The sale of the rights to Superman by Siegel and Shuster to National Periodicals has been likened to the sale of Manhattan Island from the Native Americans. The purchase price of $130, as well as follow up questions about page rates, work for hire vs perpetual ownership and percentages of merchandise and licensing was a …
Continue reading $130: The Ongoing Saga of Jerry Siegel and Superman
It’s no secret that the Man of Steel is a conglomeration of several characters and elements of science fiction prior to 1938. Jerry Siegel drew from many sources throughout his life and as a sci-fi fan, and there were many: books, films, pulps, the Old Testament, the list goes on. Edgar Rice Burroughs’ famous hero …
Continue reading Superman Inspiration: Gladiator by Philip Wylie
I have this rule about comic strips that I’ve settled into: if it’s a comic book, I want it in color, if it’s a comic strip, I prefer it in black and white. Which is why I was so blown away by this book! Superman: The Golden Age Sundays- 1943-1946, is an absolutely …
A few years back, I bought a copy of “Superman: The War Years,” part of a “war years” themed series of hardcovers (along with Batman and Wonder Woman) curated by Roy Thomas. As much as I love World War II history and fully respect Roy’s knowledge of said history and Golden Age comics in general, …
Continue reading Superman The Golden Age Dailies: 1942-1944- A Review
"We had a reception room and a main office; Joe worked in there, and Wayne Boring and myself." - Paul Cassidy, Interview with James Vance, 1998 Shortly after he premiered in 1938, Superman had become a sensation. In order to keep up with the increasingly heavy workload and deadlines, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster …
Niko's Superman Page 