The Jerry Siegel Project
Part Three: 1935 - 1937
1935 - 1937
1935 would be the year that things began to happen for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. While Siegel was still shopping the Siegel/Keaton Superman about to publishers, he was also working with Joe Shuster and selling gag strips and cartoons to various magazines in and around the Cleveland area. They also began to look wider and sent samples of their work to as many publishers as possible, resulting in an offer of employment, as freelancers, by Nicholson Publishing, soon to known as Detective Comics, aka DC Comics.
As seen in the previous post, Siegel (at least) was reading the magazine The Author & Journalist as he placed an ad in the March 1932 edition for his Science Fiction magazine. If he had read the magazine carefully, he’d have seen the names that would become familiar to him over the course of these next five years. Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson first appeared in the magazine in the May 1926 issue asking for submissions to his Wheeler-Nicholson, Inc., Newspaper Syndicate. In November of the same year, The Author & Journalist was reporting difficulties with communication and payments to contributors, but Wheeler-Nicholson had assured the paper all was now well.
Merwil Publishing Company came to the attention of The Author & Journalist in March 1932 – the same issue that contained the Siegel ad. The Author & Journalist reported that the company was not meeting its obligations to contributors. The company’s head, Irving Donenfeld, was quoted as saying that most of the people submitting wanted more than the ½ cent per word and were demanding 1 cent per word. The Author & Journalist concluded that, while the payment was indeed ½ cent per word, Donenfeld had assured the paper that payment would be prompt and upon publication. Another of Irving’s companies, Eastern Distributing Company, had also gone into bankruptcy owing over $27,000 in debts, with a portion of that owed to contributors.
They spoke too soon. The April 1932 issue of The Author & Journalist reported several contributors pointed out that Donenfeld owed them money from another failed company, the Irwin Publishing Company. The Irwin Publishing Co had gone into bankruptcy, was reorganized and emerged as the Merwil Publishing Company. While admitting that Donenfeld owed money, The Author & Journalist made clear it was not in a position to advise anyone against a publisher but urged caution and due diligence for contributors when dealing with publishing companies and to do their research.
The December 1932 issue of The Author & Journalist mentioned Harry Donenfeld as joining Merwil. If Siegel had read his industry magazines carefully, such as The Author & Journalist and Editor and Publisher, he would have known of the chequered reputation of the Donenfelds.
1935
Date: 13 January 1935
Event: Advertisement
Title/Details: Situation Wanted - Female
Publisher: The Plain Dealer
Details: One of only two ads calling for an Artist Model published in The Plain Dealer for 1935. No names are mentioned, but the date does coincide with when Joanne Siegel says she responded to an ad in the Plain Dealer and met Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel for the first time.
Date: 1 February 1937
Payment: $7:50
Title/Details: Cartoons
Publisher: Cleveland District GolferDate: 2 February 1935
Event: Mention
Title/Details: Fun
Publisher: Editor & Writer
Details: An effort to capitalize on the universal demand for comics is being made through publication of a new magazine called Fun, published monthly by National Allied Publications, New York. The first issue, for February, carried 19 pages of black and white comics, several short stories, and sports, aviation and movie departments. A number of advertisers used the comic strip motif. The magazine is approximately tabloid newspaper size, sells for 10 cents.Date: 1 February 1935
Payment: $7:50
Title/Details: 2 cartoons, 6 fillers, 1 column head.
Publisher: Cleveland District Golfer.
Details: Appeared March to October 1935Date: 5 July 1935
Payment: $10:00
Title/Details: Pencil layouts, color sketches.
Publisher: Adut Production, Inc.
Details: Work not used.Date: 1 September 1935
Payment: $15:00
Title/Details: Valentine Verses
Publisher: Consolidated Ptg & Pub Co.Date: 1 September 1935
Payment: $5:00
Title/Details: Expenses
Publisher: Arthur J LafaveDate: 1 September 1935
Payment: $18:80
Title/Details: 18 Strange Facts Cartoons / Script
Publisher: Artists Pictorial Publishing CoDate: 1 September 1935
Event: Advertisement
Title/Details: Fun
Publisher: Writer’s Digest
Details: Major Malcolm Wheeler Nicholson invites submissions for new ‘magazine of comics’.Date: 13 September 1935
Event: Publication
Title/Details: New Fun Vol 1, No 6 (cover dated October 1935)
Publisher: National Allied Publications, Inc.
