Superman

==1938==
On April 18, 1938, Superman made his debut in Action Comics #1 (cover dated June) with this logo on his chest. This logo was designed by Joe Shuster and it was shaped like a yellow heraldic crest or a police badge with a red "S" inside.
It only made a really short appearance in the cover of the first Action Comics and it was never used inside of the issue itself. However, it can be seen in some early sketches of 1934 and 1936.Liveabout.com - The Evolution of the Superman SymbolFast Company - Incographic: The Evolution Of Superman Logo From 1938 To Now
==1938–1939==
When Action Comics #1 was published, the artwork inside the comic was completely different from the cover, including the logo of the character. It was designed as a red triangle with a yellow background. The "S" also was changed. This logo was featured in several comics, it was often colored entirely yellow, likely by colorists trying to save time.
Superman (AC #7).svg|Logo used in Action Comics #7
==1939–1940==
In Superman #1 there weren't many changes in the logo, except that the triangle became thicker, the outline was removed, and the "S" was designed with a stylized look. Like the previous logo, it was often colored entirely yellow.
Superman (Superman #1).svg|Logo used in Superman #1
==February 1940–1946==
In Superman #4 the logo had a drastic redesign - the red triangle was replaced with a white shield-like emblem with a black background and the "S" developed serifs.Superman Hompage - The Evolution of Superman's "S" Shield This logo later appeared in the upper corner of Action Comics covers until 1946.
This logo resembles the one used in the costume of Ray Middleton, who played Superman at the New York World's Fair in 1939.
==July 1940==
In Superman #6 the logo once again became a triangle, but this time it was yellow and bigger; also the "S" became a little more robust and the serifs are now more highlighted. This design was also seen in the original Hugh J. Ward painting.
==1940–1941==
In Action Comics #26, artist Wayne Boring designed the shield wider and pentagon-shaped. This was also the first time the logo became five-sided, although some artists still drew it with three sides.
Superman (1940 Black).svg|Black variant similar to the logo used in Max Fleischer's Superman cartoons.
Superman (Action Comics|Logo used in Action Comics #26
Superman|Logo used in Superman #7
==1941–1943==
In Superman #9 the shield was redesigned to have a large, sharp upper serif. Like the 1938 logo, this one was sometimes colored yellow.
==1942==
The logo as seen in the retouched H. J. Ward painting. The original painting actually had the logo from Superman #6 but when it was repainted by artists Stanley Kaye and Joe Szokoli in 1942 (as result of a lawsuit by Harry Donenfeld) it was changed to a design that resembles the logo from Superman #9.https://kleinletters.com/Blog/a-stanley-kaye-superman-painting-mystery-part-1/ However, this logo shows some differences from the one in the aforementioned comic: the "S" looks cleaner and more stylized and the shield is six-sided instead of five.
==1943==
==1943–1944, 1947==
In Superman #26 the logo was designed like a diamond-shaped shield with a rounded bottom. It later re-appeared in Action Comics #111.https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Action_Comics_Vol_1_111
==1944–1955==
In that same year, DC Comics wanted to trademark Superman's symbol (just like how Disney did it with Mickey Mouse during that time), so Wayne Boring, who was then the primary penciller of Superman, changed the design of the "S" to the one we all know and love today, having a vertical upper serif with a diagonal left edge and a rounded bottom serif. First appearing in Superman #31, the trademark applied to the basic design and all variations and it was used during the rest of the Golden Age era.
== 1955–1986==
When Curt Swan became the primary penciler of Superman, he slightly modified Boring's design, making the "S" thicker and larger than before. This logo was used during the Silver Age and Bronze Age eras of DC Comics until the end of the comic book series Crisis on Infinite Earths. The last time this logo was seen was in the comic book Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (Superman #423), which was Swan's last work as regular artist on the character.
==1958–1985==
Another shield design made by Kurt Schaffenberger (who made his debut as a penciler in Superman Vol 1, #121) was used in tandem with Swan's during the Silver Age and Bronze Age. Compared to the one below, Schaffenberger's design shows that the space on the top of the "S" was reduced and the bottom of the shield seems asymmetrical.http://www.metropolisplus.com/superman/ The shield design was also used as both Superboy and Supergirl's chest symbols in both the Silver Age and Bronze Age comics.
==1967–1978, 2016–2018==
The shield seen in most comic book covers made by Neal Adams (first debuting in Action Comics #356), as well as in the comics illustrated by the same artist, like Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. Addams would return working in Superman comics wit the release of Superman: Coming of the Supermen. In 2018, he also draw five-page story titled "The Game" for the Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman hardcover collection.
==1968–present==
Superman's most-well known logo originally appeared at the right-bottom corner of the cover art from Superman (Vol 1) #211 which was also drawn by Curt Swan.Vol 1 211 DC Database - Superman Vol 1 211 The shield resembles Boring's design only that the bottom was made triangular instead of rounded (probably by accident due to the low space where the logo was placed). For over 20 years, the logo wouldn't be seen in the comics again until the release of the comic-book series Adventures of Superman (specifically in the cover of issue #437).https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Adventures_of_Superman_Vol_1_437 Since the 1970's, however, it has been used for merchandise purposes, mainly in T-shirtshttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1977-Superman-Boys-Tank-Top-Shirt-Clothing-Comic-Figure-Toy-Advertising-/153441791858? ul=IL (it also made an appearance in the opening of the 1978 movie).https://youtu.be/-GP00L5ruSM?t=100 Throughout the years, the shield underwent several minor modifications to its appearance, depending on the style of the artist who is drawing it, but the main design was always kept the same. The design was also used as Supergirl's current chest symbol.
