Angry letters sent by the creator of Superman to comic book executives reveal his rage after purchasing the rights to his creation for just $130.
Jerry Siegel created the world-famous superhero together with his friend Joe Shuster in the early 1930s.
After years of failing to find a home for it as an ongoing comic strip, in 1938 they sold the rights to the story to Detective Comics – the forerunner of publishing giant DC Comics.
Siegel and Shuster were then hired by DC executives to continue writing Superman stories.
But when the superhero became a stunning success, Siegel was furious as executives were taking millions in royalties.
Siegel wrote to executive Paul Sampliner in December 1951 – after unsuccessfully suing DC for the rights to Superman and the spin-off creation Superboy – claiming they had “destroyed” him and “smashed” his career.
At the end, he prophetically warned in capital letters that he would “haunt” her for the rest of his life, adding, “I have cursed you.”
Angry letters sent by the creator of Superman to comic book executives reveal his rage after purchasing the rights to his creation for just $130. Jerry Siegel created the world-famous superhero together with his friend Joe Shuster in the early 1930s
The cover of the earliest Superman comic can be seen above. It dates from 1939 and was auctioned in 1999 for more than £30,000
What later became known as the “Superman Curse” arose after the misfortune suffered by the people involved in adapting the character.
Hollywood star Christopher Reeve – who played Superman in four films from 1978 to 1987 – was paralyzed in a riding accident in 1995. He died nine years later.
And George Reeves, who played the superhero on television from 1952 to 1958, shot himself in 1959.
Margot Kidder, who played 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 letter, dated December 10, 1951, he writes: “It may add to the joy of your Christmas celebrations to know that I must go for relief.”
“While you make millions from your creations… you wouldn’t give me a chance to write again and live a decent life.”
“By appropriating Superboy, you have destroyed me.” But everyone knows how you rewarded the creator of Superman and Superboy for helping you create your comic book empire.
“You can see what they really think about you, not in their words, but in what they don’t say… and in their eyes.”
Siegel wrote to executive Paul Sampliner in December 1951 – after unsuccessfully suing DC for the rights to Superman and the spin-off creation Superboy – claiming they had “destroyed” him and “smashed” his career.
In another letter, Siegel expressed 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 sold letter was sent from Siegel to managing director Jack Liebowitz. In May 1953 – two months after he had asked for work in his first letter – he first congratulated him on his daughter’s engagement. But then he added, “I once lived in University Heights, Cleveland, in a beautiful home, until another injustice ruined my life and career.”
“You know that you destroyed me for profit… and that you are not offering a helping hand to my family so we can survive.”
“How can you be happy about successes when you know they build on my failed career?” Is the money worth it?
“When you face your creator, will he accept the fine print in your lawyer’s “legalisms”? Do you even care about your immortal soul?
“As you eat and drink and seek shelter, remember that the man you destroyed faces poverty.”
“When you celebrate at your Christmas party, remember that I will be there in spirit, looking at you, walking by your side and asking: Why did you do this to another human being?” Why are you forcing me to go to the relief ?’
He added: “As long as I live and even after, I will haunt you and your family. ‘Before God I have cursed you.’
Despite his anger at DC Comics, Siegel returned to write for them after initially leaving them in 1947.
He and Shuster sued the company over the rights to Superman and Superboy, but eventually reached a financial settlement that resulted in DC Comics retaining full control of both.
After his departure, Siegel was unable to repeat the success of Superman and had financial problems.
Between 1959 and 1965 he worked for DC again, after which he no longer received any orders from the company.
In another letter, Siegel expressed 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” arose after the misfortune suffered by the people involved in adapting the character. Hollywood star Christopher Reeve – who played Superman in four films from 1978 to 1987 – was paralyzed in a riding accident in 1995. He died nine years later
Margot Kidder, who played love interest Lois Lane (right) alongside Reeve, struggled with bipolar disorder and was found dead in 2018 at the age of 69
A third sold letter was sent from Siegel to managing director Jack Liebowitz.
In May 1953 – two months after he had asked for work in his first letter – he first congratulated him on his daughter’s engagement.
But then he added, “I once lived in University Heights, Cleveland, in a beautiful home, 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 per year from the production company Warner Brothers to prevent them from challenging the rights to Superman before the release of Reeves’ first film in 1978.
Siegel later worked for other comic publishers, but his stories never achieved 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 has yet to be confirmed.