Orson Welles and comic book fans are likely aware that the actor-director was featured in DC Comics Superman No. 62 back in January 1950. A copy in near-mint condition sold for $5,040 in 2019.
The “Black Magic on Mars” comic book begins with Welles on the set of the movie Black Magic. While on a break in production, Welles stumbles across a secret project to launch a rocket to Mars. With references to his War of the Worlds broadcast, Superman comes to Welles’ rescue in a fight with Nazi robots.
Yet, it turns out that the 52-page comic book adventure was not the first time that the Man of Steel writers invoked Welles and the Mercury Theatre’s War of the Worlds radio broadcast of 1938.
Wellesnet reader Robert Deveau spotted a World War II era newspaper comic strip in which Superman rescues Santa Claus from Nazis. The 24-strip saga mixes wartime patriotism and holiday cheer.
In the November 27, 1942 segment forwarded to us, a skeptical radio listener reacts to news of the kidnapping of jolly old St. Nicholas by saying, “Orson Welles isn’t going to make a fool out of me this time!”
The Superman daily newspaper comic strip began its run on January 16, 1939, and ran continuously until May 1966. Various artists worked on the strip but co-creator Jerry Siegel was its main writer until he was drafted in 1943. At its peak, the Superman strip was published more than 300 daily newspapers and 90 Sunday papers, with a readership of more than 20 million.
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