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The comic book professionals at Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) often run across a broad range of superheroes. But none catches their eyes more than Superman. With his signature red cape and “S” logo splayed proudly across his chest, he is one of the most recognizable superheroes ever created, let alone a globally-renowned American pop culture icon. But from where did the Man of Steel’s creators draw their inspiration?
Before Superman was born, his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were hammering out the mold from which he would ultimately be made. In 1933, they published a short story by the name of “The Reign of the Super -Man,” which featured a telepathic villain determined to dominate the globe. Later that year, Siegel rewrote the character as a hero, stripping away just about all of his previous attributes, including a bald head. The hero was given a full head of hair, one of numerous features Siegel derived from the renowned movie actor, director, producer and screenwriter, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Known best for his roles in the silent films “The Mark of Zorro” and “Robin Hood,” Fairbanks had a specific quality of strength and morality Siegel found highly favorable for a superhero. For Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, Siegel looked to the infamous movie actor Harold Lloyd. His soft, unsuspecting demeanor was great for the mild-mannered Daily Planet reporter. (Treasure Hunters Roadshow trivia bonus: the Daily Planet newspaper for which Clark worked was originally named Daily Star.) Clark Kent’s name was derived from actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor.
During the early years, Superman took an aggressive tactic to fighting scrappy villains. He would throw bad guys around with superhuman strength, showing little worry for the consequences. In late 1940, editor Whitney Ellsworth created a code of conduct for Superman to stick to. One element of the code stated that Superman was to in no way kill a human being, which had a great impact on the violent, animalistic nature of his original nature. Alterations were made, and the new Man of Tomorrow took on a more controlled, Herculean tactic to crime fighting, including his previous destructive style of combat.
Even kryptonite cannot keep the THR professionals away from their beloved vintage Superman comics, which are extremely desired by collectors about the planet. THR would like to buy old 10- and 12-cent comic books, precious metals, antiques and collectibles on behalf of their worldwide network of buyers.
Items are bought on the spot at the THR events, which are held throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe every week. A comprehensive listing of events can be found on the Treasure Hunters Roadshow web page.
