This year not only brings us the Man of Steel film, but it is also Superman’s 75th anniversary – actually, the 75th anniversary of the release of Action Comics #1, since technically, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster might have actually given birth to him earlier than that before the finished product came at us, but let’s not get too technical. This marks the essential genesis of the entire superhero archetype, although he certainly owes some inspiration to the pulp heroes which came before him. So let’s compile a massive list of 75 reasons to love Superman – the Man of Tomorrow, the Man of Steel – from the brilliant to the silly to the sublime. Let’s get to it!
1. ACTION COMICS #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
DC Comics may be fighting the right thing tooth and nail as far as your legal rights, but thank you, gentlemen, for your amazing creation.
2. THE BIG RED S.
Purported to be one of the most universally recognized symbols on Earth. It’s become an inspiration to do the right thing.
3. THE CAPE.
No, not that cancelled NBC show. The big red cape. Do not – repeat, do not tug on this.
4. FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET.
5. MORE POWERFUL THAN A LOCOMOTIVE.
6. ABLE TO LEAP TALL BUILDINGS IN A SINGLE BOUND.
7. WAIT A MINUTE, SCREW THAT NOISE – YOU WILL BELIEVE A MAN CAN FLY!
8. THE PLANET KRYPTON
9. JOR-EL & LARA
10. MARTHA AND JONATHAN KENT
