Welcome to episode 50 of The Thrilling Adventures of Superman. The show’s mission is to explore the history and development of the Superman in his formative years by chronicling the Man of Steel’s Golden Age adventures in comics, radio and film.

It’s a titanic team-up of Golden Age Superman podcasters for this anniversary episode as Michael is joined by Jon M. Wilson to discuss “The Reign of the Superman” from 1933! Originally self-published in the pages of their fanzine, the prose story features Jerry Siegel’s and Joe Shuster’s first conception of a character labeled as Superman… and the science-fiction horror story brings a decidedly different take on the concept!

Be sure to check out Jon Wilsons’s podcast, Golden Age Superman , as well as his reviews for every third issue of ACTION COMICS and other books at Simply Superman/Batman. And stay tuned for forthcoming announcements concerning his upcoming Superman in the New 52 podcast. A huge thanks once more to Mr. Wilson for coming on the show.

QUOTABLE:
Furthermore, during the night my mind has assimilated all the knowledge that exists in the universe. I know as much about Pluto as its inhabitants whose information I absorbed. I am a virtual sponge that absorbs every secret ever created. Every science is known to me and the most abtruse questions are mere childsplay to my staggering intellect. I am a veritable God!
–William Dunn, a.k.a. the Superman

The cover to SCIENCE FICTION: THE ADVANCE GUARD OF FUTURE CIVILIZATION #3 by Joe Shuster

The opening splash

Links mentioned in the episode:
– “The Reign of the Superman” Wikipedia entry
– Read “The Reign of the Superman” at the Internet Archive.

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