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Perry White

Perry White is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the editor-in-chief of the Metropolis newspaper the Daily Planet.[1] The character maintains very high ethical and journalistic standards and is an archetypal image of the tough, irascible, but fair-minded boss.[2]

Perry White
Perry White as depicted in The World of Metropolis #1 (August 1988).
Art by John Byrne, Dick Giordano, and Tom Ziuko.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceThe Adventures of Superman
"Clark Kent, Reporter (February 14, 1940)"
First comic appearanceSuperman #7 (November 1940)
Created by
In-story information
Team affiliationsDaily Planet
Galaxy Communications
Supporting character ofSuperman
Lois Lane
Jimmy Olsen

In film, the character has been portrayed by Pierre Watkin in the Superman serial, Jackie Cooper in 1978's Superman movie and its sequels, Frank Langella in Superman Returns, Laurence Fishburne in the DC Extended Universe, and Wendell Pierce in the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) film Superman (2025). In television, John Hamilton and Lane Smith played the character in Adventures of Superman and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, respectively, and Paul Jarrett in the series Superman & Lois.

Publication history

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The character Perry White was created for the radio serial The Adventures of Superman, voiced by actor Julian Noa. He first appeared in the second episode, "Clark Kent, Reporter", which aired on February 14, 1940. The character was introduced into the comic books later that year, appearing in Superman #7 (November 1940). Since then, the character has continued to appear in Superman and other comic books on a continual basis, and has been a regular supporting character in both live-action and animated films and television programs over eight decades.

He is well-known for the catchphrases "Great Caesar's ghost!" and "Don't call me 'chief!'".

Fictional character biography

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Golden and Silver Age

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The earliest Superman comics depict Clark Kent and Lois Lane working for the newspaper the Daily Star under editor George Taylor. However, after Perry White's introduction in the Adventures of Superman radio series, the character was incorporated into the comic books, appearing as the editor of a newly renamed the Daily Planet.[3] No in-story explanation for this change was given at the time, and neither George Taylor nor the Daily Star were mentioned again for many years.

After the establishment of the multiverse in the 1960s, Taylor and the Daily Star were retroactively placed on "Earth-Two", (the setting of DC's Golden Age comics), while White and the Daily Planet were placed on Earth-One (the Silver Age universe). (In the real world, Perry White and the Planet were both created during comics' Golden Age.) A Perry White also existed on Earth-Two: There, he is a lead reporter for the Daily Star and, according to a Superman Family tale, has "filled in" as editor from time to time while Taylor was away.

Prior to the continuity changes detailed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, The Man of Steel, and other comics published after 1986, Perry White is depicted as having been a freelance reporter for various newspapers, including a Chicago newspaper[4] and Gotham City's Gotham Gazette.[5] In The Adventures of Superman, it was also established that White had a law degree but had never practiced law, journalism having a greater attraction for him. However, this detail from the radio show was rarely, if ever, touched upon in comics.[6]

White eventually goes to work at the Daily Planet as a reporter and earns his first Pulitzer Prize by being the first to write about Superboy's extraterrestrial origins, thanks to an exclusive interview with the Boy of Steel.[7]

Later, Perry's reporting skills earn further praise after he is the first to discover that Superboy has moved to Metropolis from Smallville. (Superboy had intended to keep his move quiet for an undefined period of time, so as not to alert anyone to Superboy and Clark Kent leaving Smallville at the same time.)[8]

Finally, during Clark Kent's junior year of college, Perry is promoted to editor-in-chief of the newspaper, after the retirement of the paper's previous editor, the Earth-One version of George Taylor.[9]

In the early 1970s, the Daily Planet is bought by Morgan Edge, president of the media conglomerate Galaxy Communications, with much of Perry's power in running the paper overtaken by Edge.[10] In the months just prior to the Crisis "reboot" in 1985, it is implied that Perry White is developing Alzheimer's disease, manifesting in increased forgetfulness and confusion.[volume & issue needed]

Post-Crisis (1986-2011)

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With writer John Byrne's post-Crisis on Infinite Earths revamp of Superman's origin in the Man of Steel miniseries and his subsequent Superman comics, Perry White's history was altered and fleshed out more fully.

