211. Shuster, Joe and Jerry Siegel. Original hand-drawn improvements of Superman signed (“Joe Shuster and Superman” and “Jerry Siegel”), on an exceedingly rare decades-old reproduction on photo paper (10.25 x 14 in.; 260 x 356 mm.) In blue ink, Shuster has embellished and updated the reproduction of the original concept sketch of “The Man of Steel”. At Superman’s feet the co-creators of the greatest comic character of all time have inscribed, “To Gary — With best wishes from Jerry Siegel”; below, Shuster has added, “Joe Shuster and SUPERMAN”. General creasing with more pronounced vertical creases in upper area.

Joe Shuster’s hand-drawn improvements on his first sketch of Superman, signed by him and co-creator Jerry Siegel.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster originally had thought of the Superman as a villain. Then in 1933, according to Glen Weldon in Superman: The Unauthorized Biography (Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), “Siegel had a brainstorm. Make the Superman a good guy, not a villain. He got Shuster to draw up the idea; during the next few years, they played with the concept, until it took on its now-familiar shape. What survives of their very first pass at what would become the Superman we know is a hasty concept sketch for a proposed newspaper strip. He’s not yet a costumed crime fighter, just a muscular man in a tight tank top and dress pants who hoists a criminal over his head. Behind him, a pair of thugs fruitlessly empty a machine gun at his Herculean form. At his feet lies the trunk of a tree [that’s where Siegel and Shuster have signed] (which we are led to believe, our hero ripped from its stump with his own hands). Above his head is emblazoned the word ‘Superman’ (here at least, the definite article has been dispensed with) …”

The letter S assumes a greater size than those that follow, which are arranged in a slight but perceptible convex curve, an Art Deco arc. Here, too, is the signature three-dimensional illusion; Shuster employs vanishing-point perspective to make the letters appear to rise from the page. Next to the muscular figure, a simple quatrain floats in the air: “A genius in intellect - A Hercules in strength - A nemesis to wrong-doers - the Superman!” Joe Shuster has sketched additions to his original uncostumed Superman sketch, making it look the way it did when it finally appeared in comic book form. He’s added hair, including the curly lock on his forehead, added muscles to the entire body, boots, pants and a belt, a cape, and, best of all, the “S” emblazoned on his chest. Shuster also shaded areas in his sketch. Included is a photocopy of the original first sketch to see what Joe Shuster has actually drawn in ink, Superman! $6,000 - $8,000