What trend setting comic book characters have changed a generation? The list is long including Batman, The Flash and Spiderman. That is just a quick excerpt, but I think that most would agree, Superman is the one that is foremost influential. We all know of his illustrious destiny. The discovery of his abilities began in humble beginnings on a simple farm in Central Kansas, or did they? Shockingly, Superman’s beginnings came from a distant northern place, and I am not talking about Krypton. Superman, a character that that influenced our century was birthed in Canada.
What trend setting comic book characters have changed a generation? The list is long including Batman, The Flash and Spiderman. That is just a quick excerpt, but I think that most would agree, Superman is the one that is foremost influential. We all know of his illustrious destiny. The discovery of his abilities began in humble beginnings on a simple farm in Central Kansas, or did they? Shockingly, Superman’s beginnings came from a distant northern place, and I am not talking about Krypton. Superman, a character that that influenced our century was birthed in Canada.
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Canadian born Joe Shuster (1914-1992) was born on the 10th of July 1914 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The son of Jewish immigrants, Joseph Shuster was the son of Julius and Ida. Starting out as a newspaper boy for the Toronto Daily Star the young Joe Shuster enjoyed sketching in his free time. At the age of ten the Shuster family made their way to Cleveland, Ohio where Joe met a very influential friend and later co-colaberator Jerry Siegel. Glenville High School would be the boys stomping grounds creatively working together publishing a science fiction magazine. This was just the beginning for the famous duo to break into the next level of the industry. |
National Allied Productions, now known as DC Comics, was the next step that would be the launching point where Superman would take his baby Kryptonian steps into superstardom. The duo proposed a plan that would involve the introduction of a rough idea of the character later known as Superman in a 1933 comic-strip. It was not until 1938 that Superman was chosen to have his own cover feature, but there would be no stopping the man of steel. That June Action Comics #1 was released and Superman began his journey from the stars of Krypton to the stars of the comic world.
In 1939 Superman was awarded his own comic-strip. Joe modeled the character and his surroundings to that of the metropolis of his youth in, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The original name of the newspaper was of course named after the Toronto Daily Star, and affectionately called The Daily Star. Later the newspaper that Clark Kent worked for was renamed The Daily Planet once the comic earned an international reputation. The character of Clark Kent was said by Shuster to have been created from movie star Harry Lloyd and himself. Lois Lane’s likeness was that of Joanne Carter, Jerry Siegel’s wife.
In honor of an outstanding Canadian achievement, The Joe Shuster Awards since 2005 are annually awarded by the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association. The award itself is chosen by a panel of journalists and fans across Canada. The second order of business is handled by comic book historians for the selection of inducting individuals into the Hall of Fame. Thirdly, a panel of journalists, publishers and creators hand out the Harry Kremer award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer as selected by fans of the industry. The winner of 2007 was Happy Harbour Comics owned by Jay Bardyla located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The awards are handed out at the Paradise Comic Convention held in Joe Shuster’s hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Fans can browse the Joe Shuster website for more information that lists previous and current recipients of the awards at http://www.joeshusterawards.com/.
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