Modern Spiderman has to deal with the same issue Superman dealt with as stories move away from "friendly neighbourhood" to cosmic threats. In a way, Spiderman's success was spurred on by the void newer Superman comics left at the time.
Golden Age Superman tackled TONS of social issues, from worker's abuse, corruption in the system, domestic violence and the rich profiting on the war in third world counties (this one's actually real, and one of my personal favourites).
I've always said that Superman greatest super power and what makes him "super" isn't his flight, or super strength or any of his other abilities but rather Clark Kent the justice oriented, wholesome, Smallville boy from another planet.
My first comics was a Superman comics. He's my favorite superhero and always will be. People always try to sabotage his legacy by making him lose fight against Batman, even alfred or making him a villain. But the truth is he's the greatest superhero of all time and nobody can change that.
As one who debates constantly about which Golden Age hero is his favorite, this makes me so happy to see. Finding someone who appreciates and understands the Golden Age Superman mythos doesn't happen very often. It's just in Superman's core nature to want to be a friend and help from the beginning. His story doesn't always need to be about his god among men aspects or gritty bring him down to a lower level by questioning his motives to keep him from being being "boring." You've just had another subscriber.
@@FirstnameLastname-my7bz I'm confused. Gatekeeping? His whole nature in the Golden Age was just to help where he could? It's still his nature. Sure he has other iterations at times but he started out as one who wanted to help those in need. That's still what he wants to do even when he has a gritty story.
My favorite is Hourman, followed by Spectre and Dr Fate. But that says more about me than the characters. Superman is the best one, indeed. When I took on the task of reading Superman from the beginning to 1985 (having read all after that), I was surprised at how the best of the Superman stories today take on that aspect of who he is as a person. And yeah, he got a sub from me for this vid, too!
@Will N wrong, Wonder Woman, original Wonder Woman was The most kind and The softest superhero. Ever. At the same time period when Superman, Batman and even Robin killed, whether in self defense or not even, she didn't. Also she had one certain weakness that she wasn't afraid to be exposed of. If it means her goals will see the light of the day. And Green Arrow was just Batman but Robin Hood themed. Funnily enough released in the same year as murderous Archer (who was also rich, wore green outfit,was rich guy with butler,but he was just threatening people with ransom or else they will be expertly shot by his advanced bow and arrow techniques, kinda similar to first season of Arrow really if Oliver's motivation was greed and evil instead of vengeance), one of the very first memorable villains in Superman comics. And no, Superman wasn't anyone's "dad". He was just well meaning unstoppable fearsome force, and absolutely aggressive and stoic (towards Lois Lane and other women) side while Clark Kent was trying to solve problems with words and meekness side, and full of love and affection towards Lois, mostly in one way manner. That's the original Superman. By his actual creators, not by all bunch of different writers that came up with what They think Superman is about. And no, none of them were "social justice warriors", nothing in common with current ones at the very least. For example Superman back in the days could kill criminals, but he never touched any policeman nor army man. Even when they were shooting at him or when they were throwing bombs at him.
Jerry Siegel is one of DC's best writers 💯 and there's plenty of more great Golden age Superman stories than that as well. Return to Krypton is a great story from Siegel too.
Whenever they portray superman, as a “Jesus” character they missed the mark. Superman is Clark Kent, a man who was raised right. If he had no powers, he would still be trying to do the right thing.
If you think there were no biblical references behind the original creation of Superman, well you’re just wrong. The Moses comparison is obvious, Samson is also obvious. Jesus specifically is less so, but if you know about Christian religion then you know that Moses was taught to have been a precursor to Jesus, and Jesus a new prophet like Moses. So it would’ve been reasonable for Shuster and Siegel to have seen the connection, or to have assumed others would make it. Not going to argue it was the point of the character by any means, but it was one of the many creative influences. Also, I find that we look back on Superman after the fact and see more than the creators themselves saw. We tend to abstract and conceptualize it further than it was originally was. There was certainly heart and ideas there, but it was made as cheap entertainment
@@bradenhogan2 I think it's that people in the modern day superman stuff sort of... In the best way I can describe it, "Portray the cross than the person on it" He became what we see him as, a god with unlimited power, rather than who and how he is as a kind man who wants the world to feel inspired.
@@samuraijackoff5354 Well, I think the “God” comparison was present in the original Golden Age books, but it was far more subtle, understated, ironically enough than what modern versions do
I think if you try to portray any character as someone who always does the kind and selfless thing, the Jesus comparisons will come regardless of intention.
