Superhero is a type of fictional character first made popular in comic books. Superheroes are individuals who use unnatural or enhanced abilities to perform heroic acts. Often, a superhero is the alter ego (alternate identity) of a normal person, adopting a costume to disguise their appearance. Superhero abilities, also called superpowers, can range from heightened combat skills to the power to change shape, fly, or move things with the mind. An individual who uses enhanced abilities for evil is referred to as a supervillain. 
The American writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster are credited with inventing the superhero genre (style) with the release of Action Comics #1 in 1938. That comic book featured the debut of Superman, a humanlike alien from the fictional planet Krypton. Superman protects the fictional city of Metropolis using his ability to fly, incredible strength, and bulletproof body, among other powers. His alter ego, Clark Kent, works as a journalist. The new genre combined elements of science fiction and detective magazines. Superman and “Action Comics” were incredibly successful. They inspired the creation of such heroes as Batman (1939), Green Lantern and the Flash (both 1940), and Wonder Woman (1941). These heroes often teamed up in crossover stories for their publisher, which eventually became DC Comics. The American writers Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created the superhero Captain America for Timely Publications in 1941. Timely Publications later became Marvel Comics. 
Superheroes attain their abilities in several ways. Some, such as Superman, are of a unique origin and are born with them. Others acquire abilities through training and personal wealth, for example Batman. Characters such as the Hulk and Spider-Man gained their abilities from scientific experiments. Marvel’s Thor, Loki, and Odin are all inspired by Norse mythology. 
Superheroes are also popular in motion pictures and on television. Often, such presentations feature plots and characters adapted from comic book stories.
