Superman is a fictional superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in 1933. He first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938). The character was created to be a cultural icon of the United States, and was eventually marketed as the definitive American comic book superhero by DC Comics.

Superman’s powers include flight, super-strength, invulnerability, super-speed, and vision powers such as x-ray vision. He also possesses an array of weapons from his home planet Krypton such as his iconic ray gun, as well as freeze breath, which he uses against his enemies. Superman is highly intelligent on top of his physical prowess; in some stories he has displayed the ability to project powerful energy blasts through sheer force of will or focus his thoughts into reality such as transmuting elements into other forms (for example turning lead into gold).

Superman has been featured in cartoons, movies and video games since his creation. Since 1959 he has been voiced by three actors: Bud Collyer (1941-1946), George Reeves (1952-1959) and Christopher Reeve (1978-1983). On television he has been played by George Reeves (1952), John Hamilton.

Last modified: September 20, 2022