Superman: The Dailies, 1940-1941 by Jerry Siegel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The second volume of the Dailies covers Superman's adventures from 1940-41. The work is definitely a step up. While. Superman covers some of the same ground in this volume, the quality of writing is much better and much more complex. While we don't get modern supervillains, we get better villains including the appearance of a bald Lex Luthor.

Superman also begins to dip his tow into the waters of the then-growing international crisis and the war in Europe when one power commits sabotage against the United States and tries to frame the other. Siegel gives the nations fictional names, but as one of them is obviously German, it was a pretty slim artifice with Bltizen (obviously Germany) being the aggressor country and Rutland being the one attacked. The story still takes a pacifist turn as it ends with a Hitler lookalike (dictator of Blitzen) and a General from Rutland duking it out. The thought seems to be that if the leaders had to fight the wars themselves rather than sending other people's children off to war they might be less eager to do so. It's fantasy with a point.

Superman takes on Tenements and organized crime. The stories begin to soar as he takes on some much more interesting if not super-powered villains in the story, "The Unknown Strikes" which features a great concept where the city is being blackmailed into allowing bank robberies with a threat of a major explosion hanging over their head. The next three serials are as action packed and suspenseful, posing a challenge for the man of steel to unravel the mystery and avoid catastrophe. These are more exciting than most the radio serials than were running at the time.

The book closes very strong with the story line, "The Meekest Man in the World." A man named Eustance sends an advice to lovelorn letter declaring that his shyness is ruining his life and subjecting him to ridicule and that he's in love with his boss' daughter but "unable to assert myself" and has gone to dozens of psychiatrists with getting. Lois laughs at the letter, declares it pathetic. However, in his thought bubble, Superman thinks, "This fellow and his problem may seem petty, but to him it's the greatest crisis in the World! Big problem interest me and it looks as if Eustance and Superman are going to get together."

And so Superman first observes Eustance and sees that not only is he timid but everyone from his landlady to his co-workers are pushing him around. Eustance has a chance to turn his life around and get the girl he loves, if and only if he can sell four prospects on doing business with his boss' firm. So Superman steps to lend a hand by disguising himself as Eustance.

The story line is wonderful.It was originally told over a 3 month period from December 1940 to March 1941. At times, it's a laugh riot as Superman turns the tables on Eustance's tormentors and uses his superpowers to solve problems that are keeping potential clients from signing Eustance's company. There's also plenty of action as Eustance's rival is willing to call in thugs to make sure he gets the promotion. It's also quite poignant and displays the big heart of Superman who declares, "I like to help people. When I see someone in a tough spot I feel an irresistible urge to play guardian angel." No Brainiac, no Luthor, no Toy Man, no major supervillain, but this is one of my favorite superman stories and makes the whole book well worth reading.



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