Object Details
author
Siegel, Jerry
artist
Shuster, Joe
publisher
Superman, Inc.
maker
Superman, Inc.
Siegel, Jerry
Shuster, Joe
Description
Superman no. 31 features the stories "Tune Up Time for Crime," "A Dog's Tale," "The Aces Doonan Gang" and "The Treasure House of History." Bill Finger and Don C. Cameron were contributing writers, with Sam Citron and Ed Dobrotka providing pencils.
The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, classical mythology and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing for inspiration.
With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1944-11
ID Number
2007.3006.03
nonaccession number
2007.3006
catalog number
2007.3006.03
Object Name
Book, Comic
comic book
Measurements
overall: 10 in x 6 1/2 in; 25.4 cm x 16.51 cm
place made
United States: New York, New York City
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Popular Entertainment
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Subject
Superman
Comics
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_1323250