April 28—this week—is known in pop culture as Superhero Day. First created by Marvel Comics employees in 1995, the day celebrates the colorful superheroes who have inspired generations since World War II. It also encourages us to recognize the real-life heroes around us. In that spirit, we continue the countdown to America 250 with the story of two Jewish high schoolers who created the superhero that started it all in 1938.
Jerry Siegel grew up in Cleveland, the son of Jewish parents who immigrated to America at the turn of the century to escape anti-Semitism in Lithuania. Joe Shuster (born Shusterowich) was the child of Jewish immigrants from the Netherlands and Ukraine who first settled in Canada before moving to Cleveland when Joe was 10. The two met in high school, where their friendship—and creative partnership—began.
Both were avid fans of science fiction and adventure stories, a genre that was booming at the time through pulp magazines featuring rockets traveling to alien worlds and ordinary men becoming heroes in extraordinary places, like Tarzan and John Carter. In 1929, while still in school, Jerry and Joe created their own magazine, Cosmic Stories, after several of Jerry’s submissions were rejected by mainstream publications. Jerry handled the writing, while Joe provided the illustrations.
In 1932, Joe created a bald, telepathic villain called Superman for a short story titled The Reign of the Superman, which appeared in one of their magazines. Although the story itself was not successful, the name endured. Jerry and Joe reimagined it, transforming the concept into a new kind of hero—one that would revolutionize the adventure genre and help define what we now recognize as the modern superhero.
For the next four years, they searched for a publisher. Finally, they sold the rights to Detective Comics (DC), and in April 1938, Action Comics #1 introduced Superman to the world. Over the next two decades, Superman comics dominated the market. Through radio shows and other media, his story and powers expanded, but the original vision of Jerry and Joe remained at the core.
Although Superman is not explicitly a Jewish character, the influence of Jewish experience on his story is unmistakable. The idea of an outsider arriving on Earth and learning to belong mirrors the immigrant journey of the early 20th century—something both creators’ families experienced firsthand. Superman’s commitment to defending the oppressed also echoes figures from Jewish tradition, such as the Golem and the biblical figure Samson.
The character’s identity drew from real-life inspirations as well. Clark Kent was partially modeled after Joe Shuster, with his name combining those of actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor. Lois Lane, Superman’s love interest, was inspired by Joanne Carter, who later married Jerry Siegel.
Because they were so young when they sold the rights to DC, Jerry and Joe later pursued legal battles to reclaim ownership of Superman. While they never fully regained the copyright, DC has, since 1948, been required to credit them as Superman’s original creators in all related works.
More than 85 years after his debut, Superman’s legacy continues. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were not the only Jewish creators to shape the superhero genre—figures like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby also drew on their early 20th-century experiences to build a lasting mythology that continues to inspire generations.
The Fellowship’s countdown to America 250 celebrates the shared values and friendship between the United States and Israel demonstrated by these partnerships with its people. Show your support by requesting a FREE U.S./Israel flag pin today.