In the hearts and minds of many a comic book fanboy, as well as the annals of pop culture, Clark Kent, also known as Superman, is possibly the greatest superhero of all time.
The contemporary cultural icon has also received numerous awards for his appearances in comic books, graphic novels, fan fiction, movies, TV series, video games, and various media – VH1, the adult contemporary music channel, had ranked him second in its list of Top Pop Culture Icons of 2004; while Empire magazine named him the greatest character in comic books ever created. Christopher Reeve’s famous portrayal of the mild-mannered reporter-turned-American hero have garnered numerous awards and nominations for the movie series, while the television series Smallville has continued to accumulate Emmy awards and similar recognition from many award-giving bodies. Superman continues to be a relevant and imposing figure in the landscape of contemporary culture in his seventy years of existence, with older fans continuing to wear Superman tees while buying related paraphernalia for their own kids as well.
The fictional character, who was sent to our planet from Krypton by a civilization doomed to annihilation, was birthed in concept by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster in Cleveland in 1932. Six years later, the property was sold to comic book pioneers Detective Comics, Inc (which later became DC Comics) after appearing in the first Action Comics issue that year.
There has been very little that stood in the way of Superman’s fame and longevity since his story was told on radio programs and TV series. Video games and various iterations on the Superman mythos have emerged, with the adventures of the hero becoming more and more ubiquitous with every box of Superman t-shirts sold, and every comic book published. The success of the current superhero comic book industry arguably owes its rise and longevity to Big Red, and hisiconic yellow and red-emblazoned chest emblem, instantly recognizable as representative of the great American hero everywhere.
Growing up, Clark was nurtured by his adoptive parents, the Kents from Kansas, and his adult life was spent in the company of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane. Many of his stories were created around his relationships with these characters, although the occasional deviation from the wholesome and GP-rated storyline occurred, with the Red Son (the Stalinist Superman) and The Death of Superman adding a lot of depth and character to the Superman mythos.