You know I have been in a deep depression lately I've been drinking non stop for a couple weeks staying up all night barely being able to work because of the hangovers I let my apartment go to hell with garbage and dirty laundry I was drinking watching RU-vid and your video here popped up in my algorithm I watched it I teard up I dumped my booze made some coffee and iv spent the last 2 hours cleaning my entire apartment I go to work in an hour and there going to see a different man today this is what true heros are supposed to be they inspire us to be our best selfs to be supermen in our own right this is the day I get my chance to be a superman thank you
Friend, I gave up drinking in 1987. The first 6 months are the hardest. One thing that helped me was instilling in my mind a picture, an idea of the man I wanted to be and who my twelve year old self would most trust and respect. But that's a lot to take on in the beginning. Just get through today...
This is what a lot of modern fans are missing especially those who only watch movies. Superman as an actual inspiring person who helps people at street level.
This was the core of his character and what makes him the greatest superhero of all time, to embody the best of humanity and be a positive influence for everyone . Too many people are used to all the modern deconstructions of him (yes including characters like omniman and homelander)
This is why i still think that a good story to adapt outside the dcu is Superman:peace on earth. I think it should be a movie focusing on the character study and humanitarian effort. But i think it should go the route of joker or the batman which is not entied to cinematic universe.
Superman helping a guy out with his problem and being an absolute troll to the criminals that wronged him more so than Batman would ever be without needing any powers to solve the problem? And people still say Superman’s a boring character...
These days? People would have a hissy fit if Superman did that. It's been ten years and people still aren't over Superman killing Zod. It's been over thirty years and people aren't over Superman killing the alt-universe Zod. As for being boring? He's not the most exciting character anymore.
@@dabellwrites6888 Yeah, I've never had an issue with Supes killing; that was Batman's code (after a while) for a good reason. My issue with Snyderman killing Zod was the context. There was no setup that him killing was an issue and after all the lost life from him destroying the embryos, the space ship, and the shear collateral damage from negligence in the fight with Zod made it seem out of place in the story.
@@dabellwrites6888 i dont blame them. i still feel very hissy about bayformers optimus killing a megatron begging for mercy, and then going on to threaten and kill humans.
Remember Superman The Animated Series? One of my favorite moments is when Superman is depowered and still manages to break Lex's jaw with 1 punch. He grieved when Darkseid killed Dan Turpin andd smashed an Apokoliptian tank to bits. He had a great sense of humor. He got annoyed when Bruce stole his gal Lois for a bit. Underneath all the car lifting is a good, wholesome, American farm boy who still sees the best in humanity. I loved this about his portrayal in the DCAU and it still resonates for a reason. He may be from another planet, but he emulates the best traits of humankind.
This is, without doubt, my favourite era of Superman!! Now he fights super villains and is known as a "boy scout" but *then* he was a champion of the people and a hero for the underdogs. He was pure wish fulfilment and tackled social issues of the time. He was tough and took no nonsense but still had a really good heart. I *thoroughly* enjoyed this video!! All the images from the book, how you took us thru the story in a really entertaining way, all the character voices and the passion expressed for this story. Ive never read this one but I will now. I would *love* to hear anymore Golden Age Supes story recommendations from you if you have any. Amazing work! Thank you 🙏
I've honestly never understood the "boy scout" angle when Sueprman has always never been shy to be stern and firm when he needs to be and friendly and cheery with the public and/or helping those in need. I think that boy scout just comes from people who don't really like the character or that type of character as well as flanderizations in media or in the matieral itself.
One of my favorites is "The Orphanage Adventure" from Superman #3. I also enjoy "Superman Declares War on Reckless Drivers" as a more comedic story. If you're looking for a more modern take on the kind of story in this video I recommend the short film "One On One".
@@arcadeassassin7176 oh wow.. Thanks!! I have "Superman Declares War on Reckless Drivers" and I *love* it! I don't think I've ever come across "Orphanage Adventure" and I definitely haven't heard of "One on One" before. Is the latter fan made? Regardless, I very much look forward to your suggestions. Thanks so much!!
Action comics #40, one of the best Superman stories I read. Also, check out the Newspapers strips, if you haven't already. There's a storyline with Clark Kent trying to raise awareness for the Metropolis's slums. Siegel and Shuster do not get enough credit for socially aware they were.
Loyalty, caring and putting yourself out for your friends and neighbors, those are what Superman's greatest attributes have always been. And we can all follow his example and become Supermen ourselves. I always thank our lucky stars that Siegel and Shuster created the modern hero with the above mentioned characteristics. If someone else had come up with an alien with the "super" powers, but not the morals, think of what we would have lost out on.
I've never read this story, but I can see why you like it.This isn't just another super-hero vs super-villain story, or fighting aliens or robots, or saving Lois ,or even accused of being a "god" though those stories are good except for the "god" part this is about a man who helps his fellow man not to give up on his dreams and that's why this is a good story Superman cares super or other wise.
