History of Superman in Timeline

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, debuted in Action Comics #1 in 1938. He is a superhero who has been consistently featured in American comic books since then. His popularity has led to adaptations across various media, including radio, novels, films, television, theater, and video games. He remains an iconic and enduring figure in popular culture.

1909: Copyright Act of 1909

In 1965, Siegel and Shuster attempted to regain rights to Superman using the renewal option in the Copyright Act of 1909, but the court ruled against them.

1925: Le Corbusier's City Concept

In 1925, Le Corbusier described the idea that 'Everything is known to us'.

1927: Release of Metropolis Film

In 1927, the film Metropolis was released, which influenced the naming of Superman's home city, marking a cultural connection to the superhero's world.

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1930: Publication of Gladiator

In 1930, Philip Wylie's novel Gladiator, featuring a protagonist named Hugo Danner with powers similar to Superman, was published, serving as one of the influences for the creation of Superman.

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1932: Siegel and Shuster Meet

In 1932, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster met while attending Glenville High School in Cleveland and bonded over their shared admiration for fiction, marking the beginning of their collaboration.

January 1933: "The Reign of the Superman" Publication

In January 1933, Jerry Siegel published his short story, "The Reign of the Superman," in his magazine, which Joe Shuster illustrated, marking the first iteration of a character with Superman's name, though different powers and motivations.

May 1933: Consolidated Book Publishers Releases Detective Dan

In May 1933, Consolidated Book Publishers, based in Chicago, published Detective Dan: Secret Operative 48, a comic book containing all-original stories, setting the stage for Siegel and Shuster to present their own comic book concept to the company.

July 1933: Leo O'Mealia Responds to Siegel

In July 1933, Leo O'Mealia responded to Jerry Siegel's request for artists, leading to a collaboration on Superman strips featuring a scientist-adventurer from the future. Although a few strips were produced, they were rejected by O'Mealia's newspaper syndicate.

June 1934: Siegel Partners with Russell Keaton

In June 1934, Jerry Siegel partnered with Russell Keaton, an artist in Chicago, to further develop Superman. Siegel sent Keaton a script detailing Superman's origin as a child sent from the future. Keaton created two weeks' worth of strips but they were ultimately rejected by a newspaper syndicate.

June 1935: Siegel and Shuster Find Work with National Allied Publications

In June 1935, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster secured work with National Allied Publications, owned by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, where they published their strips "Henri Duval" and "Doctor Occult" in New Fun Comics #6.

1935: Superman Origin Story Further Evolved

In the year 1935, the evolved Superman origin story featured baby Kal-El arriving on earth. He is discovered by motorists Sam and Molly Kent and subsequently adopted by them. The Kents name him Clark and teach him the importance of using his superhuman gifts for the benefit of humanity, shaping his moral compass.

1936: Detective Comics, Inc. formed

In 1936, Wheeler-Nicholson formed a joint corporation with Harry Donenfeld and Jack Liebowitz called Detective Comics, Inc. to release his third magazine, Detective Comics.

December 1937: Liebowitz Requests Comics for Action Comics

In December 1937, Jack Liebowitz asked Jerry Siegel to produce comics for an upcoming anthology magazine called Action Comics, though Siegel did not initially propose Superman.

January 1938: McClure Rejects Superman, Forwarded to Liebowitz

In early January 1938, McClure Newspaper Syndicate rejected Superman, leading Max Gaines to forward the strips to Jack Liebowitz for consideration in Action Comics.

January 1938: Donenfeld and Liebowitz Seize Wheeler-Nicholson's Company

In early January 1938, due to Wheeler-Nicholson's deep debt, Donenfeld and Liebowitz petitioned his company into bankruptcy and seized it, marking a significant shift in the ownership of the publishing venture.

March 1, 1938: Siegel and Shuster gave away the copyright to Superman

In a contract dated March 1, 1938, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster gave away the copyright to Superman to their employer, DC Comics.

April 1938: Action Comics Begins Publication

In April 1938, Action Comics began publication, marking the first and oldest of the Superman periodical comic books published by DC Comics.

April 18, 1938: Action Comics #1 Publication

On April 18, 1938, Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, made his first appearance in Action Comics #1, published in America, marking the beginning of his regular publication in American comic books.

August 1938: DC Comics trademarked the Superman chest logo

In August 1938, DC Comics trademarked the Superman chest logo.

