{"id":30937,"date":"2024-11-17T15:32:25","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T15:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=30937"},"modified":"2024-11-17T15:32:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-17T15:32:25","slug":"superman-the-dailies-volume-ii-1940-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2024\/11\/17\/superman-the-dailies-volume-ii-1940-1941\/","title":{"rendered":"Superman: The Dailies volume II: 1940-1941"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Jerry Siegel<\/strong> & Joe Shuster<\/strong> & the Superman Studio (Kitchen Sink Press\/DC)
\nISBN: 978-1-56389-461-0 (TPB)<\/p>\n

Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Up, Up And Forever Away \u202610\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

The American comic book industry – if it existed at all – would be utterly unrecognisable without Superman<\/strong>. Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster\u2019s unprecedented invention was fervidly adopted by a desperate and joy-starved generation and quite literally gave birth to a genre if not an actual art form. Spawning an army of imitators and variations within three years of his 1938 debut, the intoxicating blend of breakneck, breathtaking action and wish-fulfilment which epitomised the early Man of Steel grew to encompass cops-&-robbers crimebusting, socially reforming dramas, sci fi fantasy, whimsical comedy and, once the war in Europe and the East sucked in America, patriotic relevance for a host of gods, heroes and monsters, all dedicated to profit through exuberant, eye-popping excess and vigorous dashing derring-do.<\/p>\n

From the outset, in comic book terms Superman was master of the world. Moreover, whilst transforming the shape of the fledgling funnybook biz, the Man of Tomorrow irresistibly expanded into all areas of the entertainment media. Although we all think of the Cleveland boys\u2019 iconic invention as epitome and acme of comics creation, the truth is that very soon after his springtime debut in Action Comics<\/strong> #1 the Man of Steel was a fictional multimedia monolith in the same league as Popeye<\/strong>, Tarzan<\/strong>, Sherlock Holmes<\/strong> and Mickey Mouse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We parochial and possessive comics fans too often regard our purest and most powerful icons in purely graphic narrative terms, but the likes of Batman<\/strong>, Spider-Man<\/strong>, Avengers<\/strong> and their hyperkinetic kind long ago outgrew four-colour origins to become fully mythologized modern media creatures familiar in mass markets, across all platforms and age ranges\u2026<\/p>\n

Far more people have seen and heard the Man of Steel than have ever read his comic books. His globally syndicated newspaper strips alone were enjoyed by countless millions, and by the time his 20th<\/sup> anniversary rolled around, at the very start of what we call the Silver Age of Comics, he had been a thrice-weekly radio serial star, headlined a series of astounding animated cartoons, become a novel attraction (written by George Lowther) and helmed two films and his first smash, 8-season live-action television show. Superman was a perennial sure-fire success for toy, game, puzzle and apparel manufacturers all over the planet.<\/p>\n

Although pretty much a spent force these days, for the majority of the previous century the newspaper comic strip was the Holy Grail that all American cartoonists and graphic narrative storytellers hungered for. Syndicated across the country – and often the planet – it was seen by millions, if not billions, of readers and generally accepted as a more mature and sophisticated form of literature than comic-books. It also paid better, and rightly so. Some of the most enduring and entertaining characters and concepts of all time were created to lure readers from one particular paper to another and many of them grew to be part of a global culture. Mutt and Jeff<\/strong>, Flash Gordon<\/strong>, Dick Tracy<\/strong>, Buck Rogers<\/strong>, Charlie Brown<\/strong> and so many more escaped their humble tawdry newsprint origins to become meta-real: existing in the minds of earthlings from Albuquerque to Zanzibar. Most still do\u2026<\/p>\n

The daily Superman newspaper comic strip launched on 16th<\/sup> January 1939, augmented by a full-colour Sunday page from November 5th<\/sup> of that year. Originally crafted by luminaries like Siegel & Shuster and their studio (Paul Cassidy, Leo Nowak, Dennis Neville, John Sikela, Ed Dobrotka, Paul J. Lauretta & Wayne Boring), the mammoth task required additional talents like strip veteran Jack Burnley and writers including Whitney Ellsworth, Jack Schiff & Alvin Schwartz. The McClure Syndicate feature ran continuously until May 1966, appearing, at its peak, in over 300 daily and 90 Sunday newspapers; a combined readership of more than 20 million. Eventually, Win Mortimer and Curt Swan joined the unflagging Boring & Stan Kaye whilst Bill Finger and Siegel provided stories, telling serial tales largely divorced from comic book continuity throughout years when superheroes were scarcely seen.<\/p>\n

This superb, long overdue for re-release collection comes from 1999, re-presents strips #307-672 (episodes 11-19) and is preceded by Steve Vance\u2019s informative, picture\/photo-packed introduction \u2018The Superman Bandwagon\u2019<\/em>, focussing on the hero\u2019s spectacular early merchandising successes prior to the never-ending battle resumes with story-sequence #11 comprising daily episodes strips #307-334, spanning January 8th<\/sup> to February 8th<\/sup> 1940. The tale is in fact a continuance of sabotage saga \u2018Unnatural Disasters\u2019 <\/em>(18th<\/sup> December 1939 – January 6th<\/sup> 1940 as seen in the previous volume) wherein a gang blew up a dam and poisoned a reservoir. Too late to stop them, Superman saved what lives he could and vowed to avenge the dead\u2026<\/p>\n

