METROPOLIS, Ill. — Longtime Superman collector and founder of the Superman Museum in Metropolis, Jim Hambrick died on Sunday, Dec. 23, at 70 years old. But his family and community members say his lasting impact will survive for decades to come.
Hambrick died from heart complications after suffering a heart attack in 2016. His daughter, Morgan Siebert, said since his heart attack in 2016, Hambrick grew weaker. However, she said running the museum improved his morale, and it gave him purpose to keep it open for travelers and the Metropolis community.
Siebert decided to honor her father with a black armband commonly worn by fans during times of grief.
Hambrick grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Metropolis in March 1993. His passion for Superman and collecting started when he received his first Superman lunch box at 5-years-old. Siebert said over the years, he became interested in buying comic books and collectibles. When Hambrick reached 19-years-old, he was known as the world’s famous Superman collector.
Hambrick’s favorite portrayal of Superman is by actor George Reeves.
“We have a Christopher Reeve costume he acquired after Superman the movie came out,” she said. “He did museum appearances, and the heads of DC Comics and Warner Brothers reached out to him, and they put him in the lobby of the Daily News building to do an exhibition. In exchange, it was in his contract that he would get a certain amount of costumes for different appearances.”
Hambrick’s daughter, Morgan Siebert, pointing out sticks used by superman actors to mimic the character’s cape blowing in the wind.
Metropolis Alderman Al Wagner said on Monday that he and Hambrick were close friends. Wagner moved to Metropolis in the ’90s after meeting Hambrick at a celebratory event. He said he was in agreement with Hambrick’s philosophical views, and noted that their values were similar. Wagner credits Hambrick with bringing him to the area.
Wagner believes Hambrick’s life and legacy will continue to live on through his daughter’s work to keep the museum open.
This lunch box was the first superman character item given to Jim Hambrick, which started his passion for collecting Superman memorabilia.
“What is so unique about Jim Hambrick is he really was, you know, a real Maverick, really ahead of his time,” Wagner said. “What I think is most impressive is he had the foresight as he grew up to save and preserve Superman. I mean, and we were very special. There was a clan of them that were really the core.”
Siebert said she plans to honor Hambrick at the Superman Celebration in June 2025.
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