Details: 1st verified comic book work by Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster. 1st Henri Duval. 1st Dr. Occult.Date: 4 October 1935
Event: Pitch
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Details: Nicholson writes Siegel & Shuster to tell them the strip is being held for order pending a syndicate. He then offers to publish Superman.Date: 1 November 1935
Event: Company Incorporated
Title/Details: National Allied Publications, Inc.
Details: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Charles McAlpin Pyle, Leonard C. Cocheau all listed as owners.Date: 1 November 1935
Event: Rejection
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co, Inc. NYC
Details: Siegel & Shuster reject Nicholson’s offer to publish Superman.Date: 1 November 1935
Payment: $2:00
Title/Details: Advertising drawing
Publisher: Bernard J. Kenton
Details: It isn’t known why Siegel would bill himself as Bernard J. Kenton was one of his pen names.Date: 1 November 1935
Payment: $25:00
Title/Details: Cartoon
Publisher: X-Comic
Details: Three pages suppliedDate: 7 November 1935
Payment: $10:00
Title/Details: Henri Duvall / Dr. Occult
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDetails: Siegel notes that they made $62.50 for the year 1935.
Date: 10 November 1935
Event: Advertisement
Title/Details: Help Wanted Female
Publisher: The Plain Dealer
Details: The second ad in The Plain Dealer calling for an Artist Model and offering a small salary. Again no details are supplied, but as we know that Jerry and Joe placed an ad in The Plain Dealer in 1935, and these are the only two such ads, it has to be one of them.Date: 16 November 1935
Event: Legal
Title/Details: National Allied Publications, Inc v Lloyd Jacquet
Publisher: Editor & Publisher
Details: A suit for $50,000 as a counterclaim was filed in Manhattan City Court this week by National Allied Publications, Inc against Lloyd Jacquet and the George Matthew Adams Service, Inc. In the original action, Jacquet sued National Allied Publications, Inc., for $2,800, allegedly due as salary.According to Jacquet’s complaint, National Allied Publications, Inc., entered into a written agreement with him on Oct. 15, 1934, whereby he was employed as editor of a magazine, New Fun, for one years, at $100 weekly. He asserts he continued as editor until April 27, 1935. and that no wages had been paid to him.
The defendants denied the substance of the complaint and set forth that there was an agreement that his salary was contingent upon the magazine’s circulation and net profits. The defense stated that the written agreement was only for the purpose of helping him to renew his rights.
Date: 27 November 1935
Title/Details: New Comics No. 2 (cover dated January 1936)
Publisher: National Allied Publications, Inc.
Details: 1st Federal Men by Siegel & Shuster.Date: 1 December 1935
Event: Publication
Title/Details: More Fun Vol 1, No. 7 (cover dated January 1936)
Publisher: More Fun Magazine, Inc.Details: Siegel & Shuster begin to sign their Dr. Occult work ‘Ledger/Reuths’ from here on.
1936
Date: 1 January 1936
Payment: $30:00
Title/Details: Henri Duvall / Dr. Occult / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 10 January 1936
Event: Contract
Title/Details: Employment Contract
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Details: Nicholson formally hire Siegel & Shuster
Date: 10 January 1936
Event:
Event: Company Incorporated
Title/Details: More Fun Magazine, Inc.
Details: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson incorporates a new company.Date: 1 February 1936
Payment: $40
Title/Details: Henri Duvall / Dr. Occult / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 12 February 1936
Payment: $10:00
Title/Details: Dr. Mystic
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 13 February 1936
Payment: $20:00
Title/Details: Federal Agent / Dr. Mystic
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 March 1936
Payment: $72:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 April 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 1 May 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 1 June 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 July 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 August 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 1 September 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 September 1936
Event: Advertisement
Title/Details: More Fun Magazine & New Comics Magazine
Publisher: Writer’s Digest
Details: Vin Sullivan and Whitney Ellsworth invite submissions for new magazines. ‘Practically no fiction is used, though exceptionally good adventure synopses are occasionally bought at low prices. Pretty well filled up with art, too, though of course we’re always glad to see something well drawn. Low rates at this time’.Sullivan is listed as the editor for More Fun Magazine and Ellsworth has New Comics Magazine.
