Jerry and Joe Episode 7 – Created By…
It’s the season finale. By the mid-1960s, Jerry Siegel was seeking work outside his uncredited scripting on Superman. He briefly landed an assignment for Archie Comics’ revival of their superhero line, but the work didn’t last. When Jerry sued in 1966 to renew the copyright on Superman, DC Comics fired him once again. Unable to adapt to a rapidly changing comics industry, Jerry moved to California and took an entry-level job as a mail clerk with the California Public Utilities Commission, earning $7,000 a year. Back in New York, Joe Shuster was barely getting by, taking whatever menial work he could find… when he could find it at all.
It took nearly a decade for Jerry’s copyright appeal to wind its way through the system, and he remained publicly silent as his circumstances grew more desperate. When the appeal was rejected in 1975, Jerry was told he might still receive some sort of financial settlement from Superman’s owners… but nothing came. Instead, he learned that Superman was about to become the subject of a multi-million-dollar blockbuster film.
Jerry then issued a nine-page press release placing a “curse” on Superman and the upcoming movie. The resulting publicity brought him to New York, where artists Neal Adams and Jerry Robinson launched a public campaign on behalf of Siegel and Shuster. They negotiated with Warner Communications, who were now the owners of Superman. to grant the creators a lifelong pension and restore their names to the character after decades of anonymity. Just before Christmas 1975, a deal was struck. In 1978, Siegel and Shuster’s names appeared in the opening credits of Superman: The Movie, which both men saw at its premiere.
Finally, Graeme Burk travels to Cleveland to visit the new monument to Jerry and Joe and to the neighborhoods where Superman’s creators grew up. There, he reflects on Jerry and Joe’s lives, their legacy… and the immense cost of their contribution to American popular culture.
Featuring interviews with Brad Ricca, Elliot S. Maggin, Brian Cronin, Bonnie Siegler and Helene Stapinski.
Historical readings were by Jason Miller (Jerry Siegel), Warren Frey (Joe Shuster), Andy Hicks (Jack Liebowitz), Bill Evenson (Bob Greene), Drew Meyer (Jim Warren), Shannon Dohar (Joanne Siegel), Julie Hopkins (Mary Murphy), Michael Powell (John Sherwood) and Chip Sudderth (Neal Adams).
Sound design, music and music editing for this season was by Andy Hicks. Graphic design and our logo was by Graham Kibble-White (Both of whom co-produced this series).
Our theme song and additional scoring for this episode was by Jack Kibble-White.
Special thanks to our supporters: David Matthewman, Francis Bradley, Julie Hopkins, Jim Sangster, William Hopkins, Chip Sudderth, Deborah Stanish and Michael Powell.
Season 2 of The Comics Code is coming in 2026.