1938: Kryptonians are advanced

Action Comics #1, published in 1938, originally explained that Superman's strength was common among Kryptonians due to their species being "millions of years advanced of our own".

1938: Action Comics #1: Superman origin story

In 1938, Action Comics #1 introduced Superman's origin story: born on an alien world, sent to Earth in a spaceship before his planet's destruction, and his parents die.

1938: Superman as a Corbusierian Ideal

In 1938, Superman represented a kind of Corbusierian ideal. Superman's X-ray vision made walls permeable. Through his benign authority, Superman rendered the city open, modernist and democratic.

1938: Superman Popularizes the Superhero Archetype

In 1938, Superman's success led to a wave of imitations, including Batman, Captain America, and Captain Marvel, marking the beginning of America's Golden Age of Comic Books.

1938: Superman's Origin and Early Stories

In 1938, the origin story and supporting cast of Superman were established, though details varied across different versions. Radically altered versions, like the communist Superman in "Superman: Red Son", also exist. DC Comics has also featured crossover stories where different versions of Superman interact.

1938: Renewal rights transferred to DC Comics

In 1965, the court ruled Siegel and Shuster had transferred the renewal rights to DC Comics in 1938.

1938: Superman narrative elements

Since 1938, several elements of the Superman narrative have remained consistent.

1938: Variations in Superman's abilities

Since 1938, the catalog of Superman's abilities and his strength has varied considerably.

1938: Superman has superhuman strength

Since Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman has displayed superhuman strength, famously depicted on the cover lifting a car over his head.

1938: Superman has a durable body

Since Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman has possessed a highly durable body, invulnerable for most practical purposes, capable of deflecting bullets.

1938: Action Comics #1 was published

Superman is due to enter the US public domain on January 1, 2034, but this will only apply to the character as he is depicted in Action Comics #1, which was published in 1938.

January 1939: Superman Daily Comic Strip Debuts

In January 1939, a Superman daily comic strip began appearing in newspapers, syndicated through the McClure Syndicate, expanding the character's reach beyond comic books.

June 1939: Introduction of Ultra-Humanite

In June 1939, Action Comics #13 introduced Ultra-Humanite, Superman's first recurring villain, being a mad scientist.

June 1939: Superman Comic Series Begins

In June 1939, the second oldest Superman periodical, simply titled Superman, began publication, further establishing the character's presence in comic books.

October 1939: Superman, Inc. established

In October 1939, Jack Liebowitz established Superman, Inc. to develop the franchise beyond the comic books.

December 1939: Captain Marvel first published

In December 1939, Captain Marvel was first published by Fawcett Comics. DC Comics filed a lawsuit against Fawcett Comics for copyright infringement.

1939: Superman gains superhuman hearing

In 1939, Action Comics #11 introduced Superman's superhuman hearing, allowing him to hear sounds too faint or at frequencies beyond human range.

1939: Superman uses X-ray vision

In 1939, Superman first uses X-ray vision in Action Comics #11, allowing him to see through objects.

1939: Earliest paraphernalia appeared

In 1939, the earliest Superman paraphernalia appeared: a button proclaiming membership in the Supermen of America club and the first Superman toy was a wooden doll made by the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.

April 1940: Introduction of Lex Luthor

In April 1940, Action Comics #23 introduced Lex Luthor, Superman's best-known nemesis, depicted as either a mad scientist or a wealthy businessman.

May 1940: Advertisement for "Krypto-Raygun"

In May 1940, Superman #5 carried an advertisement for a "Krypto-Raygun", which was a gun-shaped device that could project images on a wall.

1940: Superman gains the ability to fly

In 1940, Superman gained the ability to fly in the second episode of the radio serial, a departure from his original mode of transportation via running and leaping.

1940: The Adventures of Superman radio show began

In 1940, The Adventures of Superman, a radio show, began, and ran for 2,088 episodes.

1940: Whitney Ellsworth Hired as Editor

In 1940, Whitney Ellsworth was hired as an editor and dictated that Superman not kill, and sexuality was banned. He favored colorfully outlandish villains such as Ultra-Humanite and Toyman.

1940: Nazis Denounce Superman as Jewish

In 1940, the Schutzstaffel (SS) newspaper Das Schwarze Korps denounced Superman and his creator Jerry Siegel, falsely claiming that Superman was Jewish.

