At first glance, Superman looks like the ultimate all-American superhero. But peel back his red, white and blue layers and you’ll uncover Superman’s unlikely Scandinavian origins rooted in Norse mythology.

Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were inspired by strongmen and Ubermensch characters from Nordic myths. One major influence was Hercules, whose incredible strength and larger-than-life adventures translate into Superman’s powers and heroics. Specifically, Hercules’ 12 labors evoke Superman constantly defending the helpless against impossible odds.

Elements of Thor – the god of thunder with a weakness-free body – also surfaced in Superman. The all-powerful Man of Steel and the invulnerable hammer-wielding Thor have much in common. Superman’s only weaknesses, kryptonite and red sun rays, loosely parallel Norse myths about gods whose powers fail them in certain circumstances.

Even Superman’s real name Kal-El contains traces of Nordic heritage. “Kal” resembles the Old Norse word for “man”. And the El in his father’s name Jor-El, sounds much like the Norse word for god, Æsir. Together Kal-El essentially means “Man God” – an apt description for the supremely powerful Superman.

Visually, Superman’s barrel-chested body type and chiseled jawline resemble those of the exaggerated masculine figures in Norse art and comics. The bold primary colors of his costume also hint at mythic Scandinavian armor and clothing.

This hidden Nordic history shows that Superman is not quite the quintessential American hero we thought. His moral courage and physical strength reflect those of ancient Norse gods and heroes. The immigrant creators of Superman unconsciously infused their mythic Scandinavian roots into the DNA of this stalwart, archetypal superhero. He is more international than he seems!