Most of us think we know the story of Superman. We know Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Krypton, the cape, and the promise of truth, justice, and the American way. But in The Superman Wars, William Bernhardt reveals that the real story behind Superman’s creation is far more human, painful, and dramatic than the mythology suggests.
On Books That Make You, William Bernhardt joins us to talk about the decades-long struggle of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. Bernhardt, a bestselling author of more than sixty books and a former attorney, brings both storytelling skill and legal insight to a history filled with courtroom battles, corporate power, and personal loss. His book examines how Siegel and artist Joe Shuster created the first superhero, only to lose control of the character who would become one of the most profitable and recognizable figures in the world.
Bernhardt explains how Jerry Siegel’s own life helped shape Superman. As a young man growing up during the Great Depression, Siegel understood what it meant to feel powerless. Clark Kent reflected much of who Jerry was: shy, bullied, overlooked, and underestimated. Superman became the fantasy of hidden strength, a champion of the weak and oppressed at a time when people desperately needed one.
The conversation also explores the often-misunderstood sale of Superman’s rights, the controversy over Superboy, and the long legal battle that followed. Bernhardt makes clear that this is not just a comic book story. It is a story about artists, contracts, credit, ownership, and what can happen when creativity meets commerce without protection.
One of the most moving moments in the interview centers on the 1978 Superman film. After decades without proper credit, Jerry Siegel saw his name restored on the big screen. Sitting with his wife Joanne and daughter Lara, he watched the words “Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster” appear, a moment that brought him to tears.
The Superman Wars is also a reminder for today’s writers, artists, and creators. Bernhardt urges creatives to protect their work, seek guidance, and understand the agreements they sign. Superman’s story may have begun in the 1930s, but its lessons still matter now.
