The Origin of “It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!”
The popular phrase “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” originates from the Superman comic books published by DC Comics. It was first used in the 1940s radio serial The Adventures of Superman. In the radio show, the character Jimmy Olsen would often say “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” when seeing Superman flying by. This catchphrase helped build suspense and excitement for the arrival of the Man of Steel.
The phrase became widespread with the release of the 1950s Superman TV series starring George Reeves. The iconic introduction to the show featured a narrator saying “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!” As the narrator described Superman’s abilities, Jimmy Olsen would interrupt and excitedly proclaim “It’s Superman!” This helped cement “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” in pop culture history.
Use in the Superman Comic Books
While the phrase originated from the Superman radio and TV shows, it was also occasionally used in the Superman comic books. In the early comics, characters like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White would sometimes blurt out “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” when catching a glimpse of Superman flying by overhead or making a dramatic entrance.
This helped add to the sense of thrill, wonder, and excitement that people felt when Superman arrived on the scene. Seeing the Man of Steel in action was astounding, so exclaiming “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” captured the disbelief and amazement of seeing a man fly through the air like a rocket.
Where Was It First Used?
The first known use of the iconic phrase was in the February 16, 1942 episode of the radio serial The Adventures of Superman titled “The Baby from Krypton”. In the episode, Jimmy Olsen is with Lois Lane when he spots a meteor falling from the sky. He exclaims “Look Lois! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane!”. Of course, it then turns out to be baby Kal-El’s ship crashing on Earth.
This radio episode aired nearly two years after Superman made his first comic book appearance in Action Comics #1 in April 1938. So while Superman had already become a popular comic book character, the phrase is believed to have originated with the 1940s radio show, helping to showcase Superman’s new flying abilities to a wider audience.
Use in Pop Culture Beyond Superman
While strongly associated with Superman, the phrase “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” has appeared many times in popular culture beyond just the Man of Steel’s appearances. Here are some other iconic uses of the saying:
Movies
- In Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie, the Joker proclaims “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just little old me!” when confronting Batman.
- In Joe Dante’s animated movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), Bugs Bunny says “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…?!?” while in the Smithsonian Institution.
- In Bee Movie (2007), one of Barry’s bee friends wakes him up by saying “Rise and shine! It’s a brand new day! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Barry!”
Television
- In the pilot episode of The Greatest American Hero (1981), the main character flies for the first time and two witnesses say “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!”
- In the Seinfeld episode “The Heart Attack” (1995), Kramer spots a flying George and says “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!”.
- In the Friends episode “The One With George Stephanopoulos” (1995), Chandler spots Ross kissing Janice and sarcastically remarks “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!”.
Comic Books
- In Action Comics #241 (1958), Jimmy Olsen exclaims the phrase when he thinks he has spotted Superman but it’s actually a shape-shifted version of Supergirl.
- In Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963), J. Jonah Jameson witnesses Spider-Man swinging through the city and sarcastically says “It’s a teenager! It’s an acrobat! It’s a costumed freak!”
So the phrase has been used both humorously and earnestly in many different mediums as a play on the original Superman exclamation. It remains a quick way to express excitement and disbelief at seeing something incredible and unexpected.
Breakdown of the Phrase
Let’s take a closer look at the grammatical breakdown of this iconic phrase:
“It’s a bird!”
This declares that whatever is being observed in the sky is initially assumed to be a bird. For those first spotting Superman in flight, identifying the fast moving object as a bird would be an understandable mistake. Birds are one of the only living things we regularly see flying high up in the sky.
“It’s a plane!”
Next, the object is identified as an airplane. This suggests that it is realized the object is much too large and fast moving to be a bird. Plane builds more dramatic tension as airplanes were advanced technology in the early 20th century when Superman was introduced.
“It’s Superman!”
Finally, the object is revealed to actually be the iconic hero Superman. This builds excitement and suspense, as readers/listeners now know that Superman is arriving to save the day with his superhuman abilities. The progression from bird to plane to Superman allows for a dramatic build up.
Why Use “It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!” for Superman?
