2024 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives
April 4, 2024: Jerry Siegel's 3-Page Letter on the Origin of Superman Sold at Auction
A 3-page letter written in 1934 by Superman's co-creator Jerry Siegel in which he tells artist Russell Keaton about the idea behind his new for a fantastic comic strip character has sold at auction for US$264,000 at Heritage Auctions.
Across these three historic pages, Jerry Siegel outlines the concept for Superman to comic strip artist Russell Keaton in June 1934, nearly four years before Superman's debut in Action Comics #1. Siegel's letter details an origin story both familiar and unfamiliar to long-time Superman fans. A miraculous canister lands on contemporary Earth containing a child of untold strength and ability, a fearful sight for others who will strive through adversity to become "a champion of the oppressed"; the young Clark Kent comes not from Krypton or any alien world, but the cataclysmic far future of Earth, one of the future's supremely evolved humans sent back in a "small time-machine."
In the proposed comic strip, Molly and Sam Kent discover the baby and drop him off at an orphanage before adopting him, with many following episodes detailing his childhood adventures long before becoming the adult "Superman". Siegel's summary and script echo Superman's later origins and retellings across Action Comics, Superman, and the Superman comic strip. While there are many differences, the core concept remains unchanged to this day.
From their earliest meetings in 1932, Siegel and Joe Shuster began workshopping the Superman concept before debuting the character in Action Comics #1 in 1938. This letter comes from the middle of that period, when both creators envisioned Superman as an ongoing comic strip, before the debut of the modern comic book format.
Siegel and Shuster were young unknowns, who had failed to sell the concept to multiple publishers including Consolidated Books and the Bell Syndicate, while Russell Keaton was an experienced artist, known for his work drawing Buck Rogers and Skyroads comic strips.
Siegel sought Keaton as an alternative partner for his budding creation, certain that an established artist would lead to greater cachet and a published strip. Keaton would go on to draw two weeks' worth of strips based on this letter, which were also rejected by newspaper syndicates, leading Siegel and Shuster to reunite and further refine the Superman concept. In June 1935, Siegel and Shuster would begin working for the budding comic publisher National Allied Publications, where the pair debuted Superman in 1938. While Siegel and Shuster were relative unknowns in the mid-1930s, today renown far exceeds that of Russell Keaton. This letter offers an incredible window into the history of comics, showcasing a major turning point in the development of both the superhero and modern pop culture.
In Very Good condition from the Denis Kitchen Collection, the letter was typewritten on three separate pieces of paper, with the opening page hand signed in the lower margin. Creasing, minor holes, tears, and chips, toning, and handling wear.
2024 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News
Listed below are all the Merchandise & Miscellaneous News items archived for 2024.- January 4, 2024: DC Shop Announces Exclusive Superman Krypto Lineage T-Shirt
- January 9, 2024: “DC Super Friends” Kids Activity! Secret Search Episode 2
- January 10, 2024: Superman of Earth-2 (Crisis on Infinite Earths) Gold Label Action Figure
- January 11, 2024: Superman Christmas Gifts - Superman Poll Results
- January 12, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Albuquerque Comic Con Next Weekend (January 19-21, 2024)
- January 16, 2024: “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” Official Gameplay Launch Trailer - “Do the Impossible”
- January 18, 2024: Superman in 2024 - Superman Poll Results
- January 19, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Days of the Dead Convention Next Weekend (January 26-28, 2024)
- January 20, 2024: Superman vs Doomsday 1:10 Scale Statue by Iron Studios Now Available for Pre-Order
- January 22, 2024: Brains On! Science Podcast Presents “Superman: An Immigrant's Story”
- January 23, 2024: Up, Up and Away to Public Domain: When Will Superman Soar Free?
