The Chronological Superman: 1939 (January - April)
Superman 1939:
Superman enters his second year of publication, and develops an amazing new power -- he's suddenly everywhere, all at once!
As a striking testament to Superman's phenomenal popularity, the Man of Steel explodes across the media landscape in 1939. In addition to his prominent slot in Action Comics, he also headlines the promotional New York World's Fair Comics #1, gains a self-titled anthology book, and debuts in the daily newspapers as a six-day-a-week feature. Plus, on top of everything else, he gains the first recurring super-villain in his fledgling rogues gallery!
Covered in this entry: Action Comics vol.1 #8-11, New York World's Fair Comics #1, and the following episodes of the Superman daily newspaper comic strip: Superman Comes to Earth, War Against Crime, The Comeback of Larry Trent, The Jewel Smugglers and Skyscraper of Death.
(Original source: The Chronological Superman on Tumblr):
Action Comics vol.1 #8
Cover Date: January 1939
Superman in the Slums (w/Jerry Siegel, a/Joe Shuster and Paul Lauretta)
In this early adventure, Superman turns the power of redemption-through-terror on a group of wild juvenile delinquents.
Their paths to prison are clearly laid out before them - that is, until the Man of Steel disposes of their personal Fagin, a crook operating under the sorry sobriquet of “Gimpy." He further impresses the boys by withstanding a brutal belt to the noggin with a wrench, and then hauls them around on top of telephone wires for a while, just to put a fright into them.
The early Superman stories are applauded for Superman’s crusading sense of social justice, but this is the first issue which took the time to look at the causes and consequences of wrongdoing. Prior to this wordy adventure, Superman’s solution to crooked politicians and spousal abuse alike was to put someone through a wall and trust that everything would subsequently work out. Here, he realizes that the impoverished, filthy, dangerous slums which the kids call home contributes directly to their lawlessness, and he resolves to fix the problem.
Of course, his solution is inimitably of his oeuvre; Superman evacuates the slums and proceeds to smash them to kindling. When the army is called in to subjugate Superman - whose relationship with the law is still ambiguous, if not downright antagonistic - he encourages their wholesale warfare in order to more quickly demolish the blighted neighborhood. In the end, it all comes out in the wash, as emergency construction squads swoop in and erect safe, clean, affordable housing for the displaced residents.
Superman Daily Newspaper Strip
January 16, 1939 to January 28, 1939
At the beginning of 1939, Superman finally sees print in the medium for which its creators had originally intended it - the black-and-white daily newspaper strip.
Expanding on the character's backstory, the strip begins with our first-ever glimpse of the previously-unnamed home planet of Superman, Krypton, along with Superman’s biological parents (here called Jor-L and Lora).
The Krypton of the newspaper strip is a planet populated by superhuman marvels, millions of years more advanced than humanity, both physically and intellectually. Despite the great advances of its people, the planet is shaken by terrible quakes, and the brilliant scientist Jor-L - repeatedly proven to be Krypton’s least-influential public speaker - cannot motivate his people to action.
In the end, only young, hearty Kal-L survives, rocketed away from his homeworld in his father’s sole experimental rocketship. It is - amazingly - a story essentially left unchanged for nearly 90 years, and one of the most recognizable folk tales of the twentieth century, told here for the very first time.
“War Against Crime”
Superman Daily Newspaper Strip
January 30, 1939 to February 18, 1939
Why a newspaper reporter? It’s a question which Superman writers have had to address time and again. Of all the possible professions which Clark Kent could adopt to wile away his civilian hours, why print journalism?
Efforts to modernize Clark's occupation have hauled him out of the newsroom and in front of the cameras, or behind the keyboard of a blog, but the ink-stained lure of the Daily Planet always wins out.
In the 1930s, the newspaper industry was vital. Almost every great American writer up to that point had put in their time in the papers, and high-circulation local newspapers moved industry and politics. In short, the public perception of a reporter (particularly a “crusading reporter”) was still one of risk, daring and romance. It was a tough guy’s job, Clark Kent’s feeble meekness notwithstanding.