There are a few reasons why this phrase works so well to herald Superman’s arrival:
Establishes Superman’s Flight
One of Superman’s most iconic superpowers is the ability to fly. As one of the first superheroes able to fly, this helped make Superman extra special and exciting for audiences. So calling out that he is flying like a bird or plane helps reinforce and showcase this wondrous ability.
Builds Anticipation and Suspense
By listing out “bird” and “plane” before the big reveal of “Superman!”, it builds anticipation and suspense for the hero’s much anticipated arrival. It gives audiences a moment to wonder what that blur zipping across the sky could be.
Highlights How Incredible Superman Is
Changing the declaration from bird to plane showcases that Superman isn’t just a regular flying animal or machine, but something super powerful and otherworldly. It highlights how incredible and different Superman is from everything else we see flying up in the sky.
Evokes Imagery of Superman in Flight
The phrase conjures up the iconic image of Superman flying high over the city with his cape fluttering behind him. Audiences can visualize that quintessential hero shot just from the words “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!”.
Why Does Superman Fly Like a Bird or Plane?
Superman’s flying has often been compared to a bird or plane because of some similarities in how he flies:
Smooth Soaring
Birds are able to use air currents and thermal updrafts to soar gracefully through the air while expending minimal energy. Superman is often depicted in the comics and films sailing high up in the sky in a similar smooth, soaring flight.
Speed
Though early Superman couldn’t fly quite as fast as modern versions, he was still able to fly much faster than humans could travel. Airplanes were the fastest manmade objects when Superman was created, so comparing his speed to a plane made sense.
Strength
Planes have to be very aerodynamic and powerfully propelled to achieve flight. Superman has the strength and power in his body to propel himself at high speeds through the air in a similar manner.
Altitude
Both birds and airplanes fly higher up from the ground than humans are able to reach without assistance. Superman is often shown flying and operating at these high altitudes as well.
Arm Positioning
When Superman flies, he often has one arm reaching forward. This semi-aerodynamic positioning mirrors the form of both a bird with its wings stretched out and the forward orientation of an airplane.
So while Superman’s flying ability is unique, evoking both birds and planes helps link it to things the audience understands. This helps them comprehend how Superman can defy gravity and take to the skies.
How Has Superman’s Flight Changed Over Time?
Superman couldn’t always fly. When the character was first created, Superman could only leap tall building in a single bound. But over time his flight abilities increased substantially:
1939
First gained ability to “hurdle skyscrapers” and “leap an eighth of a mile” in Action Comics #4
1940s
Began “flying” for short distances from take off points in the radio show and Fleischer cartoons
1948
Depicted flying horizontally for the first time on the cover of Superman #61
1950s
Flight fully incorporated into Superman’s power set in the George Reeves TV series
1986
John Byrne’s post-Crisis reboot establishes Superman as able to fly at speeds faster than light
Modern
Superman is now typically depicted as being able to achieve interstellar flight and fly at many times the speed of light
So originally Superman was much more akin to simply a super-powered jumper before evolving into the quintessential flying superhero he’s known as today. His ever increasing flight speeds also serve to make the “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” phrase more fitting for the character over time.
Significance of the Phrase Over Time
While this phrase originated in the early 20th century, it remains a part of Superman’s mythos and popular culture:
1940s
Helped establish Superman’s ability to fly to wider audience through radio show
1950s
Cemented as signature Superman phrase through George Reeves TV series
1960s
Repeated use in Superman comics helped ingrain it as part of character mythos
1970s -80s
Phrase recognized even by those not familiar with Superman comics/shows
Modern
Remains instantly recognizable and nostalgic signature Superman phrase
The saying has come to represent both Superman as a character and also the early eras of superhero comics and radio serials. While Superman has changed a lot over the decades, hearing “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” still evokes the classic version of the hero and feelings of optimism.
Conclusion
The phrase “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” has become cemented as one of the most iconic catchphrases associated with Superman. First introduced in the 1940s radio serials, it became widespread through the 1950s TV show and its use capturing the excitement of seeing Superman take flight.
Though originally used for Superman, the saying has also appeared humorously or dramatically adapted in many other works across different mediums. But it remains inextricably linked to those first thrilling moments of realizing the Man of Steel is soaring through the skies to save the day. Over many decades, it continues to encapsulate the wonder, optimism, and imaginations Superman inspires.