Superman’s little-known Torontonian roots are being highlighted with a colourful new series of Canada Post stamps.

The postal service announced Wednesday it will unveil a series of five stamps in celebration of the iconic superhero, whose creator was once a Hogtown local.

“The thing about Superman is that he is like the ultimate hyphenated citizen. He is a Canadian-American-Kryptonian superhero,” said Keisha McIntosh-Siung, spokesperson for Canada Post. “He’s really a timeless hero.”

Photo gallery: Superman through the years

Fans will have a chance to preview the stamps this Friday at Fan Expo Canada, an annual convention for fans of comics, sci-fi, anime and gaming. The stamps officially go on sale Sept. 10. Only a limited quantity will be printed, but the Superman stamps will retain their postage value in the future and can be used any time.

Superman was created in 1933 by writer Jerry Siegel and Toronto-born artist Joseph Shuster, while the two were in high school in Cleveland, Ohio. Shuster modelled Superman’s city, Metropolis, after his own hometown and the Daily Planet after the Toronto Daily Star, which he used to deliver as a young boy. The creators later sold the character to DC Comics, who debuted Superman in 1938.

The postage series is meant to commemorate the superhero’s 75th birthday and will include five distinct stamps, each depicting artwork drawn from various eras. McIntosh-Siung said she expects the stamps will be in high demand because of the superhero’s popularity among collectors and fans young and old.

“He continues to inspire millions of people, so I think a lot of people are going to be interested in it,” said McIntosh-Siung. “We anticipate that it’s going to be going pretty quickly.”

Although Superman’s appeal among collectors is particularly strong, McIntosh-Siung says she is confident the stamps will also be put to use by many. Usually, when specialty series are released, people mail letters or cards with them to friends and family so they get officially stamped, she said.

The Superman stamps and the buzz they’re creating are also expected to boost revenues at Canada Post, according to McIntosh-Siung. “The stamps are also good for business, because people do look forward to them and they do use them.”

Superman poll

This is the second time Superman has been depicted on a Canadian stamp. In 1995, Canada Post released a series featuring various Canadian superheroes, including Superman. The iconic superhero has also been featured on stamps around the world, including the U.S., Argentina and the U.K.

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