Although, perhaps it's as simple as this -- if Superman, through his deeds, stands for Justice, then Clark should stand for Truth.
In this, the second story arc of the daily newspaper strip, Superman comes to the very logical decision to adopt a dual identity in journalism after having failed to save the lives of several bank employees locked in a vault. He rescues most in time, but the others suffocated in the nearly airless chamber. Deciding that keeping on top of breaking news would prevent future tragedies and make him more effective as a champion of the helpless, he resolves there and then to embark on a career that keeps his ear to the ground.
Action Comics vol.1 #9|
Cover Date: February 1939
Wanted: Superman (w/Jerry Siegel, a/Joe Shuster and Wayne Boring)
Superman - hero or anithero? In his earliest incarnation, Superman was not the reassuringly avuncular figure of the last nearl-90 years. Recall Superman’s first words to Lois Lane - “You needn’t be afraid of me, I won’t harm you” he reassures her through a lean, tough grin as his broad figure looms over her wilting form - and realize that Superman was terrifying.
Making targets of businessmen, civil leaders and politicians clearly wouldn’t have seen Superman clasped to the collective bosom of the representatives of law and order. In fact, in these early stories, Superman is a grim and mysterious figure - a loner who passes easily among the ranks of drifters and hard men - pursued by the police, army and whatever other authorities can take to the streets after him.
Hot on the heels of his slum-smashing scheme from the previous issue, Superman finds himself under the scrutiny of Chicago lawman “100% Reilly.” The detective boasts a flawless record of solving even the most difficult crimes, and now he's offering a hefty reward for details leading to Superman’s identity -- and capture! This is officially the first time a character has connected the dots between Kent and Superman.
Despite the appearance of a suicidal maniac and the efforts of the entire Metropolis police force, the adventure ends in farce with Reilly’s perfect record slightly spoiled and Superman getting away scot-free. They call him "99% Reilly" now!
Superman Daily Newspaper Strip
February 20, 1939 to March 18, 1939
In this third daily newspaper installment – a story which contains echoes of Action Comics #4 – Superman impersonates former world-champion boxer and would-be suicide victim Larry Trent in order to both bolster Trent’s sagging self-confidence and to bust a match-fixing syndicate which had ruined the hapless heavyweight's career.
In the initial exchange between the two characters, following Superman’s pre-empting of Trent’s suicide attempt, it’s the Man of Steel who recognizes the former world heavyweight champion. Despite his colorful costume and very-public antics, Superman remains (at this point in his career) a shadowy and cloaked figure of mystery ...
Action Comics vol.1 #10
Cover Date: March 1939
Superman in Prison (w/Jerry Siegel, a/Joe Shuster and Wayne Boring)
The Man of Steel infiltrates a hard-labor prison camp where rumors persist of systematic abuse - even murder - of the prisoners. Incognito, Superman experiences the egregious punishment first-hand (although he doesn’t suffer, of course), then returns in costume and with camera in hand to document the inhuman conditions suffered in the camp, and to haul its corrupt warden to justice.
The story in question is brutal, but spends more time developing the Clark Kent side of the character than any story preceding it; Feigning timidity as he must, Clark gives up the location of an abused, escaped prisoner when confronted by the cruel warden. Shunned by his fellow reporters for his cowardice, Clark rededicates himself not only to ending the torture at the Coreytown prison but also to bringing its architect to justice.
Later, when - as Superman - he encourages a desperate prisoner to endure the torments of punishment, it’s so that he may gain photographic evidence to present to the authorities (and his newspaper, obviously. But don’t worry, he also absolutely cleans the floor with the warden.
Superman Daily Newspaper Strip
March 20, 1939 to April 1, 1939
After Lois is busted down to Lovelorn Column duties - investigative reporting is too dangerous for girls, you see - we’re reminded that she is no fainting damsel.
