Jordan T. Maxwell
Aug 1, 2008, 12:27 pm
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/comixfanpresents.gif" align=left border=0 hspace=10 alt="Comixfan Presents logo">Summer of Superman: Top Ten Appearances in Other Media
By: T. Martin, Jordan T. Maxwell, Greg Reeves
Editor: Jordan T. Maxwell
70 years ago, in the summer of 1938, two kids from Cleveland, Ohio changed the world forever. From their collaborative imagination sprang a hero who has endured for seven decades, transcending his home in comic books to conquer almost every other medium of art and entertainment and catalyzing the creation of an entire genre. He is more than just a fictional superhero. He is an icon (not a bird). He is an ideal (not a plane). He is...SUPERMAN!
To celebrate the Man of Steel's 70th anniversary, Comixfan is proud to bring you a series of features over the course of this summer. For the next seven weeks, we'll be bringing you a unique Top Ten list focusing on different facets of Superman's mythology, history and influence, showcasing 70 reasons why we love the Man of Tomorrow so much.
For this week's penultimate installment of our Summer of Superman, we take a look at Superman's crossing over into and domination of media other than comic books. Whether in film, television, cartoons, novels, pop songs or full length musicals, Superman has proven himself a formidable force in every medium of storytelling and entertainment he's encountered (well...okay, maybe not so much with the musicals. The Man of Steel is, sadly, no Dr. Horrible). We've compiled ten of the finest examples we could find...and as an extra special treat instead of just telling you about them, we're going to let you see for yourselves. So sit back and enjoy Superman's Top Ten Appearances in Other Media!
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#10 I Love Lucy: Lucy and Superman
Medium: Television
First Seen: January 14, 1957
Superman: George Reeves
It was the meeting of two American icons when Superman came to visit the Ricardo home. Lucy's attempts to get "Superman" for little Ricky's birthday party had failed and in a desperate attempt to save face she decided to dress up as the Man of Steel herself and enter through the window. Of course, in classic Lucy style, she managed to get herself stuck on the ledge, facing the perils of birds and a rain storm. Meanwhile, Ricky (the elder, played with the usual hammy glee of Desi Arnaz) had managed to find someone to fill the role of Superman himself, someone who suspiciously resembled George Reeves from the wildly popular Adventures of Superman TV show. His "acting" credentials are somewhat called into question, however, when he easily tosses aside a heavy piano with one hand and leaps out on to the ledge himself in order to (what else?) save the day. The final exchange between Lucy, Ricky and Superman is a sitcom classic that not only capped an incredible pop culture crossover, but also showcased the charm and comedic chops of Reeves in the company of one of the greatest comediennes of all time.
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#9 Superman (Fleischer Studios)
Medium: Animation
First Seen: September 26, 1941
Superman: Bud Collyer
With an innovative blend of rotoscoping and more traditional "loose" animation and the voice talents of Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander from the Adventures of Superman radio show as Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Fleischer Studios brought the Man of Steel flying simultaneously into the worlds of film and animation, two media who would come to dominate repeatedly over the decades. With a heavy focus on action and sweeping orchestral score, the cartoons are a dazzling spectacle of eye and ear candy, typically sending Superman up against mad scientists, giant robots, spies, saboteurs and natural disasters...usually having to rescue Lois in the process (the constant "damsel in distress" status may seem rather politically incorrect today, but we ARE talking about a cartoon series that had an episode titled Japoteurs, so being PC probably wasn't high on their list of priorities). Even after the Fleischers handed over the production of the cartoons to Famous Studios, their iconic style remained, influencing not only future Superman projects but animation in general even to this day.