Date: 1 October 1936
Event: Advertisement
Title/Details: Publication Enterprises Co.
Publisher: Writer’s Digest
Details: Siegel invites submissions.Publication Enterprises Co. is in immediate need of contacting artists to work upon comic and cartoon strips. While at this time our greatest need is for artists to work upon illustration story strips, we would also be pleased to consider the work of cartoonists.
We work on a 50-50 basis, doing the continuity and selling ourself. Artists sending in samples of their work are asked to enclose envelope and return postage if they care to have their work returned.
Any artist who does good work will receive a good reception from us. This may be an opportunity for some talented beginners who have not yet had the good fortune to break into print.
Publication Enterprises Co.,
10622 Kimberly Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio.
JEROME SIEGEL, President.
Date: 1 October 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 1 November 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 24 November 1936
Event: Letter
Title/Details: To The Editor
Publisher: The Cleveland Press
Details: Reading your pictorial feature, ‘How A Woman Can Overpower a Thug,’ I determined to put it to the test and tried it out on several unsuspecting friends.The first time I tried it I almost had my ear torn off. The second time I narrowly escaped having my eyes gouged out.
It seems that assailants not only have a right hand, but a left one, too. Also, it turned out that one of my opponents was left-handed.
I don’t know just what the trouble is. Perhaps it is because I am not a woman. Please run a pictorial strip on how a MAN can overcome a thug.
Jerome Siegel
Date: 1 December 1936
Payment: $36:00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult / Calling All Cars / Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDetails: Siegel notes that they made $915.00 for 1937.
1937
Date: 1 January 1937
Event: Announcement
Title/Details: The Nicholson Publishing Company
Publisher: Writer’s Digest
Details: The Digest notes that the Nicholson Publishing Company now publishes two magazines, More Fun and New Adventure Comics. They note that all contents are staff prepared, and no outside contributions are needed.Date: 1 January 1937 (approx.)
Event: Pitch
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: United Feature Syndicate
Details: Siegel recalled that United Feature informed Siegel & Shuster that they would publish Superman in Tip Top.Date: 1 January 1937
Payment: $36.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Calling All Cars, Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 February 1937
Event: Solicitation
Title/Details: The Nicholson Publishing Co.
Publisher: The Author & Journalist
Details: Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson solicits new material for his publications, More Fun Magazine, New Comics Magazine and Detective Comics.Date: 10 February 1937
Event: Publication
Title/Details: Detective Comics No. 1 (cover dated March 1937)
Publisher: Detective Comics, Inc
Details: 1st Slam Bradley by Siegel/ShusterDate: 18 February 1937
Event: Rejection
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: United Feature Syndicate
Details: United Feature Syndicate reject Superman due to space and for the strip being juvenileDate: 22 February 1937
Event: Letter
Title/Details: What If She Laughed In His Face?
Publisher: The Cleveland Press
Details: Letter to the editor about movie You’re Laughing At Me. Siegel addresses the problem of random laughter while watching films at the cinema and responds to claims from a previous letter written by Frank Blighty.Date: 1 March 1937
Event: Listing
Title/Details: New Comics Magazine
Publisher: The Author & Journalist
Details: Nicholson’s new company is listed in the March issue of Author & Journalist. The company is located at 373 Fourth Avenue New York. No rates listed.
Date: 1 March 1937
Payment: $87.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Federal Men, Slam Bradley
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 1 April 1937
Payment: $87.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Federal Men, Slam Bradley
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 May 1937
Payment: $69.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Slam Bradley
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 1 May 1937
Event: Listing
Title/Details: Detective Comic Magazine
Publisher: The Author & Journalist
Details: Nicholson Publishing changes address to 432 Fourth Avenue, New York.
