SELLING SUPERMAN
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were lifelong friends, and even in their early twenties, they shared a vision: the comic strip Superman. For years, they tried to sell their concept to publishers, who were hesitant to take on another sci-fi series while Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers dominated the market. But when they approached M.C. Gaines, founder of All American Publications, he saw potential in the idea. He bought the strip for his comic book company, which would later merge into National Comics, becoming DC Comics. Although Siegel and Shuster initially imagined Superman as a newspaper strip (a more prestigious and profitable format than comic books at the time), their work would become one of the most iconic superhero comics ever.
A Sale with Lasting Consequences
In the accompanying image, a check dated March 1938 reveals a payment to Siegel and Shuster for $402, though only $130 of it was specifically for Superman. Desperate to see their work in print, the pair accepted this modest sum and signed away all rights to Superman to Detective Comics, Inc. The contract would also guarantee them $400,000 over a ten-year period—a considerable amount at the time, worth roughly $6,220,000 today.
The terms were as follows:
Dated March 1:
"I, the undersigned, am an artist or author and have performed work for strip entitled SUPERMAN. In consideration of $130.00 agreed to be paid me by you, I hereby sell and transfer such work and strip, all good will attached thereto, and exclusive right to the use of the characters and story, continuity, and title of strip contained therein, to you and your assigns to have and hold forever and to be your exclusive property. I agree not to employ said characters by their names contained therein or under any other names at any time hereafter to any other person, firm, or corporation, or permit the use thereof by said other parties without obtaining your written consent."
Signed, Joe Shuster
Signed, Jerome Siegel
With Superman’s incredible success and revenue from merchandising, including The Adventures of Superman radio show, Siegel and Shuster pursued further compensation for their creation.
Legal Battles for Rights and Royalties
In 1947, Siegel and Shuster filed suit against DC Comics, seeking rights and royalties for both Superman and Superboy. The court upheld DC’s ownership of Superman, but granted Siegel rights to Superboy. Ultimately, DC settled out of court, paying Siegel $94,000 for both rights.
When copyright renewal came up again in 1965, Siegel and Shuster returned to court. However, the prior 1948 settlement favored DC, and they lost the suit. By this time, Joe Shuster, nearly blind, was working as a deliveryman. On one notable occasion, cartoonist Jerry Robinson witnessed Joe making a delivery to DC Comics, where he was given $100 by an executive and encouraged to find other work—a moment highlighting the unfortunate irony of his situation.
A Late Victory for Superman’s Creators
In 1975, with Warner Brothers preparing a major Superman film, Robinson enlisted the help of artist Neal Adams to launch a campaign to improve Siegel and Shuster’s circumstances. Public pressure led DC Comics to grant them small pensions of $20,000 annually and restored their bylines on Superman comics.
Legacy and Recognition
Joe Shuster passed away in 1992, and Jerry Siegel in 1996, but their contributions have left an indelible mark on comics and pop culture. Their story is a powerful reminder of the struggles behind the scenes, even in the creation of legends.
