Superman is a fictional character and the staple superhero of DC Comics. He first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 and is considered the first character to embody the particular combination of traits that characterize the modern superhero.
The comic
book character, created by Toronto-born Joe Shuster and
Cleveland-born Jerry Siegel in 1932 and sold to Detective Comics, Inc (today DC Comics) in 1938, subsequently appeared in various radio serials, television programs, films, newspaper strips, and video games. As was written in the first edition of Action Comics #1 (June, 1938), Superman is born on the planet Krypton and as an infant is rocketed to Earth by his scientist
father, moments before Krypton explodes. The
rocket lands on Earth, where amiable couple the Kents find the baby and adopt him. As he grows, he discovers that he possesses powers far beyond those of mortal men and women and resolves to use them to help others. When not fighting the forces of
evil as Superman, he lives among
humanity as "mild-mannered" Clark Kent, a reporter for the Daily
Star (later changed to the Daily Planet).
Clark works alongside reporter Lois
Lane, with whom he is romantically involved. In current comics continuity, they are married; however, the character has several other relationships throughout his years in comics. Today, the character's adventures are published in a number of comic books.
