Superman "The Mark of Zorro" and "Robin Hood". The name of Superman's home city, Metropolis, was taken from the 1927 film of the same name. Popeye cartoons were also an influence. Clark Kent's harmless facade and dual identity was inspired by the protagonists of such movies as Don Diego de la Vega in "The Mark of Zorro" and Sir Percy Blakeney in "The Scarlet Pimpernel". Siegel thought this would make for interesting dramatic contrast and good humor. Another inspiration was slapstick comedian Harold Lloyd. The archetypal Lloyd character was a gentle man who finds himself abused by bullies but later in
Richard Blakeney being dismissed by Khadim Hussain. He was promoted Major 21 October 1935 and transferred to the Special Unemployed List on 1 June 1936. At some point later he moved the Australia, where he died in Melbourne, Victoria in 1984, although the exact date isn't known. Richard Blakeney Major Stephen Richard St Leger Blakeney (31 March 1897 – 1984) was an Irish cricketer who was born at Dublin. During the First World War Blakeney served in the Indian Army and was commissioned on 30 January 1917 to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant from the Quetta Cadet College. Now attached to the