History ComicBook / Superman

* FriendlyEnemy: Bizarro, in most versions. Mr. Mxyzptlk, sometimes. And ComicBook/AmbushBug started out this way till he went straight (though even as a "friend," he's still an incredible pest).
** It's telling that in the "Superman Family" illustration by Curt Swan on the [[Characters/{{Superman}} Characters Page,]] Mxyzptlk and Bizarro are depicted among them.

Originally created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist), two sons of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants who, after several tries, finally got him published in the first issue of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', where he immediately took off; imitations of him pretty much created MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks.[[note]]This wasn't their first attempt at the character they had in mind. Ironically, the first character they called "Superman" was intended as a villain with superior mental powers (also ironically looking a lot like ComicBook/LexLuthor, BaldOfEvil and everything). In truth, the character probably inspired the Ultra-Humanite, and the story's title "The Reign of the Superman" has inspired many MythologyGags since.[[/note]] Superman was an immediate success not only in the comics but in the wider culture. In TheThirties and TheForties, he was adapted into radio, serials and most crucially [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons into cartoons]] by Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer. It was in the latter adaptation that Superman received his most iconic superpower, that of flight. The phenomenal success and appeal of the character filtered into the wider lexicon to such an extent, that Superman has arguably become a major folk character, idiomatic of someone who can literally do anything and embody any WishFulfillment one yearns for. Many aspects of the Superman mythos have fallen into the common lexicon. Kryptonite has arguably displaced AchillesHeel, and the name of one of his supervillains has become a synonym for genius: [[TropeMakers brainiac]].

** Lex Luthor since TheEighties.

** If it wasn't for Superman, ComicBook/LoisLane would be dead since [[TheForties 1940]] [[GoingForTheBigScoop thanks to her fondness for snooping around way too much]]. Sometimes it's shown that she takes those risks because she knows she has backup; she [[DamselOutOfDistress can handle herself just fine,]] but just lets herself get into these situations because a hostage can get the best details of what the criminals and supervillains are up to, and will always have Superman to back her up if/when she needs it.

Originally created by [[Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist)]], two sons of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants who, after several tries, finally got him published in ''Action Comics'' #1, where he immediately took off; imitations of him pretty much created MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks.[[note]]This wasn't their first attempt at the character they had in mind. Ironically, the first character they called "Superman" was intended as a villain with superior mental powers (also ironically looking a lot like ComicBook/LexLuthor, BaldOfEvil and everything). In truth, the character probably inspired the Ultra-Humanite, and the story's title "The Reign of the Superman" has inspired many MythologyGags since.[[/note]] Superman was an immediate success not only in the comics but in the wider culture. In TheThirties and TheForties, he was adapted into radio, serials and most crucially [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons into cartoons]] by Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer. It was in the latter adaptation that Superman received his most iconic superpower, that of flight. The phenomenal success and appeal of the character filtered into the wider lexicon to such an extent, that Superman has arguably become a major folk character, idiomatic of someone who can literally do anything and embody any WishFulfillment one yearns for. Many aspects of the Superman mythos have fallen into the common lexicon. Kryptonite has arguably displaced AchillesHeel, and the name of one of his supervillains has become a synonym for genius: [[TropeMakers brainiac]].

The [[PhysicalGod Man of Steel]]. The [[LastOfHisKind Last Son]] of [[DoomedHometown Krypton]]. [[ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow The Man of Tomorrow]]. The [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Son of Jor-El]]. [[BullyHunter Champion of the Oppressed]]. [[TheCity Metropolis']] favorite son. [[PrimaryColorChampion The Big Blue]] [[GoodIsOldFashioned Boy Scout]]. [[TropeCodifier The definitive]] FlyingBrick.

[[TheParagon The]] BigGood [[TheCape Cape]] of Franchise/TheDCU.

'''[[TropeCodifier The]]''' {{Superhero}}.

Superman -- a.k.a. the Man of Steel -- is a Creator/DCComics superhero created by Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster. He is one of the most famous and popular superheroes not only in Franchise/TheDCU but in the history of comics; when you ask someone about "{{superhero}}", it's likely they'll first think of Superman. He first appeared in ''ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber1'' (June, 1938) and his works have been published continuously [[LongRunners for eight decades and counting]].

