Original Air Date
- May 22, 2025
Part 1 Begins
Superhero Smash: Season III Begins! (2:00)
- Yes, WIUP FM 90.1 listeners, the long wait is over
- Superhero Smash: Season III has finally arrived!
- Featuring “The Best in Superhero Music and Comic Book Lore”
- I’m your host, Dr. Gian Pagnucci, a.k.a. The New Professor X
- And this is Superhero Smash!
- All summer long, I’ll be playing great music about superheroes as well as music that is featured in superhero movies and shows
- I’ll also be talking about comic book history and heroism
- And I’ll have plenty of great guest stars this summer, too
- But no matter what cool stuff I discuss, you don’t have to worry because this is a NO SPOILERS show
- Contact me, the new Professor X, via email: SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans!
Audio Episode Theme: The Summer of Superman! (1:00)
- DC Comics is set to reboot its cinematic universe this summer
- The DCU will launch with Superman on July 11, 2025
- The film is directed by James Gunn who of course is famous for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy
- David Corenset will be playing Superman in the film, replacing Henry Cavill from the DC Extended Universe era (DCEU)
Heroic Instrumental Theme Song (4:24)
- “Theme from Superman (Concert Version)” by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra
The Superhero Smash Comic Book Vault (4:00)
- The Comic Book Vault sound effect (0:12)
- Each week on Superhero Smash I like to crank open the doors to the Superhero Smash Comic Book Vault and share with listeners information about collector’s item classic comic books
- Who knows, maybe some lucky listener has one of these valuable books from the golden age of comics resting quietly in the attic, just waiting to be discovered. You’ll want to check, but not until today’s episode of Superhero Smash is over
- Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1
- Publication Date: June 1938
- Publisher: National Allied Publications, founded in 1935, which later became DC Comics
- Written by Jerry Siegel
- Penciled by Joe Shuster
- Value: Action Comics #1 sold in 2022 for $3.55 million; then, in 2024, a copy sold for a record $6 million, making it the most valuable comic book in the world
- If you watch the fantastic action movie, The Accountant, you can see that Ben Affleck’s character actually has a copy hidden away in his secret stash of valuables; when he has to run for his life, that’s one of the valuable things he grabs!
- I have not seen The Accountant 2 yet, but that looks great and you might still be able to catch it in theatres
Superman Song 1 (4:31)
- “Superman’s Song” by Crash Test Dummies
- In July of 2023, the Crash Test Dummies performed in State College, and I was right there to hear them sing “Superman’s Song”
- They still sound fantastic and are still touring, so get out to hear them if you get the chance
- They have tons of great songs and put on an excellent show!
- The Crash Test Dummies played at this fabulous venue called The State Theatre
- It’s located on College Avenue right next to the Penn State campus and they have lots of great shows coming up this summer
- They have a duet called the Local Honeys coming June 5
- They also show films
- I saw Star Wars there, and they actually have The Green Mile showing tonight
- It’s really fun to see these classic films on the big screen surrounded by other movie lovers, so go check out The State Theatre this summer
Part 1 Ends (@20 minutes)
Part 2 Begins (@20 minutes)
Super Show ID 2: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- Listen on WIUP FM 90.1
- Featuring the best superhero music and comic book lore in the DC Cinematic Universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and our U-niverse too!
- Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
- Or email Professor X using the address SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
- Let me give a shout-out to Superhero Smash fan Loughlin, who’s listening all the way in Kyoto, Japan
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
- If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1
Superman’s Origin Story (5:00)
- In addition to talking about collector’s item classic comic books, I always like to share the origin stories of superheroes featured Superhero Smash episodes
- Of course, Superman’s origin story is pretty well known, but I’ve got a few historical items you might not know unless you’re one of the most dedicated Superhero Smash fans
- And if you are that loyal of a listener, please let me know by sending an email to SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- Superman was sent to earth from the planet Krypton
- Superman’s Kyptonian name was Kal-El and his father was the Kyrptonian scientist Jor-El
- Jor-El’s research told him that Kyrpton was going to explode, but Krypton’s leaders would not heed his warnings
- So he put his baby Jor-El into a rocketship and sent him to earth
- Because earth’s sun is yellow unlike Kyrpton’s red sun, Jor-El gained superhuman powers when he landed on earth
- He was raised by Marth and Jonathan Kent in Smallville, Kansas
- His parents gave him the name Clark Kent
- When he moved to Metropolis city, he became a reporter for The Daily Planet and also started helping people as Superman
- Andy Lewis “Check That Bought Rights to Superman in 1938 Being Auctioned” (The Hollywood Reporter, 2012)
- The creators Siegel and Shuster were originally paid $130 for the rights to Superman by the company Detective Comics Inc.;
- The original check had both their names on it
- David Vidal “Superman’s Creators Get Lifetime Pay” (The New York Times, 1975)
- Both creators were very poor and received no money from Superman royalties for many years
- Shuster had to draw adult comic strips at one point and Siegel worked as a mail clerk making $7000 per year
- At age 61 and each nearly destitute, in 1975 the creators were finally given lifetime payments that also went to their heirs, including Siegel’s wife Joanne who was the original model for Lois Lane
- They also received medical benefits, after DC Comics parent company, Warner Communications Inc. agreed to the settlement
- According to Vidal, “Jay Emmett, executive vice president of Warner, said the company had agreed to the contract “in recognition of their past services and out of concern for their present circumstances.”
