Gerard Jones's history of the "Golden Age" of comics, Men of Tomorrow, is bookended by the fascinating story of Julius Siegel and Joe Schuster, the creators of Superman. Siegel, the writer, and Joe, the artist, were two Jewish kids from Cleveland who wrote the original Superman for Action comics but were ripped off on the merchandising and subsidiary rights and were finally fired from the strip. I found Siegel and Schuster's story to be the most compelling of the various strands that made up this book. Yes it was interesting to hear about Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Bob Kane; but Siegel and Schuster's fall from grace is the stuff of Greek tragedy (or Krypton tragedy for that matter). Both Siegel and Schuster tried other comic book ideas after they ended work on Superman but nothing came to pass & they finally went broke, Schuster finding odd jobs (mostly manual labour) and Siegel becoming a clerk for the State of California. It was only in the 1970's when fans began hearing of their plight and started a letter writing campaign to DC comics that things began to change. Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer got involved and DC finally agreed to pay Siegel and Schuster an index linked 20 grand a year. Jones tell this story very well and it's the best part of the book. ...
I wasn't as engaged by the bizarre antics of Bob Kane etc. and I really could have done with less about the publishers of these comics: no matter how colourful they are the publishers are only the publishers; maybe I'm prejudiced but for me its the artists and writers who are the heroes of this history not the money men and the corporate chieftains.
The really nice cover of Men of Tomorrow was designed by that man of tomorrow himself, Chip Kidd, who also designed my favourite book cover of all time, the one for All The Pretty Horses
16 comments:
Disney had a similar kind of story of the money men stealing his character Oswald the Rabbit out from under him. Of course his wasn't tragic, because it led him to come up with Mickey Mouse. But though we can't see it now, it might well have ended up that way for him as well. I'm sure it felt that way to him for a time.
Yeah, they left a lot of that out of the heritage minute.
I'm pretty sure Shuster was related to Frank Shuster (of the comedy duo Wayne and Shuster) and Rosie Shuster (writer, daughter of Frank, wife of Lorne Michaels)
They were cousins IIRC.
Joe Shuster was born and lived in Toronto until the age of 10, which has always been the explanation for why Metropolis looks kinda like Toronto - a lot of blue sky, nowhere near as densely populated as Gotham.
John, that heritage minute seems very Hollywood to me. Aren't Canadians ever snide?
Seana
I've never been that big a fan of Mickey Mouse. I'm more of a Bugs Bunny guy.
John
Christ that Lorne Michaels is connected to everyone. They should use him for that six degrees game.
Matt
Yeah a lot of blue sky and open spaces in those early strips. In fact a lot of blue everywhere.
No, Mickey Mouse wasn't it for me either. It was more Felix the Cat, Popeye, and Huckleberry Hound.
Obviously, we are wrong.
BTW, anyone who wants to catch up with Superman, check out Grant Morrison's 'All-Star Superman' - great for the kid or adult kid in your life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Star_Superman
Bugs Bunny could eat Mickey Mouse’s lunch any day. And it’s Daffy over Donald in a battle of ducks, though a closer race than Bugs and Mickey.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
"...no matter how colourful they are the publishers are only the publishers; maybe I'm prejudiced but for me its the artists and writers who are the heroes..."
Amen.
Seana
Huckleberry Hound. I remember that one. Michael Stipe (of REM)'s favourite.
Matt
And did you read Superman Red Son?
Bit old now but I really liked what he did with the entire mythos.
Peter
But Daffy has that great arch villain, Marvin the Martian, Donald has nothing except those annoying nephews.
Mal
Publishers and editors always think that they're the man, but only very rarely are they.
Marvin the Martian is the only cartoon character I could imitate vocally with any degree of success. And don't forget that Daffy also had to batte Bugs Bunny and his dupe, Elmer Fudd. Or have you forgotten "I'M a DIRTY SKUNK???" and "Yoooooou're dethpicable!"?
Speaking of comics, my local was showing "Batman and Robin" on one of its TV screens the other night. Critical opinion has it that that is the worst Barman film. That's overrating it.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
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