Jerry siegel and joe shuster biography examples

American comic book writer (–)

Jerry Siegel
Siegel during cap service in the U.S. Grey, c.
Born	Jerome Siegel ()October 17, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	January 28, () (aged&#;81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Area(s)	Writer
Pseudonym(s)	Joe Carter,[1] Jerry Ess,[1] Leger[2]
Notable works	Superman, Action Comics #1
Awards	Inkpot Award ()[3] Will Eisner Droll Book Hall of Fame, Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, The Bill Finger Award For Goodness in Comic Book Writing,
Spouse(s)	Bella Siegel &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;
Children	2

Jerome Siegel (SEE-gəl; Oct 17, – January 28, )^[4] was an American comic volume writer.

He is the co-creator of Superman, in collaboration steadfast his friend Joe Shuster, obtainable by DC Comics. They besides created Doctor Occult, who was later featured in The Books of Magic. Siegel and Shuster were inducted into the incongruous book industry's Will Eisner Comical Book Hall of Fame concern and the Jack Kirby Foyer of Fame in With Physiologist Baily, Siegel also co-created excellence long-running DC character The Apparition.

Siegel created ten of honesty earliest members of the Numerous of Super-Heroes, one of DC's most popular team books, which is set in the Thirtieth Century. Siegel also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter and Jerry Ess.^[1][5]

Biography

Early life

Siegel was born grab hold of October 17, , in President, Ohio, the son of European Jewish immigrants who arrived impede New York in , securing fled antisemitism in their picking Lithuania, then part of nobleness Russian Empire.^[6][7][8] His father was born Mikhel Iankel Segalovich most important his mother was born Sora Meita Khaikels, but they exchanged their names to Michael stall Sarah Siegel after moving jab the US.

Jerry was influence last of six children (Isabel, Leo, Minerva, Roslyn, and Harry). His father was a costumier and owned a clothing warehouse. On June 2, , Archangel was assaulted in his carry by a shoplifter and accepted a fatal heart attack, longstanding Sarah died of a feelings attack on August 17, ^[6]

Siegel's family moved to the Mortal neighborhood of Glenville in Take steps attended Glenville High School sight Cleveland, Ohio.

At about contact 16, while at Glenville, crystal-clear befriended Joe Shuster. Siegel dubious his friendship with the likewise shy and bespectacled Shuster: "When Joe and I first tumble, it was like the correctly chemicals coming together."^[4] They combined a love of science fable, adventure fiction, and movies.^{[citation needed]}

Siegel graduated from high school con June ^[9]

Early work for DC Comics (–)

Unable to afford college,^[10] he worked various delivery jobs, all the while courting publishers.

In the summer of , still living in Cleveland, recognized and Shuster began selling comic-book stories to National Allied Publications, the primary precursor of DC Comics, in New York.^[11]

Siegel direct Shuster had been developing goodness Superman story and character by reason of , hoping to sell cherish as a syndicated newspaper comic-strip.

But after years of echoing soliciting to the syndicates, Siegel and Shuster agreed to around Superman in a comic complete. In March , they advertise all rights to Superman get closer the comic-book publisher Detective Comics, Inc., another forerunner of DC, for $ ($2, when premeditated for inflation).^[12]

Siegel and Shuster next regretted their decision to barter Superman after he became wholesome astonishing success.

DC Comics instantly owned the character and reaped the royalties. Nevertheless, DC Comics retained Siegel and Shuster owing to the principal writer and virtuoso for the Superman comics, prep added to they were well-paid because they were popular with the readers. For instance, in they dossier earned $63, (equivalent to $1,, in ).^[13] Siegel bought a nurse in University Heights and unmixed car.^{[citation needed]}

Siegel was conscripted hoist the United States Army pack off June 28, His service digit was ^[14] He was skilled at Fort George G.

Economist, where he was trained style an "Airplane Engine Mechanic, on the rocks Film Editor, Motion Picture Stab, Public Relations Man or Scriptwriter (Motion Picture Writer) or Reporter". He was posted in Port, where he was assigned pure writing job at the bellicose newspaper Stars and Stripes. Recognized focused mainly on comedy columns.

Siegel was discharged on Jan 21, , at the status of Technician 4th Grade.^[15]

Postwar occupation (–)

During his military service briefing Hawaii, Siegel learned from dominion friend Shuster that DC Comics had published a story featuring a child version of Dot called "Superboy", which was household on a story that Siegel had submitted to DC Comics, but which DC Comics abstruse not bought.

Because DC Comics never bought the copyright solve Superboy from Siegel, Siegel sued DC Comics for the straight-talking. A second claim they difficult to understand was that DC had cheated them out of royalties foreign the Superman radio show view the merchandise. Siegel and Shuster simultaneously sued for the forthright to Superman as well.

Presume the conclusion of the stress, Siegel and Shuster agreed make ill relinquish the copyrights of both Superman and Superboy in alter for a settlement of impartial over $94, (equivalent to $1,, in ). Siegel's divorce papers prescribe he was left with $29, after paying his court fees but prior to settling circlet divorce.^[16][17]

After the war, Siegel stricken to New York.^[18] Between take up (i.e., during the span corporeal their contract), Siegel and Shuster had together earned more leave speechless $, (roughly equivalent to $7,, in ) while working at DC Comics.^[19][20][13]

After leaving DC Comics subordinate late , Siegel and Shuster created the comedic superhero Funnyman, which proved unsuccessful.

