By Brian McKernan
Much has been written about the so-called "Superman Curse," especially after Christopher Reeve's 1995 tragic accident and his unfortunate death. Once again, tabloid writers drew comparisons with 1950s TV Superman George Reeves' suicide, with the hardships suffered by Superman co-creators Siegel and Shuster after they sold their billion-dollar creation to DC Comics for a mere $130, and with actor Kirk Alyn's lackluster career after playing Superman in two 1940s movie serials.
A closer examination, however, makes talk of a "Superman Curse" absurd. There's as much circumstantial evidence to suggest there isn't a curse as there is to suggest there is.
Siegel and Shuster were just two of the many young 1930s comic book pioneers who created characters as a "work for hire" and did not share in the profits. As for Kirk Alyn, he too was just one of many serial stars who faded into obscurity and went on to do other things with their lives. Who today remembers serial stars Ralph Byrd (Dick Tracy), Tom Tyler (Captain Marvel) or Gordon Jones (The Green Hornet)?
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