Very Early Superman

[Robo Ape]

Just been reading through The Superman Chronicles volume one & the character is radically different from today.

Not just in his costume but in the way he acts, he is more like a two-fisted bruiser always ready to dish out a beating than the 'boy scout' character who he is more associated with being.

It's even more of a shock to the system than the early Batman stories I have been reading.

[Jake V]

Just been reading through The Superman Chronicles volume one & the character is radically different from today.

Not just in his costume but in the way he acts, he is more like a two-fisted bruiser always ready to dish out a beating than the 'boy scout' character who he is more associated with being.

It's even more of a shock to the system than the early Batman stories I have been reading.

Those stories are fun to reference whenever someone starts telling you how Superman is supposed to act.

[B. Kuwanger]

I've always wanted to go back and read those stories because I can't see Superman any differently than the way he's done by guys like Johns or Byrne.

[Robo Ape]

Those stories are fun to reference whenever someone starts telling you how Superman is supposed to act.

In a way I kind of prefer his character like he is in these early stories, they have knocked off too many of his 'rough edges' if you know what I mean

[Vigilante Man]

I agree. I think his personality in the old stories is a bit more realistic. It's fun reading those stories and watching the old Fleischer cartoons.

[drinkblatzbeer]

the superman and batman chronicles are some of the neatest ideas for affordable trades...

love getting to see early superhero origins in the order they came out...i really think any serious fan of either character needs at least the first 5 of each...

vigilante man, not sure if it's already out, but i remember someone at a local store saying something about the fleischer toons being out on DVD soon...that may be a pick-up...

[Robo Ape]

the superman and batman chronicles are some of the neatest ideas for affordable trades...

love getting to see early superhero origins in the order they came out...i really think any serious fan of either character needs at least the first 5 of each...

vigilante man, not sure if it's already out, but i remember someone at a local store saying something about the fleischer toons being out on DVD soon...that may be a pick-up...

Some of the dialogue hasn't aged too well though. I mean how many times can Batman say "you said a mouthful", but on the flip side to this it does give it certain nostalgic angle. It's also very plain that these comics were, unlike they are today, very much aimed at children and specifically boys.

[Vigilante Man]

Yes, The Fleischer cartoons have been rereleased in a new 2 disc DVD set. I got mine last week. Nothing can beat "The Mechanical Monsters". It's still one of the best toons ever.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Given the time when those cartoons were first released, only a year after the character had been first published, they really give you a good idea of how the character evolved so quickly.

Those cartoons literally are the first time Superman ever flew.