1940: Superman's personality softened

In late 1940, new editor Whitney Ellsworth instituted a code of conduct, softening Superman's character and giving him a sense of humanitarianism, banning him from killing.

1940: Superman possesses superhuman breath

Since 1940 in Action Comics #20, Superman has possessed superhuman breath, enabling him to manipulate large amounts of air and hold his breath indefinitely.

1941: Newspaper Strip Readership

By 1941, the Superman newspaper strips had an estimated readership of 20 million, showcasing the widespread popularity of the character.

1941: Mort Weisinger Becomes Editor

In 1941, Mort Weisinger became the editor of Superman comics, leading to a more disciplined and planned approach to the character's mythology and universe.

August 1942: Lois suspects Clark is Superman

In August 1942, Superman #17 featured a story where Lois suspects Clark is Superman and attempts to prove it, but Superman ultimately deceives her, a common plot before the 1970s.

1942: Superman works with the police

By 1942, Superman transitioned from being a vigilante to working side-by-side with the police.

1942: Names of Superman's parents changed

In a 1942 spinoff novel by George Lowther, the names of Superman's parents were changed to Jor-el and Lara.

1943: Siegel Enlists in the Army

In 1943, Jerry Siegel was conscripted into the United States Army, leading to changes in the writing of the Superman comic strips.

1943: Siegel conscripted, Superboy published

In 1943, Jerry Siegel was conscripted into the United States Army. While Siegel was serving, DC Comics published a story featuring a child version of Superman called "Superboy", without buying the character from Siegel.

1943: Kryptonite appears on radio

Kryptonite made its first appearance in 1943 in an episode of the radio serial.

1944: Stories of Superboy's adventures

From 1944, DC Comics began regularly publishing stories of Superman's childhood and adolescent adventures, during which he was known as "Superboy".

1944: Introduction of Mister Mxyzptlk

In 1944, Mister Mxyzptlk, Superman's first recurring super-powered adversary, was introduced.

October 1946: Superman, Inc. merged with DC Comics

In October 1946, Superman, Inc. merged with DC Comics.

1946: Superman Radio Program Tackles Social Issues

In 1946, the Superman radio program tackled social issues, including a version of the Ku Klux Klan, anti-semitism, and veteran discrimination.

1947: Siegel and Shuster sued DC Comics

After Siegel's discharge from the Army, in 1947 he and Shuster sued DC Comics for the rights to Superman and Superboy. They settled out-of-court with DC Comics, which paid the pair $94,013.16 in exchange for the full rights to both Superman and Superboy. DC Comics then fired Siegel and Shuster.

1947: DC Comics paid Siegel and Shuster at least $401,194.85

Between 1938 and 1947, DC Comics paid Siegel and Shuster at least $401,194.85.

1947: Radio Serial episode placing unnamed community in Iowa

In 1947, an episode of the radio serial places the yet unnamed community in Iowa where the Kents raise Clark.

March 1948: Trial began in the DC Comics lawsuit against Fawcett Comics

In March 1948, the trial began in the DC Comics lawsuit against Fawcett Comics for copyright infringement. The judge ruled that Fawcett had indeed infringed on Superman.

June 1949: Community named Smallville

In June 1949, the community where the Kents raise Clark is named Smallville in Superboy #2.

1949: Win Mortimer Takes Over Comic Strip

From 1949 to 1956, Win Mortimer drew the Superman newspaper strips, continuing the visual storytelling of the character.

1949: Superman uses heat vision

In 1949, Superman #59 features the first instance of Superman using heat vision by applying his X-ray vision at its highest intensity to project beams of heat from his eyes.

1949: The Adventures of Superman episodes lengthened

In 1949, The Adventures of Superman radio show episodes were lengthened to 30 minutes.

1949: Kryptonite appears in comics

In 1949, kryptonite made its first appearance in comics in Superman #61.

1950: End of the Golden Age of Comic Books

Around 1950, American superhero book sales declined, leading to the cancellation of many characters. However, Superman's sustained popularity allowed him to survive this decline.

1951: The Adventures of Superman radio show ended

In 1951, The Adventures of Superman, a radio show, ended after 2,088 episodes.

1952: Astro Boy Inspired by Superman Parody

In 1952, Astro Boy was first published, inspired by Mighty Mouse, which was a parody of Superman, marking the influence of American superhero fiction on Japanese culture.

