Superduperman
Encyclopedia
"Superduperman" is a satirical story by Harvey Kurtzman
and Wally Wood
published in the fourth issue of Mad
(April-May, 1953). Lampooning both Superman
and Captain Marvel
, it revolutionized the types of stories seen in Mad, leading to greatly improved sales, and it was influential on writers, notably Alan Moore
, and performers, like Ernie Kovacs
.
ous eight-page story in Mad #4, the character made cameo appearances in other spoofs, including "Poopeye" (Mad #21). Mad returned to this theme with spoofs of the Superman film series: Superduperman (Mad #208, July 1979) and Superduperman II (Mad #226, October 1981), as well as Stuporman ZZZ (Mad #243, December 1983).
at The Daily Dirt newspaper, where he tries, unsuccessfully, to woo Lois Pain. Meanwhile, an 'unknown monster' is stalking the streets of the city. Bent changes into Superduperman to help save the day. but boy reporter Billy Spafon reveals himself to be the monster, Captain Marbles. Superduperman is unable to harm Captain Marbles until he provokes Marbles into punching himself in the head. Hoping this will be enough to sway Pain, he reveals his alter ego, only to be rejected again and the story closes with "once a creep, always a creep."
The superhero conflict also parodies the National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications
trial.
launched a lawsuit against EC Comics
, but Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman
was successfully able to argue that it was "fair use
" because the story was a parody. Petersen concludes "This legal cover established the basis for Kurtzman's new editorial direction and became the bedrock of Mad' s humor ever since."
in the late 1980s
and early 1990s
. In particular, it was a strong influence on Alan Moore when creating Watchmen
. Moore has said, "We wanted to take Superduperman 180 degrees—dramatic, instead of comedic," but it also influenced the art: "I think that we probably settled upon the kind of Wally Wood 'Superduperman' style. You know, super-heroics, lots of details, heavy blacks, of a distinctive style." When asked about the influence of Superfolks on his work like the earlier Marvelman
, Moore said, "I’d still say that Harvey Kurtzman’s Superduperman probably had the preliminary influence." He went into more detail in Kimota! the Miracleman Companion:
The story would also influence John Shelton Lawrence
. As a child he dressed as a superhero and got himself into trouble but "[h]is understanding of superpowers matured, however, when he read Mad Magazines' "Superduperman" in the early 1950s. That teenage skepticism grew into a philosophical teaching career, resulting in his current position as a professor of philosophy, emeritus, at Morningside College
in Iowa. With Robert Jewert, he developed his suspicion that America's righteous stance in the world often projects the story of the selfless crusader who can cleanly uses superpowers to rescue the innocent." These ideas would be expanded in their books The American Monomyth
(1977), The Myth of the American Superhero (2002), and Captain America and the Crusade Against Evil: The Dilemma of Zealous Nationalism (2003).
did a recurring Superman sketch parody that was quite similar to Kurtzman's version (and the Mad crew also watched Kovacs).
Don Glut made, and starred in, a Superduperman fan film
in 1963.
Dickie Goodman
released a novelty single called "Super-Duper Man
" in 1981.
Toy-Box
included a track called "Super-Duper Man" on their 1999 album Fantastic
.
Harvey Kurtzman
Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic books and magazines. Kurtzman often signed his name H. Kurtz, followed by a stick figure Harvey Kurtzman (October 3, 1924, Brooklyn, New York – February 21, 1993) was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic...
and Wally Wood
Wally Wood
Wallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. He was one of Mads founding cartoonists in 1952. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he...
published in the fourth issue of Mad
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
(April-May, 1953). Lampooning both Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (DC Comics)
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
, it revolutionized the types of stories seen in Mad, leading to greatly improved sales, and it was influential on writers, notably Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, and performers, like Ernie Kovacs
Ernie Kovacs
Ernie Kovacs was a Hungarian American comedian and actor.Kovacs' uninhibited, often ad-libbed, and visually experimental comedic style came to influence numerous television comedy programs for years after his death in an automobile accident...
.
Publication history
After the eponymEponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous eight-page story in Mad #4, the character made cameo appearances in other spoofs, including "Poopeye" (Mad #21). Mad returned to this theme with spoofs of the Superman film series: Superduperman (Mad #208, July 1979) and Superduperman II (Mad #226, October 1981), as well as Stuporman ZZZ (Mad #243, December 1983).
Characters and story
The plot parallels Superman comics of the period: Clark Bent is an assistant to the copy boyCopy boy
A copy boy is a typically young and junior worker on a newspaper.The job involves taking typed stories from one section of a newspaper to another....
at The Daily Dirt newspaper, where he tries, unsuccessfully, to woo Lois Pain. Meanwhile, an 'unknown monster' is stalking the streets of the city. Bent changes into Superduperman to help save the day. but boy reporter Billy Spafon reveals himself to be the monster, Captain Marbles. Superduperman is unable to harm Captain Marbles until he provokes Marbles into punching himself in the head. Hoping this will be enough to sway Pain, he reveals his alter ego, only to be rejected again and the story closes with "once a creep, always a creep."
The superhero conflict also parodies the National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications
National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications
National Comics Publications v. Fawcett Publications, 191 F.2d 594 , was a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in a twelve-year legal battle between National Comics and the Fawcett Comics division of Fawcett Publications, concerning Fawcett's Captain Marvel...
trial.
