Cartoonist. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he met his future partner and friend Joe Shuster, when he moved to Toledo, Ohio, from Canada. In the 1920s after reading the book, "Gladiator" by Philip Wylie, the story about a mysterious character with superpowers, they came up with the idea to do their own comic strip. They created a strip for their fanzine with Shuster drawing and Siegel writing, featuring a villain, later made into a super-hero. In 1936 they tried unsuccessfully to turn it into a daily comic strip. That same year they began working at DC National, later DC Comics, working on "Doctor Occult" "Slam Bradley" and "Radio Squad" comics. In 1938 DC's editor Sheldon Meyer gave them a chance and with a new comic title, and a name for there super-hero, Action Comics and 'Superman' was born. Within the first year of Superman's birth, the comic had become a big success, spanning the comic strip in every national newspaper. The two men worked on 'Superman' for many years, but by 1946 they had signed away all there rights. In 1946 they sued DC Comics with the help of lawyer Albert Zugsmith. In 1948 they were awarded royalties, but only on the 'Superboy' character and not 'Superman.' After the incident a bitter Shuster left the comic field. In 1975 after the release of the 'Superman' movie, the two men once again sued DC Comics, this time for recognition and royalties. Their names were reinstated on the masthead as the creators and awarded an annual payment of $35,000. In 1992 Shuster died at the age of 78, and in 1996 Jerry Siegel died at the age of 81. Many books, cartoons, films, and television shows have been made about the 'Superman' character. In 2002 a new television series entitled, "Smallville" was the latest series to be made.
Cartoonist. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he met his future partner and friend Joe Shuster, when he moved to Toledo, Ohio, from Canada. In the 1920s after reading the book, "Gladiator" by Philip Wylie, the story about a mysterious character with superpowers, they came up with the idea to do their own comic strip. They created a strip for their fanzine with Shuster drawing and Siegel writing, featuring a villain, later made into a super-hero. In 1936 they tried unsuccessfully to turn it into a daily comic strip. That same year they began working at DC National, later DC Comics, working on "Doctor Occult" "Slam Bradley" and "Radio Squad" comics. In 1938 DC's editor Sheldon Meyer gave them a chance and with a new comic title, and a name for there super-hero, Action Comics and 'Superman' was born. Within the first year of Superman's birth, the comic had become a big success, spanning the comic strip in every national newspaper. The two men worked on 'Superman' for many years, but by 1946 they had signed away all there rights. In 1946 they sued DC Comics with the help of lawyer Albert Zugsmith. In 1948 they were awarded royalties, but only on the 'Superboy' character and not 'Superman.' After the incident a bitter Shuster left the comic field. In 1975 after the release of the 'Superman' movie, the two men once again sued DC Comics, this time for recognition and royalties. Their names were reinstated on the masthead as the creators and awarded an annual payment of $35,000. In 1992 Shuster died at the age of 78, and in 1996 Jerry Siegel died at the age of 81. Many books, cartoons, films, and television shows have been made about the 'Superman' character. In 2002 a new television series entitled, "Smallville" was the latest series to be made.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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