I kind of wish they’d reused Larry Trent for Bibbo Bibbowski. Would have been nice to think that Larry opened a successful business after his stint as champion and still held Superman in high regard.
Imaigne if they ever adapted this story into a Superman movie? It wouldn't be a blockbuster hit with franchise potential, but I think it could be a solid template for a great movie.
If Superman the series would take this kind of story on, instead of the entire universe ending every week, I'd probably watch it a lot more. The one with George Reeves did a few of these, like when Superman took a blind girl around the world to fulfill her wish for her mother and then by using his own supervision told doctors how they could restore her sight. Still one of the best ever.
Superman is just a swell, stand-up fella. That's who he is at his core. The fact he has so much power just enables him to *do more.* A force multiplier for kindness.
Superman was just getting Larry to the position he was before. Larry ending to redo all the fights he already won just to get a fair shake at the belt wouldn't be fair, so Superman did all the backtracking for him while get got back into fighting shape.
This story reminds me of the reason that my absolutely favorite era of Superman is the post-Crisis 1986-1996 era. Those stories were truly about Clark Kent, a man raised in Kansas by two loving and supportive parents. They taught him that every life matters. That one person can make a difference in so many people's lives. They made him into the hero that he became. It's just a lucky twist of fate that the heroic, compassionate man they raised happened to be Kryptonian, possessing the ability to save the world with his powers.
First ever video I see of yours and you caught me instantly. I'm not going through depression or whatnot but I just love how you took an obscure superman comic and showed how it cuts RIGHT to the core of the man of steel!
I know it can be hard to read a lot of Golden Age comics because of the different writing and art styles of the time, but Superman still holds up incredibly well.
Wow this was so well done. I love Superman and what he represents. Most of us are familiar with the would-be jumper scenes from Superman: Grounded or All Star Superman but it makes me happy to see he’s been looking out for people struggling with their mental health from the beginning of his career. Crazy that something from 80 years ago can still trigger such a powerful emotional response, just beautiful
I just checked the rest of your channel and discovered this is the first full video you have uploaded, I was genuinely surprised because this feels so well composed, it feels like something made by someone who has been doing it for years
This story shows how his creators were developing their skills when it came to story telling, the story from Action Comics issue 4 takes the same kind of idea of Supes taking another person's place, but that previous story had a weird disjointed beginning, and made Superman look bad by having him put his idea into action by force, where as here the story hits the ground running, and Clark's idea is one that the person he's replacing is in on. That story feels like a screwball comedy, where as this one tells more well rounded story with the same premise.
@@FirstnameLastname-my7bz In a Nemo magazine interview, Shuster admitted the early Superman stories had varying levels of quality found in the comics. The first Superman story was just a re-purposed comic. There wasn't a big emphasis on the powers like we do now.
@@dabellwrites6888 if you mean 80's Nemo maganize interview, there is NO mention of stories being "varying quality". Reporpused was original Action Comics #1 because originally it was going to be a comic strip released daily in parts, they had to re organazie it all into 13 pages comic book format, nothing about it being "bad" or "worse than what came later". What they DO mention however is how as the times went on they got restricted with what they can do with character, but This story in the video is before those times, back in the day where he could use machine gun from one plane to shoot another plane down or bounce bullet with his head like Clark Kent then leave gangsters plummet to their death because otherwise they would reveal his secret identity, type of stories. Again, this, story in the video, is Before restrictions.
I loved the early Superman stories where he was just helping someone in need of help at that moment. Sure the Fleischer Superman is my favorite incarnation of all time, but even the George Reeves Adventures of Superman sometimes had these stories where Clark was helping someone who needed it and the early stories allowed some schmuck to get the karmic balancing they so sorely deserve and someone who was brought low gets a chance to rise again.
Absolutely loved this video, thanks for making it. It really shows what Superman is all about! Under the cape, and tights he is just a man who cares about helping anyone he can, however he is able, and that is the heart of a true hero! Subscribed, and thumbs up! 🥰
This was a great video. I’ve never heard of this story before. It’s great to see Superman being such a good guy at his core from the start. That is my favorite aspect of Superman, but I’d never realized how early it was written into his character. It’s amazing too because his powers were his novelty and a focus on them alone would have sold well enough at least for a while. This is more meaningful and endearing
We need to go back to writing like this. Modern comics would be aghast at this comic. They would have the gall, the absolute NERVE to act offended. What a great story, and they didnt even need the entire multiverse to be at stake or whatever.
I love the smaller scale story, would be unreal if they did it for a Superman movie (getting a bit tired of big boss fights, but still love Superman as a character and would love to see more of him in different stories). This story almost reminds me of It's a Wonderful Life.
