University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 26, 1988
Jacque Janssen, arts/features editor
11
Arts & Entertainment
Immortal hero still flying at 50 Superman retains popularity
By Kevin Dilmore Kansan staff writer
Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a 50-year-old man flying around in his underwear.
You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but Superman, the strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, will turn 50 on Monday.
Superman debuted in the first issue of Action Comics, which appeared on newstands and magazine racks across the country in February 1938. But because editors at the time were unsure of the character's name, the cover of the comic was dated June 1938 to insure a longer shelf life for the caped hero's adventures.
Tom Graves, owner of Kwality Comics, 1111 Massachusetts St., said Superman was popular because he represented the human ideal.
"He is a perfect person, and there is a little part in everyone that wants to be perfect," he said. "Superman is a way for people to seek vicarious power thrills."
The four-month disparity in comic book dating is a tradition as enduring as Superman.
Comic fans and retailers alike have their reasons for the continuing popularity or the Man of Steel.
"He's an alien," he said. "The most popular myths center on someone's coming from afar to save us from disaster."
Paul Leader, Derby law student and manager of the Comic Corner, 2220 Iowa St., said Superman had attributes of classic literary heroes.
Leader said that Superman's dual role as a powerful guardian of justice and as mild-mannered reporter lent also created dramatic tension.
"It's the same situation as Batman's rich socialite by day and grim vigilante by night," he said. "Both men have secret identities, yet they go around uncovering other people's secrets."
But with all analysis aside, Leader
said the sheer familiarity with Superman drew fans of all ages and nationalities.
"The legend of Superman itself is part of the appeal," he said. "People all over the world know who Superman is."
It does seem that way. Even most grade school children know the story of Kal-El, the last son of the planet Krvton.
Copyright 1986 DC Comics, Inc.
As a baby, Superman was placed on board an experimental rocket by his scientist father and launched toward Earth just as Krypton exploded. The rocket landed in a wheat field outside Smallville, Kansas, where the invulnerable infant was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent. The childless couple soon discovered the baby's super strength and adopted the baby as their own, giving him Martha's maiden name, Clark.
Clark Kent grew up and moved to Metropolis, where he took a job as a reporter for the Daily Planet. When he was not fighting his never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way against such foes as Lex Luther, Brainiae and Bizarro, he was writing the news with his editor-in-chief Perry White, his pal Jimmy Olsen and his girlfriend Lois Lane.
The basics of the Superman mythos have varied little since the Man of Steel was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the 1930s. Back then, Superman could perform such tremendous feats as leaping an elephant up a mile, hurdling a 20-story building and deflecting bullets with his chest.
To keep the attention of his audience, Superman developed even more powers during the years. Now, he possesses super hearing, X-ray and telescopic vision and a greater range of flight, including the ability to fly through outer space.
But the sales of Superman comics began a steady decline in the 1960s. Despite efforts by the publisher, DC Comics, to update the character, sales of their two flagship titles, Action Comics and Superman, bottomed out.
Copyright 1938, 1965 DC Comics, Inc.
Above: Superman on the first cover of Action Comics printed in 1938. Right: The Superman of the '80s from "The Man of Steel."
Leader said that lackluster writing of the books and the advent of Marvel Comics, the publishers of Spiderman and Captain America, brought the downfall of Superman's sales.
"But there was a small, hard-core group of fans that followed the book through the grimmest of times," he said.
In 1986, DC Comics turned Superman, lock, stock and cape, over to John Byrne, one of the most popular writer-artists in the business. Byrne redefined Superman in "The Man of Steel," a six-issue limited series that quickly sold out at most comics stores. He then continued to write the monthly exploits of Superman in a new comic, which was created to provide an appealing first issue for collectors.
The move paid off, and Superman
takes again one of DC's best selling
title.
Leader said that any time a comics publisher changed the history of a character, especially one as widely known as Superman, that publisher was wielding a double-edged sword. The same changes meant to breathe new life into a super hero could also turn off a long-time follower.
Adrian Starland, Lawrence resident and Superman collector.
"I think it's great they revitalized him, but the old Superman fans are very resistant to change," he said. "I think it is a betrayal of the legend"
agreed
"The older generation of fans felt they were taking a back seat because of the changes." he said. "But to us newer fans, the freshness made Superman a more believable character."
Graves said that one of the changes John Byrne made was a weakening of Superman.
"People have different opinions of how powerful Superman should be," he said. "For example, our laws of physics prohibit someone from picking up a building by one corner. But Superman does so on numerous occasions."
Starland also said the old Superman was less interesting.
"The level of power exhibited by Superman limited the intricacies of
"We've always had the concept that Superman was so god-like that he could do anything," he said. "It made you wonder why he hadn't done anything to change the world."
Leader said that although Superman was weak, he could still hold him.
"He has a tougher time taking a punch, but he still can't be killed," he said.
Leader said that Byrne also deserved praise for improving aspects of Superman's personality,
especially the hero's alter ego.
"The old Clark Kent was a wimp, plain and simple. He was a shy, non-aggressive, meek sort," he said. "And any clothes designer will tell you that you cannot hide Superman's muscles under a suit."
But the new Clark Kent is a former Smallville High football star, Leader said. He is athletic and, on occasion, comes close to being onconfident.
"Now you can see the muscles," Leader said.
The comic's supporting cast also has undergone revision.
"Luther's much more interesting now," he said. "He's more of a corporate businessman than a mad scientist."
Greg Roe, Osage City freshman and an employee of Kwaiity Comics, said he liked Byrne's treatment of man's arch-enemy, Lex Luther.
Starland said he thought the change in Superman's relationship with Lana Lang improved the book. Previously she was one of Clark's high school sweethearts. Byrne strengthened their involvement, giving Lana and Clark a close but platonic friendship. And now, Lana guards Clark's biggest secret.
"It seems a shame that Superman is to keep his identity from his closest friends."
Leader said that Byrne's emphasis on adult relationships in the Superman comics was a catalyst for renewed interest in the character.
"It's strange," he said. "Comics are inherently fantastic, but readers want more reality in their fantasy. Bryne is doing the right thing."
After all these changes, one might think Superman deserves a long rest before beginning his 51st year on Earth. But it looks as if he had better plan on eating his birthday cake on the run. Some of the problems ahead for Superman include a split personality crisis and Lois Lane's discovery that he and Clark Kent are the same man.
Roe said he looked forward to Loss's exposing the secret and said it would be interesting.
"She is a reporter," he said, "For her not to know by now is ridiculous."
Starland said that he liked the new look for the supporting cast and that character development was the only thing left after 50 years for Superman's writers to explore.
"The idea of a man leaping an eighth of a mile was new to people then," Starland said. "We take it for granted now."
"Bitchen Camaro" "Instant Club Hit" "Thing That Only Eats Hippies"
Get tickets at the SUA Box Office and all CATS Outlets
With:
Yo La Tengo and
Lawrence's
Foodhead
Don't Miss This
Hilarious Group!
In the Kansas Union Ballroom 8 p.m. Saturday Feb.27,1988
Presented by SUA SPECIAL EVENTS & KJHK