SUPER-Mail

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

19 Jul 2006 02:00 PM

It's a bird... It's a plane... It's Superman... on a stamp. That's right; superheroes are coming to a post office near you. Starting Friday, July 21 you will be able to adorn your letters, bills, and postcards with Batman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man and a half dozen other superheroes. The popular comic book characters are the latest stars to be featured on postage stamps.

The stamps will be sold in sheets of 20, half featuring the individual superheroes and half showing covers of comic books they star in. Postal Service representatives say that this first set of super hero stamps will likely be followed by additional sets, which will include other popular "super" characters.

The first round of superheroes to get their own stamps include:

Batman: As his alias, Bruce Wayne he used his wealth to become a crime fighter following his parents death. He made his debut in comic books in 1939 and was joined by Robin a year later.

Wonder Woman: Considered by many as a figure of "strength, beauty and courage," she has been inspiring women since her first appearance in the comics in 1941.

Plastic Man: An accident at a chemical plant gives him the ability to stretch in ways only a superhero can.

Superman: The Man of Steel has been an icon ever since his debut in 1938.

Green Lantern: Test pilot Hal Jordan became Green Lantern, a "galactic peace officer" with an emerald power ring.

The Flash: Former police scientist Barry Allen was transformed into the fastest man alive in 1956 by an "explosive mixture of lightning and laboratory chemicals."

Aquaman: One of the founding members of the Justice League of America, the former King of the Seven Seas protects both marine life and surface dwellers.

Hawkman: He has artificial wings "powered by the mysterious 'Nth metal,' which allow him to soar through the sky in pursuit of evildoers."

Supergirl: She's superman's cousin who arrives on Earth as a teenager and later morphs into his secret weapon.

Green Arrow: Sort of a modern day Robin Hood, he honed his skills while trapped on a desert island.

The new 39-cent stamps and 24-cent postal cards will be made public at a comic book show in San Diego tomorrow, and will go on sale nationwide Friday.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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