Post-Crisis, White was born in Metropolis' Suicide Slum area, growing up with a father missing in action in an overseas war. White goes to school with Lex Luthor while they are children (Luthor was also born in Suicide Slum) and becomes a copy boy at the Daily Planet, beginning a lifetime career that will take him up the newspaper's ladder.

After Luthor becomes a successful businessman, he begins diversifying his holdings in his newly founded LexCorp company, which includes buying the Daily Planet. Luthor soon sells it after deciding to pursue technology and television investments. Turning down an offer from Luthor to become part of Luthor's new television station WLEX, White finds an investor who saves the Daily Planet, on the condition that Perry is promoted from reporter to managing editor. The entire episode, including being forced out of his active reporting career, leaves White bitter and angry with Luthor.

White marries Alice Spencer and has a son, Jerry White. Much later, after Jerry is fully grown, Perry learns that Luthor is Jerry's biological father; Luthor having seduced and impregnated Alice while Perry was overseas reporting on a war and thought to have been killed. Although Perry continues to raise Jerry as his own, the knowledge that he is not the boy's true father continues to haunt him.

In subsequent years as managing editor and then editor-in-chief of The Daily Planet, White forms a core team of reporters and writers: Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen, Catherine "Cat" Grant, Ron Troupe, Steve Lombard, and many others. The Planet, meanwhile, is established as a paper of record, breaking such stories as Superman's debut, multiple alien invasions, and the death and subsequent return of Superman. During this time, White becomes increasingly estranged from his son Jerry, who ultimately dies from a gunshot wound. Perry and Alice grieve for some time, resulting in Perry taking a leave of absence from the Daily Planet.

Later, the Whites adopt an orphaned African-American boy named Keith Robert Parks, who soon has his name changed to Keith Robert White. At about this time, Perry takes another leave of absence for lung cancer treatment, putting Clark Kent in charge as the Planet's temporary editor. After many grueling months of chemotherapy, the cancer goes into remission. (Perry White had been depicted in all media as a habitual cigar smoker for decades.)

During a period of financial struggle for the Planet, its owner, Franklin Stern, sells the paper back to Luthor. Luthor, acting out of malice, shuts the paper down and fires everyone except Lane, Olsen, and two others who are forced to accept new jobs at Lexcom, Luthor's new Internet-based news company. Shortly thereafter, Luthor sells the Planet to Bruce Wayne for $1 (thanks to a secret deal made with Lane). Wayne rehires Perry and essentially gives him full control of the Planet, enabling him to undo all of Luthor's meddling while resolving the paper's financial problems.

Though Perry White's knowledge of Clark Kent's alter ego is uncertain, he has found his star reporter's clothes in a supply closet, including his passport. For this reason, it is implied that White may well suspect that Kent is Superman, but he has never confided this suspicion or knowledge to anybody. For his own part, Batman believes that White knows.

Changes to Superman continuity were introduced in the 2003-2004 miniseries Superman: Birthright, and then again in 2010's Superman: Secret Origin. These changes may have affected details of Perry White's life as related above. However, any details not directly contradicted by those stories or subsequent comics prior to 2011 are assumed to be within the character's continuity.

Since 2011's Flashpoint, 2013's Rebirth, and 2022's Dark Crisis, the entirety of DC Comics continuity has been rewritten, erased, and reintroduced multiple times, subsequently altering the Perry White character further.

New 52

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When Superman's identity is exposed by Lois to protect Clark from being blackmailed by a secret conspiracy, Perry fires Clark in a fury of anger and perceived betrayal, accusing Clark of only working at the Planet so that he can profit from his own headlines.

When the Superman of this reality dies, he is replaced by his predecessor from the pre-Flashpoint universe, while Mister Mxyzptlk uses his powers to impersonate Clark Kent and convince everyone that the previous revelation of Superman's identity was an elaborate hoax. This storyline culminates in the displaced Lois and Clark merging with their counterparts in this universe, creating a new timeline where Lois and Clark took a leave of absence from the Planet to raise their newborn son Jon Kent, with Perry as his godfather.

In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock", Perry White has changed the name of the article revolving around "The Superman Theory", much to the dismay of Lois Lane and Clark Kent.[11]

When Clark decides to go public with his identity, Perry is one of the first people he tells. Because Perry is much more involved in Clark's life and sees him not just as an employee but as a good husband and father, he fully accepts that Clark is Superman and allows him to keep his job.