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#8 Smallville
Medium: Television
First Seen: October 16, 2001
Superman: Tom Welling
It’s safe to say that Smallville isn’t your classic portrayal of Superman. Instead, this representation introduced the general public to a high school boy just coming to grips with having abilities and origins that set him apart from everybody else, yet still had an overwhelming desire to help those around him. The point of this show was simple: long before there was Superman, there was Clark Kent. He was a boy who lived in a small town in Kansas and just happened to be friends with a certain bald billionaire, which is probably one of Smallville’s greatest accomplishments. This version of Superman’s childhood is important in that it shows how, before being an arch nemesis, Lex Luthor was a close friend to a boy named Clark Kent. Though many consider the show to have long overstayed its welcome, to this day it still introduces audiences to reinterpretations of the Superman mythos, as well as adding characters of its own, particularly a certain blonde cousin of an intrepid investigative journalist (let's not play coy here...we love Chloe!). While hardly Emmy worthy, Smallville entertains audiences and gives the generations of today another reason to like the Man of Steel.
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#7 Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Medium: Television
First Seen: September 12, 1993
Superman: Dean Cain
It was the autumn of 1993. In comic books, Superman had just come back from the dead. And in television, he was about to be resurrected as well. Taking the classic formula of the Superman mythos and adapting it into something more akin to a prime time romantic soap opera proved to be a stroke of genius as both fans of classic superhero action and old school love stories tuned in to watch Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain flirt with and pine for one another in the time honored Clark/Lois/Superman love triangle. With a style that deftly combined a modern aesthetic with the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930s and 40s, Lois and Clark was a hit. Hatcher and Cain weren't master thespians, but they had an onscreen charisma and chemistry plus eye candy good looks that more than made up for it. And with the acting chops of John Shea's Lex Luthor and Lane Smith's inexplicably Elvis-obsessed Perry White supporting them, it made for damn fine television indeed. The show was never able to match the charm of its first season as each subsequent season just went more and more off the rails...but even still, going back now and watching that classic love story blossom all over again, is something that can make fanboy and fangirl alike smile.
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#6 Adventures of Superman (TV Show)
Medium: Television
First Seen: September 15, 1952
Superman: George Reeves
Superman's first foray into television wasn't overly dependent on big time supervillains or special effects. Usually, he just wound up facing off against generic gangsters and mad scientists. No wirework for the flying (an early accident had Reeves insist against it) and while Superman's barrel chested frame could deflect bullets, he still always ducked when the crook inevitably decided to try throwing the gun at him. Still, Reeves' performance alone made you believe in Superman. Those broad shoulders, the corner-of-the-mouth grin, those knowing parental eyes. The man was like a Curt Swan drawing come to life. It is a testament to Reeves and the program that despite a severely low budget, children still flocked to see the Man of Steel's latest televised adventures, tying towels around their necks and wishing they could fly. Tragically, this meant that Reeves became indistinguishable from the iconic role, denying him work once the show was done and allegedly leading to him taking his own life. But even marred by this sad news, there is still something nostalgic and powerfully inspiring about seeing Reeves on the small screen, saving the day, flying through the air or just that debonair Cary Grant way he'd slide on his fedora as Clark Kent, smirking at some comment Lois would make about Superman, sharing that secret knowledge that only he and the audience shared.
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#5 Superman Returns
Medium: Film
First Seen: June 28, 2006
Superman: Brandon Routh
The writing/directing team that lifted X2: X-Men United to such great heights reunited not to tell the next installment of Marvel's Merry Mutants, but instead to resurrect DC's Man of Steel in the realm of celluloid. After years of failed pitches and scripts (including such talents as Kevin Smith and JJ Abrams), Bryan Singer took an incredibly back to basics approach by quite literally taking over where Richard Donner left off after the first two films (the third and fourth movies are, mercifully, ignored). Structurally, it mirrors the first movie so closely that many accused it of merely being a rehash of that iconic film...but upon closer inspection, each element reveals itself as a darkly subverted version of its predecessor. Superman and Lois' rooftop interview and flight together are no longer a fanciful flirtation of wonder and magic, but a longing and bittersweet moment of "what might have been." Luthor's latest real estate plot is both grander and more destructive, while his use of Kryptonite to incapacitate Superman is a study in cruel brutality compared to the camp silliness of draping it upon him as a necklace. The visual spectacle of it all introduces us to a whole new world of "wow"! The plane sequence in particular combines action packed special effects with visual poetry so neatly that you can't help but feel like a kid again, seeing movies for the first time. Newcomer Brandon Routh calls upon the spirit of Christopher Reeve while also making the role(s) subtly his own, while Kevin Spacey out-Luthor's the great Gene Hackman with a slyly sinister but still very fun take on the villain. And Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane represents the viewpoint of an increasingly cynical audience...questioning whether we need a Superman in our world while desperately needing one to emerge. And we are blessed to know that he can...and will...return, always.