- January 23, 2024: Ranking the Supermen of the Multiverse Panel at Phoenix Fan Fusion
- January 23, 2024: “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” Video Game Insider - Episode 3
- January 25, 2024: Favorite Super Power - Superman Poll Results
- January 26, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending MegaCon Orlando Next Weekend (February 1-4, 2024)
- January 29, 2024: A Superman Homepage Retrospective by Neal Bailey
- January 30, 2024: The Return of Superman Superboy MAFEX Action Figure
- February 1, 2024: Superman Gold Edition 40th Anniversary Action Figure Included in DC Super Powers Wave 7 Case
- February 1, 2024: Pre-Order Your DC Super Powers Wave 7 Brainiac Action Figure and Skull Ship Vehicle
- February 2, 2024: Win a Family Trip to Warner Bros. Movie World with Nestlé Milo and Cheerios Cereals
- February 2, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (February 9-11, 2024)
- February 9, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (February 16-19, 2024)
- February 12, 2024: Sideshow Collectibles Previews New Superman Premium Format Figure
- February 14, 2024: Looney Tunes x DC Mash-Ups Clothing
- February 19, 2024: Bagzone Lifestyles Partners with Warner Bros Discovery to Launch Fashion Accessories
- February 22, 2024: “DC Heroes & Villains” Video Game Update and Superboy Spotlight
- February 23, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (February 29 - March 3, 2024)
- February 29, 2024: Happy Birthday Superman!
- March 1, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (March 7-10, 2024)
- March 2, 2024: A Superman Homepage Retrospective by Michael J Petty
- March 2, 2024: First Look at Earth-2 Superman and Brainiac “Superman: Ghosts of Krypton” Action Figures
- March 2, 2024: McFarlane Toys “Superman: Ghosts of Krypton” Action Figure First Look
- March 4, 2024: DC Heroes Superman Black and Silver Version 1:8 Scale Statue
- March 6, 2024: “Superman: Ghosts of Krypton” Page Punchers Action Figures Available for Pre-Order
- March 7, 2024: Sideshow Collectibles Giveaway - “Batman & Superman: World's Finest” Fine Art Print by Joshua Middleton
- March 8, 2024: First Look at Superman Blue JLA Action Figure
- March 8, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (March 15-17, 2024)
- March 12, 2024: Warner Bros. Games Announces “Multiversus” Launch Date and McDonald's Happy Meals Collectibles
- March 13, 2024: DC Build-A Wave 12 Justice League of America Superman 7-Inch Scale Action Figure
- March 14, 2024: Jerry Siegel's 3-Page Letter on the Origin of Superman to be Sold at Auction
- March 14, 2024: Mr. Mxyzptlk's Mischief St. Patrick's Day Event in “DC Universe Online” MMO Role Playing Game
- March 15, 2024: First Look at Kryptonite Doomsday Mega Figure from McFarlane Toys
- March 15, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (March 22-24, 2024)
- March 18, 2024: Get Your Free Metropolis Poster - Limited Edition!
- March 20, 2024: Pre-Order Your DC Multiverse Megafig Wave 7 Kryptonite Doomsday Superman/Batman Action Figure
- March 20, 2024: Cartoon Museum Presents “Heroes: The British Invasion of American Comics” Exhibition
- March 22, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending WonderCon, Anaheim Next Weekend (March 29-31, 2024)
- March 28, 2024: “Superman - Big Book of Trivia” Magazine Now Available
- March 29, 2024: “DC Universe Online” Now Available on PlayStation 5
- March 29, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (April 5-7, 2024)
- April 1, 2024: April Fools Day Story - Superman Shocker: Gunn's Reboot Rumored to Feature Secret Identity Reveal
- April 3, 2024: TNT Sports, Warner Bros. Games & National Hockey League to Present “MultiVersus NHL Face-Off”
- April 4, 2024: Auction for “Action Comics #1” Reaches $6 Million! Most Expensive Comic Book of All Time
- April 4, 2024: Jerry Siegel's 3-Page Letter on the Origin of Superman Sold at Auction
- April 5, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (April 12-14, 2024)
- April 11, 2024: Paws with Powers: New DC Super-Pets Clothing
- April 11, 2024: April Fools Day Reactions - Superman Poll Results
- April 12, 2024: Brandon Routh Attending TimminsCon Next Weekend (April 20-21, 2024)
- April 15, 2024: The Greatest Heroes in the DC Universe Unite in “DC Heroes United” Tabletop Game
- April 15, 2024: DC Secrets Revealed! - “Behind the Scenes With Superman”
- April 16, 2024: Superman Statue to Finally be Erected in Cleveland
- April 18, 2024: New Superman Merchandise at DC Shop - Classic Covers, Smallville and Metropolis Collections
- April 18, 2024: Get Your Free Smallville Poster - Limited Edition
- April 19, 2024: Metropolis, Illinois Superman Celebration Celebrity Guests Announced for 2024
- April 19, 2024: Superman Celebrities Attending Conventions Next Weekend (April 25-28, 2024)
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