Good video. And I can definitely see why you like this golden age story so much. Maybe if more people read stories like this rather than focusing solely on the epic battles and super villains slugfest maybe it would remind them of the stuff we tend to take for granted. Like being there for our friends. And helping to pick others up when they fall down. Because in the end, isn't that what heroes are really for? Isn't that what Superman is for?
This past year I’ve really gotten into Superman and researching his history in American culture. I’m glad I dad because it led me to your channel when you uploaded this video.
This is a very memorable story by Golden Age standards. A version of it appeared on the newspaper dailies as well. I generally like the old newspaper dailies better than the comic book issues
Agree. This is an excellent Superman story, it doesn't deconstruct Superman, it just deals with him at face value. Golden Age Superman is the all time best, John Byrne is the only one who came close and took Superman back to his roots, where being an alien is just the excuse for the powers, Golden Age Superman didn't even know he was an alien untio years into his career as Superman, and when he found out, it meant little to him beyond the explanation for his abilities. The S symbol, the costume, the public performing identity ("Superman"), the will to be Superman, and the mild mannered reporter disguise, all come from being Clark Kent. The Golden Age stories were the best because they got the point of the character, unlike modern ones, which overemphasize the alien aspect to the point where Superman becomes a fish out of water, first contact story, when that was never the point of Superman, and being an alien was just an explanation for the powers. You don’t need a lot of Krypton to tell a Superman story...you don't need anything but the character himself, like this story here. Thank you for this video, it was fantastic. I'd love to see people take Superman back to his roots, John Byrne is the only other writer to do this.
Thank you so VERY MUCH for making this WONDERFUL video! It was EXTREMELY encouraging and inspiring! Especially to someone like me, who occasionally goes through severe depression. 😪
It makes me think of the so-called curse of Superman. The curse of Superman is we can't be Superman, and I don't mean having his powers. He has the sort of character that would run into a burning building, about to explode, filled with green kryptonite, just to save Lex Luthor his arch enemy, and that's all a matter of character that we wish we had.
Great vid! This was one of the stand out stories for me reading through the golden age tp, and it's absolutely solid even in today's characterization. It even improves on a similar premise from A.C. #4 with the wholesome retraining subplot. Definitely one of those stories where you can see Siegel iterate and improve his writing in real time.
This really warmed my heart when I was feeling as low as Larry. I love Superman and we need more folk like him. Like he said in Injustice against his evil counterpart, he isn't a god. I see him as a humble friend
This was very interesting. It makes me think of a Superman story that I always remember. I believe it's from the 90s. But it's about Clark Kent's neighbor who is beating his wife. It's a very good story as Clark realizes that even with all his superpowers he cannot solve every problem
This reminds me of my favorite Batman story(also a golden age classic): The case of the honest crook from Batman #5. I hope you cover more golden age stories.
"A friend". Honestly, I think this nails why Superman & Lois is such a great show. Why that Superman really feels like Superman. Because that show gets it, all the way.
Loved this video. Also great classy music choice at the time. I’m sure you are probably aware but there is a dc comics special volume called Superman the war years covering most of his comics from 1938-1945
@Pulp Culture I enjoyed this. I remember reading that story. It's interesting because in the early days of Superman he was fighting down to Earth villains as opposed to space and science fiction themed ones. Oddly, this story has more relevance than ever with mental health and addiction being the worst super villains of our modern age. Subscribed. David
This reminds me of one of MY favorite Superman story, Michael T. Gilbert's "Mann and Superman". This one is also a story that lacks a lot of the usual Superman trappings, and is very grounded and human. You've probably read it, but if you haven't, I heartily recommend it.
As soon as you said the title, I'm in my happy place. It's... the best of the early stuff. (My personal favorites are "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" and Injustice 30 (digital), both explorations of who Superman is at his heart, and why he is a hero where his strength of character is more important than the strength of his body. And the one you picked was the first to really give a blueprint for how he would be (except in the silver and pre-silver age Superjerk era).
addendum: wrote that comment prior to seeing the end of the video. So we have one in common. Just watched Superman vs The Elite two days ago, and I recommend it for fans of the story.
Great video, thanks for sharing. It is really difficult to find the old Superman comics by Jerry Shuster and Joe Siegel. The art is "primitive" by today's standards, but so spot on in capturing the characters with a few simple lines that it holds up to this day. Thanks again.
Keep it up on your work and this video and channel I ❤️ this video and channel Thanks you for your video and channel Love yourself first and most Believe in yourself Quitters never win and winners never quit Don't give up and never give in Ignore those who try to discourage you Hang on to your dreams Take care of yourself Take control of own destiny Keep moving forward Stay strong Stand up for yourself Stand tall and be brave Speak up for yourself Be yourself Be grateful Be humble Act of kindness people
