SUPERMAN CREATOR JERRY SIEGEL FEUD LETTER Memorabilia
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Poison-Pen Poem Sent to Shame National Comics Executives
troubling letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's hate-mail campaign against National (later DC) Comics executives
Jerry Siegel Letters
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Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Poison-Pen Poem Sent to Shame National Comics Executives
troubling letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's hate-mail campaign against National (later DC) Comics executives
Jerry Siegel Letters
DESCRIPTION
A 15% BUYER'S PREMIUM WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ITEM AT CONCLUSION OF THE AUCTION
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Poison-Pen Poem Sent to Shame National Comics Executives
troubling letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's hate-mail campaign against National (later DC) Comics executives
Jerry Siegel LettersThis letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a troubling artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history. Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed a few lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) after the company acquired the Superman rights that Siegel and Shuster had sold for $130 in 1938. This letter, however, is part of a 1951 mailing campaign where Siegel attempts to shame the National executives by sending letters to their distributors describing himself as "destitute" because of "selfish, greedy men."
"Remember me?" Siegel writes to the President of the Empire State News Corp. in Buffalo, NY. "I'm Jerry Siegel, who had fame and a good income until Superman's publishers, National Comics Publications, Inc. 480 Lexington Ave., N.Y., N.Y., took it away from me." Then, as usual with Siegel's "shame" letters, he asks the executive to "think of me, his destitute creator," whenever he sees a Superman product.
Siegel also acknowledges the close working relationship that Empire State had with National by adding a page of three rhyming rants to the traditional single-sheet missive. "The Hairy Swine" seems to be about Independent News Co. boss Paul Sampliner. "The Great Big Lie" apparently addresses the charitable work of National co-owner Jack Liebowitz. "Little Napoleon," citing a man who's gone from "dirty books/and thence to/Children's comic books," references the "Spicy" pulp past of Liebowitz's partner Harry Donenfeld.
As it turned out, however, the letter's recipient simply sent Siegel's letter along to representatives of either National or the Independent News Co. — helping to preserve another rare artifact in the battle over Superman's success.
Superman Co-Creator Jerry Siegel Poison-Pen Poem Sent to Shame National Comics Executives
troubling letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel's hate-mail campaign against National (later DC) Comics executives
Jerry Siegel LettersThis letter from Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel is a troubling artifact from one of the most vicious feuds in comics history. Siegel and artist Joe Shuster had managed a few lucrative settlements with National Publications (later DC) after the company acquired the Superman rights that Siegel and Shuster had sold for $130 in 1938. This letter, however, is part of a 1951 mailing campaign where Siegel attempts to shame the National executives by sending letters to their distributors describing himself as "destitute" because of "selfish, greedy men."
"Remember me?" Siegel writes to the President of the Empire State News Corp. in Buffalo, NY. "I'm Jerry Siegel, who had fame and a good income until Superman's publishers, National Comics Publications, Inc. 480 Lexington Ave., N.Y., N.Y., took it away from me." Then, as usual with Siegel's "shame" letters, he asks the executive to "think of me, his destitute creator," whenever he sees a Superman product.
Siegel also acknowledges the close working relationship that Empire State had with National by adding a page of three rhyming rants to the traditional single-sheet missive. "The Hairy Swine" seems to be about Independent News Co. boss Paul Sampliner. "The Great Big Lie" apparently addresses the charitable work of National co-owner Jack Liebowitz. "Little Napoleon," citing a man who's gone from "dirty books/and thence to/Children's comic books," references the "Spicy" pulp past of Liebowitz's partner Harry Donenfeld.
As it turned out, however, the letter's recipient simply sent Siegel's letter along to representatives of either National or the Independent News Co. — helping to preserve another rare artifact in the battle over Superman's success.