HISTORY This Week Superman Takes Flight
Jul 7, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Brad Ricca, author of Superboys, dives into the creation of Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. He reveals how the duo, best friends from Cleveland, brought a national hero to life against the backdrop of the Great Depression. The podcast explores their struggles for recognition and the bittersweet challenges that followed Superman's rise to fame. Additionally, it highlights the personal losses that fueled Siegel's creation and the fight for justice in the comic book industry.
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Superman's Birth Story
- Jerry Siegel conceived Superman in a sleepless epiphany one summer night.
- He rushed to Joe Shuster, who immediately started drawing the iconic hero in his kitchen.
Superman as Autobiography
- Superman is an autobiographical creation mixing personal loss and local heroes.
- This made the character resonate deeply as art, not just a commercial product.
The Real Lois Lane Model
- Joe Schuster found Yolan Kovach through a modeling ad, inspiring Lois Lane's character.
- She modeled under supervision, shaping the iconic superhero’s love interest appearance.