vs. Superman is the best selling comic book superhero of all time. Mar 23, 2016 lets talk about the very first superman comic issue in 1938. The colorful history of comic books and newspaper cartoon strips. Start your free trial today, at and enter offer code nerdsync to get 10%.

Superman, a fictional comic book character, has spanned several decades and become a defining superhero archetype. One year later, june of 1939, superman premiered in comic book form. When was the first comic book ever published answers. The first three titles feature the original superboy, the legendary hero superman as a boy. Death of superman comic book value price guide posted on by comics watcher 19 comments v chances are you stumbled upon this article looking for the value of the death of superman comic book you have or are interested in buyingselling. Although it looked more like a picture book than what most americans would consider to be a comic book, its author, switzerlands rudolphe topffer, is widely considered to be the creator of the picture story, comic strip, and graphic novel comic book. Death of superman comic book value price guide comics. Originally published in 1942, the adventures of superman was the first fulllength novel about the worlds first and most endearing comic book superhero.

The first annual superman comic book was published in 1960. Weve been selling comics since 1961 our first sale. Time and time again is a sevenpart story arc that took place in the superman comic book titles in 1991, published by dc comics. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. It was written by dan jurgens, roger stern, and jerry ordway, with artwork by dan jurgens, bob mcleod, jerry ordway, brett breeding, dennis janke, tom grummett, and jose marzan. This page lists prices for the first 100 issues of superman s appearances in his solo series, which began in 1939. Value of superhero comic books super hero comics values. Superman is a fictional superhero character created by writer jerry siegel and artist joe shuster.

He was not the first superhero to be created but became the conventional superhero archetype. In the span of a year, superman had received his own book title and sold over 1. Aug 16, 2017 thanks to squarespace for sponsoring this video. The first superhero to have an eponymous series was amazing man. Supermanbatman is a monthly comic book series published by dc comics that features the publishers two most popular characters. Comic book value guide how to value your comics in 3 easy steps. Usually, comics are described as an artformmedia that has three distinct characteristics. The first issue in action comic was published in 1938. Superman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by dc comics, and is considered an american cultural icon. Action comics was started by publisher jack liebowitz. What was the name of the first comic book published in 1934. A year later it was that version reprinted in new york on sept. Dc introduced many superheroes throughout the socalled golden age of comics, most notably batman. When was leap day first shown as supermans birthday in a.

Superman saves a girl named kara on a dying asteroid city called argo city, from attacks by aliens. This issue features the first appearance of superman, the very first superhero. What was the first daily comic strip published in the us. Superboy is the name of several american comic book series published by dc comics, featuring characters of the same name.

The term superhero, as we use it today, basically boils down to this guy. Mar 28, 2020 the superpowered kryptonian known as superman is one of dc comics most integral characters and, arguably, the most wellknown superhero in popular culture. The comic book for batman was first published in 1939 under detective comics number twenty seven. For the most literal answer, comics began as just reprinted collections of the comic strips that ran in newspapers. In 1939, martin goodman founded timely publications, which he planned to use as an expansion of his pulp magazine business by getting into comic book publishing, as well, as it seemed like it was a really lucrative new area following the smash success of national allied publications superman feature in action comics which led to superman even getting his own ongoing series, a real rarity for any comic. The man of tomorrow debuts as a quarterly, allowing for a new superman comic to be published every week. You can find out values of action issues by clicking here. The superhero archetype was created and many wellknown characters were introduced, including superman, batman, captain marvel, captain america, and wonder woman. Aug 25, 2014 a rare, nearly flawless copy of supermans comicbook debut has sold for a superpowered price. Jul 05, 2010 with all the hullabaloo about superman and wonder woman in the last few weeks, its worth remembering that the longestsurviving superhero indigenous to a comic book appeared 75 years ago this summer. Knowledge waits is a feature where i just share some bit of comic book history that interests me a couple of years back, i wrote about when superman s leap day birthday was first established period. In 1899 a funny folks comic book came out, taking a close first stab at a format for many platinum age comic books. Titling it the superman, siegel and shuster offered it to consolidated book publishing, who had published a 48 page blackandwhite comic book entitled.

With the popular krypto the superdog animated series running on cartoon network, dc comics published a 6issue tiein comic book by the same name, which ran from november 2006 to april 2007. The first american comic book, funnies on parade, was published in 1933. Action comics was the originator of the super hero genre in western culture, published 1938. The superman character described on this page was created by writer jerry siegel and artist joe shuster, high school students living in cleveland, ohio, in 1933. Published in 1897, the yellow kid in mcfaddens flats is considered to be the first comic book, insomuch that it bore the phrase comic book on its back cover. The strip proved so popular that national launched superman into his own selftitled comic book, the first for any superhero, premiering with coverdate june 1939. Supermans first appearance comic book at auction daily. Rare superman comic found in a house wall goes up for. Who was the first super hero in dc comic books answers. The first comic book in the current style and format was funnies on parade, published by the eastern color co.

In the story, clark kent takes lois lane to the empire movie theater because a superman cartoon is playing there. Aug 03, 2017 to answer this question we must first define what is a comic book. Superman takes on the persona of a fictional super hero in order to save the life of the characters creator from the nazis. The batman comic series has been popular ever sense. Then christopher reeve played him in the movies that started in the late.

Kirk alyn was the first actor to play him in a liveaction film. Supermanbatman premiered in august 2003, an update of the previous series, worlds finest comics, in which superman and batman regularly joined forces. With all the hullabaloo about superman and wonder woman in the last few weeks, its worth remembering that the longestsurviving superhero indigenous to a comic book appeared 75 years ago this summer. Action comics 1 was published in 1938 by dc comics believed to only have 100 existing copies. Today the earliest known comic book is called the adventures of obadiah oldbuck. This comic book starts what is now called the platinum age of comics. An opened version would depend on the condition of the actual comic book. Superman was created in canada and first published as a comic strip in june of 1938. Later series feature the second superboy, who is a partial clone of the original superman. Each of the books 40 pages contained several picture panels with accompanying text underneath. Swooping in almost at the last second to win the holy grail issue, the top bidder will now own the most expensive comic book. Superman, american comic book character created for dc comics by writer jerry siegel and. Famous funnies was the first comic book compilation of newspaper comic strips in the early 20th century. A rare, nearly flawless copy of superman s comic book debut has sold for a superpowered price.