In four days, throngs of Superman fans will be champing at the bit to feast their eyes and ears on the latest movie release! The global fascination with Superman appears uncontainable: I have heard people talk about him or seen people dressed like him in Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. I bet you’ve had similar experiences! Like many, I am a fan of the acclaimed superhero. But what intrigues me most is not his otherworldly abilities. Instead, it is the lesson the story teaches us about the value of being real and the true measure of success. Behind the intriguing superhero is a backstory that challenges us to reconsider how we measure success.

The Backstory

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were two youngsters and comic artists who attended the same High School in Ohio in the 1930s. There, they banded together, and in 1933, they developed the Superman character. Initially, he was a villain. However, they quickly realized that Superman, as a villain, was not very compelling. And pivoted him into a hero with the same name, who became the superhero we know today.

Stolen dream, pilfered work, both or neither?

Despite Siegel and Shuster’s arduous efforts and the brilliance of their creation, publishing companies did not quickly pick up the Superman comic. Eventually, Detective Comics, Inc. (a predecessor to DC Comics) acquired the rights and planned to premiere it in a newspaper comic strip. However, American publisher Maxwell Charles Gaines pushed to put the comic in a magazine life format, the photo-heavy and highly visual style pioneered in 1936. Given the newness of the format, publishers were able to pay their creators less money. And in March 1938, Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to everything connected to Superman to Action Comics, a comic book series published by DC Comics, for $130. According to the US Inflation calculator, that would be approximately $2,964 today in July 2025.

The Superman Franchise is considered one of the most successful commercial entertainment franchises. With 10 live-action Superman movies, it has generated over 2.41 billion dollars in box office revenue. Unsurprisingly, copyright and ownership of Superman have been the source of long-running legal battles over the years.

Measuring success

Siegel and Schuster barely caught a glimpse of the real impact of what they conceived. Although they were sitting on a golden egg, their level of success was likely imperceptible to many and questionable to some. It took time for the fruits of their imagination and labor to be recognized. But what they created continues to entertain and inspire many generations worldwide long after their time. Undeniably, they were impactful, and creating a positive and enduring impact is a potent measure of success!

The story of Siegel and Schuster, as the creators of Superman, serves as a reminder that it is critical to know who we are and put our superpowers to good use. However, as we measure our success and that of others, it is worth remembering that true success transcends the bounds of time.

For you and to you,
Aké

Image credit: Pixabay | Federico Ghedini