SUPERMAN: THE DAILIES 1939-1942

review by

Mike Nappa

SUPERMAN: THE DAILIES 1939-1942

by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

(Sterling Publishing)

Reader Appeal: All Ages

Genre: Fantasy / Comic Strips

Let's face it - the emotionally fragile, reluctant demigod incarnation of Superman you've seen in Superman Returns and even in comic books of the past decade is definitely NOT the one that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created way back in the 1930s. If you're a fan of history, someone who wants to see how a legend was birthed, a comic book aficionado, or  just somebody who likes a little action packed into four panels of a comic strip, then Superman: The Dailies 1939-1942 is the perfect escape from reality for you.

Packaged in a beautiful hardcover book and presented in their original glory on collector-quality paper, the cartoons in here are the first 966 comic strips that actually appeared in newspapers from 1939-1942. Oh, and what a collection they turn out to be! It is in these daily panels that the Superman mythology was born, including the explosion of Krypton, the introduction of Superman's parents, the first appearance of Clark Kent's boss, Perry White, and so much more. Reading through these cartoons is a bit like snooping through your granddaddy's old desk drawers - and just as subversively pleasurable. The joy is in seeing an American original - as it was originally, and in the context of World War II society.

Some readers have taken offense at the dated characterizations in this book. For instance, Lois Lane is not the fearless reporter that's she's become of late, but rather a working girl trying desperately to get out of writing love advice for the Daily Planet's "Lovelorn" column. People of color are markedly absent from within Superman's world, and villains are typically mob hoodlums or nefarious Hitler types bent on acquiring power at any cost. And Supes himself often comes off as something of a bully, gleefully roughing up bad guys and even scaring a stoolie (literally) to death from a heart attack - yet feeling little remorse about his actions. Still, to try to impose modern morality on literature written 70 years ago seems a bit arrogant; better to simply enjoy the clean, nuanced illustrations and lighthearted story arcs found in here for what they were and what they tell us about the days in which they were created. In these pages, Superman is a hero just beginning to take shape, a full-grown man who is still growing up in his creator's pen and ink drawings. As such, it's fascinating watch the character's progression from comic strip to comic strip, from year to year, and with a view as to what he's become decades later.

Some of the highlights in this hefty, coffee-table book are (of course) the very first strips run in 1939 that give the first real backstory as to where this superhero actually came from. Also, episode eight "Royal Deathplot" in which Superman must protect the tempestuous Princess Tania and the royal house of Rangoria from Nazi submarine attacks and other assorted villainous wartime plots against the saucy princess. And in episode 24, "The Deadly Dwarf" we see a hint of supervillains to come when a small man with super-hypnotic powers sets out to destroy Superman with his brain power alone.

In addition to all the daily comic strips, this book contains several fascinating interludes that fill the reader in on more of the history behind the hero. For instance, did you know that Siegel and Shuster actually created Superman in 1933, but for five full years couldn't convince anyone in publishing that their superhero was worth publishing for the masses? Only after the duo had achieved success with a few other comic strips did Detective Comics, Inc. (now DC Comics) venture to take a chance on the man from Krypton. The result, as they say, is history. These periodic interludes are delightful and engaging, and almost worth the price of the book in an of themselves.

In all, Superman: The Dailies 1939-1942 is a treasure trove of historical and storytelling innovation. It may not be for everyone, but if you and your kids take the time to give it a look, you'll have many hours of happy daydreaming and plenty to talk about afterward. Highly recommended for literature fans of all ages.

FAMILYFANS RATING:  A

 --MN