For decades, writer Jerry Siegel told the story of Superman’s birth as a flash of inspiration during one restless summer night. But the real story is far more complex—and far more fascinating. In this episode, we create a timeline outlining the untold history of Superman’s creation, tracing the hero’s evolution between 1933 and 1935 through four distinct versions written by Siegel in his late teens and brought to life by three artists: Joe Shuster, Leo O’Mealia, and Russell Keaton. Each version -- from a human made superhuman through experimentation to a time traveler sent from Earth’s doomed future -- brought the character closer to the Superman we know today. Along the way, Jerry and Joe answered an ad placed by a teenage girl named Jolan Kovacs (later Joanne Carter Siegel), and found their model for Lois Lane.

Featuring interviews with Brad Ricca and Brian Cronin.

Historical readings were by Jason Miller (Jerry Siegel), Shannon Dohar (Joanne Siegel) and Drew Meyer.

Special thanks to our supporters: David Matthewman, Francis Bradley, Julie Hopkins, Jim Sangster, William Hopkins, Emily Tersoff, Drew Walko and Ari Lipsey .

You can read the sources for today's episode on our website⁠.