Today marks the eighty-fifth anniversary of the debut of Superman. Also known as Kal-El and Clark Kent, he is the product of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. The Big Blue Boy Scout, the Man of Steel, the Man of Tomorrow, and the Last Son of Krypton made his debut in the pages of Action Comics #1 on this day in 1938.
Superman is essentially the world's first superhero and created many of the aspects that have become commonly associated with the genre including brightly colored tights, a long flowing cape, varied superpowers, long-running archenemies, and closely guarded secret identity. While various superpowered characters existed before, he was the character that started the 20th Century craze for powerful costumed figures and has been one of the few to maintain a spot among the genre's most well-known. Superman has become perhaps the best known American fictional character and his S-shaped shield logo has become one of the most iconic symbols ever made. He has been analyzed by numerous scholars, cultural theorists, commentators, and critics who explore the impact the character has had in the United States and the world at large. He has become a symbol for the potential in everyone for greatness and a beacon of light in dark times.
Superman follows the adventures of Kal-El, who is the last surviving member of his race from the planet Krypton. His parents send him to Earth as a baby just before the destruction of the planet. He crashes in Kansas where he is found and raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent as their own mild-mannered child named Clark. He becomes a reporter in the big city of Metropolis where he becomes the city's, and planet's, guardian. He joins the likes of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern to form the Justice League. He has died and come back to life in the best selling graphic novel ever, married his longtime love Lois Lane, and had a child. He has even crossed over with the Marvel Universe where he fought alongside Spider-Man, defeated Hulk, and picked up Mjolnir.
The character has appeared in numerous films, shows, animated series, novels, and theme park rides. Beau Weaver played him in the 1988 animated series, Crispin Freeman in Justice League Heroes, Yuri Lowenthal in Legion of Super Heroes, Nolan North in Young Justice, David Kaye in DC Super Friends, Jeff Bennett in Superman of Tokyo, Keith Ferguson in Super Best Friends Forever, Travis Willingham in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, and Alan Tudyk in Justice League: War.