More Fun Comics #101

History

Jerry Siegel first pitched the concept of Superman's boyhood adventures as early as November 1938, and again with a full script around December 1940, but DC repeatedly declined the idea. After the enormous success of Robin and the wave of teen sidekicks that followed, DC reversed course in late 1944 — while Siegel was stationed with the U.S. Army in Hawaii — and directed Joe Shuster to illustrate a Superboy story for publication, apparently without informing Siegel. The resulting five-page script was adapted by writer Don Cameron from Siegel's earlier submission; the Superboy origin story carries no byline in the published comic. Siegel learned of the publication through a letter from Shuster, and the unauthorized use of his creation became a central grievance in the landmark 1947 lawsuit he and Shuster filed against DC, which concluded in 1948 with a judge ruling Siegel the sole owner of Superboy — though the two creators ultimately settled, selling those rights to DC along with any remaining Superman claims.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance and origin of Superboy (Kal-El / Clark Kent), written by Jerry Siegel from a pre-war pitch and illustrated by Joe Shuster, published January–February 1945 (cover date) by DC Comics under editor Whitney Ellsworth.
• The Superboy debut strip introduced Jor-El, Lara, and the infant Kal-El's adoption by the Kents — presented simply as 'the Kents' with no first names given in this story — and depicts Clark at approximately eight years old when he first publicly uses his powers.
• First use of the term 'Kryptonians' for the people of Krypton, and the first depiction of Kryptonians as powerless on their own world — a major retcon that explained why they could not escape Krypton's destruction.
• Final Golden Age appearance of The Spectre (Jim Corrigan), who had been a feature of More Fun Comics since issue #52 (1940); the character would not return until Showcase #60, more than two decades later.
• The issue is a 52-page anthology containing five superhero features: the Superboy origin, Green Arrow and Speedy ('Formula for Doom!', art by Maurice Del Bourgo), Aquaman ('Orphans of the Sea!', script by Joe Samachson, art by Louis Cazeneuve), Johnny Quick ('An Investment in Happiness!', script by Don Cameron, art by Mort Meskin), and The Spectre ('The Unsafe Safe!', art by Bernard Baily).
• Superboy did not appear on the cover of this issue — the cover blurb promoted Dover and Clover, who were absent; Superboy would not receive his first cover appearance until More Fun Comics #104 (July 1945).
• The entire issue was reprinted in DC's Millennium Edition: More Fun Comics #101, published November 2000.
• DC's publication of Superboy without Siegel's knowledge or consent directly fueled the 1947 lawsuit in which a court initially ruled Siegel the sole owner of Superboy, before the parties settled out of court — making this issue a pivotal document in the legal history of creator rights in American comics.

Cast · 16 characters

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