Furious letters the creator of Superman sent to comics executives reveal his fury after buying the rights to his creation for just $130.
Jerry Siegel created the world-famous superhero in the early 1930s with his friend Joe Shuster.
After years of failing to find a home for it as an ongoing comic book story, in 1938 they sold the rights to the story to Detective Comics – the forerunner of the publishing behemoth DC Comics.
Siegel and Shuster were then hired by DC executives to continue writing Superman stories.
But when the superhero became a runaway success, Siegel was left fuming because executives were making millions in royalties.
Writing to CEO Paul Sampliner in December 1951 – after unsuccessfully suing DC for the rights to both Superman and the spin-off creation Superboy – Siegel claimed they had ‘destroyed’ him and ‘crushed’ his career.
He closed prophetically by warning in capital letters that he would ‘haunt’ them for the rest of his life, adding: ‘I have put a curse on you.’
Furious letters the creator of Superman sent to comic book executives reveal his fury after they bought the rights to his creation for just $130. Jerry Siegel created the world-famous superhero in the early 1930s with his friend Joe Shuster
The cover of the earliest Superman comic is seen above. It is dated 1939 and sold at auction in 1999 for over £30,000
What later became known as the ‘Superman Curse’ was created after the accident suffered by people involved in adaptations of the character.
Hollywood star Christopher Reeve – who played Superman in four films from 1978 to 1987 – was paralyzed in a horse-riding accident in 1995. He died nine years later.
And George Reeves, who portrayed the superhero on television from 1952 to 1958, shot himself in 1959.
Margot Kidder, who portrayed love interest Lois Lane alongside Reeve, struggled with bipolar disorder and was found dead in 2018 at the age of 69.
Siegel’s letters are sold on the website Comic Connect.
In the one dated 10 December 1951, he writes: ‘It may add to the joy of your Christmas joy to know that I have to go on Relief.
‘While you make millions from your creations…You won’t give me another chance to write and live a decent life.
“By appropriating Superboy, you destroyed me. But everyone knows how you rewarded the creator of Superman and Superboy for helping you found your comic book empire.
‘You can tell what they really think of you, not in their words, but in what they don’t say… and in their eyes.
Writing to CEO Paul Sampliner in December 1951 – after unsuccessfully suing DC for the rights to both Superman and the spin-off creation Superboy – Siegel claimed they had ‘destroyed’ him and ‘crushed’ his career.
In another letter, Siegel directed his anger in the form of a poem he sent to three executives. It included the lines: ‘Because of you there is no food in my house’ and ‘because of you my life is a wreck’
A third letter being sold was sent by Siegel to executive Jack Liebowitz. He writes that in May 1953 – two months after pleading for work in an initial letter – he initially congratulated him on the engagement of his daughter. But he then added: ‘I once lived in a nice house in University Heights, Cleveland until another injustice ruined my life and career.
‘They know that you destroyed me for profit.. and that you don’t offer my family a helping hand so that we can survive.
‘How can you enjoy any achievements, knowing that they are built on my shattered career? Is it worth money?
‘When you face your maker, will he accept the fine print in your lawyer’s “legality”? Are you at all concerned about your immortal soul?
“When you eat and drink and have shelter, remember that the man you destroyed will face poverty.
‘When you celebrate at your Christmas party, remember that I will be there in spirit, looking at you, walking beside you and asking: Why did you do this to another person? Why are you forcing me to go on relay.’
He added: ‘As long as I live, and beyond, I will haunt you and yours. Before God I place a curse on you.’
Despite his anger at DC Comics, Siegel returned to write for them after initially leaving in 1947.
He and Shuster sued the company for the rights to both Superman and Superboy, but eventually agreed to a financial settlement that resulted in DC Comics retaining full control of both.
After his departure, Siegel was unable to replicate the success of Superman and struggled financially.
He returned to work for DC between 1959 and 1965, after which he ceased receiving work from the firm.
In another letter, Siegel directed his anger in the form of a poem he sent to three executives.
It included the lines: ‘Because of you there is no food in my house’ and ‘because of you my life is a wreck’.
What later became known as the ‘Superman Curse’ was created after the accident suffered by people involved in adaptations of the character. Hollywood star Christopher Reeve – who played Superman in four films from 1978 to 1987 – was paralyzed in a horse-riding accident in 1995. He died nine years later
Margot Kidder, who portrayed love interest Lois Lane (right) alongside Reeve, battled bipolar disorder and was found dead in 2018 at the age of 69.
A third letter being sold was sent by Siegel to executive Jack Liebowitz.
He writes that in May 1953 – two months after pleading for work in an initial letter – he initially congratulated him on the engagement of his daughter.
But he then added: ‘I once lived in a nice house in University Heights, Cleveland, until another injustice ruined my life and career.’
He signed it with his name and added in a scribble that he was the ‘creator of superman’.
Siegel and Shuster received a lifetime stipend of $20,000 a year from the production company Warner Brothers to prevent them from contesting the rights to Superman before the release of Reeve’s first film in 1978.
Later in life, Siegel worked for other comic book publishers, but his stories never replicated the success of Superman.
He died of a heart attack in 1996 at the age of 81.
None of the documents in the sale have a reserve price or estimate and have a starting bid of $1. The date of the auction is to be confirmed.