Date: 1 June 1937
Payment: $87.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Slam Bradley, Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYC
Date: 17 June 1937
Payment: $117.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Slam Bradley, Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 7 August 1937
Payment: $103.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Slam Bradley
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 10 August 1937
Payment: $121.50
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Slam Bradley, Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 1 September 1937
Event: Solicitation
Title/Details: Publications Enterprises Co.
Publisher: Writer’s Digest
Details: Siegel asks for solicitations for his newest company.We are only in the market for samples of the work of would-be comic strip and story strip artists. We collaborate with good selling connections. We report within two weeks and pay 50% on receipt from publishers.
Date: 4 October 1937
Payment: $153.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Federal Men, Slam Bradley
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 29 October 1937
Payment: $45.00
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDate: 29 October 1937
Event: Rejection
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: Trojan Publishing Co
Details: Trojan formally passes on Superman.Date: 10 November 1937
Event: Publication
Title/Details: Action Comics
Publisher: Merwil Publishing Co. Inc.
Details: Merwil (DC Comics) publishes an ashcan – a small black and white comics designed to protect the title. The contents and cover have nothing to do with what would be published.Date: 30 November 1937
Event: Pitch
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: McClure Newspaper Syndicate
Details: McClure contact Siegel & Shuster asking for ideas, Siegel sends in Superman, which they reject. M.C. Gaines keeps the pitch and ultimately sends it to DC ComicsDate: 1 December 1937 (approx.)
Event: Pitch
Title/Details: Superman
Publisher: Detective Comics, Inc
Details: Siegel visits DC Comics, pitches five strips, Superman is amongst them.Date: 4 December 1937
Payment: $732.50
Title/Details: Dr. Occult, Radio Squad, Spy, Slam Bradley, Federal Men
Publisher: Nicholson Publishing Co., Inc. NYCDetails: Siegel notes that they made $2,340.00 for 1937.
Date: 4 December 1937
Event: Contract
Title/Details: Agreement of Employment
Publisher: Detective Comics, Inc.
Details: Siegel and Shuster formally sign a two-year employment agreement with DC Comics. Their rate is $10 per page.AGREEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT entered into the Fourth day of December, 1937, by and between DETECTIVE COMICS, INC. a domestic corporation having its offices at 480 Lexington Avenue, New York City, hereinafter referred to as the Employer, and Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster residing at Cleveland, Ohio. hereinafter referred to as the Employs.
1. The Employer hereby agrees to employ, and does hereby employ the Employees as Artists, for a period of two years, commencing with December 4, 1937 and terminating December 3, 1939 and to pay them for such services and for all of the matters hereinafter set forth, the sum of Ten Dollars ($10) per page.
2. The Employees agree to give their exclusive services as artists in producing features known as Slam Bradley and The Spy during said period of employment, to the Employer, and agrees that all of these products and work done by said Employee for said Employer during said period of employment, shall be and become the sole and exclusive property of the Employer, and the Employer shall be deemed the sole creator thereof, the Employee acting entirely as the Employer’s employee.
3. In the event that the Employee leaves the service of the Employer prior to the termination date set forth in this Agreement or subsequent thereto, and for any reason whatsoever, the Employees agree that they will not, directly or indirectly, and through any means whatsoever, use, duplicate, simulate or bring into being any of the products or work or creations or characters or plots used, made or created by him while in the employ of the Employer.
4. It is understood that any new and additional features which the Employees produce for use in a comic magazine are to be first submitted to the Employer, who reserves the right to accept or reject same within a period of Sixty days.
Date: 6 December 1937
Event: Letter
To: Jack LiebowitzFrom: Jerry Siegel
Details: Siegel pitches five more ideas for strips to DC Comics. None are Superman.
Dear Mr. Liebowitz:
The contract was mailed on yesterday; letter and pages will be mailed on to Nicholson tomorrow. Since we do 10 pages per month for Nicholson magazines, we are to receive $90 for them. Herewith find enclosed suggested characters for Action Comics.
I. (Adventure)
13 color pages -- Bob Hazard, World-Wide Adventurer.
