Man of Steel Week: Supermania in the 1940s - vintage pics!

As we gear up for yet another re-telling of the Superman legend on the big screen, lets look back to the Man of Steel's beginnings.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's creation caught on right from the start, launching the Golden Age Comics superhero craze that brought us Batman, Captains Marvel and America and every long underwear-type since. But it went far beyond that.

Within a decade of his debut in Action Comics in 1938, the Man of Steel had his own newspaper strip, radio show, a series of brilliantly animated shorts, a fan club and movie serial. He advertised Kellogg's Pep Cereal, appeared as a float in the Macy's Parade and was spotlighted in a Superman Day at the 1939 World's Fair.

That's not to mention the many toys, watches, costumes, puzzles and other products that bore his image. (See our sister site, the DC Comics Fortress of Memorabilia for plenty of pics of vintage Supermerchandise).

In the 1950s, there was the great "Adventures of Superman" live-action TV series and numerous animated series. Yet, we didn't see a Superman feature film until 1978. More on that later in the week.

Superman creators Joe Shuster (seated) and Jerry Siegel

DC Comics execs beneath a portrait of their company icon

Superman Day at the 1940 World's Fair



Radio's voice of Superman, Bud Collyer



Superman of the serials, Kirk Alyn, above and below


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