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#4 Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
Medium: Film
First Seen: November 28, 2006
Superman: Christopher Reeve
The fall out between Richard Donner and the Suskinds over the second Superman film has become the stuff of Hollywood myth and legend. While the theatrical release of Superman II, featuring a large amount of reshot footage by replacement director Richard Lester, has a lot to enjoy, it still feels lacking. The comedic shtick elements seem out of place, the new and random super powers (Telekinetic finger beams? Cellophane chest shield "nets"? Amnesia kiss?) distract and what should have been a continuation from Donner's original first movie comes across as a somewhat disjointed and inferior sequel. In 2006, Donner had the opportunity to piece together his own cut as best he could with some of his discarded footage, screen tests and the like filling in the gaps. And while it is by no means a polished film and still has its share of flaws, it proves itself to be a more consistent and satisfying vision, allowing Reeve's performance to truly shine and bringing Marlon Brando's Jor-El back into the film to allow for a deeper thematic and character arc. It is as piecemeal as the released Lester cut, but in the end, as a film in its own right and an artifact of "what might have been," it proves itself the superior vision of the Man of Steel on the big screen.
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#3 Superman: The Animated Series
Medium: Animation
First Seen: September 6, 1996
Superman: Tim Daly
On the heels of the hugely successful Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm and company decided to bring their accomplished hand to the Last Son of Krypton with the same ethos that made the Dark Knight so popular: boiling the character down to his iconic elements, creating a stylized world for him to live in, surrounding him with an incredible ensemble of idiosyncratic characters and antagonizing him with a gallery of villains who combined classical elements with gorgeous and innovative redesigns. And, of course, get top voice talent to pull the performances off. Tim Daly and Dana Delaney had both made names for themselves as TV stars and proved why as they took on the roles of Superman and Lois Lane, while cult film star and veteran character actor Clancy Brown brought his unique blend of basso charm and menace to a Luthor who took John Byrne's vision of a corrupt businessman and refined him to a whole new level of awesome. Combining spectacular action with a flirtatious romance and goofy sense of humor, Superman could also turn in a moment and scare you behind the nearest couch or break your heart. It only lasted for a few seasons, but those few have endured as a fantastically fun and emotionally engaging testament to the power of Superman.
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#2 Justice League (Unlimited)
Medium: Animation
First Seen: November 17, 2001
Superman: George Newbern
As high as the Batman and Superman animated series may have raised the awesome bar, Justice League cleared it completely. And then, adding the word Unlimited to the title, they grabbed the bar, broke it in half and played a 20 minute drum solo that would have made Keith Moon weep. The show reached new heights of animation style, character designs, vocal performances and storylines. While Superman was no longer the only star or even featured in some episodes (and Daly's confident baritone was replaced with Newbern's strong but slightly wearied voice, a choice that worked quite well as the seasons went on), the show always came back to him as the touchstone, the axis around which everything revolved. Luthor, Darkseid and Brainiac continued to resurface as the League's greatest villains and threats. Superman was the impetus for the beginnings of Cadmus (one of the series' most daring and accomplished storylines). And it usually came down to Superman to wrap up the big battles. More mature and thoughtful than a mere Superfriends, this version of the Justice League, like Superman himself, soared high and bright to inspire us all.
