E-Man is a comic-book character, a superhero created by writer Nicola Cuti and artist Joe Staton for the American company Charlton Comics in 1973. Although the character's original series was short-lived, the lightly humorous hero has become a cult classic occasionally revived by different independent comics publishers. The character was originally owned by Charlton but was eventually transferred to its creators. Publication history After editor Dick Giordano left the Derby, Connecticut-based Charlton Comics, in 1968, the publisher ended its superhero line. A later editor, George Wildman, persuaded the publisher to try superheroes again, prompting writer Nicola Cuti and artist Joe Staton to devise E-Man. Cuti said that his inspirations included the Golden Age of Comics superhero Plastic Man, such that he wanted to create a similarly fun and whimsical character. Cuti also admired Albert Einstein and his formula E=mc2. He conceived a character who was caught in a factory explosion and became an energy being that could take any form of matter. When he shared this idea with artist Joe Staton, Staton felt the origin was too similar to that of Charlton's Captain Atom and the atomic-accident origins that had often been used by Marvel Comics writer-editor Stan Lee. Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, Cuti created a new origin that made E-Man a packet of sentient energy created as a star went nova. Cuti asked Staton to design the costume, requiring only that the character not wear a cape and that the formula E=mc2 be his chest emblem. Staton based E-Man's face on that of actor Roger Moore, making him appear heroic but somewhat generic. When Staton delivered his design to Cuti, Cuti colored it with yellows and oranges to differentiate it from the reds and blues so frequently in other superhero costumes. E-Man took a light whimsical tone to differentiate itself from super hero comics at Marvel and DC. Cuti enjoyed scripting wisecracking banter between E-Man and his girlfriend, Nova Kane, inspired by movies like The Thin Man and Mr. and Mrs. North. However, he did not intend to spoof superhero comics, but present serious situations that the characters could make light of. Inspired by the work of Wally Wood in MAD magazine, Staton inserted sight gags into each issue. Cuti promoted E-Man in advance of the first issue by sending letters to assorted fanzines, such as Rocket's Blast ComiCollector and The Comic Reader, with a