Gladiator: The Enduring Classic That Inspired the Creators of Superman! (Dover Books on Literature and Drama)

Thanks to his father's genetic experiments, Hugo Danner is born with superhuman levels of strength, speed, and intelligence. Hugo feels compelled to conceal his gifts from a suspicious and uncomprehending world, but he doesn't take on an identity as a costumed crusader. Instead, his struggles to find a place in society that will accommodate his extraordinary skills lead to a checkered career as a boardwalk strongman, Foreign Legionnaire, politician, and archeologist. Gladiator, first published in 1930, preceded Superman's debut by eight years and formed the archetypes further developed in subsequent superhero comics and literature. Fans of comics, graphic novels, science-fiction, and fantasy literature will be captivated by this timeless tale of an outsider's search for acceptance and fulfillment. Introduction by Gerard Jones, author of Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book. Scientist Abednego Danner discovers a serum which grants superpowers. He injects his pregnant wife with the serum and his son is born with powers like those of Superman (created a few years later). What follows is the story of Hugo's search for his place in the world.