Celebrate superman month historical timeline 1930s to. The 1939 new york worlds fair hosted a superman day. In 1941, the mcclure syndicate had placed the strip in hundreds of newspapers. What year did superman first appear in comic books. This was the characters first appearance outside the comic pages. Starting in 1939, superman would continue on to 1986 when alan moores story whatever happened to the man of tomorrow. When was the last time superman was considered dcs lead. Superman 1939 comic read superman 1939 comic online.
Superman was featured at the world of tomorrow exhibit as the man of tomorrow, where ray middleton donned the costume and. Superman day 1939 at worlds fair nyc footage on dvd. This was also done to promote the new yorks worlds fair comic that was over the standard 10 cent comic price. Ray middleton was the first actor to portray superman in public superman day occurred on july 3, 1940 at the new york worlds fair. In 1975, dc comic book historian allan asherman reported that. Superman 1939 comic book by dc 488 issues, 590 covers jun 1939 to oct 2011. Lex luthor uses a muscledecoordinating ray to make superman destroy metropolis airport luthors origin remembered. An alien named kalel from the destroyed planet krypton. On that day you could see actor ray middleton in his superman costume and watch a live superman radio serial broadcast. In may of 1939, he got his own solo comic but this might have been intended as a oneshot. This page lists prices for the first 100 issues of supermans appearances in his solo series, which began in 1939.
On this day, known as superman day, the cost of a childrens ticket to the expo was reduced from 50. On july 3rd, 1939, ray middleton appeared as superman for superman day at the new york worlds fair. Jerry and joe made a story, but at the last minute the publisher stopped doing comic books. This is just to enlighten those two who said he didnt have his costume or cape until later. See more ideas about superman, superman comic and comic books. And, for the first time in his life, middleton took a bride, dancersinger patricia dinnell. Nov 11, 20 ray middleton as superman from the 1939 worlds fair. Superman comics, superman back issue comic books, variant comics and dynamic forces signed comics. The fair was all about celebrating the future and superman was known as the man of tomorrow. Ray middleton 1940 okay, youre probably sitting there saying, ray who. All comic books for sale are listed alphabetically by the first letter of the comic books name. As an adult, superman became the protector of earth, working at the daily planet as clark kent alongside his partner and wife lois lane. Shop for superman 1939 comics on, your friendly online comic book store. The fair was also the first liveaction appearance of superman, played by an unidentified actor thought to be ray middleton.
Active in tv commercials into the 1970s, ray middleton made a welcome screen return in the 1972 film musical. Superman day at the 1940 new york worlds fair the 19391940 new york worlds fair opened on april 30 1939 and was located in flushing meadows in queens. He holds the honor of being the first actor to portray superman in costume. Comic books, superman, comic book podcast, superman podcast ray middleton was born on february 8, 1907. They created a few different comic strip formats of superman. Superman day was the brainchild of publicist allen duke ducovny, held in part to promote the sales of dcs new york worlds fair comics, a 100page special edition sold exclusively at the worlds fair. Most comic fans know that superman actually began life in action comics. As an added bonus you will also see a brief appearance of jerry siege. Soon after he graduated from college, middleton sang with the detroit civic opera company. Once a chicago based humor publications was interested in publishing superman. Ray middleton as superman from the 1939 worlds fair. See more ideas about superman, superhero and dc comics.
The mechanized superman starring superman and professor ephraim snively, art by al plastino. Buy superman comic books at newkadia and they all have a. That occurred at superman day at the 193940 new york worlds fair, on july 3, 1940. The 1939 worlds fair was a 1939 event which superman attended. Comic book podcast, comic books, ray middleton, superman, superman fan podcast, superman podcast, world fair. This may 1939 comic featured wonder mans only appearance thanks dc suing because the character was a knock off of superman. Since there is a real newspaper called the daily star, the superman comic strips and comic books change the name of. Browse the massive database of comic books, characters and creators on the league of comic geeks.
Of course youll mention that superman, torchsubby and captain marvel are still all viable concerns today and youd be right. Previously confined to comic books and radio shows, it was on 3 july 1940 that visitors could come to the expo and for the very first time see the superhero in the flesh. Some superman series are just one issue oneshots and others are longer series, such as adventures of superman. With the 75 th anniversary of supermans first appearance in comics and the release of the new movie man of steel, this first entry into the scrapbook would seem to be appropriate. Joe and jerry first tried to sell the superman in 1933. You can find out values of action issues by clicking here. Characters ray middleton as superman superman, as he appeared in the 1939 worlds fair.
Raymond earl middleton february 8, 1907 april 10, 1984, known and billed as ray middleton, was an american singer and stage, tv, and movie actor. Comic books with a number as its title are alphabetized by. The original superman comic book series is the most popular series. Want to know if wx2bs did any televised broadcasts at the ny worlds fair, flushing queens on july 7, 1940superman daywhen actor ray middleton donned the first superman costume and did a live appearance as the man of steel at the futurama pavilion. I found a superman issue 1 comic and it said it was made. If you have never seen the very first superman ray middleton up close in color wearing the superman costume then is your chance. Originally, the comic had a stiff outer cover identifying it as a reprint. This monthly comic follows the serialized adventures of the man of steel and his life in metropolis. Superman was a daily newspaper comic strip which began on january 16, 1939, and a separate sunday strip was added on november 5, 1939. Superman is a superhero published by dc comics since 1938. So, the xmen comic books are listed under x and the outer limits is listed under o. Middleton was born in chicago, illinois, and he attended the university of illinois. Collecting comic books to the true aficionado is a lifetime hobby, but there comes a point in every collectors life when its time to say so long to some of your best stuff. Superman 1939 2011 from dc comics league of comic geeks.
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