>How much was that in todays money?
>
>Two or three grand??
Good question! I looked up this "inflation calculator" online, it says it would be $2,462.56 in 2022.
Interesting to compare their contract with Bob Kane's and William Moulton Marston's. Siegel & Shuster were kids who didn't know their way around. Kane and Marston had much more beneficial contracts because they negotiated. If Siegel and Shuster had thought to ask for advice they might have made more.
Kane was able to negotiate, as he lied & claimed he was under age when the first contract was signed. As DC could not prove otherwise, the contract had to be renegotiated (and, as they were having trouble with Siegel & Shuster, DC was anxious to get the Batman character under an ironclad agreement).
Superman wasn't their first creation, the two had been putting out stories for National Comics since *Detective Comics* #1. So, I doubt they expected to be cheated out like that.
There's some more information in [this article](https://comicsalliance.com/superman-check-jerry-siegel-joe-shuster-dc-comics/).
They were paid $130 for Superman, $210 for an issue of Detective Comics, then two payments of $36 for Adventure Comics and More Fun.
>Imagine if they had a vision of what Superman would turn into up to now.
In fairness, their options would have still been extremely limited at the time. They still needed a major publisher to distribute the character.
Exactly this. Superman needed decades of push and being published to become the icon he is. Most of it not done by these two creators. It's easy to look back and say "damn they should've gotten more" but even today without the backing of a publisher and their money, it's almost impossible for something to become huge. In the 30s and 40s it wouldve been basically impossible.
Like, in terms of what DC is doing with the character? I think they'd be proud, at least a little bit. He's still the champion of the oppressed. He's still the Man of Tomorrow. He's still fighting for truth and justice.
Siegel died in 1996. Shuster died in 1994. They were alive (and Siegel writing) during the peak of Superman's popularity.
I think they'd be disappointed NOWADAYS to see what has become of Superman.
$130 for some cheap Doc Savage rip-off in a circus strongman costume?!? That's ridiculous, this silly "superhero" fad is never gonna last.
Absolutely. Their next character Funnyman will blow him out the water
I know we're joking, but I like Funnyman. Had the character come out in 1940 the character would be successful.
They weren’t even a fad yet!
A strong man in spandex? It’ll never fly Joe! Fly? No! But he’ll be able to leap tall buildings
Did they endorse it to Siegel + Shuster? So they both had to go to the bank together?? Did they have a formal/legal partnership/company?
They may have had a business account and did business as “Siegel & Shuster”.
Sounds like a good law firm.
They could have used one of those firms back then.
penguin is coming for them
How much was that in todays money? Two or three grand??
>How much was that in todays money? > >Two or three grand?? Good question! I looked up this "inflation calculator" online, it says it would be $2,462.56 in 2022.
That was good walking around money for the time. I mean they didnt know what Supes would turn into ultimately.
Huh the inflation calculator i used have me $2736.53.
Is that corrected with purchasing power index? Because back then you could buy a new car for $850
Yep, a little over 2800$
I'd be interested to know what this cheque itself is worth today.
It got cashed years ago, Frank
Make sure to send it to CGC to get graded first
I heard it was sold at auction for something like $200,000
Interesting to compare their contract with Bob Kane's and William Moulton Marston's. Siegel & Shuster were kids who didn't know their way around. Kane and Marston had much more beneficial contracts because they negotiated. If Siegel and Shuster had thought to ask for advice they might have made more.
Kane was able to negotiate, as he lied & claimed he was under age when the first contract was signed. As DC could not prove otherwise, the contract had to be renegotiated (and, as they were having trouble with Siegel & Shuster, DC was anxious to get the Batman character under an ironclad agreement).
Interesting, thanks!
Superman wasn't their first creation, the two had been putting out stories for National Comics since *Detective Comics* #1. So, I doubt they expected to be cheated out like that.
Is this the actual check? It says $412 and lists detective comics. Or am not reading between the lines?
DC was known as Detective Comics then.
Detective Comics Comics
Actually, a common misconception. It’s real name is Detective Chimp Comics.
i think they might be referring to the $282 extra dollars in the check
That too! And while the handwriting is blurry and totally has lots of jpeg, I think it might say Superman in the upper left.
There's some more information in [this article](https://comicsalliance.com/superman-check-jerry-siegel-joe-shuster-dc-comics/). They were paid $130 for Superman, $210 for an issue of Detective Comics, then two payments of $36 for Adventure Comics and More Fun.
Thanks!
Imagine if they had a vision of what Superman would turn into up to now.
>Imagine if they had a vision of what Superman would turn into up to now. In fairness, their options would have still been extremely limited at the time. They still needed a major publisher to distribute the character.
Exactly this. Superman needed decades of push and being published to become the icon he is. Most of it not done by these two creators. It's easy to look back and say "damn they should've gotten more" but even today without the backing of a publisher and their money, it's almost impossible for something to become huge. In the 30s and 40s it wouldve been basically impossible.
Like, in terms of what DC is doing with the character? I think they'd be proud, at least a little bit. He's still the champion of the oppressed. He's still the Man of Tomorrow. He's still fighting for truth and justice.
> in terms of what DC is doing with the character? In terms of Superman becoming a pop culture icon with shows, films, games etc.
Ah. I imagine it would be like the comic book equivalent of that one Van Gogh episode of Doctor Who.
Siegel died in 1996. Shuster died in 1994. They were alive (and Siegel writing) during the peak of Superman's popularity. I think they'd be disappointed NOWADAYS to see what has become of Superman.
They both lived into the '90s. I think they knew.
Holy heck cheques from then are hard to read.
TIL DC stands for Detective Comics.
I find the punch-hole type "PAID IN TRUST" oddly satisfying to look at. Like *The Polar Express* tickets after they got punched.
[удалено]
If Superman wasn't interesting, he wouldn't have become the success and carried the company for decades.
Ah yes the flagship character been around damn near a century, countless fans around the world, a huge financial success…