- Famous Batman artist Neal Adams was one of the people who fought hard to get the creators recognized
- Siegel and Shuster earned the right to have their names put as a byline on all Superman creations
Superman Song 2 (2:59)
- “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” by Jim Croce
Free Comic Book Day History (5:00)
- Free Comic Book Day was started to draw in new readers since the comic book reading audience was again
- First event was tied to the opening of Spider-Man staring Toby McGuire
- There was a free comic released that day which featured Superman in it: DC Comics’ Justice League Adventures #1 which was based on the animated series
- Free Comic Book Day was delayed for a year when the idea was first proposed
- And it was also put on hiatus during the pandemic
- But it’s back and better than ever
- It’s always the first Saturday in May
- That was May 3 this year
- But most comic book stores stock lots of Free Comic Book Day giveaways, so if you head to your local comic shop, you can probably still get a free comic in case you missed the actual holiday; just tell ’em the new Professor X of Superhero Smash sent you!
- Free Comic Book Day is my personal favorite holiday, and I wait for it every year
- Which is the perfect excuse to play this song…
Free Comic Book Day Song (4:27)
- “Waiting for Superman” by Daughtry
Long Lost Hero: The Phantom (3:00)
- Superman was the first superhero to appear in comic books
- Prior to that, a purple costumed hero named The Phantom first appeared in newspaper strips beginning on May 28, 1939
- The Phantom was created by writer Lee Faulk and artist Ray Moore
- Initially, comic books were reprints of newspaper strips, but Action Comics #1 was an original story
- The Phantom and Superman never met, but in 1966 there was a doll called Captain Action who had costumes for both heroes; in fact, 9 different heroes in their costumes were featured in the Captain Action ad
- A guy named Jim Kelly was lamenting in a comics discussion forum that he wanted the Superman or Batman costume, but only got The Phantom, and when he was at college, his parents threw out that doll and costume
- Too bad, Jim, because that Captain Action figure would be worth a little cash now
- In 1996, a great movie was made of The Phantom
- It starred Billy Zane in the title role and Catherine Zeta-Jones as a beautiful villainess who even steals a kiss from The Phantom
- The film is an action adventure set in the jungle land of the fictional African country Bengalla where The Phantom had a secret headquarters in The Skull Cave
- It starred Billy Zane in the title role and Catherine Zeta-Jones as a beautiful villainess who even steals a kiss from The Phantom
- The movie is well worth watching and used the wonderful tagline “Slam Evil!”
Part 2 Ends (@40 minutes)
Part 3 Begins (@40 minutes)
Super Show ID 3: Superhero Smash (0:30)
- Listen on WIUP FM 90.1
- Featuring the best superhero music and comic book lore in the DCU, the MCU, and our U too!
- Check out pagnucci.org and click the big Superhero Smash button
- Or email Professor X using the address SuperheroSmash2024@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
- If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1
Superman Music
- “Juekbox Superhero: 26 Songs About Superman” by Danny Gallagher, Kevin McFarland, Annie Zaleski, Noah Cruickshank, A.A. Dowd, Josh Modell, Zack Handlen, Matt Wild, Oliver Sava, Sonia Saraiya, Marah Eakin, Sam Adams, and Laura M. Browning
- A great article discusses the many songs written about the Man of Steel
- There is so much great music out there about Superman
- Probably more than any other superhero
Superman Song 2 (4:01)
- “Superman” by Sister Hazel
Superman Song 3 (4:46)
- “Land of Confusion” by Genesis
Superman Song 4 (4:35)
- “Superman (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
- I’ll give Taylor Swift credit for each titling her song “Superman”
- And of course this is the perfect time to give a shout-out to all the Superhero Smash swiftie fans who tuned in a few weeks ago for the Superhero Smash Super Swiftie Special
- That special episode featured my interview with IUP English doctoral student Kristen Mlay-Kuhns who was the Organizer for IUP’s Taylor Evermore: A Swift Symposium
- I’ll have more great interviews coming up this summer!
Romantic Interlude (1:00)
- Jimmy Olsen pining for Lois Lane, but her heart belongs to the man of steel, Superman
Romantic Superman Song 1 (4:38)
- “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues” by Spin Doctors from the album Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Superman As the Romantic Hero
- How a guy feels when he’s in love: He’s Superman!
Romantic Superman Song 2 (2:50)
- “Superman” by Keith Urban
Super Show ID 5: Superhero Smash To Be Continued All Summer Long! (2:00)
- Listen on WIUP FM 90.1
- Featuring the best superhero music and comic book lore in the DCU, the MCU, and our U too!
- Remember, that new DCU kicks off with Superman on July 11
- I can’t wait!
- Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel: Thunderbolts*
- The best superhero movie since Avengers Endgame
- Make plans to go see it as soon as possible
- It is tremendous!!!
- Coming up this summer
- Interviews with Dr. Sandy Eckard, the world’s leading scholar on Lois Lane, and Dr. David Henningsen, a communications professor and old time comic book collecting buddy of mine and hopefully plenty of other guest stars too
- You can checkout my website, pagnucci.org, and click the big Superhero Smash button to learn more about the show and upcoming features
- Or email me, the new Professor X, using the address SuperheroSmash3000@gmail.com
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
- Let me give a super shout-out to Superhero Smash fan Cormac who’s listening in Ireland
- I love to hear from the Legion of Superhero Smash Fans
- If you are enjoying today’s show, you can catch more Superhero Smash on Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m. all summer long on WIUP FM 90.1
- And remember, while Superhero Smash is about the exploits of amazing individuals,
- “You don’t need superpowers to be a hero. The only thing it takes to be a hero is the courage to do what’s right when someone needs your help.”–Gian Pagnucci
Heroic End Credits Song (3:45)
- “Superman” by Five for Fighting from American Town
- Dr. Pagnucci’s favorite superhero song
Part 3 Ends (@60 minutes)