Joe Shuster, Paul Cassidy, and Wayne Boring Superman #8 Unpublished "K-Metal from Krypton" Story Page 22 Original ...

Description

Joe Shuster, Paul Cassidy, and Wayne Boring Superman #8 Unpublished "K-Metal from Krypton" Story Page 22 Original Art (c. 1940). One of the earliest original Superman comic book panel pages to exist - and most Man of Steel fans are unaware that it was ever even created! This is one of the surviving pages from the long-lost Jerry Siegel story, "K-Metal from Krypton", which was never published and believed by many to be long-destroyed. This is the third page from the story Heritage has offered, and the most action-packed!
According to comic lore, the fascinating, long-lost "K-Metal from Krypton" story was planned for Superman #8 (January/February 1941). Joe Shuster and his studio illustrated Jerry Siegel's 26-page script, but the monumental, game-changing tale was shelved by DC's editors. Comics historian Gerard Jones, in his book Men of Tomorrow, cites this decision as the moment that creative control of Superman's destiny was wrested from Jerry Siegel. The 26 pages of finished artwork produced by the Shuster Studio were seemingly lost until 1970, when Jim Steranko's History of Comics, Volume One printed small reproductions of four of the pages. However, neither the story nor its plot were discussed -- the pages were simply identified as being from an unpublished Superman story.
After interest in the lost story was renewed, many historians researched its origins and existence, which was detailed in numerous articles (Alter Ego #26, #30, and #37), in Gerard Jones' classic Men of Tomorrow book, and in Creators of the Superheroes, by Thomas Andrae. Some of the original pages have emerged, including the page we are offering here, capturing the Superman of the time - not flying as of yet, referring to his ability to "sky-jump", and even trying to save Lois Lane from an avalanche in an airplane.
Created at twice-up scale in ink over blue pencil on Bristol board with an image area of 13.5" x 19". Toning, pinholes in the top corners, missing/torn corners and tears in the top edge, with light staining, smudging, and edge/handling wear. In Very Good condition.
From the Christine Farrell Complete DC Collection.

More Information: Siegel's "K-Metal" story was forgotten and languished in obscurity -- some of Siegel's planned changes to the Superman mythos never taking place until decades later. Once discovered, some historians called the story the "most important Superman story ever written". This never-published classic includes the first-ever appearance of Kryptonite (called "K-Metal"), and Superman learns for the first time what it's like to lose his powers. This story also includes the first time Superman learned that he hails from the planet Krypton, and Clark Kent reveals to Lois Lane that he is Superman. Another milestone in the "K-Metal" story is that this is the first time Daily Planet editor Perry White's name is used (previously, Clark's boss was named George Taylor).
This story was deemed by the editors to have too many dramatic changes to the Superman mythos and thus was never published. Kryptonite would finally be introduced into the Superman mythos three years after this story was created, for the Superman radio show, in 1943, and wouldn't appear in the Superman comic books until 1949. Likewise, Superman did not learn of his birth on Krypton until 1949, nine years after this story was created. Finally, in the published Superman mythos, Lois Lane never learned for sure that Clark Kent and Superman are one and the same person until the 1990s, 50 years after the creation of this story.


More information about Joe Shuster. See also: Shuster, Joe, Joseph Shuster, Shuster, Joseph, Artist. Lookup the Comic Book in our Guide