The Influences in the Creation of Superman

The comic book authorities at Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) regularly run across a wide range of superheroes. But none catches their eyes more than Superman. With his signature red cape and "S" logo splayed proudly across his chest, he is one of the most recognizable superheroes ever created, let alone a world renowned American pop culture icon. But from where did the Man of Steel’s creators draw their inspiration?

Before Superman was born, his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were hammering out the mold from which he would ultimately be designed. In 1933, they published a short story by the name of "The Reign of the Super -Man," which featured a telepathic villain determined to dominate the globe. Later on that year, Siegel rewrote the character as a hero, stripping away virtually all of his earlier characteristics, including a bald head. The hero was given a full head of hair, one of many characteristics Siegel derived from the well-known movie actor, director, producer and screenwriter, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Known best for his roles in the silent movies "The Mark of Zorro" and "Robin Hood," Fairbanks had a certain quality of strength and morality Siegel found very favorable for a superhero. For Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, Siegel looked to the infamous movie actor Harold Lloyd. His soft, unsuspecting demeanor was ideal for the gentle-mannered Daily Planet reporter. (Treasure Hunters Roadshow trivia bonus: the Daily Planet newspaper for which Clark worked was originally named Daily Star.) Clark Kent’s name was derived from actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor.

During the early years, Superman took an aggressive approach to fighting scrappy villains. He would throw bad guys about with superhuman strength, showing little worry for the consequences. In late 1940, editor Whitney Ellsworth developed a code of conduct for Superman to follow. One element of the code stated that Superman was to never kill a human being, which had a great impact on the violent, animalistic nature of his original nature. Modifications were made, and the new Man of Tomorrow took on a more controlled, Herculean method to crime fighting, which included his old destructive model of combat.

Even kryptonite can’t keep the THR industry experts away from their beloved vintage Superman comics, which are highly sought after by collectors about the world. THR wants to purchase old ten- and twelve-cent comic books, precious metals, antiques and collectibles on behalf of their global network of buyers.

Items are purchased on the spot at the THR events, which are held all through the U.S., Canada and Europe every single week. A comprehensive listing of events can be found on the Treasure Hunters Roadshow web site.