[Lee Stewart]

Superman Didn’t Always Fly

The original comic book Superman could leap tall buildings in a single bound—but then he had to come right back down to earth, because he didn’t fly.

It wasn’t until the 1940s, when animators for a new cartoon show decided it would be too difficult to routinely draw him bending his knees, that it was decided Superman could simply take off into the air. The audience got to see smooth animation and a superhero gained a new power.