Was Superman really the first superhero?

[Emerald Ghost]

Everyone says that Superman was the first superhero created in 1938, Action Comics #1.

Is that true? Isn't there anyone who came before? If we accept Batman as a superhero, would Zorro also be considered one?

[Atom_basher]

I may be wrong but i think Namor was created before superman


edit: nope, namor isnt older than supes, sorry

[Josh]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but Namor was created in 1939 and Superman was created in 1938. One thing is for sure: If Superman wasn't the first costumed adventurer (and he was not; there were several others to precede him) then he was the first hero was big, flashy powers that captured the imagination of the country and became an overnight success once he was finally published in Action Comics #1.

[Bicycle-Repairman]

An earlier Siegel and Shuster super-powered character, Doctor Occult, wore a costume in one story, but in most of his appearances he wore street clothes. Earlier fictional characters had extraordinary abilities or wore colourful costumes, but I think Superman was the first to popularize the combination of super-powers with a costumed alter-ego. It could be argued that Batman isn't a true super-hero as he has no powers. He's more in the tradition of the Scarlet Pimpernel, Doctor Syn, and Zorro, all of them being respectable men who disguise themselves to fight injustice.

[Goldenbane]

If you count mythology as "Super heroes" than there are tons that came before Superman (Thor, Hercules, Sampson, Gilgimesh, ect...) but as far as "super heroes" that match what Superman is (extraordinary powers, secret identity, super villains, ect.) then I think he really was the first.

[Donald M.]

Like others said, neither costumed vigilantes/freedom fighters nor people with extraordinary powers were new concepts when Superman came along, he was just the first character to really bring the two together.

Although, the Shadow had some sort of mind powers, didn't he? And he did sort of wear a costume.

[Kid Kyoto]

There were several in victorian novels (Scarlet Pimpernel) and pulps (Shadow, Spider, Phantom who preceed superman and had costumes. for the most part they had no powers, the Shadow's hypnosis comes the closest.

So Supes brought together costume, powers, secret ID and comic books.

[PatrickG]

Batman counts because he was created in response to Superman.

His super power is that he has none.

It's the difference between a triangle and a trapazoid which has one side with a length of zero.

[Bicycle-Repairman]

While the creation of Batman was inspired in part by the commercial success of Superman, the most they have in common is wearing a cape and a pair of tights with briefs on the outside. Conceptually, Batman is closer to Zorro. Both were wealthy men who pretended to be shallow playboys, but disguised themselves to fight injustice at night and had secret cavernous hideouts located beneath their mansions.

[Phoney Bone]

DC used to claim the Crimson Avenger (originally a Green Hornet rip-off) as the first comic book costumed "Mystery Man"... aka "Super-Hero". i don't know where his status stands now.

[YoungG03]

While the creation of Batman was inspired in part by the commercial success of Superman, the most they have in common is wearing a cape and a pair of tights with briefs on the outside. Conceptually, Batman is closer to Zorro. Both were wealthy men who pretended to be shallow playboys, but disguised themselves to fight injustice at night and had secret cavernous hideouts located beneath their mansions.

That was genius to make a Batman...I would have prob make morre superpowered folks.....Who was Supes first superpowerd villian? Lex wasnt always there at the beginning rite? And who was Batmna first mainstay adversary?

Also today Batman and the Batman of yesterday are bout the sam except that one is God rite?

[Babylon23]

DC used to claim the Crimson Avenger (originally a Green Hornet rip-off) as the first comic book costumed "Mystery Man"... aka "Super-Hero". i don't know where his status stands now.

I think this might be a post-Crisis retcon. The Crimson Avenger first appeared in Detective Comics #20, cover dated October 1938. Action Comics was cover dated June '38, so Supes still has a few months on the Avenger.

[PatrickG]

Although Luthor became recurring in the late 40s and into the 50s and Superman fought a handful of costumed types, including the first "Metallo" John Corben, Bizarro and Mr. Mxyztplk, I'd argue that he didn't really get a full, recurring rogues gallery until Weisinger.

To be fair, the 40s did have Master Jailer, the Puzzler and Toyman.

In Weisinger's era, we got Brainiac, a more permanent and larger Bizarro presence, more personal ties to Luthor (who evolved into kindof a murderous anti-hero), Phantom Zoners, Titano, the second Metallo (Roger Corben) and later under the Schwartz era, the Revenge Squad, Composite Superman, Galactic Golem, Satanus, Terra-Man and Prankster, if memory serves.