Now, as \u2018Clark Kent – Spy\u2019<\/em>, that promise is kept as the reporter infiltrates the Ajax News Agency to find out more, and allows himself to be blackmailed by subversive spies Nikol<\/em> and Ratoff<\/em>. Systematically foiling all their murderous schemes, Superman ultimately delivers harsh justice before going after belligerent aggressor nations Blitzen and Rutland in \u2018Superman Goes to War\u2019<\/em> (335-354 from February 9th<\/sup> to March 2nd<\/sup>), showing his power to a still-isolationist America all over war-torn Europe, by trashing modern military might and armaments before making the bellicose, greedy rulers personally settle their grievances in a fist fight…<\/p>\n

Having imposed peace in Europe, Superman heads home to tackle \u2018Trouble in the Tenements\u2019<\/em>, (355-396; March 4th<\/sup> – April 20th<\/sup>) by helping cruelly exploited tenants against hired thugs and teaching law-exploiting slumlord Mr Lewis<\/em> that he cannot treat human beings like his neglected properties, whilst instalments 396-414 (April 22nd<\/sup> – May 11th<\/sup>) depict the return of Pinelli – \u2018The Big Boss\u2019<\/em> of Prohibition racketeering who thinks he can return to his old heights of depravity until Superman\/Clark and Lois Lane<\/strong> show him otherwise…<\/p>\n

As the rest of the world reeled under an almost all-encompassing war, still-neutral America concentrated on domestic issues like crime. Superman thus clashed with another bank robbing gangster as \u2018\u201cThe Unknown\u201d Strikes\u2019<\/em> (415-462 May 13th<\/sup> – July 6th<\/sup>) with Siegel & Shuster continuing their social reforming crusade via a villain who was a respectable capitalist simply making his own rules… and ruthlessly exploiting them at the public\u2019s expense until the Man of Tomorrow stepped in. Actual news headlines provided the next plot – a gripping comedy of errors – as Lois and Clark hunt the \u2018King of the Kidnapping Ring\u2019<\/em> (463-510; July 8th<\/sup> – August 31st<\/sup>). When the mild-mannered reporter again goes undercover to prove untouchable crime boss Big Bill Bowers<\/em> is the man behind Metropolis\u2019 current woes, Clark proves surprisingly good at being a bad guy, but ultimately needs his bulletproof alter ego to save the day, after which world events again come to the fore as the city is plagued with infrastructure catastrophes caused by \u2018The Hooded Saboteur\u2019<\/em> (511-540, September 2nd<\/sup> – October 5th<\/sup>). Big on spectacle, having a truly disturbing death toll by modern strip standards, and displaying Superman\u2019s awesome powers, the case saw \u201cagents of a foreign power\u201d creating chaos and served to prepare the public for a war almost everyone felt was inevitable now…<\/p>\n

A welcome whiff of humorous whimsy, \u2018Pawns of the Master\u2019<\/em> (541-588; October 7th<\/sup> – November 30th<\/sup>) sees Lois\u2019 sharp tongue and unrestrained opinions get her fired. A magnet for trouble, her visit to an employment agency drops her right into a criminal conspiracy run by a devious hidden mastermind who is also the Man of Steel\u2019s greatest archfoe. Thankfully, a concerned, not-at-all parochially patronising Superman has been keeping a telescopic X-ray eye on her…<\/p>\n

This rip-roaring review of early glories ends with strip sequence 19 and episodes 598-672 (December 2nd<\/sup> 1940 to March 8th<\/sup> 1941) as Superman offers some life advice to Eustace Watson<\/em>, a downtrodden lovelorn sap crushed by existence and considered \u2018The Meekest Man in the World\u2019<\/em>. When even Superman cannot shift the weight of mediocrity from the poor fool\u2019s shoulders he is forced to resort to plan B. Isn\u2019t it a happy coincidence that Eustace and Clark Kent could pass for identical twins…<\/p>\n

To Be Continued\u2026<\/p>\n

Offering timeless wonders and mesmerising excitement for lovers of action and fantasy, the early Superman<\/strong> is beyond compare. If you love the era or just crave simpler stories from less angst-wracked times, these yarns are perfect comics reading, and this a book you must see.<\/p>\n

Superman: The Dailie volumes II<\/strong> co-published by DC Comics and Kitchen Sink Press. Covers, introduction and all related names, characters and elements are \u2122 & \u00a9 DC Comics 1998, 1999. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster & the Superman Studio (Kitchen Sink Press\/DC) ISBN: 978-1-56389-461-0 (TPB) Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Up, Up And Forever Away \u202610\/10 This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. The American comic book industry – if it existed at all – would be utterly unrecognisable without Superman. Jerry … <\/p>\n

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