How the Curse of Superman destroyed the Man of Steel’s own creator: Jerry Siegel’s furious letters reveal his fury at the comic executives who snapped up rights to his superhero for just $130

Furious letters sent by the creator of Superman to comics executives reveal his anger after he they bought the rights to his creation for just $130.

Jerry Siegel created the world famous superhero in the early 1930s with his friend Joe Shuster.

After years of failing to find a home for it as an ongoing comic strip, they sold the rights to the story to Detective Comics – the forerunner of the publishing behemoth DC Comics – in 1938. 

Siegel and Shuster were then employed by DC executives to continue writing Superman stories. 

But when the superhero went on to become an astonishing success, Siegel was left furious as executives earned millions in royalties. 

Writing to executive Paul Sampliner in December 1951 – after he had unsuccessfully sued DC for the rights to both Superman and spin-off creation Superboy – Siegel claimed they had ‘destroyed’ him and ‘crushed’ his career. 

He prophetically finished by warning in capital letters that he would ‘haunt’ them for the rest of his life, adding: ‘I put a curse on you.’

The cover of the earliest Superman comic is seen above. It is dated 1939 and sold at auction in 1999 for more than £30,000

What later became known as the ‘Superman curse’ was coined after the misfortune suffered by people involved in adaptations of the character.

Hollywood star Christopher Reeve – who portrayed Superman in four films from 1978 to 1987 – was paralysed in a horse riding accident in 1995. He died nine years later.

And George Reeves, who portrayed the superhero on television from 1952 until 1958, shot himself in 1959. 

Margot Kidder, who portrayed love interest Lois Lane alongside Reeve, battled bipolar disorder and was found dead in 2018 at the age of 69. 

Siegel’s letters are being sold on website Comic Connect.

In the one dated December 10, 1951, he writes: ‘It may add to the joy of your Christmas merrymaking to know that I am having to go on Relief. 

‘While you make millions from your creations…You wouldn’t give me a chance to write again, and lead a decent life.

‘By appropriating Superboy, you destroyed me. But everyone knows how you have rewarded the creator of Superman and Superboy, for helping you found your comic book empire.

‘You can see what they really think of you, not in their words, but in what they don’t say… and in their eyes.

Writing to executive Paul Sampliner in December 1951 – after he had unsuccessfully sued DC for the rights to both Superman and spin-off creation Superboy – Siegel claimed they had ‘destroyed’ him and ‘crushed’ his career

In another letter, Siegel directed his anger in the form of a poem which he sent to three  executives. It included the lines: ‘Because of you there’s no food in my house’ and ‘because of you my life’s a wreck’

A third letter being sold was sent by Siegel to executive Jack Liebowitz. Writing in May 1953 – two months after pleading for work in an initial letter – he initially congratulated him on the engagement of his daughter. But he then added: ‘Once I lived in University Heights, Cleveland in a nice home until another injustice ruined my life and career’

‘They know that you destroyed me for profit.. and that you are not offering my family a helping hand so that we can survive.

‘How can you enjoy any achievements, knowing it is being built on my crushed career? Is money worth that? 

‘When you face your maker, will he accept the fine print in your lawyer’s “legalisms”? Are you at all concerned with your immortal soul? 

‘When you eat, and drink, and have shelter, remember that the man you destroyed is faced with poverty.

‘When you celebrate at your Christmas party, remember that I will be there in spirit, looking at you, walking by your side and asking: Why have you done this to another human being? Why are you forcing me to go on relief.’

He added: ‘As long as I live, and afterwards, I shall haunt you and yours. Before God, I put a curse on you.’ 

Despite his fury at DC Comics, Siegel returned to write for them after initially leaving in 1947. 

He and Shuster sued the company for the rights to both Superman and Superboy but ended up agreeing to a financial settlement which resulted in DC Comics keeping full control of both. 

After leaving, Siegel was unable to replicate the success of Superman and struggled financially.

He returned to work for DC between 1959 and 1965, after which he ceased receiving work from the firm.

In another letter, Siegel directed his anger in the form of a poem which he sent to three executives.

It included the lines: ‘Because of you there’s no food in my house’ and ‘because of you my life’s a wreck’. 

What later became known as the ‘Superman curse’ was coined after the misfortune suffered by people involved in adaptations of the character. Hollywood star Christopher Reeve – who portrayed Superman in four films from 1978 to 1987 – was paralysed in a horse riding accident in 1995. He died nine years later

Margot Kidder, who portrayed love interest Lois Lane (right) alongside Reeve, battled bipolar disorder and was found dead in 2018 at the age of 69

A third letter being sold was sent by Siegel to executive Jack Liebowitz.

Writing in May 1953 – two months after pleading for work in an initial letter – he initially congratulated him on the engagement of his daughter. 

But he then added: ‘Once I lived in University Heights, Cleveland in a nice home until another injustice ruined my life and career.’ 

He signed it with his name and added in a scrawl that he was the ‘creator of superman.’ 

Siegel and Shuster were awarded a lifetime stipend of $20,000 a year from production company Warner Brothers to stop them contesting the rights to Superman ahead of the release of Reeve’s first film in 1978. 

Later in life, Siegel worked for other comics publishers but his stories never replicated the success of Superman. 

He died aged 81 in 1996 from a heart attack.  

None of the documents in the sale have a reserve price or estimate and have a starting bid of $1. The date of the auction is to be confirmed.