One of the most celebrated superheroes in comics, Superman, is known for his undaunted abilities and for being a hero. But was he born a hero? Or did he become one?
There has been much speculation on Superman’s history and how he became a hero. Here’s a look into the truth, and his journey of becoming one of the most celebrated superheroes of all time.
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The Origin Of Superman
The initial idea of the ‘Man Of Steel’ was that he was a bald man with telepathic powers and a desire for money. Creators Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (illustrator) picturized Superman as a villain.
Bill Dunn, the main character in these comics was a homeless guy who was deceived into taking an experimental medicine by an evil scientist. Dunn ends up getting psychic, mind-reading, and mind-control abilities from the medicine. He abuses his abilities for financial gain and entertainment, but eventually, the medication wears off and he is reduced to a helpless vagabond again. Shuster illustrated Dunn as a bald man.
However, this version of the comic didn’t flourish nor was it received well by readers, resulting in the creators completely transforming Superman from a villain into a hero who fought for humanity, and thus, Superman the hero was born.
Fun Fact: look it up if you don’t believe me #Superman was Original Bald… & was a telepathic Villain. pic.twitter.com/MQS7bbhjt2
— ⊥ᴚƎʞ,o N∀Iᴚq (@ElTech0) October 28, 2020
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Superman The Hero
This version of Superman was successful and became a quick favorite for readers. Sales and publications for the comic skyrocketed. Even after that, Siegel and Shuster themselves altered a lot of traits, costumes and illustrations of the hero, before finally settling down on one.
Plenty of films were made on him, though he went through character changes and a few costume changes too. With that, new stories of his origin were also made to fit the new narratives.
Talking about Superman, Siegel said, “Obviously, having him a hero would be infinitely more commercial than having him a villain….And with the example before us of Tarzan and other action heroes of fiction who were very successful, mainly because people admired them and looked up to them, it seemed the sensible thing to do to make The Superman a hero. The first piece was a short story, and that’s one thing, but creating a successful comic strip with a character you’ll hope will continue for many years, it would definitely be going in the wrong direction to make him a villain.”
While the idea of a villainous Superman might have added a layer of complexity to the character, it is his traits of goodness and justice that have elevated him to a symbol of inspiration.
Superman’s enduring legacy lies not only in his superhuman abilities but in the belief that, even in the face of adversity, humanity can overcome and thrive. As readers, we continue to turn to characters like Superman, not only for heroic abilities but as a reminder that, even in fiction, the triumph of good over evil is a timeless tale. In a world hungry for hope, Superman stands tall as a symbol of virtue and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling to inspire us all.
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