September 1953: Last Captain Marvel story from Fawcett Comics was published

Fawcett Comics settled out of court with DC Comics, paid DC Comics $400,000, and agreed to stop publishing Captain Marvel. The last Captain Marvel story from Fawcett Comics was published in September 1953.

1954: Comics Code Authority created

In 1954, the Comics Code Authority was created, but this code is not to be confused with Whitney Ellsworth's code implemented earlier for Superman.

1955: Curt Swan became principal artist

Around 1955, Curt Swan succeeded Wayne Boring as the principal artist on Superman comic books.

1955: Superman Animated Shorts Broadcast in Japan

In 1955, the Superman animated shorts from the 1940s were first broadcast on Japanese television, gaining popularity and inspiring Japan's own superhero genre.

1956: Win Mortimer Era Ends

From 1949 to 1956, Win Mortimer drew the Superman newspaper strips, continuing the visual storytelling of the character.

1956: Adventures of Superman TV Show in Japan

In 1956, the TV show Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves began airing in Japan, further contributing to the popularity of superheroes in the country.

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1957: First Japanese Superhero Movie: Super Giant

In 1957, the first Japanese superhero movie, Super Giant, was released, marking a significant milestone in the development of Japanese superhero media.

July 1958: Introduction of Brainiac

In July 1958, Brainiac, Superman's first alien villain, debuted in Action Comics #242.

1958: Fortress of Solitude appears

In 1958, Action Comics #241 depicted the Fortress of Solitude as a cave in a mountain, secured by a heavy door and opened with a gigantic key only Superman could use.

1958: Introduction of Letters Columns

In 1958, Mort Weisinger introduced letters columns in Superman comics to encourage feedback and build a stronger connection with readers.

1958: First Japanese Superhero TV Show: Moonlight Mask

In 1958, the first Japanese superhero TV show, Moonlight Mask, premiered, further establishing the superhero genre in Japanese television.

1959: DC Comics rehired Jerry Siegel

In 1959, DC Comics rehired Jerry Siegel as a writer.

1959: Superman's freeze breath

In 1959, Superman #129 introduced Superman's freeze breath, demonstrating his ability to freeze targets by blowing on them.

1960: Superboy's costume origin

In 1960, Superboy #78 revealed Superboy made his costume out of the indestructible blankets found in the ship he came to Earth in.

1960: Sales Data Made Public

In 1960, sales data for Superman became public, revealing that Superman was the best-selling comic book character during the 1960s and 1970s.

1961: Superman's powers activated by Earth's sun

In 1961, Superman #146 established that Superman's powers, excluding strength, are activated by the light of Earth's yellow sun.

1961: Superman is murdered by Lex Luthor

In 1961, Superman #149 featured the first story where Superman dies, murdered by Lex Luthor using kryptonite; however, this story was considered "imaginary" and disregarded in later books.

1963: Superman's powers and sunlight

In 1963, Action Comics #300 detailed that all of Superman's powers, including strength, are activated by yellow sunlight and can be deactivated by red sunlight.

1964: Superman is vulnerable to magic

In 1964, Superman #171 established that Superman is vulnerable to magic, with enchanted weapons and spells affecting him like a normal human.

1965: Siegel and Shuster attempted to regain rights to Superman

In 1965, Siegel and Shuster attempted to regain rights to Superman using the renewal option in the Copyright Act of 1909, but the court ruled against them. DC Comics fired Siegel once again.

April 1966: Superman killed by kryptonite

In April 1966, Superman #188 depicted Superman's death from kryptonite radiation, only to be revived in the same issue by an android doppelganger.

May 1966: End of Superman Newspaper Strip

In May 1966, the initial run of the Superman newspaper strip concluded, marking the end of an era for the character in that medium.

1966: It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman musical play produced on Broadway

In 1966, Superman had a Tony-nominated musical play produced on Broadway, named It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman, featuring music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams and book by David Newman and Robert Benton.

1967: Licensing handled by Licensing Corporation of America

In 1967, after DC Comics merged with Warner Communications, licensing for Superman was handled by the Licensing Corporation of America.

1970: End of Weisinger's Tenure

In 1970, Mort Weisinger's tenure as the editor of Superman comics came to an end, marking the conclusion of an era characterized by a highly structured and intricate Superman universe.

