For this week I read Action Comics #1; the first time the world is introduced to the Man of Steel, Superman. This comic featured a few separate stories, only the first of which featured Superman. This was also the first appearance of Lois Lane, the reporter at Daily Planet who becomes a staple of most Superman stories. A difference that I noticed in this story compared to the more established Superman histories: Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, works at the Daily Star newspaper, not the Daily Planet.
The Superman story in Action Comics #1 gives the first details of Superman's origins, explaining that he is from another planet and was sent by his scientist father to Earth in an attempt to save the infant Kal-El's life from their dying planet, Krypton. On Earth, he is discovered by the Kents, who raise him as their own and name him Clark. There's a scientific explanation for Clark's amazing strength, in the form of ants and grasshoppers.
While it's true that Superman's adventures only last 13 pages, much is accomplished in them. His powers were a result of him being millions of years more evolved than humans, while the planet he came from (which the name is never mentioned neither his birth parents' names,) is said to have died of "old age," indicating that the people of this world have been alive much longer than humans.
Siegel and Shuster, Superman's creators, would have no idea how successful their character would become. He would go on to inspire other heroes like Batman, Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and many more. In truth, every superhero ever created owes their existence to the Man of Steel and this comic.
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