Superman logo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Superman logo is the iconic emblem and logo for the fictional superhero Superman. It is also informally referred to as the "S" shield. As a representation of the first superhero, it served as a design template for character design decades after Superman's first appearance. The tradition of wearing a representative symbol on your chest was mimicked by many subsequent superheroes, including Batman, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, and many others.
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[edit] Representations
Initially, the S-shield had one meaning: S for Superman. One of the first alternative meanings was presented in Superman: The Movie, in which it represented Superman's family, the House of El. After the Superman reboot The Man of Steel, the symbol was designed by Martha Kent and once again stood only for Superman. It was eventually discovered that the symbol also doubled as the Kryptonian symbol for "hope." In 2004, Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright limited series established that it is also the symbol for Krypton as a whole.
[edit] Variants
- The modern Superboy wears a black and red variant of the symbol. Lex Luthor hypothesized it is because that version of the symbol was everywhere following the death of Superman and his consequent first appearance[1]
- Bizarro's symbol is an inverted purple and yellow version with no significant meaning.
- The upside down symbol, first seen in 52, means "resurrection" in Kryptonian.
[edit] Who wears the Shield?
Kryptonian family members of Superman wear the symbol, but sometimes it is worn to honor Superman. After the death of Superman, many DC Comics superheroes wore a black armband with the Superman logo.
- Superman
- Supergirl
- Kal-L (variant)
- Superboy
- Conner Kent (red and black variant)
- Superboy-Prime
- Bizarro (inverted purple and yellow variant)
- Hank Henshaw
- John Henry Irons
- Natasha Irons
- Eradicator (variant)
- Jor-El (Superman: Birthright)
- Strange Visitor (variant)
- Preus
[edit] Evolution of the symbol
[edit] Golden Age
In its original inception in Action Comics #1, Superman's symbol was an S on a yellow police badge symbol that resembled a shield. The symbol was first changed only a couple issues later in Action Comics #7. The symbol became an inverted yellow rectangle with a red "S" on the inside. The shield first became a pentagon in the Fleischer cartoon serial Superman. It was black, with a red S and outlined with yellow.
| Superman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster |
| Characters: | Superman (Clark Kent) • Lois Lane • Jimmy Olsen • Perry White • Jor-El • Ma Kent • Pa Kent • Lana Lang • Steel • Supergirl • Superboy (Kon-El) • Krypto |
| Villains: | Lex Luthor • Bizarro • Brainiac • Cyborg Superman • Darkseid • Doomsday • Eradicator • General Zod • Metallo • Mongul • Mr. Mxyzptlk • Parasite • Toyman • Ultra-Humanite • Intergang • Phantom Zone villains |
| Locations: |
Daily Planet • Fortress of Solitude • Krypton • Metropolis • Smallville |
| Storylines: | Relationship of Clark Kent and Lois Lane • Alternate versions of Superman • Publications • Superman in popular culture |
| Miscellanea: | Kryptonite • Powers • Symbol |
