Creators: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Creators

A growing list of inspirational Artists, Writers, Filmmakers, and Poets.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Like spaghetti and meatballs, bacon and eggs, or politics and corruption, the team of Siegel and Shuster is a set of words that just goes together in your head.  And what follows immediately after is there irreplacable contribution to world History in their character: Superman! Not bad for a couple of poor Jewish kids from Cleveland, eh?

Actually Joe was from Toronto originally.  These two guys had a rough go of it starting out in the business because everyone was telling them no.  I'm sure they all felt like the red sox a few years later.

Oh yeah, and originally the idea for superman came from this terrifying comic where a man gets telepathic powers and takes over the world.  Thankfully he gets taken out in the end.  As you might guess, the story was a hard sell, so Jerry kept the name and retooled the concept.

So instead of a Lex Luthor wannabe with telepathy, Siegel made a Samson and Moses hybrid with a Buck Rogers background, and sharp eye looking out for the oppressed.  And then Shuster gave him a circus strongman's tights and briefs with Zorro's cape, and Whammo!  We have the first superhero.  A modern day demi-god with amazing abilities, a secret identity, and a heart of gold.  This was the first step into our modern mythology, which had heaping helpings of the old myths to get it going. 




I love these guys, not only for creating Superman, but for creating a new Mythology for all of us to dream in.  They took the stories they were familiar with, that many of us grew up with, gave it a new context and form, and released it in beautiful 4 color glory.

Thanks Jerry and Joe