Kal-El, also known as Superman, the towering figure in blue with his red cape, stands as arguably the most recognizable fictional hero in global popular culture. First introduced in Action Comics #1 in June 1938, Superman predates and defines what generations of readers and audiences understand as the “superhero.” A conflation of immigrant aspirations, mythic archetypes, and escapist fantasy distilled into a costumed adventurer, Superman swiftly became an unprecedented commercial and cultural success.

Recommended reading list for this episode:

Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster — Brad Ricca (2013)

The Science of Superheroes – Lois H. Gresh & Robert Weinberg (2002)

Superman: The Complete History — Les Daniels (1998)

Comic Book Nation – Bradford W. Wright (2001)

Superman: The High‑Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero — Larry Tye (2012)

COMICS A-Z is the podcast that showcases the history of sequential art: comic books, comic strips, the characters, their creators, one letter at a time. Each episode highlights an interesting aspect of the long history of comics, as a creative medium and a growing industry.

Hosted by Kevin Cleary, a former executive with First Comics, Classics Illustrated, and TV Comics. Kevin was an advisor to the Overstreet Price Guide, The Overstreet Premium Ring Guide and a columnist/feature writer for the Comic's Buyers Guide, Overstreet Monthly, and Wizard Magazine. Kevin was also the Purchasing Director for Heroes World Distribution, the 3rd largest comic, card, and toy distributor in the country, and the founder of Quantum Licensing, a company that produced pins, rings, and other licensed comic related merchandise.

Kevin currently works in Hollywood as a literary manager and occasional producer.

This podcast is made by humans.

© Kevin Cleary 2026