The Comic Origin of Man of Tomorrow

James Gunn's new Superman sequel is set to hit theaters on July 9, 2027, and it does exactly what the name suggests: it revives a 1939 comic nickname and gives it a fresh face. The franchise's "Man of Tomorrow" moniker has been around longer than most movies, stretching back to a self-published science fiction fanzine and a World's Fair tie-in that framed Superman as the hero of progress. Now the DCU is picking up that legacy again, proving the nickname hasn't just survived the decades—it's ready for another generation.

The Origin

The nickname traces back to 1933, when teenage writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster were experimenting beyond mainstream publishing. In their self-published fanzine Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization, Issue #3 (January 1933), they introduced "The Reign of the Superman" — a short story about a telepathic villain named Bill Dunn who seized control of the world. That was the earliest spark: a concept of superhuman ability that Siegel and Shuster later reimagined as a champion of justice from a dying world.

Six years later, in 1939, after Superman had taken the world by storm in Action Comics #1 (1938), National Allied Publications produced New York World's Fair Comics #1 to promote the 1939 New York World's Fair, whose theme was "The World of Tomorrow." The story closed with Superman being hailed as "the Man of Tomorrow" — a direct nod to the fair's vision of progress and possibility. The same nickname appeared in the March 18, 1939 Superman daily newspaper strip (#54), cementing it in the public consciousness.

How It Grew

The evolution of the "Man of Tomorrow" identity unfolded across several milestone moments:

1933 — The Reign of the Superman in Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization introduces the name as a villainous telepath in a self-published fanzine.
1938 — Action Comics #1 (cover-dated June 1938, on sale April 18, 1938) debuts the heroic Superman, created by Siegel and Shuster, after they sold the rights for $130.
1939 — New York World's Fair Comics #1 (April 1939) and daily newspaper strip #54 (March 18, 1939) mark the first appearances of the "Man of Tomorrow" title, tying Superman to the promise of a brighter future.
1939 — Superman #1 launches as the character's first solo title, expanding his history and solidifying the future-focused image.
1941 — Fleischer Studios releases 17 animated theatrical shorts, introducing Superman to cinematic audiences for the first time.
1948 — The first live-action Superman film serial (Superman) arrives, marking the character's arrival on the big screen with Kirk Alyn.
1952 — Adventures of Superman airs with George Reeves starring, becoming the first television series dedicated entirely to the hero.
1978 — Christopher Reeve's Superman becomes the first major superhero blockbuster, defining the character for a global audience and launching a four-film franchise.
1986 — Alan Moore and Curt Swan write "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" — a two-part story across Superman #423 and Action Comics #583 that serves as the definitive conclusion to the Silver Age Superman.
1995 — Superman: The Man of Tomorrow (1995–1999) debuts as an ongoing comic series filling fifth-week release gaps.
2005 — DC publishes Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives Vol. 1, collecting classic Silver Age tales of Brainiac, Kandor, and the Fortress of Solitude.
2020 — Superman: Man of Tomorrow (DC Universe Animated Original Movie) brings Clark Kent's early adventures to life, visually revisiting the nickname's roots.
2027 — James Gunn's sequel returns the hero to the spotlight, connecting past and present while setting up the new DCU era.

Each step built on the last, transforming a fanzine concept into a cultural icon and finally landing on the big screen once more.

On Screen

Early adaptations scattered the name across media. The 1941 Fleischer animation established Superman as a soaring hero fighting for truth and justice. The 1948 film serial brought him to theatres with Kirk Alyn. Television found him in the 1952 Adventures of Superman series, where George Reeves embodied the hero for six seasons. The 1978 Christopher Reeve film launched a four-film run that dominated pop culture. The 1986 Moore and Swan story gave readers an emotional farewell to the original continuity right before John Byrne's post-Crisis reboot. Superman: The Man of Tomorrow ran as an ongoing comic series from 1995 to 1999, and DC later compiled key Silver Age lore in the 2005 Man of Tomorrow Archives. The 2020 animated film Superman: Man of Tomorrow starred Darren Criss as a young Clark Kent, showing his first battles against Lobo and Parasite. Following the 2025 DCU film Superman (starring David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult), James Gunn's 2027 sequel Man of Tomorrow brings the classic nickname full circle for a new generation.

Start Reading Here

Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? — Alan Moore's definitive Silver Age finale, widely regarded as the true end of the original Superman.
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives Vol. 1 — A collection of classic Silver Age stories that first introduced Brainiac, Kandor, and the Fortress of Solitude.
Action Comics #1 Facsimile Edition — The 1938 launch that birthed the hero, reprinting the milestone first appearance of Superman.
New York World's Fair Comics #1 — The rare 1939 issue where the nickname was first printed in comic format, reprinted in DC Comics Rarities Archives Vol. 1.
Superman: American Alien — Max Landis's acclaimed miniseries exploring a young Clark Kent finding his humanity across seven formative vignettes.