Superman from the Beginning

This painting by pulp artist H.J. Ward, best known for his Spicy Detective covers, hung for years in the DC offices.

FREQUENTLY RECURRING CHARACTERS / VILLAINS:

LUTHOR:

Action Comics #23, 42, 43, 125, 131,146
Superman #4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20 (cameo), 31, 34, 38, 48, 57
World's Finest #28

MR. MXYZPTLK:

Action Comics #80, 102,112
Superman #30, 33, 36, 40, 46, 51, 59, 62

THE PRANKSTER:

Action Comics #51, 57, 69, 77, 95, 104, 109
Superman #22, 37, 41, 50, 52, 55, 56, 61, 64

TOYMAN:

Action Comics #85
Superman #27, 32, 44, 47, 49, 60, 63
World's Finest #20

WILBUR WOLFINGHAM:

Action Comics #79, #104 (behind-the-scenes), 107, 116
Superman #28, 35, 39, 42
World's Finest #16, 43

HOCUS & POCUS:

Action Comics #83, 88, 97
Superman #45

SUSIE:

Action Comics #59, 68, 110
Superman #40, 47

ULTRA-HUMANITE: Action Comics #13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21

TELEPHONE BOOTH MOTIF:

"Mechanical Monsters" - Max Fleischer cartoon, 1941 (Also, "Bulleteers," 1942)
Sunday page #165 - first comic strip instance, late 1942
On radio - ?
Action Comics #99 - first comic book instance, Aug 1946
Action Comics #119 - second comic book instance, Apr 1948
Superman #60 - third comic book instance, Sep 1949
Superman #69 - fourth comic book instance

In the first of the Fleischer cartoons he changes in a room with a door labelled “stock room”. He can be seen changing in silhouette through a door window. A couple of the others have similar sequences without the door label. Others make a point of varying where/how he changes. In one he changes in an elevator.

He changes in phone booths in “The Mechanical Monsters” and “The Bulleteers”. In “The Mechanical Monsters” he’s just been phoning a story into Perry, a reporter trope.

“Superman, Matinee Idol” from Superman #19 is a metafictional story in which Clark and Lois go to see one of the cartoons. The cartoon they see is made-up for the story and in content a sequel to the first. Lois locks Clark in a room to cut in on his assignment and he’s shown changing in silhouette through the door.

In 1977 DC ran a house ad for its “Direct Currents” hotline showing Superman on a phone booth phone with his Kent clothing on his arm. It appeared in issues dated for March or April.

Replies

- Philip Portelli > Jeff of Earth-J September 19, 2025 at 1:52pm
  
  This came out in 1948, the same year as the first Superman movie serial which also retold his origin.
  
  There the Kents were Eben and Sarah.
- The Baron > Jeff of Earth-J September 21, 2025 at 1:40pm
  
  Regarding that cover: It's a good thing that Superman is right there, 'cause Robin sure is risking a broken neck!
- Jeff of Earth-J > The Baron September 22, 2025 at 7:19am
Commander Benson September 21, 2025 at 9:44pm

Was [Superman changing in a phone booth] already a cliché by [Action Comics # 355]?

Aye, it was. Action Comics # 355 (Oct., 1967) hit the streets on 29 August 1967. Bill Cosby's first comedy album "Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow . . . Right!" was released in November, 1963, and it included a routine about Superman in which him changing in a phone booth was central to the bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5T2ytlRTwA

So, at least by then, it was a cliché.
- Jeff of Earth-J > Commander Benson September 22, 2025 at 1:19pm
  
  Oh, yeah. One of my college roommates used to have that album. Whenever we'd see Bill Cosby on TV, on The Tonight Show or something, my friend Jay would always say, "You're a funny man, Bill Cosby." I wonder what he'd say today.
- Luke Blanchard > Jeff of Earth-J September 23, 2025 at 4:41am
  
  It also appears in MAD!'s parodies "Superduperman!" in #4 (a point I think I owe to the Commander), "Woman Wonder!" in #10 and "Poopeye!" in #21. These stories were reprinted in MAD! books, so they didn't only reach comics readers. They and the record (of which I wasn't aware) may have played a particularly large role in spreading the joke.
  
  There's a telephone booth sight gag in 1978's Superman: Clark is looking for somewhere to change and passes a line of boothless phones.
  
  (revised)
- JD DeLuzio > Luke Blanchard September 23, 2025 at 7:11am
  
  According to online sources (yeah, I know) the bit was first used in the comic strip in 1941, and later often in the radio show, so that the idea became established early on.
- Luke Blanchard > JD DeLuzio September 27, 2025 at 12:37am
  
  In the first of the Fleischer cartoons he changes in a room with a door labelled “stock room”. He can be seen changing in silhouette through a door window. A couple of the others have similar sequences without the door label. Others make a point of varying where/how he changes. In one he changes in an elevator.
  
  He changes in phone booths in “The Mechanical Monsters” and “The Bulleteers”. In “The Mechanical Monsters” he’s just been phoning a story into Perry, a reporter trope.
  
  “Superman, Matinee Idol” from Superman #19 is a metafictional story in which Clark and Lois go to see one of the cartoons. The cartoon they see is made-up for the story and in content a sequel to the first. Lois locks Clark in a room to cut in on his assignment and he’s shown changing in silhouette through the door.
  
  In 1977 DC ran a house ad for its “Direct Currents” hotline showing Superman on a phone booth phone with his Kent clothing on his arm. It appeared in issues dated for March or April.
- Jeff of Earth-J > Luke Blanchard September 27, 2025 at 9:02am
  
  Hmm... I thought he changed in a phone booth in only one of the Fleischers, but I had no idea which one. I have them on DVD; I'll have to check that out. (I've been in the mood to re-watch one or two of them lately, anyway.) NOTE to self: Add "TELEPHONE BOOTH" to initial post before this gets away from you.
- Luke Blanchard > Jeff of Earth-J October 11, 2025 at 12:24am
  
  Superboy changes in a telephone booth in "The Six-Legged Legionnaire!" from Adventure Comics #355 (1967). It's played straight on the surface, but really a joke.

of 14

This reply was deleted.