10 Things You Never Knew About Superman

Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Superman has been a pop culture staple for over 80 years, with a media career spanning comic books, radio, television and film.

The character’s mass market appeal is as strong as ever, showing no signs of slowing down. The Man of Steel is such an icon that you probably think you already know everything there is to know about him.

You’re wrong. Here are 10 Things You Never Knew About Superman.

1. Superman Was Created by Two High School Students

Superman was created by high school friends, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The duo met in 1932 while they were both students at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Both young men were fairly shy, but they quickly bonded over their shared interests and similar aspirations. They were both huge pulp fiction fans and both held ambitions of pursuing careers in the creative industry. Siegel dreamed of becoming a writer, while Shuster wanted to be an illustrator.

The pair first collaborated together for their school newspaper, with Shuster providing illustrations for Siegel’s Goober the Mighty stories.

Shuster would later provide illustrations for Siegel’s self-published fanzine, Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization. The third issue, published in January 1933, featured a short story called The Reign of the Superman.

2. Superman Was Originally a Villain

Siegel and Shuster’s first “Superman” was a malicious vagrant with psychic powers.

The Reign of the Superman follows ragged vagrant, Bill Dunn, who is tricked by a mad scientist into consuming an experimental drug. The drug grants Dunn various telepathic abilities, which he uses for selfish and malicious purposes.

The once meek transient becomes a super villain intent on world domination. Unfortunately for Dunn, the effects of the drug are temporary and his powers fade, leaving him to return to a life of destitution.

3. DC Bought Superman for Just $130

Siegel and Shuster received just $130 for the character when they sold to rights to Detective Comics in 1938. That’s the equivalent of around $2,300 when adjusted for inflation.

4. Nicolas Cage Was Paid $20 Million Play Superman

Nicolas Cage was paid $20 million to star as the Last Son of Krypton in the late-90s film, Superman Lives. He received the payment even though the Tim Burton-directed film was never made.

5. George Reeves Had a Gun Pulled on Him by a Child

George Reeves, star of the 1950s TV series The Adventures of Superman, had a gun pulled on him by a child. The young fan had wanted to test Superman’s invulnerability. Fortunately, he was persuaded not to shoot.

6. Superman Was Investigated by the FBI

A strip depicting an atom splitter brought scrutiny from the FBI during World War II. It was feared that details about the secret Manhattan Project had been leaked. DC was prevented from publishing several other Superman stories that depicted atomic weapons until the war was over.

7. Kryptonite Debuted on Radio

Kryptonite debuted on radio in 1943, six years before it appeared in comics. It was invented to give voice actor, Bud Collyer, time off. Superman was temporarily incapacitated to explain his absence.

8. That’s Not an “S” on Superman’s Chest

The familiar symbol on Superman’s chest might look like a stylised “S” but, according to comic book lore, it’s not one. It’s actually the Kryptonian symbol for “hope” and the insignia of the House of El. Flip it upside down and it becomes the Kryptonian symbol for “resurrection”.

9. Superman Has Had Some Strange Powers Over the Years

Superman has been shown to have an enormous range of abilities over the years. Super strength, speed and flight are all powers that Superman is well known for. He’s less well known for his super-ventriloquism and shape-shifting abilities. Other bizarre powers include telepathic caller ID, fixing broken objects by firing beams from his eyes and the ability to shoot a tiny version of himself from his fingertips.

10. Superman Couldn’t Always Fly

Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman! Flight is probably the most well known ability that Superman possesses, but he hasn’t always been able to fly. Way back in the 1930s, the Big Blue Boy Scout could only jump really high.

Superman was given the ability to fly in The Adventures of Superman radio series and an artistic mistake saw the Man of Steel take flight in a 1941 issue of Superman. However, credit for cementing Kal-El’s ability to fly in the public consciousness is usually given to the Fleischer animated series.

Starting in 1941, the cartoon provided the first intentional visual depiction of Superman taking flight. The decision was made because it was felt that flying looked better than leaping when animated. The comics followed suit, giving Superman the ability to fly shortly after.

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