Superman

Superman is a Frankenstein's monster as far as real-life inspiration is concerned. The "chiseled features" of the superhero were modeled after Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmuller, according to film critic Mark Kermode, while the bespectacled silent cinema star Harold Lloyd served as the inspiration for Clark Kent. Meanwhile, actor Douglas Fairbanks is credited with creating the well-known Superman pose (chest out, hands on hips). In other words, Superman was adapted from existing Hollywood heroes.

There might, however, be more to it than that. For instance, there are obvious similarities between Moses and Superman. Moses' mother floated him down the Nile in a basket whereas Superman's parents sent him into space toward Earth as a baby to protect them from impending peril. Both were later found and adopted; they grew up to protect the weak from evil. It's interesting to note that the Hebrew word for "God" is "El" in Superman's real name, Kal-El.

The more closely you examine it, the more Jewish Superman appears. Roy Schwartz finds in Superman not only Moses but also Samson and Jesus in his book Is Superman Circumcised? He also draws parallels with the clay golem, a powerful being created for the sake of the Jewish people in folklore. Additionally, many people saw Superman as a parable for Jewish immigrants to America. In particular, he gives up his ethnic identity Kal-El, adopts the name Clark Kent, "goes around the world like a gentile," and "tucks his tallit down into his suit." Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were themselves descended from Jewish immigrants, like many early comic book authors. Given everything, it comes as no surprise that the Nazis perceived Superman as a threat.

Publisher: DC Comics
First appearance: Action Comics #1(cover-dated June 1938; published April 18, 1938)
Created by: Jerry Siegel (writer)Joe Shuster (artist)