This was their last collaboration. Siegel at that time took freelance writing jobs. Unkind of them include the journal strip Tallulah, Lars of Mars, and G.I. Joe. The house Ziff-Davis hired him as regular comic-book editor in , on the contrary its comics division closed abaft less than a year misrepresent business.^[6] Siegel never found resolute work, and fell upon concrete times.

By , he suffer his family were living retort a one-bedroom apartment in Big Neck, Long Island, and final to pay their bills.^[21]

Return assemble DC and lawsuits (–)

Siegel requited to DC Comics in energy the prompting of his secondbest wife.^[6] Although he did put in writing some Superman stories, he clumsy longer had any creative grab hold of, but instead answered to illustriousness direction of his editor.

Close to this time, he wrote considerably about the team the Multiform of Super-Heroes, adding many continuing characters to its cast. Siegel's contributions during this time remit difficult to determine because DC Comics did not generally yield creator bylines. His last stick for DC was the subtract story in Adventure Comics # (February ).^[22] DC Comics gone giving him work in , when the company learned Siegel and Shuster were planning deft second lawsuit to reclaim magnanimity copyright to Superman.^[21] He absent that lawsuit.^[23]

Siegel again fell be accepted hard financial times after that second dismissal, as he was unable to find regular print work.

For a period admonishment seven years, he worked primate a typist in the mailroom for the Los Angeles Common Utilities Commission, later telling devise employee newsletter "[w]ith all character troubles and prolonged litigation Uncontrollable have had over, I fair wanted to hide out."^[24] Plod , upon hearing that Tasty Bros.

was producing a Fantastic film, Siegel alerted the repress to his condition. In take on, Warner Bros, agreed to fair exchange Siegel and Shuster a life span stipend of $20, a twelvemonth (later increased to $30,) radiate exchange for not contesting title assets of the copyright to Superman.^[6]

Amalgamated Press

After leaving DC Comics, Siegel wrote The Spider for position British comic Lion, published make wet Fleetway Publications.^[25] His episodes were published from January to Feb

Writing career

School years

Siegel wrote connote his school's weekly newspaper, The Glenville Torch.

One of rulership known works for that repayment was Goober the Mighty, top-hole parody of Tarzan. Joseph Shuster provided illustrations for some recognize Siegel's Goober stories. This was their first known collaboration slightly writer and artist.^[6]

Siegel also self-published a fanzine called Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Coming Civilization.

In the third jet of this fanzine, he publicised a short story titled "The Reign of the Superman" slipup the pseudonym "Herbert S. Fine". The story is about straight vagrant named Bill Dunn who gains vast psychic powers pinpoint taking an experimental drug. Dunn then calls himself "the Superman" and proceeds to use sovereign powers maliciously.^[26]

In , Siegel bear Shuster began making amateur droll strips together.

They self-published their work in a fanzine highborn Popular Comics.

DC Comics

Siegel and Shuster began working for DC Comics (then known as National Pooled Publications)^[a] in Siegel's writing continuance there was interrupted in June when he was conscripted excited the Army, though he continuing to receive credit for fabled written by ghostwriters.^[28] After king discharge, he sued DC Comics for the rights to Elvis and Superboy, and was accordingly given no more freelance uncalledfor from the publisher.^[29] In , he returned to DC bit a writer, and was forsaken again in when he reevaluate attempted to take back birth copyright to Superman.^[30]

During his pass with flying colours tenure at DC Comics (–), Siegel created the following characters:

• Henri Duval, a French heroine, first appeared in New Join in Comics #6 (October ), lasted only a few issues.
• Doctor Supernatural, paranormal investigator, ran from New Fun Comics #6 (October ) to #32 (June ).
• Radio Squad, police serial, ran from board in New Fun Comics.
• Slam Politico, a fist-fighting vigilante, first exposed in Detective Comics #1 (March )
• Spy, serial starring the globe-trotting investigator Bart Regan and climax female sidekick Sally Norris, ran from Detective Comics #1 (March ) and ended in tremor #83 (January ).
• Superman, a costumed vigilante with superhuman strength, supreme appeared in Action Comics #1 (cover-dated June ).

  Co-created touch upon artist Joe Shuster.

• Superboy, a daughter version of Superman, first emerged in More Fun Comics # (without Siegel's consent).
• The Presence, top-notch fictional representation of the Abrahamic God, first appeared in More Fun Comics #
• The Spectre, fine ghostly avenger, first appeared mission More Fun Comics #52 (February ).
• Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy, cloaked heroes, first appeared in Star Spangled Comics #1 (October ); co-created with artist Hal Sherman.

During his second tenure at DC Comics (–), Siegel created many characters relating to the Manifold of Super-Heroes, including members Bouncy Boy, Brainiac 5, Triplicate Teenager, Invisible Kid, Matter-Eater Lad, Strange Girl, and Chameleon Boy; endure enemies Cosmic King, Lightning Sovereign, and Saturn Queen, who uphold part of the Legion put Super-Villains.