His [[FlyingBrick powers]] include ''vast'' SuperStrength and SuperSpeed, {{Flight}}, XRayVision, [[EyeBeams Heat Vision]], SuperBreath, [[BreathWeapon Freeze Breath]], NighInvulnerability (surviving supernova explosions and black holes), SuperSenses, and [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands possibly others]], [[DependingOnTheWriter depending on the interpretation]]. When not fighting evil, he masquerades as a mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, ''The Daily Planet''; this career helps him find disasters and emergencies that much sooner and does not require him to closely account for his whereabouts to his employers. Naturally, the Clark Kent/Superman dichotomy--most particularly, the question of which is the "real" person and which is the "mask"--has been explored a great deal, and has changed over time (with Kent going from nervous, geeky klutz to sharp-witted IntrepidReporter, among other changes). In UsefulNotes/{{the Golden|Age of Comic Books}} and UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|Of Comic Books}}, Clark Kent was little more than a façade for Superman. After ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', this idea was reversed. In some versions, both are essential parts of who he is; others, particularly Creator/AlanMoore, see both as masks worn by ''Kal-El'' to interact with humanity. Both sides also tend to be a lot more psychologically/emotionally vulnerable than you'd expect. Given his powers, and [[DumbMuscle the usual stereotypes about strength]] of his level, it would be easy to mistake him for a simplistic oaf, but Supes is actually quite a complex guy.

Originally created by [[Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist)]], two sons of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants who, after several tries, finally got him published in ''Action Comics'' #1, where he immediately took off; imitations of him pretty much created UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks.[[note]]This wasn't their first attempt at the character they had in mind. Ironically, the first character they called "Superman" was intended as a villain with superior mental powers (also ironically looking a lot like ComicBook/LexLuthor, BaldOfEvil and everything). In truth, the character probably inspired the Ultra-Humanite, and the story's title "The Reign of the Superman" has inspired many MythologyGags since.[[/note]] Superman was an immediate success not only in the comics but in the wider culture. In TheThirties and TheForties, he was adapted into radio, serials and most crucially [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons into cartoons]] by Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer. It was in the latter adaptation that Superman received his most iconic superpower, that of flight. The phenomenal success and appeal of the character filtered into the wider lexicon to such an extent, that Superman has arguably become a major folk character, idiomatic of someone who can literally do anything and embody any WishFulfillment one yearns for. Many aspects of the Superman mythos have fallen into the common lexicon. Kryptonite has arguably displaced AchillesHeel, and the name of one of his supervillains has become a synonym for genius: [[TropeMakers brainiac]].

** ''Superman'' #223 [[https://www.comics.org/issue/23959/ cover]] was the beginning of the ''Kryptonite Nevermore'' arc which launched UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks in ''Superman''.
** And it was a ShoutOut to his most iconic [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] image.

** The "Retroboot" ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' in ''ComicBook/LegionOfThreeWorlds'' was a return to the pre-''ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime'' version that had been around since UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}. However, in order to maintain the "classic" Legion feel, ''LOSH'' Vol 4 (the ''Five Years Later'' period) has been largely glossed over. Earth is still in one piece, Spider-Girl is still a villain, no-one mentions the cloned Legionnaires, and according to ''LOSH'' Vol 6 Annual 1, there's only been one previous Emerald Empress. The timeline/board game at the back of the Annual refers to this period as "The Mystery Years".

* CerebusRollercoaster: Superman has gone through several "darkenings" through his decades-long history. At the beginning of [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks the Golden Age]] his powers were more "grounded" and he fought criminals, corrupt businessmen and war profiteers. During the 40's and [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks the Silver Age]], though, his adventures gradually got more fantastic and more light-hearted. Then [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks the Bronze Age]] brought Superman's social crusader status back, his comics became more serious and more introspective, and his universe got darker, culminating in Batman breaking off their friendship, Supergirl [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths getting killed]], and [[ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow Superman losing his secret identity, his powers and most of his friends]]. When he was rebooted [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks in the Dark Age]], the tone was lighter than the 70's but also more serious and more depressing than the 60's, and it was not long before [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Superman was punched to death]].

*** In UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}, he often used the phrase "Great Scott," but it's far less common these days.

** Any story by E. Nelson Bridwell, proud and joyful [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] King of the {{Promoted Fanboy}}s! A fellow who loved his job.

** The latter takes its name from the official Superman fan club, back in UsefulNotes/{{the Golden Age|of Comic Books}}.

* {{Heavyworlder}}: Superman's powers were, in many older stories including the entire [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] run, due in part to Krypton's heavier gravity.

** This explains Lois Lane's reckless behavior in many of UsefulNotes/{{the Golden Age|of Comic Books}} comics and [[Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer Fleischer Studios]] WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons. She gets in trouble so often because she's sure Superman will always come to save her, and in fact she ''wants'' the excuse to see Superman again. Highlighted in Creator/ElliotSMaggin's novel ''Literature/LastSonOfKrypton'':

** {{Deconstructed|Trope}} in a [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] storyline where Superman finds himself BroughtDownToNormal in his Clark Kent identity and decides to experiment with living a week as just one identity. As Clark, he sees a subway being flooded, and realises he could do nothing to stop it now that he's powerless. Fortunately, the fire department arrives to take care of the crisis, and Clark realises that the world always got along fine before there was a Superman.

