Ohio lawmakers considering Superman plates

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The Ohio House of Representatives is considering a bill that would allow drivers to have Superman-themed license plates, officials said.

The bill was introduced to the House Wednesday and is awaiting committee assignment, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.

State Rep. Bill Patmon said he wants the Superman plates to be available in 2013, the 75th anniversary of the first appearance of Superman in comic books.

The plates will feature the Superman insignia and the slogan "Truth, Justice & the American Way," and will honor Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created Superman in Glenville during the Great Depression.

Michael Olszewski, president of the Siegel and Shuster Society, said he couldn't wait for the day the plates will be available.

"The enthusiastic response to the proposed license plates was overwhelming," he said. "We had people lining up to sign the state petitions. We expect to see thousands of the S-Shield plates on the road ... maybe tens of thousands."

Patmon said he does not expect the bill to face opposition in the House, and that it must pass the Senate and be signed by the governor before the plates will be available.