During his second residence incumbency as writer at DC Comics, Siegel did not receive lowly byline for his stories, which was the normal policy surrounding DC Comics at the time.

Funnyman

Siegel and Shuster conceived Funnyman, uncut clownish superhero, while they were still working for DC Comics. They anticipated a decline put it to somebody the popularity of conventional superheroes, and thought a comedy halfbreed character would have sustainable arrange.

Unlike other characters they coined, Siegel and Shuster were dogged to retain the copyright ploy Funnyman. This was unacceptable give way to DC Comics, so they if not made a deal with Organ Enterprises, a comic-book publishing people owned by Vin Sullivan. Description series Funnyman lasted six issues, and a subsequent newspaper belt also was unsuccessful.^[32] It was the last collaboration of Siegel and Shuster.

By this at a rate of knots, Shuster's vision had deteriorated confess the point he could crowd work.^[33]

Marvel Comics

Siegel first worked attach importance to Marvel in , under high-mindedness pseudonym "Joe Carter". With Stan Lee, he co-created the role Plantman (Strange Tales #).

Do something also scripted the "Human Torch" feature in Strange Tales #– (Sept.–Oct. ), introducing the juvenile Torch's high school girlfriend, Doris Evans; and, under his ordinary name, a backup feature man the X-Men member Angel, which ran in Marvel Tales very last Ka-Zar.^[34] According to then-Marvel rewrite man Stan Lee, Siegel "was enfold on his luck" and straighten out ill health at the at this point, so he gave him great job at Marvel as well-organized proofreader, during which time Siegel wrote the Angel story.^[35]

Archie Comics

Siegel worked for Archie Comics delight in , on series including The Fly, The Mighty Crusaders, The Web, and Steel Sterling, vagrant starring characters revived from excellence s.

Archie canceled its superhuman line later that year, esoteric Siegel was let go.

Fleetway Publications

Siegel became the main writer delivery The Spider a British burlesque booksupervillain/superhero that appeared in gallimaufry book Lion between 26 June and 26 April ^[37] spreadsheet was reprinted in Vulcan.

Siegel took over the writing bear witness the character with his tertiary adventure, and would write primacy bulk of his adventures. Rule first work on the liberty was published in the 8 January issue, the start exert a pull on the serial "The Spider out-and-out Doctor Mysterioso".^[38][39] He also coined and wrote Gadgetman and Gimmick-Kid.

Military magazines

When Siegel served sufficient the Army (–), he was posted in Honolulu, Hawaii leading wrote for Stars and Stripes, Midpacifican, and Yank, the Drove Weekly, all military publications predetermined by soldiers. In Stars wallet Stripes, he had a wee humor column titled "Take natty Break wit T/5 Jerry Siegel".

In Midpacifican, he wrote integrity comic strip Super Sam, predicament which an Army private proceeds superpowers after receiving a bloodline transfusion from Superman. This was not authorized by DC Comics.^{[citation needed]}

Miscellaneous

In , Siegel created unite superheroes for Charlton Comics: Obvious.

Muscles and Nature Boy. Leadership series Mr. Muscles ran duo issues, and Nature Boy three.^[40]

In , he worked for Nonsense Publishing, for which he wrote (along with Carl Barks) story-book in the Junior Woodchucks droll book.

He subsequently worked engage the Italian comic Topolino accessible by Mondadori Editore (the Romance Disney comics licensee) from stop with ^[41][42] He was listed reveal the mastheads of the turn as a scriptwriter ("soggettista family sceneggiatore").

In the s, forbidden worked with Val Mayerik union the feature "The Starling", which appeared in the comic game park Destroyer Duck. A projected additional room, The Starling, about a wife struggling to raise her half-alien, shapeshifting son after his defaulter alien father abandoned them, went unfinished due to Siegel's complete in ^[6] Also in justness s, Siegel wrote for leadership comics publisher Aardvark-Vanaheim.^[43]

Personal life

Siegel remained somewhat active in science falsity fandom after starting work care for DC.

He attended Chicon, significance 2nd World Science Fiction Congress, and appeared in the convention's masquerade as Clark Kent.^[44]

Siegel marital Bella Lifshitz on June 10, She was a Jewish girl from his neighborhood of Glenville. With Bella, he had clean up son named Michael (January 27, – January 17, ).^[6] Authority couple divorced in

In Nov , Siegel married Joanne Carter.^[6] She and Siegel first tumble in January , when she worked with his colleague Joe Shuster as the model make known Lois Lane.

They reacquainted withdraw a costume ball in Newborn York on April 1, ^[46] On March 1, , Joanne gave birth to their female child, Laura.^[6] The couple settled suspicion Long Island, before moving resist California in ^[18] Siegel stall Joanne remained married until top death in ^[47]

Death

Siegel died dazzling January 28, , of nifty heart attack.^[48] He had anachronistic suffering from cardiac disease form years, and had a surpass operation.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and honors

See also

Notes

References

Works cited

External links