Happy Birthday Superman!

On this day in history, the Man of Steel: Superman was born on the planet krypton.

In the classic story by Alan Moore “For The Man Who Has Everything” (Published in Superman Annual #11 in 1985 (shortly before the big re-boot after Infinite Crisis in 1986). In this story, Wonder Woman and Batman show up to the fortress of Solitude to celebrate Superman’s Birthday with him, only to find that an Alien Parasite called The Black Mercy has latched itself onto Superman.

This story is significant because when the Black Mercy was connected to Superman he was being fed a hallucination on what his hearts true desire is: a normal life. In the story he is good friends with his older cousin Kara (who is his younger cousin Supergirl in regular continuity) his parents are still alive, he has a lovely wife and a son who adores him, and Krypton is back in all of it’s former glory. This story also demonstrates the amazing amount of will power Superman had to give it up to save his friends from the tyrant Mongol.

This is one of the most significant and Favorited Superman stories of all time- Having been adapted to an episode of Justice League: Unlimited and most recently Supergirl on CBS.

Superman for generations has inspired men, women, and children to be the best that they can be. Superman is one of the few characters who can represent all nations, races, and circumstances.

In his earliest days in 1938, Superman was created to inspire hope to a poverty stricken world that things will be better. His adventures included ripping apart unsafe cars, tearing down the politicians who were making life harder on the normal man, bringing national leaders together to end wars, stopping unfair treatment of criminals, and even tearing down the slums so that the government would build safer housing for poverty stricken families. As time moved forward into the 40’s it was decided best for Superman to stay out of the war, but that didn’t stop the character being used as a vessil to sell war bonds and supporting the troops on the front cover. The early magazines even included a message from superman to kids to recycle the magazine when they finished it to help the war effort. This is part of the reason why early Superman comics are so rare.

In the post war years when superheroes were losing popularity, Superman continued to be a force for change when he fought against the KKK in the classic radio show. When superhero comic books were being yanked off the shelves, the values that make Superman stand out kept him on the new issue racks and in the hearts of many fans (of course George Reeves didn't hurt either).

The sixties and seventies can be considered the “lost years” because they aren’t talked about much, yet this is where we get so much of the Superman mythos that has become so popular in the comics world today: multi colored Kryptonite, Jimmy Olsen turning into a giant sea monster, as well as some more reasonable changes like Clark working for TV news rather than paper, or the introduction of 4^th world menaces like Darkseid. This is also the Era where we get the Christopher Reeve movies, the definitive Superman for many of us fans.

The New 52 re-introduced us to Superman in a fresh and new way, yet still retained the important parts of his personality, even quitting the Daily Planet over how modern news gets away with poor use of media.

As time moves forward we get several animated series, the Death of Superman arc, Superman Returns, Man of Steel, and today where we are looking forward to Man of Steel’s continuation Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (tickets go on sale today), continuing to spread the message of Hope, Truth, Justice and the American way.

So, Happy Birthday Superman! Thanks for being an inspiration to the rest of us to reach higher, live better, look out for the little guy, and reminding us to always look up in the sky.