History of the term "Super-Hero"

[The Adventurer]

I'm having a discussion on another forum about the origins of the term "Super-Hero". Now, it appears generally assumed that it's derived from the character Superman, considered the first true Superhero. But I seem to recall someone, probably here, mentioning that the term predated Superman, specifically that it was used as a tag line on a Doc Savage novel or comic. Is this true? Or is my memory playing tricks on me and it is derived from Superman?

Thanks for the help.

[Hintermann]

I think the first comic book character to whom the term 'Superhero' was applied in his own time was Superman. But in retrospect, the first comic book hero to wear a skin tight costume that has now become the trademark of all 'superheroes' was The Phantom, even though he himself never had any supernatural powers as such.

[Cei-U!]

The earliest use of the term I've come across is in Siegel and Shuster's original presentation for the Superman newspaper strip, which I saw in an issue of Alter Ego not long ago. I wouldn't be surprised if there were earlier occurances.

Cei-U!
I summon a smidgen of info!

[InfoBroker]

It's been a looooong time since I had my copies at hand, but if memory banks are still linked properly to 1970 when I first read it, then I do believe that the first issue of Steranko's history of comics shows a house ad refering to Doc Savage as a "Superman" figure. I don't think it mentioned super-hero anywhere.

I'm pretty certain that the term super-hero goes hand-in-hand with the creation and cultural popularity of Siegel and Shuster's wonderful creation. The label can(and has) certainly be apply in a retro-fashion to earlier mythic characters, but it wasn't part of the vernacular until post Action Comics #1.

-jb the comic book indigenous ib-

[Captain Jim]

It's been a looooong time since I had my copies at hand, but if memory banks are still linked properly to 1970 when I first read it, then I do believe that the first issue of Steranko's history of comics shows a house ad refering to Doc Savage as a "Superman" figure. I don't think it mentioned super-hero anywhere.

That's my recollection as well. Doc was advertised as "Superman," not a "superhero."

I'm pretty certain that the term super-hero goes hand-in-hand with the creation and cultural popularity of Siegel and Shuster's wonderful creation. The label can(and has) certainly be apply in a retro-fashion to earlier mythic characters, but it wasn't part of the vernacular until post Action Comics #1.

But I don't really think it was in use (at least frequent use) even then. Seems like I recall reading that in the 1940's, said heroes were called "mystery men." I'm not sure when the term "superheroes" caught on, but it was certainly in use by the mid-1960's when Batman was on TV. Can anyone document use of the term before that time (or before, perhaps, the early 1960's fanzines)?

[JKCarrier]

I remember Roy Thomas saying that the earliest use of "super-hero" he could find was in the first appearance of the Guardian. Anyone got a copy of Star Spangled Comics #7 handy to confirm?

[InfoBroker]

Did FDR's wishful comment about calling up the the Human Torch and other costumed characters for service in World War II, contain the term "super-hero" ? This would have been circa 1942.

-jb the not sure ib-

[Reptisaurus!]

I remember Roy Thomas saying that the earliest use of "super-hero" he could find was in the first appearance of the Guardian. Anyone got a copy of Star Spangled Comics #7 handy to confirm?

My school has it on Microform.

I'll try and check next week.

[Aaron King]

According to the venerable Oxford English Dictionary, the first appearance of the word "super-hero" was in 1917 in the book Contact, subtitled "An airman's outings." The excerpt that OED gives says merely, "The super-heroes of the war." The dictionary includes this information in it's "super-" heading. Part of the definition says, "In recent (often nonce) formations after SUPERMAN, used to designate a person, animal, or thing which markedly surpasses all others, or the generality, of its class."

Oxford's first recording of "Superman" is in 1903, in G.B. Shaw's "Man & Superman," which looks to be a response or expansion on Nietzsche's writings. His phrase, "ubermensch," was often translated into "superman" even though it literally means "overman."