[Emerald Ghost]

Although Luthor became recurring in the late 40s and into the 50s and Superman fought a handful of costumed types, including the first "Metallo" John Corben, Bizarro and Mr. Mxyztplk, I'd argue that he didn't really get a full, recurring rogues gallery until Weisinger.

To be fair, the 40s did have Master Jailer, the Puzzler and Toyman.

In Weisinger's era, we got Brainiac, a more permanent and larger Bizarro presence, more personal ties to Luthor (who evolved into kindof a murderous anti-hero), Phantom Zoners, Titano, the second Metallo (Roger Corben) and later under the Schwartz era, the Revenge Squad, Composite Superman, Galactic Golem, Satanus, Terra-Man and Prankster, if memory serves.

There was a Revenge Squad back then too? I thought it was a newer thing made by luthor with Maxima in it.

[RocketBoy]

As mentioned above, Lee Falks' The Phantom is also one that gets thrown around as the first superhero depending on who you talk to. And also depending on your definition of superhero. If Batman is a superhero, then so is the Phantom. And he may very well be the first who actually wore tights as a costume as opposed to just slightly eccentric clothing like Mandrake the Magician and Doctor Occult.

[Bicycle-Repairman]

There was a Revenge Squad back then too? I thought it was a newer thing made by luthor with Maxima in it.

The original Superman Revenge Squad were an organization of alien criminals with a vendetta against the Man of Steel. They each wore a copy of Superman's costume, except the S-shield glowed green like kryptonite, and they were all bald (perhaps to look like Lex Luthor).

[Bicycle-Repairman]

That was genius to make a Batman...I would have prob make morre superpowered folks.....Who was Supes first superpowerd villian? Lex wasnt always there at the beginning rite? And who was Batmna first mainstay adversary?

The Ultra-Humanite is often credited as the first "super-villain" Superman fought, but at the time he wasn't a human brain in a mutant albino ape's body as he is today. He was a balding, wheelchair-bound mad scientist, and I don't know if he had any psychic powers in his early appearances. The name "Ultra-Humanite" was meant to be a play on "Superman". Luthor came later, and he originally had red hair until an artist mistakenly drew him as being bald.

Batman's first recurring enemy was Dr. Death. Prof. Hugo Strange also appeared before the introduction of the Joker and Catwoman.

[Kistler]

For anyone interested, I just did a several page aritcle on Superman's pre-crisis history, from when he was first created as a VILLAIN in "Reign of the Superman" up to the Superman movie in 1978. Anyone curious, especially newbies, should check it out. And feel free to tell me what you think. Cheers.

http://www.monitorduty.com/mdarchives/2005/09/kistlers_profil.shtml

[RawShark]

Great work K.

Let me ask anyone on here that might have a better memory than me,
wasn't there a book that pre-dated Superman featuring a character very close to the idea of what Supes would be?
I've completely forgotten who the author was but the words "Gladiator" and/or "Hero" seem to pop to mind when I think about the tittle of this book.

I clearly remember reading it when I was a kid, he fights in a war where he "discovers" that bullets just bounce off him... another chapter has him working as a circus strongman lifting livestock over his head.

ring any bells?

[Bicycle-Repairman]

Great work K.

Let me ask anyone on here that might have a better memory than me,
wasn't there a book that pre-dated Superman featuring a character very close to the idea of what Supes would be?
I've completely forgotten who the author was but the words "Gladiator" and/or "Hero" seem to pop to mind when I think about the tittle of this book.

I clearly remember reading it when I was a kid, he fights in a war where he "discovers" that bullets just bounce off him... another chapter has him working as a circus strongman lifting livestock over his head.

ring any bells?

The book you're thinking of is "Gladiator" by Philip Wylie, originally published in 1930. It told the story of Hugo Danner, who developed super-human strength, speed, and durability after his scientist father injected his pregnant mother with an experimental serum while he was in her womb. Hugo uses his abilities in many occupations, including college athlete, circus strongman, and soldier, but could never enjoy an ordinary life. "Gladiator" is widely believed to be an inspiration for Superman as well as Doc Savage.

[RawShark]

THAT'S IT!
Thanks B-RMan!

I'll have to look it up and re-read it.