Despite being plopped behind a cozy desk, Lois is quickly up and at ‘em on behalf of an abused wife and her suddenly secretive husband. In short order, she drags Clark to the seediest bar in town, almost gets him decked on the dance floor, worms her way into a criminal thug’s klatsch and ends up risking her life to expose a jewel-smuggling ring (Superman saves the day, of course, and - since their rivalry is at the heart of their flirtation - Kent steals her scoop).
Action Comics vol.1 #11
Cover Date: February 1939
The Black Gold Swindle (w/Jerry Siegel, a/Paul Cassidy)
In the first few years of Superman’s existence, what premise would you imagine most repeats itself? His origin? Lois’ suspicion of his dual identity? His never-ending conflict with Luthor, his struggles against kryptonite, battles against weird foes?
Not really, all of those are hallmarks of Superman after his infancy. Here, in these formative years - it’s hucksters selling shares in bum oil wells and hollowed-out silver mines.
The early Superman is definitely a defender of the common man and hero to the downtrodden and while he’s generally defined as a “social crusader” … well, he is, but a lot depends on your definition. The early Superman typically targets individuals, not institutions; when he slaps a man through a wall for striking his wife, he’s not doing it to end spousal abuse around the world - he’s clobbering a thug, stepping in to save a single life.
Compare this to the Superman of the 70s, 80s and 90s, who - in his own titles and in special promotional books - became a spokesperson for charities and deserving causes.
So, many of Superman’s earliest adventures involved protecting the life savings of a well-meaning old couple or hard-working family man from the predatory schemes of some con man or another - in this instance, a sham oil well which Superman turns into a productive well after having bought all the bad shares himself (he turns the proceeds over to the victims, of course, returning their investment and then some)…
New York World's Fair Comics vol.1 #1
Cover Date: April 1939
Superman at the World's Fair (w/Jerry Siegel, a/Joe Shuster)
National Allied Publication is still finding their feet with Superman’s skyrocketing success in early 1939, and the second ongoing title featuring Superman is still a couple of months away when New York World’s Fair Comics (#1) debuts. A single issue released to coincide with the wildly popular event, it only made sense for The Man of Tomorrow to make an appearance at the celebration of the world of tomorrow.
As with most World’s Fair Comic stories, Superman's adventure involves a cursory and mandatory tour of the highlights of the Fair (Although, in Superman’s case, this involves a lengthy bit of side-business in helping finish construction on the infantile paralysis exhibit) and a bog-standard political corruption case.
Most interestingly, though, for those who wonder where Superman’s sense of fair play ends – we see here for the first time Superman using his powers to gain an unfair advantage over other reporters (Specifically, he leaps to a second-story window in order to eavesdrop for a scoop, while his competitors mill helplessly by the front stairs)!
“Skyscraper of Death”
Superman Daily Newspaper Strip
April 3, 1939 to April 29, 1939
The Superman of yesteryear - grim, determined and unmoved by death. In this brief but fast-paced serial, Superman investigates a series of accidents plaguing the construction of the Atlas Building, uncovering sabotage on behalf of a rival builder.
His investigation racks up a serious body count - a night watchman-cum-saboteur succumbs to heart failure after being saved from what would have been a fatal plunge with only inches to spare (Superman - at this point in his career not yet able to fly - plummets alongside the doomed man, catching up to him and using some curious physics to reverse his terminal descent at the last possible moment).
Witnessing a man dying of stress doesn’t give the Man of Steel a moment’s pause in terrifying his next suspect into confession, although the crook survives - unlike his boss, who is fatally shot while fleeing a police officer, and the criminal mastermind of the affair whose misdeeds earn him a trip to the electric chair.
The early Superman doesn’t directly take lives, but he doesn’t stand in the way of the guilty getting their mortal comeuppance - even if they literally do so at his very feet.
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