The comic book experts at Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) frequently run across a wide assortment 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 globally-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 gradually be produced . In 1933, they published a short story called “The Reign of the Super -Man,” which featured a telepathic villain determined to dominate the world. Later on that year, Siegel rewrote the character as a hero, stripping away nearly all of his previous traits, including a bald head. The hero was given a full head of hair, one of numerous features 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 extremely 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 where Clark worked was originally named Daily Star.) Clark Kent’s name was derived from actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor.
For the duration of the early years, Superman took an aggressive approach to fighting scrappy villains. He would throw bad guys about with superhuman strength, showing little concern for the consequences. In late 1940, editor Whitney Ellsworth created a code of conduct for Superman to stick to. One element of the code stated that Superman was to by no means kill a human being, which had a great impact on the violent, animalistic nature of his original nature. Adjustments were made, and the new Man of Tomorrow took on a much more controlled, Herculean method to crime fighting, which included his old destructive fashion of combat.
Even kryptonite cannot keep the THR professionals away from their beloved vintage Superman comics, which are extremely desired by collectors around the planet. THR would like to purchase old ten- and twelve-cent comic books, valuable metals, antiques and collectibles on behalf of their worldwide network of buyers.
Items are purchased on the spot at the THR events, which are held throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe every week. A full listing of events can be found on the Treasure Hunters Roadshow website.
Before Superman was born, his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were hammering out the mold from which he would gradually be produced . In 1933, they published a short story called “The Reign of the Super -Man,” which featured a telepathic villain determined to dominate the world. Later on that year, Siegel rewrote the character as a hero, stripping away nearly all of his previous traits, including a bald head. The hero was given a full head of hair, one of numerous features 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 extremely 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 where Clark worked was originally named Daily Star.) Clark Kent’s name was derived from actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor.
For the duration of the early years, Superman took an aggressive approach to fighting scrappy villains. He would throw bad guys about with superhuman strength, showing little concern for the consequences. In late 1940, editor Whitney Ellsworth created a code of conduct for Superman to stick to. One element of the code stated that Superman was to by no means kill a human being, which had a great impact on the violent, animalistic nature of his original nature. Adjustments were made, and the new Man of Tomorrow took on a much more controlled, Herculean method to crime fighting, which included his old destructive fashion of combat.
Even kryptonite cannot keep the THR professionals away from their beloved vintage Superman comics, which are extremely desired by collectors around the planet. THR would like to purchase old ten- and twelve-cent comic books, valuable metals, antiques and collectibles on behalf of their worldwide network of buyers.
Items are purchased on the spot at the THR events, which are held throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe every week. A full listing of events can be found on the Treasure Hunters Roadshow website.