4. Comics
● Origins: The New York World in 1895 called the
Yellow Kid, created by Richard Outcault.
● Description: A magazine made up of comic strips
● Time Period:
○ Examining: 1939-1962
4
5. Why Superman?
Superman is an iconic character that has
appeared in many different forms of media
and is a prime example of being an influential
fictional character to the mainstream
audience.
5
6. How did the Radio drama Influence
the comics?
● Added new
elements
● Added new
characters
● Changed the
mythos
6
7. Timeline: 1938-1951
1938 1940
First release of
Action comics
Issue #1 in June.
Perry White was
introduced in the
2nd episode of TAOS
radio drama.
1941 1943 1949 1951
The Adventures Of
Superman was broadcast
on February 12th.
Adventures of
Superman radio
drama ends on
March 1st.
Superman Issue #61 was released
in November. This was when
Kryptonite was introduced into the
comics.
Jimmy Olsen was
introduced in April
on TAOS first. Later
was put into the
comics later that
same year.
Kryptonite was introduced in the
radio drama episode “Meteor
from Krypton” in June of that
year.
7
8. Perry White
● Origins: Adventures of Superman
Episode #2; 1940 (Voiced by
Julian Noa)
● Significance: Became a common
associated character with
Superman as his boss for The
Daily Planet.
● Reason: This had to do with the
actor more than the character.
Julian Noa left such a significant
impression on the character in
the radio serial that he was
brought into the comics. 8
9. Jimmy Olsen
● Origins: Adventures of Superman
#13; April 15th, 1941(Voiced by
Jack Klek and Jack Grimes)
● Significance: Photographer for
the Daily Planet and sidekick
character to Superman.
● Reason: Added into the radio
series and shortly after his name
became associated with a
character from the comics who
was anonymous until 1941.
9
10. Kryptonite
● Origins: ‘Meteor from Krypton’
(1943)
● Significance: Became the
common associated weakness
with Superman. Became a
popular term to replace the
Achilles's Heel.
● Reason: Initially created to give
Superman’s voice actor an
excuse to go on vacation.
10
11. Clan of the Fiery Cross
1. An 16-episode arc, that
revolved around
Superman fighting the
Ku Klux Klan.
2. Episodes were based on
factual information
3. Stetson Kennedy
11
12. Flight over Jumping?
● “Leap tall buildings in a single
bound.”
● Superman’s jump from place to
place was initially difficult for
the radio drama to produce.
● Would later become his defining
trait.
12
13.
14. Additional Facts
● Perry White’s character was especially well-known because of his
iconic catchphrases such as “Great Caesar's Ghost” or “Don’t call me
Chief!”.
● Superman was already a full-grown adult by the time he arrived on
Earth on the radio drama.
● The idea of Kryptonite was originally thought of back in 1940 in “The
K-Metal from Krypton”, which was never published and revealed
until 1988 by Mark Waid. This was mainly because it could have
become damaging to the franchise.
14
15. Conclusion
The Radio Drama had a powerful effect in
many ways regarding the Superman comics.
The comics obviously differ heavily in regards
to how they are interpreted but they have had
a profound effect on “The Man of Steel.”
15
16. Primary Resources
1. Siegel, Jerry, and Joe Shuster. "Superman." Action Comics #1 18 Apr. 1938: 1-64. Print.
2. Siegel, Jerry, and Joe Shuster. "Superman." Action Comics #61 Nov. 1949: 1-52. Print.
3. "Clark Kent, Reporter." Adventures of Superman. CBS. WOR, New York, New York, 14 Feb. 1940. Radio.
4. "The Steamship Madison." Adventures of Superman. CBS. WOR, New York, New York, 11 Mar. 1940.
Radio.
5. "The Meteor from Krypton." Adventures of Superman. CBS. WOR, New York, New York, June 1943. Radio.
6. "The Clan of The Fiery Cross." Adventures of Superman. CBS. WOR, New York, New York, June-July 1946.
Radio.
16
17. Secondary Resources p.1
1. "The Platinum Age 1897 - 1938." History of Comics. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
2. Buxton, Frank, and Bill Owen. Radio's Golden Age: The Programs and the Personalities. New York: Easton
Valley, 1966. Print.
3. Dancyger, Ken. Broadcast Writing: Dramas, Comedies, and Documentaries. Boston: Focal, 1991. Print.
4. Fingeroth, Danny. Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our
Society. New York: Continuum, 2004. Print.
5. Gundersen, Edna. "Music Study: Streaming and Radio Fire up Fans." USA Today. Gannett, 07 Nov. 2013.
Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
6. Lehmann-Haupt, Hellmut (1966). Gutenberg and the Master of the Playing Cards. New Haven: Yale
University Press. 17
18. Secondary Resources p.2
1. Levitt, Steven D., and Stephen J. Dubner. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of
Everything. New York: William Morrow, 2005. Print.
2. Mott, Robert L. Radio Sound Effects: Who Did It, and How, in the Era of Live Broadcasting. Jefferson, NC:
McFarland, 1993. Print.
3. Murray, Will. "Alter Ego #37." Alter Ego. N.p.: Superman TM, 2004. 1-25. Print.
4. Onosko, Tim. Wasn't the Future Wonderful?: A View of Trends and Technology from the 1930s. New York:
Dutton, 1979. Print.
5. Outcault, Richard F. "The Yellow Kid." New York World 17 Feb. 1895: n. pag. Print.
6. Pember, Don R., and Clay Calvert. Mass Media Law. 17th ed. New York City, NY: McGrawHill Companies,
2011. Print.
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