Superman was ever popular in the U.S.A and still is today, with the latest Superman film piling up over $650,000,000 USD, so it seemed obvious for comic publishers in the U.K to try his strips out over here, using American reprints. His first appearance in Britain was in 1939 when he appeared in Triumph. Although he was kicked from the paper after only a short run in 1940, it wasn't the last time he would be seen.
He appeared again almost two decades later in 1959 when he braced the pages of Radio Fun. Here he would enjoy a much more popular run and would continue right up until the title folded in 1961 when Radio Fun merged into Buster, and Superman went with it. However, despite his success with Radio Fun readers he didn't fit in with the Buster fans and his strip was cancelled that same year.
He would appear again in 1969 in the now-scarce Super DC comics, which lasted for less than a year - producing just 14 issues and one annual.
London Editions would try their hand with the character by featuring him in Super Heroes, but he was there for just two years.
All the scans featured here are from Superman's short run in Buster comic. I am personally not too keen on the Superman strips myself, I prefer the humorous British super heroes such as Super Dad, Super Mum and Full O' Beans, to name three, but I'm sure they appeal to many others.
7 comments:
I think there was also a Superman reprint comic published in the 1950s George. Black and white format, like many other UK versions of American comics at the time. This was back when the import restrictions of world war 2 still hadn't been lifted, so lots of US comics had British editions instead.
I'm still trying to work out how 14 monthly issues is 'less than a year', George. Is there a prize for the correct answer?
Not really in the time span covered here but didn't Superman also appear in the late 70s comic/mag " The Super Heroes" by London Editions - Had no idea he appeared in Buster - Really hate what DC has done to Superman now.
George mentioned that one, Paul, although he mistakenly said it was by Egmont.
There have been other UK Superman comics over the years. The most recent being the one from Titan which only lasted about 8 issues or so. Now replaced by Batman/Superman. Comics featuring DC heroes don't seem particularly successful in Britain, except for Batman.
Ooops thanks Lew and sorry about that George I should have put 2 and 2 together on that one
Don't worry about it - I now know that it was published by London Editions and not Egmont! :)
Very interesting indeed. I came across your blog while researching an blog entry over at http://superstuff73.blogspot.com/2022/08/comics-placement-in-movies-wrong-arm-of.html where it appears that one of the Buster 'Superman' pages is seen in the film "The Wrong Arm of the Law". Do you know the date of Superman's final appearance in Buster?
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