Type Comic
Date 1938-04-18 (1938-06)
Pages 13

Revolution in San Monte, part one

  • Superman, Champion of the Oppressed

This whole story is so historic, I feel like I should just transcribe it. But, let me try to quash that urge, and just point out the highlights.

The planet Krypton (as yet unnamed) was "destroyed by old age". Superman's father was a scientist. A passing motorist turned the baby Superman over to an orphanage. Superman's "physical structure was millions of years advanced of their own". Even as a baby, Superman is inhumanly strong.

When maturity was reached, he discovered he could easily: leap 1/8th of a mile; hurdle a twenty-story building... raise tremendous weights... run faster than an express train... and that nothing less than a bursting shell could penetrate his skin! Early, Clark decided he must turn his titanic strength into channels that would benefit mankind. And so was created... Superman! Champion of the oppressed. The physical marvel who had sworn to devote his existence to helping those in need!

It is stated in this issue that on Kent's home planet, "upon reaching maturity, the people of his race became gifted with titanic strength!"

It is noteworthy that in Superman's first story, he intends to save an innocent woman from wrongful execution. Even Superman should disagree with the death penalty, for here is a strong argument against it.

Clark works for the Daily Star. And they get a tip about a wife beating. Which is in progress. Clark has time to get there are stop the man mid-beating. Who calls the newspaper with a tip about a wife-beating?

And now he's fighting political corruption? Wow. This is seriously better than the other comics I've been reading, lately.

Notes

This story was printed with the first six pages cut in Action Comics #1. It is printed in full in Superman #1.

Character Type
Superman Main
Lois Lane Sub
Name Role
Jerry Siegel Author
Joe Shuster Inker / Penciller

Relations

Relation Sources
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