Superman Comic Strip Debuted January 16, 1939
Sci Fi Newspaper strips had been around long before Superman would make his first appearance as a newspaper comic strip on January 16, 1939. His first appearance was in the April 1938 issue of Action Comics, just nine months earlier. Although he was the first comic book hero, there were more otherworldly heroes before him.
Buck Rogers would be the first Sci-Fi comic strip, having adventures in 2419. He made his debut in a novella in an issue of Amazing Fantasy in September of 1928. The story’s title was Armageddon 2419, and Phillip Francis Nowlan wrote it. A sequel would be published in March of 1929. Before that sequel, The John F Dille Company, later known as The National Newspaper Syndicate, approached Nowlan to adapt his character to a comic strip format. Nowlan agreed. He found Dick Calkins to do the art, changed the first name of his hero from Anthony to Buck, and the strip was first published on January 7, 1929.
Buck Rodger’s paved the way for other Sci-Fi newspaper strips, Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon ( January 7, 1934-2003), Ritt and Gray’s Brick Bradford (August 21, 1933-1987) and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars (December 7, 1941-1943) were just a few of the strips to follow Buck.
Buck didn’t just remain in the newspaper. By the time he was done, he had a radio, television, and a movie serial. Buck Rodger’s is still remembered as one of the best Newspaper Strips.
Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were ahead of their time when they created Superman. The idea for The Man of Steel began to germinate in them long before he made his appearance in Action Comics. In fact Siegel and Shuster originally conceived Superman as a newspaper strip and spent more than a few years being turned away from many newspapers.
It wasn’t until the editors of a soon-to-be-released comic book, Action Comics, saw the Superman strip that the boys were given a chance. Harry Donenfeld and Jack Liebowitz needed material for the new book and gave Superman that chance. Several months after Superman’s debut, the publishers realized they had a gold mine. Although he appeared on the first issue’s cover, his second cover appearance didn’t occur until issue #7.The original newspaper strip was written and drawn by Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. That work would eventually move on to other artists and writers as the workload on the comic books became heavier.
The Superman newspaper strip introduced iconic characters and moments in the Superman legacy. Lex Luthor would first appear bald in the newspaper. Using a phone booth as a place to change originated in the strip and Superman’s most powerful and funny foe Mr. Mxyzptlk made his debut in the newspaper.
Superman ran as a Newspaper Strip until 1966. The Man of Tomorrow had a spin-off strip in the 1940s, Lois Lane Girl Reporter, but the spin-off wouldn’t last long.
Superman is recognized as the most recognized character in fiction, and he has never been out of publication as a comic book. Besides his appearances in comic books, he has had several series of cartoons, several live-action film series, a radio show, four live-action television shows, several animated TV shows, and several full-length motion pictures, including appearances in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe).
Even though there is no longer a Superman newspaper strip, as long as people look for truth, justice, and the American way, there will always be a Superman.