Bob Hazard scraps his way around the world, a-la Slam Bradley, seeking for-tunes, buried cities, helping others out of difficulties, foiling schemers: he battles at the slightest provocation and is irresistible with the girls. Each story complete in thirteen pages.
II. (Western)
6 black and white pages - - The Crimson Horseman
The Crimson Horseman is a masked, cloaked rider of mystery who metes out grim justice in a lawless cattle country where the law is openly flouted. This will feature the usual western hokum but lead by a more than ordinarily colorful character. The story will be run serially in installments of six pages.
III. (Detective)
2 6 color pages - The Wraith
This will present a most unusual detective. Due to abnormal glands all of five senses are acute to a hypersensitive degree: he hears thru walls; can locate and follow scents like a bloodhound; his eye possess the range of a powerful telescope; and, quite conveniently, he possesses the strength of a dozen men. He tracks down criminals like a prowling beast - is called “The Wraith” because he comes and goes as mysteriously as a ghost - frighten criminals half out of their wits because they believe him to be not of this world. He is not connected with any police force but solves whatever crimes come before his attention only because he is an avenging demon toward those flouting the law. - For proof that a detective story of this nature would be popular, note the success of “The Shadow,”, “The Phantom Detective’‘, etc. Each release will be twenty-six pages, complete, and unusual. The length of the complete novel cartoon can be played up as a feature that no other cartoon magazine possesses.
IV. (Sport)
6 black and white pages - Chesty Crane: Crack(ed) Athlete
Chesty, an all-around athlete, is boisterous, boastful, but simple and goodhearted. He is continually getting into tight situations because of his big talk but usually comes out on top thru either his fine athletic ability or a freak of luck. Each six-page installment of this serial will abound with humor and sport-action.
V. (Science-Fiction)
13 color pages - Streak Marvel
Streak Marvel is a scientific genius whose sensational discoveries lead this athletic young scientist into action-adventures in every branch of science-fiction. I have in mind for this strip a splendid cartoonist who has devoted his art work to drawings almost exclusively of a pseudoscientific nature, who at present resides in Virginia. Each thirteen-paged release of this strip will be complete in itself.
The magazine, Action Comics, would contain a well-balanced list of features: adventure, western, detective, sport, and science fiction. Five strips in all. Each reader won’t have finished reading the strip almost before he has begun. The amount of color pages, and black and white pages, have been planned to follow the color arrangement no being used in Detective Comics. Let me know which of the above outlined strips sound worthy of development, to you; if you approve the number of pages I have allotted for each individual strip, and which strips if any you desire to have me replace with other ideas. All the pages will average eight panels per page.
Awaiting your prompt reply. I will act just as swiftly in preparing these features as you will permit.
Very truly yours,
Jerome Siegel
NEXT: 1938 - 1939. It’s a big one. Superman is published and problems between Siegel, Shuster and DC start very shortly after the publication of Action Comics #1. The truth behind the ‘sale’ of Superman. The newspaper strip. Siegel and Shuster begin to split.
1935 marked the turning point for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as they began selling cartoons and comics while connecting with future DC Comics publishers.
They contributed early work like Henri Duval and Dr. Occult to New Fun Comics, marking their first verified comic book appearances.
Despite financial struggles and rejected Superman pitches, Siegel and Shuster continued building momentum through 1936–1937 with steady freelance work.
In December 1937, they formally signed a two-year contract with Detective Comics, earning $10 per page and creating Slam Bradley and The Spy
By late 1937, Siegel was still pitching new ideas—Superman among them just months before the hero’s groundbreaking 1938 debut in Action Comics #1
That Slam Bradley piece at the top of the post is now my favorite piece of Shuster art. Speaking of whom, I never knew (or have forgotten): what was Shuster’s art training?
Another crumb of trivia I’ve never thought about: I know first there was Harry who begat Irwin. But what I don’t and never really thought about: When does Harry leave DC and when does Irwin (memorialized in that issue of Inferior 5) start? (Not quite unrelated to that: When did Infantino become editorial director—before or after the sale to Kinney? For that matter, what were his qualifications for the job? Surely it wasn’t from laying out covers?)