Superman’s enduring popularity started with two high school kids in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The latest installment of the Superman movie franchise brought in more than $600 million at the worldwide box office, a testament to Superman’s lasting legacy.

“Everything comes from Superman,” said Tom Kelly, author of the book “The Cleveland 200.” “Batman, Aquaman, all the Marvel characters, the X-Men, they all owe their existence to Superman, which was a totally Cleveland creation by two kids from Glenville.”

Those two kids, Jerry Siegel -- the writer -- and Joe Shuster -- the illustrator, high school friends from Glenville, created the character in 1933.

“The two of them came up with a character, Superman,” explained Kelly. “Superman is kind of a God/Man; he’s indestructible.”

Siegel’s home on Kimberly Avenue off East 105th Street was immortalized by a Superman logo in the front yard. The two kids tried to shop the character as a syndicated comic strip but were rejected by everyone despite the now iconic storyline.

“(He) came from Krypton that blew up, and his parents sent him on, and because of the yellow sun, he had all these unbelievable powers,” said Kelly.

Since August, there’s now an 18-foot Superman statue across the street from Cleveland’s Justice Center in the newly renamed Superman Tribute Plaza, the movie just the latest testament to Superman’s place in the hearts of Americans.

“The revenue for Superman and Superman-related everything -- movies, teevee, Superman-related products -- tens of billions of dollars,” explained Kelly. “Do you know what they sold the rights for? A hundred and thirty-five dollars!”

Detective Comics, the forerunner of DC Comics, bought the boys out in 1938

But it’s about more than green for the Man of Steel with the red cape and blue outfit -- it’s about something that still resonates with people in Cleveland and around the world.

“He could have ruled the world,” Kelly explained. “He used his powers for good. He used his powers to help people.”