1970: Weisinger retired, Schwartz took over

In 1970, Weisinger retired from DC Comics and Julius Schwartz replaced him as editor, updating Superman by making Clark Kent a television anchor and retiring overused plot elements.

1971: Time Article on Superman's Popularity

In 1971, Gerald Clarke wrote in Time that Superman's popularity signaled the end of the Horatio Alger myth and viewed the character's continuous updates as representing the mood of the nation.

1972: DC Comics licensed Captain Marvel

In 1972, DC Comics licensed Captain Marvel and published crossover stories with Superman.

1975: Warner Brothers agreed to give Siegel and Shuster a yearly stipend

In 1975, Warner Brothers agreed to give Siegel and Shuster a yearly stipend, full medical benefits, and credit their names in all future Superman productions in exchange for never contesting ownership of Superman.

1976: Copyright Act of 1976

In 1996, after Jerry Siegel died, his heirs attempted to take the rights to Superman using the termination provision of the Copyright Act of 1976.

1977: New Comic Strip Revival

In 1977, the Superman newspaper strip was revived, coinciding with a series of movies released by Warner Bros, revitalizing the character's presence in newspapers.

June 1978: Clark reveals identity to Lois

In June 1978, Action Comics #484 featured Clark Kent admitting to Lois that he is Superman, and they subsequently marry in the story.

1978: Clark Kent works as a newspaper journalist

In 1978, for the Superman movie, the producers decided to make Clark Kent a newspaper journalist once again, as this was how most people knew the character outside of comic book readers.

1978: Fortress of Solitude made of white crystal

In 1978, the Superman movie portrayed the Fortress of Solitude as a structure made of white crystal.

1978: Superman's crest origin

In 1978, while writing the script for the Superman movie, Tom Mankiewicz established the "S" on Superman's chest as the crest of Superman's Kryptonian family, the House of El.

1978: Superman as a Christ Allegory

In the 1978 movie starring Christopher Reeve, screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz consciously made Superman an allegory for Jesus Christ, with baby Kal-El's ship resembling the Star of Bethlehem and Jor-El giving his son a messianic mission.

1978: Smallville placed in Kansas

The 1978 Superman movie placed Smallville in Kansas, as have most Superman stories since.

1978: Release of Superman film

The success of the Superman film released in 1978 arguably paved the way for later big-budget superhero movies like Batman and Spider-Man.

1981: Smallville placed in Maryland

New Adventures of Superboy #22 (Oct. 1981) places Smallville in Maryland.

1983: Comic Strip Revival Ends

In 1983, the Superman newspaper strip ended again, marking the end of a revival period coinciding with Warner Bros. movies.

1986: Superman's powers emerged slowly

From 1986, beginning with Man of Steel #1, Superman's powers began to emerge more slowly, and he started his superhero career as an adult.

1986: Schwartz retired, Carlin took over, and DC rebooted the DC Universe

In 1986, Schwartz retired from DC Comics and Mike Carlin succeeded him. Also in 1986, DC Comics decided to reboot the DC Universe with the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" storyline. John Byrne rewrote the Superman mythos, reducing Superman's powers and revising supporting characters.

1986: Martha Kent makes Superman's costume

In 1986, in Man of Steel #1, it's revealed that Martha Kent makes Superman's costume from human-manufactured cloth, rendered indestructible by an aura projected by Superman.

1986: Superman's aura renders clothes invulnerable

In later stories, beginning with Man of Steel #1 in 1986, it's explained that Superman's body projects an aura that renders any tight-fitting clothes he wears invulnerable, making his costume as durable as he is even if made of common cloth.

1987: Sales Rise Again

Starting in 1987, sales of Superman comic books began to rise again, marking a resurgence in the character's popularity.

1989: Release of Batman film

The success of the Superman film released in 1978 arguably paved the way for later big-budget superhero movies like Batman released in 1989.

1990: Psychokinetic vulnerability showcased

In October 1990, Superman #48 showcased how a power-amped meta can affect Superman's psyche or microbiology to induce strokes or mangle his internal organs.

1991: DC Comics purchased Fawcett Comics

In 1991, DC Comics purchased Fawcett Comics and with it the full rights to Captain Marvel. DC eventually renamed the character "Shazam" to prevent disputes with Marvel Comics.

