The complete story of the daring exploits of the one and only SUPERMAN!
Superman #1 is the solo debut of DC Comics (then National Comics) character Superman, published around June 1939.
Unlike Action Comics, the magazine he made his smashing debut in, Superman (1939) is not an Anthology Comic consisting of multiple distinct characters, instead putting the spotlight entirely on Superman. Originally produced as a one-shot to promote Superman's official fan club, the Supermen of America, the issue was successful enough to justify an ongoing run that continues to this day. The comic includes a revised version of his first story "Superman, Champion of the Oppressed" (albeit renamed to "The Coming Of Superman" with notable changes to some of the art and story), as well as four other stories; "Clark Kent Gets A Job" (which is new to the book), "Revolution in San Monte" (reprinted from Action Comics #2), "The Blakely Mine Disaster" (reprinted from Action Comics #3) and "Superman, Gridiron Hero" (reprinted from Action Comics #4).
For Superman's chronological debut, see Action Comics #1.
Tropes:
- Adaptation Expansion: While most of the comics content is reprinted from the first four issues of Action Comics, it includes a revised and expanded version of the original Superman story included in Action Comics #1, albeit renamed to "The Coming Of Superman". While most of the art is reused directly from it, some panels have been changed or thrown out. On top of that, the cliffhanger is changed to now lead directly into the very next story after it.
- Ascended Extra: The villain of "The Coming of Superman", Bea Carroll, technically first appeared in "Superman, Champion of the Oppressed", but she had a very small and unnamed role in it. She gets much more panel time in this comics expanded retelling of the events, in addition to being named on-panel.
- Big Damn Heroes: In "The Coming Of Superman", Supes arrives on the spot to save a (framed) man named Jack Kennedy from being dragged out of his jail cell and being hung by an angry lynch mob.
- Compilation Re-release: While the comic does have some new content, the lions share of it is just reprinted story material from the first four issues of Action Comics
- Death by Origin Story: Ma and Pa Kent are shown to have passed away at some point after Clark grew up, presumably of old age. Clark naturally grieves over it, but it strengthens a determination that was already growing in his mind.
- Early-Installment Weirdness:
- The revised origin introduces Ma and Pa Kent, yet only one of them is named (Ma is called "Mary" here, while Pa remains unnamed) before receiving a variety of names from different revisions before writers settled on "Martha" and "Jonathan." Also, Smallville has yet to have been introduced as Clark's hometown, let alone having Kansas be his home state.
- Also, the city Superman operates in was meant to be Cleveland, Ohio (the hometown of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), whereas it would become Metropolis (initially located in New York early on, but retconned into being adjacent to it if not further away) in later comics.
- Earth-Shattering Kaboom: In the revised origin of Superman presented here, its clarified that Krypton straight up exploded instead of the planet merely being "destroyed by old age", though it doesn't explain what caused this cataclysmic event to happen.
- Good Parents: Ma and Pa Kent are immediately established as this, adopting the infant Superman and raising him as if he were their own, and were a big factor in Clark having such a strong moral compass. It also shows that Pa Kent tells Clark to hide his powers in public lest he avoid scaring them—with Ma Kent interjecting that when the time arrives, he must use his power to aid humanity."The love and guidance of his kindly foster-parents was to become an important factor in the shaping of the boy's future."
- Happily Adopted: Upon being found by the Kents, sent to an orphanage and later adopted by them, Clark clearly holds a lot of love toward Ma and Pa Kent for teaching him strong moral values and encouraging him to use his extraordinary abilities for good.
- Origins Episode: The comic includes a revised version of Superman's origin story from his debut comic, albeit expanding on the details; the name of his home planet Krypton is revealed here, and it's clarified that the planet exploded, though the reason why isn't told. The story also introduces Ma and Pa Kent, clarifying that they were the motorists who dropped off Superman at an orphanage, though they immediately returned and adopted him (much to the relief of the folks running the orphanage, as the infant's incredible strength have been freaking them out).
- Starter Villain: Superman's first major opponent is Bea Carroll, a nightclub singer who framed an innocent woman for murder (while she technically first appeared in Action Comics #1, this comics retelling of it gives her a much more prominent role).