===1986–1988===
After the events of Infinite Crisis, the continuity of the DC Universe was rebooted, included Superman's, initiating the Post-Crisis/Modern Age era of DC. As a result, the storyline of the franchise was retold in The Man of Steel #1, introducing this logo designed by John Byrne. In contrast with Swan's logo, most of its features were over-exaggerated - for example the "S" looks more robust and the bottom serif is highlighted. Also the shield itself is now shaped like an upside-down pentagon instead of a diamond. This logo was used until Bryne departed the Superman comics titles in 1988 (although he briefly returned as a guest inker in Adventures of Superman Annual #2 and Superman #50).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Byrne_(comics)
===1986–1999===
In 1987, DC Comics launched the Adventures of Superman series, which continued the numbering of the cancelled main Superman series from issue #424. Jerry Ordway, who was one of the creators and main pencilers of the series (until issue #455), refreshed Byrne's emblem, putting more focus on the middle of the "S" and making the bottom serif less highlighted. Ordway worked on the main Superman titles as a penciler until 1999.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Ordway
===1989–1995===
Dan Jurgen's design was more faithful to the original shield than the other examples shown before, although his logo seems more shrinked and cartoonish. While the artist had already been collaborating on the character since Adventures of Superman #452, his works became much more recognized in Amargeddon 2001 and the Death of Superman storyline (he was also responsible of the creation of Cygborg Superman in Reign of Supermen). Jurgen later continued working as penciler in Superman Vol. 2 until 1995 and as a writer till 1999.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Jurgens
===1993–present===
After Superman's death in the Funeral of a Friend storyilne, DC began using the shield as part of an advertising campaign - where it was seen at the top corner of comic covers and in the polybags that contained Superman (Vol. 2) #75 and Adventures of Superman #500. Designed by Tom Grummet (who also worked on Death of Superman and is responsible for creating the most famous version of Superboy) harkens back to the original 1968 shield with some changes that are not so noticable at first glance, like in the left edge and the bottom serif of the "S". This the default design that you would mostly see in the comics in different art-styles. It was also used as Supergirl's chest symbol.
In 2011, with the reboot of New 52, this logo was replaced in the main comic titles with a much more modern design made by Jim lee, although it was still used in other spin-off/non-canonical comics and other type of media. It was later brought back when Rebirth was released in 2016.
===1998–2009===
Following the success of the spin-off mini-series Kingdom Come in 1996, Alex Ross became one of the many regular Superman artists, starting with the comic book Superman Forever (cover only). Ross respects the traditional design while taking some liberties with it, like making the "S" more rounded and tweaking the lower point of the shield. Ross would later work on other Superman and DC titles during the 2000's, with JSA Kingdom Come Special: Superman being his most recent work.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Ross
====Trivia==== 
*In most of the illustrations, the shield appears to be bigger, covering more the chest of the character than in other incarnations.
*Despite this logo is no longer being seen in the comics, it is currently used in some merchandise, like LEGO minifigures.
===2001–2002===
In Superman (Vol. 2) #175, the yellow background of Superman's shield turned "black", as a symbol of mourning due to sad events that made him change it. This appearance lasted for a period of time, and it later returned to the original color scheme.
This version of the logo was formerly used by another member of the Superman Family: Superboy.
===2004–2005===
This logo was used in the conntrovesial For Tomorrow storyline (Superman (Vol. 2) #204–215) illustrated by Jim Lee. Compared to other iterations, Lee made the "S" squery and the lower serif was missing in most cases. This would probably served as basis for his New 52 design (see below).
==1997–1998==
Superman (Electric Blue).svg
Superman (Electric Red).svg
In Superman (Vol. 2) #123, Superman was given electrical powers included a completely new outfit with a reimagined shield designed by artist Ron Krentz. The logo, instead of being red and yellow/gold, was designed white and blue with stylized lightning bolt "S".
One year later, when the character was split in two entities (blue and red) a red variation of the logo was revealed; this only lasted for a few issues, when Superman went back to his "classic-look."
==2011–2016==
After the events of Flashpoint, the DC Universe was once again rebooted, and the continuity of Superman's franchise was changed completely.
===2011 ===
In Action Comics (Vol. 2) #1 a new version of Superman debuted and instead of wearing his classic suit, he wears a T-shirt with this shield on his chest, as well as jeans, boots and a small cape attached to his back.
Designed by artist Rags Morales, this logo is similar to the 1968 shield, but with the difference that the center of the "S" looks thicker and the red tone is darker and the yellow tone its more pale. This logo only appeared in the first four issues of Action Comics (Vol. 2)  until it was replaced by the one below.
===2011–2012, 2015===
On Justice League (Vol. 2) #1, Superman started to wear a "Kryptonian Armor" with this shield on his chest, made by Jim Lee, which is a complete modernization of the classic logo. The "S" was given a more futuristic look and the lower serif has been removed (though some artists continued drawing it regardless). This logo was used in Justice League (Vol. 2) until issue 12, though Lee would go back to work on the series from issue 38 to 47.
===2012–2016===
In Superman Annual (Vol. 3) #1, Kenneth Rocartof revised Morales' design, making it straighter and more symmetrical with the lower serif being removed. This logo was used during the New 52 Era of DC Comics, until it was concluded in 2016.
==References==
Category:Superman
Category:DC Comics
Category:Comic books
Category:1938
Category:Warner Bros.
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Category:AT&T
Category:Superheroes
Category:DC Comics and Warner Bros.