Nov 1992: Superman #75 Sales Record

In November 1992, Superman #75, featuring 'The Death of Superman', sold over 23 million copies, becoming the best-selling issue of a comic book of all time.

1992: Clark Kent's name origin revealed

In 1992, Superman co-creator Joe Shuster told the Toronto Star that Clark Kent's name was derived from cinematic leading men Clark Gable and Kent Taylor, with the persona based on Harold Lloyd and himself.

1992: Agreement with the Shuster heirs

In 2010, the court ruled in DC's favor on the grounds that the 1992 agreement with the Shuster heirs barred them from terminating the grant.

1992: Introduction of Doomsday

In Nov-Dec 1992, Superman: The Man of Steel #17–18 introduced Doomsday, the first villain to evidently kill Superman in physical combat without exploiting his weaknesses.

1992: Shuster died

Joe Shuster died in 1992. DC Comics offered Shuster's heirs a stipend in exchange for never challenging ownership of Superman, which they accepted for some years.

1993: Superman dies in battle with Doomsday

In January 1993, during The Death and Return of Superman story arc, Superman died in Superman #75 after a battle with Doomsday but was later revived using Kryptonian technology by the Eradicator.

1996: Carlin Promoted

In 1996, Carlin was promoted to Executive Editor for the DC Universe books.

October 2001: Siegel heirs called off their deal with DC Comics

Copyright lawyer and movie producer Marc Toberoff struck a deal with the heirs of both Siegel and Shuster to help them get the rights to Superman. The Siegel heirs called off their deal with DC Comics in October 2001.

October 2001: The Siegels accepted DC's offer

In an October 2001 letter, the Siegels accepted DC's offer of several million dollars and a yearly stipend of $500,000 in exchange for permanently granting DC the rights to Superman.

2002: Carlin left, Carlson took over

In 2002, K.C. Carlson took Mike Carlin's place as editor of the Superman comics.

2002: Release of Spider-Man film

The success of the Superman film released in 1978 arguably paved the way for later big-budget superhero movies like Spider-Man released in 2002.

2003: Shuster heirs served a termination notice

In 2003, the Shuster heirs served a termination notice for Shuster's grant of his half of the copyright to Superman.

2004: Siegel heirs sued DC for the rights to Superman and Superboy

In 2004, the Siegel heirs sued DC for the rights to Superman and Superboy.

2005: Superman is susceptible to psychokinetic phenomena

In September 2005, Wonder Woman Vol 2 #219 showed that Superman is highly susceptible to psychokinetic phenomena, ranging along telekinesis, illusion casting and mind control.

2008: Judge ruled in favor of the Siegels

In 2008, the judge ruled in favor of the Siegels in their lawsuit against DC Comics. However, the appeals court ruled in favor of DC, arguing that the October 2001 letter was binding.

2010: DC Comics sued the Shuster heirs

In 2010, DC Comics sued the Shuster heirs. The court ruled in DC's favor on the grounds that the 1992 agreement with the Shuster heirs barred them from terminating the grant.

2013: Messianic Theme Revisited in Man of Steel

In the 2013 movie Man of Steel, Jor-El asks Superman to redeem the Kryptonian race by guiding humanity down a wiser path, revisiting the messianic theme.

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May 2016: Superman killed by kryptonite poisoning

In May 2016, Superman #52 depicted Superman's death from kryptonite poisoning, resulting in him being replaced by the Superman from an alternate timeline.

March 2018: Action Comics Sales in March 2018

In March 2018, Action Comics sold 51,534 copies, reflecting the general trend of lower sales for superhero comic books, while Amazing Spider-Man #797 sold 128,189 copies.

2018: Superman licensed merchandise sales

In 2018, Superman licensed merchandise made $634 million in sales globally.

2024: Equivalent value of $401,194.85 in 1947

Between 1938 and 1947, DC Comics paid Siegel and Shuster at least $401,194.85, equivalent to $7,550,000 in 2024.

2024: Equivalent Value of Payment to Siegel and Shuster Calculated

In 2024, the US$130 paid to Siegel and Shuster in late February for their work on Action Comics is equivalent to $2,900, highlighting the historical monetary value of their early contributions.

January 1, 2034: Superman is due to enter the US public domain

Under current US copyright law, Superman is due to enter the US public domain on January 1, 2034. This will only apply to the character as he is depicted in Action Comics #1.