Welcome back. Please log in.

Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel 'Destitute' Poison-Pen Letter
troubling letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's hate-mail campaign against National (later DC) Comics executives

This troubling signed letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a rare artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history -- as the embittered writer continued his poison-pen campaign to shame the National Publications (later DC) brass who'd bought the rights to Superman for $130 in 1938!

Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed a few lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) over the years. This letter, however, is part of a 1951 mailing campaign where Siegel attempts to shame the National executives by sending letters to their wealthy neighbors, describing himself as "destitute, living with my wife and tiny baby in a small, crowded apartment in Great Neck." The letter blasts the three businessmen — Jack Liebowitz, Paul Sampliner, and Harry Donenfeld — as the “selfish, greedy” owners enjoying “fat profits.” Siegel also notes his creation will soon “make more millions for them on television.”

The letter closes with the home addresses of Siegel’s targets. In this case, however, the recipient didn’t really need the information. As seen by the accompanying envelope, Siegel had sent the letter to the home of Irwin Donenfeld, the son of Harry Donenfeld and (at the time) the co-owner of DC Comics. Irwin was also just months away from becoming DC’s Editorial Director. He’d remain in that position until 1957. Siegel would finally get a chance to work for DC again in 1959.