Reception
Until Mad #4, the magazine had been a relatively poor seller, but "Superduperman" revolutionized their format and led to greater sales success. In his book Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels: A History of Graphic Narratives, Robert Petersen observes, "In April 1953, Mad #4 included a parody of Superman, 'Superduperman,' which originated a new formula that would significantly raise the popularity of the new magazine. Instead of broadly lampooning a genre of comics, 'Superduperman' levelled its sights on a specific and recognizable comic character." National ComicsNational Comics
National Comics may refer to:* National Comics: An early name for the comic book publisher known later as DC Comics.* National Comics : a 1940's comic book series published by Quality Comics....
launched a lawsuit against EC Comics
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books specializing in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s, notably the Tales from the Crypt series...
, but Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman
Harvey Kurtzman
Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic books and magazines. Kurtzman often signed his name H. Kurtz, followed by a stick figure Harvey Kurtzman (October 3, 1924, Brooklyn, New York – February 21, 1993) was an American cartoonist and the editor of several comic...
was successfully able to argue that it was "fair use
Fair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
" because the story was a parody. Petersen concludes "This legal cover established the basis for Kurtzman's new editorial direction and became the bedrock of Mad
Influences
The story influenced some of the revitalization of superhero comicsSuperhero comics
Superhero comics is a form of American comic books. The form rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s and has remained the dominant form of comic book in North America since the 1960s...
in the late 1980s
1980s in comics
This article lists major events in the field of comics during the 1980s.Publications: 1980 - 1981 - 1982 - 1983 - 1984 - 1985 - 1986 - 1987 - 1988 - 1989-1982:*Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo debuts in Young Magazine.- March :...
and early 1990s
1990s in comics
See also:1980s in comics,other events of the 1990s,2000s in comics and thelist of years in comicsPublications: 1990 - 1991 - 1992 - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999-1992:See also: 1992 in comics...
. In particular, it was a strong influence on Alan Moore when creating Watchmen
Watchmen
Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colourist John Higgins. The series was published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and has been subsequently reprinted in collected form...
. Moore has said, "We wanted to take Superduperman 180 degrees—dramatic, instead of comedic," but it also influenced the art: "I think that we probably settled upon the kind of Wally Wood 'Superduperman' style. You know, super-heroics, lots of details, heavy blacks, of a distinctive style." When asked about the influence of Superfolks on his work like the earlier Marvelman
Marvelman
Marvelman, also known as Miracleman for trademark reasons in his American reprints and story continuation, is a fictional comic book superhero created in 1954 by writer-artist Mick Anglo for publisher L. Miller & Son. Originally intended as a United Kingdom home-grown substitute for the American...
, Moore said, "I’d still say that Harvey Kurtzman’s Superduperman probably had the preliminary influence." He went into more detail in Kimota! the Miracleman Companion:
The story would also influence John Shelton Lawrence
John Shelton Lawrence
John Shelton Lawrence is an emeritus professor of philosophy at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. His initial major publication, The American Monomyth, written with Robert Jewett, was published in 1977.-Career:...
. As a child he dressed as a superhero and got himself into trouble but "[h]is understanding of superpowers matured, however, when he read Mad Magazines
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
in Iowa. With Robert Jewert, he developed his suspicion that America's righteous stance in the world often projects the story of the selfless crusader who can cleanly uses superpowers to rescue the innocent." These ideas would be expanded in their books The American Monomyth
The American Monomyth
The American Monomyth is a 1977 book by Robert Jewett and John Shelton Lawrence arguing for the existence and cultural importance of an 'American Monomyth', a variation on the classical monomyth as proposed by Joseph Campbell....
(1977), The Myth of the American Superhero (2002), and Captain America and the Crusade Against Evil: The Dilemma of Zealous Nationalism (2003).
In other media
In the mid-1950s, Ernie KovacsErnie Kovacs
Ernie Kovacs was a Hungarian American comedian and actor.Kovacs' uninhibited, often ad-libbed, and visually experimental comedic style came to influence numerous television comedy programs for years after his death in an automobile accident...
did a recurring Superman sketch parody that was quite similar to Kurtzman's version (and the Mad crew also watched Kovacs).
Don Glut made, and starred in, a Superduperman fan film
Fan film
A fan film is a film or video inspired by a film, television program, comic book or a similar source, created by fans rather than by the source's copyright holders or creators. Fan filmmakers have traditionally been amateurs, but some of the more notable films have actually been produced by...
in 1963.
Dickie Goodman
Dickie Goodman
Richard Dorian "Dickie" Goodman was an American music producer.-Career:In June 1956 Goodman created his first record, "The Flying Saucer", which he co-wrote with his partner Bill Buchanan, and featured a four-minute rewriting of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds radio show...
released a novelty single called "Super-Duper Man
Super-Duper Man
Super-Duper Man is a novelty single by Dickie Goodman released on Wacko Records in 1981.The record is a parody of the Superman II sequel, with Goodman's traditional 'break-in' samples...
" in 1981.
Toy-Box
Toy-Box
Toy-Box was a Danish pop group, consisting of vocalists Anila Mirza and Amir El-Falaki. Mirza was born on October 8, 1974 in Hillerød, Denmark to a half-Pakistani, half-Iranian mother, and a Parsi father. El-Falaki was born August 12, 1973 in Copenhagen, Denmark to Moroccan parents...
included a track called "Super-Duper Man" on their 1999 album Fantastic
Fantastic (Toy-Box album)
Toy-Box's first album, FanTastic, included the hits "The Sailor Song", "Teddybear", "Best Friend" and "Tarzan & Jane." It was released in January 1999...
.
External links
- Superduperman, from Mad #4
- Superduperman at Comic Vine