The Check that Bought Superman from Siegel and Shuster in 1938

Okay, fair reader, it’s time to embrace the inner comic book nerd. You know you want to.

The fanboys over at Comics Beat unearthed a copy of the check written to compensate Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel for ownership of Superman.  It makes the blood boil to think that Detective Comics, Inc. (DC) acquired the exclusive rights to the character in 1938 for the bottom-dollar price of $130.  As Gizmodo asserts, that would equate to roughly $2,000 in today’s money. Chump change.

Jack Liebowitz was the shark behind the infamous deal (signatory on the check), and eventually touched off a legal battle that’s still debated today.  Unlike Batman, in which creator Bob Kane shared in the profits, the two Jewish boys in Cleveland were stiffed on everything.

If the so-called golden age of comics interests you, definitely check out The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon.

Now, kneel before Zod!

[via Gizmodo]