Superman is a comics character.
Action Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman , one of the first major superhero characters as the term is popularly defined . Jerome `` Jerry '' Siegel ( [ ˈsiːgəl ] October 17 , 1914 -- January 28 , 1996 ) , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter , and Jerry Ess , was the American co-creator , along with Joe Shuster , of Superman , the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable of the 20th century . Superman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . Superman debuted in Action Comics # 1 ( cover-dated June 1938 ) and subsequently appeared in various radio serials , newspaper strips , television programs , films , and video games .