Superman first appeared in the comic book Action Comics #1, which was published and went on sale on April 18, 1938, although the cover date says June 1938. This marked the debut of the character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, setting the foundation for the superhero genre.

Regarding Superman's appearance in films, the character first appeared in animated shorts beginning in 1941, followed by movie serials in 1948 and 1950. The first feature-length Superman film, "Superman and the Mole Men," was released in 1951, and the more famous Superman film starring Christopher Reeve was released in 1978.

Most recently, a new Superman film premiered on July 7, 2025, and was released in the United States on July 11, 2025.