When Lex Luthor and Manchester Black erase all public knowledge of Superman's secret identity, Perry is the first to demonstrate what will happen if anyone is reminded of this secret; Black's telepathic command nearly causes Perry to have a seizure as his brain can no longer accept the idea that Superman and Clark Kent are the same person.[12]

Other versions

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  • An alternate universe variant of Perry White appears in All-Star Superman, in which he helps contribute to exposing Lex Luthor's crimes.
  • An alternate universe variant of Perry White makes a cameo appearance in Superman: Red Son, in which he retires as the Daily Planet's editor-in-chief and appoints Lois Luthor his successor.

In other media

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Television

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Live-action

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  • Perry White appears in Adventures of Superman, portrayed by John Hamilton. This version has a sister, Kate, and a nephew, Chris. Additionally, this series originated the character's catchphrases "Great Caesar's ghost!" and "Don't call me chief".
  • Perry White's son, Trevor Jenkins "T.J." White, appears in the first season of Superboy (1988), portrayed by Jim Calvert.
  • Perry White appears in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, portrayed by Lane Smith. This version is a Baby Boomer with an abiding fondness for rock and roll, particularly Elvis Presley, and is known for exclaiming "Great shades of Elvis!" as such. Additionally, he displays marital difficulties with his wife Alice.
  • Perry White appears in Smallville, portrayed by Michael McKean. This version is a multiple Pulitzer-nominated tabloid television reporter who previously worked for the Daily Planet before he mounted a failed attempt at exposing Lionel Luthor's corruption. Later in the series, he enters a relationship with Senator Martha Kent and eventually becomes editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet.
  • Perry White appears in the pilot episode of Superman & Lois, portrayed by Paul Jarrett. This version lost his position as editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet after Morgan Edge bought out the company and replaced him with Samuel Foswell.

Animation

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Film

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Live-action

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Animation

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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References

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  1. ^ Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. pp. 491–499. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3.
  2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. pp. 471–473. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ^ Superman #7 (November–December 1940)
  4. ^ Superman #142 (January 1961)
  5. ^ World's Finest Comics #80 (January–February 1956)
  6. ^ Bellum, Robert Leslie. The Adventures of Superman, Episode 4/09, "Dagger Island." First aired May 19, 1956.
  7. ^ The New Adventures of Superboy #12 (December 1980)
  8. ^ Superman #366 (December 1981)
  9. ^ Superman: The Secret Years #4 (May 1985)
  10. ^ Superman #233 (January 1971)
  11. ^ Doomsday Clock #5. DC Comics.
  12. ^ Action Comics #1050
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Perry White Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 22, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  14. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (April 6, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Eyes Summer Release Date — Watch Teaser Trailer for Animated Series". TVLine. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (June 5, 2023). "My Adventures With Superman Gets Adult Swim and Max Release Dates". TVLine. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  16. ^ Good, Owen S. (2023-06-05). "My Adventures With Superman looks like the best summer of your life". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  17. ^ Nelson, Samantha (2023-06-26). "My Adventures With Superman Review". IGN. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  18. ^ Ditzian, Eric (August 3, 2011). "'Man Of Steel' Taps Laurence Fishburne As News Chief Perry White". MTV. Archived from the original on 2015-08-03. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  19. ^ Pennacchio, George (March 31, 2016). "'Batman v. Superman' success thrilling to Laurence Fishburne". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Kit, Borys (March 1, 2024). "Wendell Pierce Cast as Perry White in James Gunn's 'Superman' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  21. ^ Anderson, Jenna (April 10, 2024). "Superman's Wendell Pierce Breaks Silence on Playing Perry White". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  22. ^ Hemmert, Kylie (April 6, 2020). "LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters Trailer & Release Date". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  23. ^ "Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! | Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment". YouTube. July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  24. ^ Lovell, Kevin (July 27, 2023). "'Scooby-Doo! And Krypto, Too!' Trailer, Artwork & Release Details; Arrives On Digital & DVD September 26, 2023 From Warner Bros". Screen-Connections. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  26. ^ DC Universe Online Legends #2 (April 2011)
  27. ^ DC Universe Online Legends #9 (August 2011)
  28. ^ DC Universe Online Legends #10 (August 2011)
  29. ^ DC Universe Online Legends #20 (February 2012)
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