The superhero comic book had its origin in June of 1938 when Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster introduced Superman in Action Comics first issue.
Before that date the most similar format to a comic book were compilations of strips published in daily or Sunday papers.
Superman’s young creators had to wait for six years to see their character printed, being rejected many times because, among other reasons, the editors thought that the story was “too fantastic”.
In an early interview, Siegel explained what inspired him to create Superman, making clear that his main inspiration came from the classical hero:

'I conceived a character like Samson, Hercules and all the strong men
I have ever heard tell of rolled into one… only more so.'

But a reading of a Superman comic book will uncover other remarkable influences apart from the classic myth, especially from the science fiction literature and film in vogue at that time.
Alex Ross, the artist that made the superheroes look more real tan ever, defines the super-heroic phenomenon in the following way:
'A new modern mythology that tends to encapsulate all forms of
fiction, including mystery, science fiction, magic, myth…'