SUPERMAN 1939 JERRY SIEGEL INTERNAL MEMO Memorabilia
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SOLD ON: Monday, 08/21/2023 9:34 PM
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel 1939 Internal Memo Complaining About Joe Shuster Art
rare lost document detailing National Comics' (and co-creators Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster's) struggle to maintain early Superman success
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel 1939 Internal Memo Complaining About Joe Shuster Art
rare lost document detailing National Comics' (and co-creators Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster's) struggle to maintain early Superman success
DESCRIPTION
A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel 1939 Internal Memo Complaining About Joe Shuster Art
rare lost document detailing National Comics' (and co-creators Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster's) struggle to maintain early Superman successThis rare internal document from 1939 is a fascinating look at how the newspaper industry dealt with the unprecedented success of Superman--with the pressure falling on young co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster!
This letter from Comics Editor Hannah Baker--best known for her influential work at PM in the 1940s--was sent to Siegel, who had been signed to create a daily strip with artist Shuster shortly after the success of Superman's 1938 debut in Action Comics #1. In fact, the letter is dated April 20, 1939, just two days after the first anniversary of Action #1 hitting the newsstands.
Baker, however, isn't showing much enthusiasm in this letter--which originally accompanied another letter from the Houston Chronicle offering what Baker considered to be "excellent suggestions for improving the strip." An exasperated Baker also notes that "we must soon arrive at the point where criticism--constructive or otherwise--is not required."
Baker goes on to complain specifically about Joe Shuster's "careless" art that "fails to provide distinguishing characteristics for the various persons." Specifically, Baker writes that "the prize boner was pulled in the drawings received yesterday in which the scientist appeared with three entirely different faces in the course of six strips."
The editor also notes that each of the scientist's new faces only made the character look more like Superman. Despite the emphasis on artwork, it's not surprising that this letter is addressed to Siegel. Joe Shuster stated that he always preferred that his partner deal with any business input--perhaps, this time, for the best.
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel 1939 Internal Memo Complaining About Joe Shuster Art
rare lost document detailing National Comics' (and co-creators Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster's) struggle to maintain early Superman successThis rare internal document from 1939 is a fascinating look at how the newspaper industry dealt with the unprecedented success of Superman--with the pressure falling on young co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster!
This letter from Comics Editor Hannah Baker--best known for her influential work at PM in the 1940s--was sent to Siegel, who had been signed to create a daily strip with artist Shuster shortly after the success of Superman's 1938 debut in Action Comics #1. In fact, the letter is dated April 20, 1939, just two days after the first anniversary of Action #1 hitting the newsstands.
Baker, however, isn't showing much enthusiasm in this letter--which originally accompanied another letter from the Houston Chronicle offering what Baker considered to be "excellent suggestions for improving the strip." An exasperated Baker also notes that "we must soon arrive at the point where criticism--constructive or otherwise--is not required."
Baker goes on to complain specifically about Joe Shuster's "careless" art that "fails to provide distinguishing characteristics for the various persons." Specifically, Baker writes that "the prize boner was pulled in the drawings received yesterday in which the scientist appeared with three entirely different faces in the course of six strips."
The editor also notes that each of the scientist's new faces only made the character look more like Superman. Despite the emphasis on artwork, it's not surprising that this letter is addressed to Siegel. Joe Shuster stated that he always preferred that his partner deal with any business input--perhaps, this time, for the best.