LOCATIONS

Cleveland is the Home of Superman, it was here that Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the iconic superhero character that has become a cultural phenomenon.

Siegel and Shuster met in high school, where they both worked on the Glennville Torch newspaper, edited by Miss Lois Amster, a fellow student who would later inspire the character of Lois Lane. Joe and his family had immigrated from Toronto, Canada, and settled in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, Shuster would later improve his natural artistic skills at the Cleveland Art School.

Meanwhile, Siegel was busy creating fanzines and developing his writing style. Living with his older parents, he was the youngest of six brothers. After brutal death of his father, Jerry felt the need to express his loss and loneliness of being an outsider. His strong sense of moral justice and fairness would later influence the creation of Superman.

The Great Depression had a significant impact on Cleveland economy and on the creation of Superman. Siegel and Shuster were looking for a way to escape the harsh realities of the world and create a character who could fight for justice and right wrongs. They were also looking for a way to make a living in the tough economic times. In 1933, Siegel wrote the first Superman story, and Shuster provided the artwork. They worked tirelessly to develop the character, finally selling the rights to National Period Publications, which would later become DC Comics.

The character was an immediate success, capturing the imaginations of readers across the country. He represented the values of truth, justice, and the American way, and he quickly became a cultural icon. Siegel and Shuster continued to work on Superman throughout their careers, creating new storylines, villains, and supporting characters.

More recently Cleveland has publicly embraced its connection to Superman, and there are many nods to the character throughout the city.