* InsectQueen: In the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], Lana Lang sometimes gained insect attributes to become a heroine aptly known as "Insect Queen." In a nod to this, there was a Modern Age villain known as Insect Queen, ruler of an imperial group of insects called the All-Hive (not remarkably different from the alien incarnations of Queen Bee) who reshaped her body to be like ComicBook/LanaLang. She was also fought by Supergirl in the [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 "Death and the Family"]] arc.

* InvoluntaryShapeshifter: This was the most common effect of Red Kryptonite in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, with {{Repower}} being a close second. Jimmy Olsen was also put through [[RunningGag many, many]] [[TwentyFourHourSuperpower transformations]] both in the ''Superman'' titles and his own.

* LighterAndSofter: Since the late [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]], this is Superman's [[GoodIsOldFashioned perceived personality]] and settings in relation to any other mainstream superhero you may think of.

* MadScientist: ComicBook/LexLuthor, back in the day, was a villainous scientist. And back in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, there was the Ultra-Humanite.

* MechaMooks: At least [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks in continuities where he has them,]] Superman has the Superman Robots.

* MetalMuncher: On [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Krypton there were a race of beasts known as metal-eaters. They were popular attractions at the Kryptonian zoos, with children bringing sacks of scrap metal to feed them. They were kept in their cages with glass bars. [[FridgeLogic (Why couldn't fangs strong enough to crush metal be able to break glass?)]]

* PhotographicMemory: He possessed this along with super-fast thinking in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks and UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks, and regained these abilities post-ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis.

* PowerCreepPowerSeep: Especially during UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, when he could fly many times faster than light, move planets by pushing on them, and survive the interior of a supernova. In his first comic book appearances, Superman ''couldn't fly''. That helps to illustrate just how far the power creep has gotten...

* PresidentSuperhero: The concept of Supes possibly being president goes back to the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], when ComicBook/JimmyOlsen had a dream about it. Some aspects of it are examined as to how Superman being the president would be different; for instance, the splash panel shows an emergency situation. President Superman tells [[BodyguardingABadass the Secret Service men to get behind]] ''[[BodyguardingABadass him]]''. Also, at the end, when the possibility is mentioned in some way to the Man of Steel, Supes points out that he ''couldn't'' be president as the U.S. president has to be a native, and he wasn't born in the United States.

*** That last retcon is also notable for ''[[ContinuitySnarl completely borking]]'' the continuity of the ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' comic, since the eponymous Legion was introduced in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} as a group of thirtieth-century teenagers who were inspired to form their own "hero club" by stories of Superboy's exploits. The Legion's writers at the time tried to patch things up by, variously, establishing that Superboy had only existed in a pocket universe, killing off the pocket universe Superboy, revamping one-shot character Mon-El into a Superboy {{Expy}}, further rejiggering the timeline by having Mon-El kill the Time Trapper, and finally scrapping and rebooting the whole damn thing during the ''ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime'' crossover in 1994. The ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' was then rebooted again in 2001, and then retconned ''again'' in 2007 back to a variant on the original continuity, with some adjustments. By this point, alternate timelines, retcons, and reboots are a fact of life for Legion fans.

** Of course, since the [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] (specifically the story "Must There Be a Superman?"), Superman has been very concerned about inadvertently making humanity too dependent on him by solving too many of our problems for us. This concern might apply to introducing super tech as much as it does to his super power feats.

* SlidingScaleOfContinuity: A Level 3 (Subtle Continuity) in at least UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks -- while Mort Weisinger was the editor, his supporting cast, RoguesGallery, and mythology were slowly built upon, without readers requiring to have read any previous stories most of the time.

* SpinoffBabies:

* SpinoffBabies: Superboy, "Superbaby".

Superman -- a.k.a. the Man of Steel -- is a Creator/DCComics superhero created by Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster. He is one of the most famous and popular superhero not only in Franchise/TheDCU but in the history of comics; when you ask someone about "{{superhero}}", it's likely they'll first think of Superman. He first appeared in ''ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber1'' (June, 1938) and his works have been published continuously [[LongRunners for eight decades and counting]].

The [[PhysicalGod Man of Steel]]. The [[LastOfHisKind Last Son]] of [[DoomedHometown Krypton]]. [[ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow The Man of Tomorrow]]. The [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Son of Jor-El]]. [[BullyHunter Champion of the Oppressed]]. [[TheCity Metropolis']] favorite son. [[PrimaryColorChampion The Big Blue]] [[GoodIsOldFashioned Boy Scout]]. [[TropeCodifier The definitive]] FlyingBrick.

[[TheParagon The]] BigGood [[TheCape Cape]] of Franchise/TheDCU.

'''[[TropeCodifier The]]''' {{Superhero}}.

->''"[[SuperSpeed Faster than a speeding bullet!]] [[SuperStrength More powerful than a locomotive!]] [[InASingleBound Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!]] This amazing stranger from the planet Krypton! The Man of Steel --(gong ring)-- Superman!"''