Superman logo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Superman logo is the iconic emblem and logo for the fictional superhero Superman. It is also informally referred to as the "S" shield. As a representation of the first superhero, it served as a design template for character design decades after Superman's first appearance. The tradition of wearing a representative symbol on the chest was mimicked by many subsequent superheroes, including Batman, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, the Flash and many others.
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[edit] Representations
Initially, the S-shield had one meaning: S for Superman. One of the first alternative meanings was presented in Superman: The Movie, in which it was not an "S", but rather Superman's S-shaped family crest representing the House of El. After the Superman reboot The Man of Steel, the symbol was designed by Martha Kent and once again stood only for Superman. It was eventually discovered that the symbol also doubled as the Kryptonian symbol for "hope." In 2004, Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright limited series established that it is also the symbol for Krypton as a whole.
[edit] Variants
- The modern Superboy wears a black and red variant of the symbol. Lex Luthor hypothesized it is because that version of the symbol was everywhere following the death of Superman and his consequent first appearance.[1]
- Bizarro's symbol is an inverted purple and yellow version with no significant meaning.
- The upside down symbol, first seen in 52, means "resurrection" in Kryptonian.
- Jor-El sports a white symbol on his black clothing, as well as a black symbol on his white clothing in the 1978 Superman movie.
[edit] Who wears the shield?
Kryptonian family members of Superman wear the symbol, but sometimes it is worn to honor Superman. After the death of Superman, many DC Comics superheroes wore a black armband with the Superman logo.
- Superman
- Supergirl
- Kal-L (variant)
- Superboy
- Conner Kent (red and black variant)
- Superboy-Prime
- Bizarro (inverted purple and yellow variant)
- Hank Henshaw
- John Henry Irons
- Natasha Irons
- Eradicator (variant)
- Jor-El (Superman: Birthright)
- Strange Visitor (variant)
- Preus
[edit] Evolution of the symbol
In its original inception in Action Comics #1, Superman's symbol was an "S" on a yellow police badge symbol that resembled a shield. The symbol was first changed only a couple issues later in Action Comics #7. The shield varied over the first few years of the comics, and many times was nothing more than a triangle with an "S" inside of it. The symbol became an inverted yellow triangle with a red "S" on the inside. The shield first became a pentagon in the Fleischer cartoon serial Superman. It was black with a red "S" outlined with yellow. The shield has changed over the years. The "S" has varied in size and shape and the pentagon containing it has also changed size and shape. Extreme examples of this would be the very large logo on the Dean Cain costume from Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and the comparatively small version of the shield as depicted in the 2006 film, Superman Returns. It has, in most incarnations, retained its original color, while changing shape here and there. The classic logo is the basis for virtually all other interpretations of the logo. In the mid-1990s, when Superman's costume and powers changed briefly, during the Superman Red and Superman Blue the shield changed colors and slightly changed shape, in accordance with the changes in the costume. In the Kingdom Come storyline, an aged Superman sported an S-like symbol against a black background in a red pentagon.
[edit] Diamond and eight shield
In the television series Smallville a key that used in the caves has an octagonal silver metallic key. Along the edges are imprinted Kryptonian characters, one of which is the diamond border of the Superman shield with a figure 8 inside of the diamond instead of the S. The figure 8 symbol is the letter S in the most recent version of the Kryptonian alphabet.
[edit] See also
Batman Emblem
Emblem
Logo
DC Comics
[edit] External links
| Superman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster |
| Characters: | Superman (Clark Kent) • Lois Lane • Jimmy Olsen • Perry White • Jor-El • Ma Kent • Pa Kent • Lana Lang • Steel • Supergirl • Superboy (Kon-El) • Krypto |
| Villains: | Lex Luthor • Bizarro • Brainiac • Cyborg Superman • Darkseid • Doomsday • Eradicator • General Zod • Metallo • Mongul • Mr. Mxyzptlk • Parasite • Toyman • Ultra-Humanite • Intergang • Phantom Zone villains |
| Locations: |
Daily Planet • Fortress of Solitude • Krypton • Metropolis • Smallville |
| Storylines: | Relationship of Clark Kent and Lois Lane • The Death of Superman • Alternate versions of Superman • Publications • Superman in popular culture |
| Miscellanea: | Kryptonite • Powers • Symbol |