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Who says we don't love you? Here's a bonus clip of JLU to help give you some resolution for the heartache of the Superman: The Animated Series clip above! This one's for Turpin!
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#1 Superman: The Movie
Medium: Film
First Seen: December 15, 1978
Superman: Christopher Reeve
There are some movies that transfer their source material directly to the screen and there are other movies that adapt it for the language of a different medium. And then there are movies that truly transcend their source material, transforming it in turn. Richard Donner’s Superman is one of those rare films. Donner juxtaposes Superman’s idealism against some of the darker elements of 70s cinema: there are echoes of disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure and Towering Inferno, John Williams’ score sounds like a joyous retort to the threat of his music in Jaws and Margot Kidder's Lois Lane betrays a post-Watergate cynicism about elected politicians and the "American Way." But the darkness is never in the foreground for long, thanks to a script full of wit and heart. Lois isn’t a crusading journalist but stands in the tradition of wisecracking reporter-broads that dates back to movies like His Girl Friday. Nor is she the only character to be given some great lines. Even "boy-scout" Superman and "mild-mannered" Clark are given one-liners to add playfulness and edge to the powerful protagonist as portrayed by Christopher Reeve, who is a revelation in not one, but both roles. As Superman he stands up straight and his voice is resonant. As Clark, he slouches and speaks with a nasal whine. But Reeve never pulls the two performances too far apart. There are always signs of one identity in the other, most noticeably a sly smile that both share. Reeve could play confidence and vulnerability with equal skill and had great comic timing to boot. Superman: The Movie is practically a textbook for how to make a great comic book film: draw your inspiration from both media, write a clever, killer script and, of course, put a fantastic actor in the central role.
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Whether on the big or small screen, the comic book panel or the animation cel, Superman continues to appear in every decade, for every generation. A hero, an ideal, too mighty and powerful for one medium to hold. Sadly, none of the great songs about Superman made the list. So, as a special treat, as we close out this week's column and prepare to bring you next week's grand finale, we present to you our special musical guest...Crash Test Dummies with Superman's Song! See you next week!
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Superman: The Movie: T. Martin
Adventures of Superman, I Love Lucy: Lucy and Superman, Justice League (Unlimited), Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Superman (Fleischer Studios), Superman: The Animated Series, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman Returns: Jordan T. Maxwell
Smallville: Greg Reeves
Contributors: Jesse Baer, Nick Costanzo, Anthony Devlin, Chris Eight, James Groves, John H, Jon Hancock, Stephanie Kay, Michael Regan, Kevin Sutton, Eric Travis
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The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.
By: T. Martin, Jordan T. Maxwell, Greg Reeves
Editor: Jordan T. Maxwell
70 years ago, in the summer of 1938, two kids from Cleveland, Ohio changed the world forever. From their collaborative imagination sprang a hero who has endured for seven decades, transcending his home in comic books to conquer almost every other medium of art and entertainment and catalyzing the creation of an entire genre. He is more than just a fictional superhero. He is an icon (not a bird). He is an ideal (not a plane). He is...SUPERMAN!
To celebrate the Man of Steel's 70th anniversary, Comixfan is proud to bring you a series of features over the course of this summer. For the next seven weeks, we'll be bringing you a unique Top Ten list focusing on different facets of Superman's mythology, history and influence, showcasing 70 reasons why we love the Man of Tomorrow so much.
For this week's penultimate installment of our Summer of Superman, we take a look at Superman's crossing over into and domination of media other than comic books. Whether in film, television, cartoons, novels, pop songs or full length musicals, Superman has proven himself a formidable force in every medium of storytelling and entertainment he's encountered (well...okay, maybe not so much with the musicals. The Man of Steel is, sadly, no Dr. Horrible). We've compiled ten of the finest examples we could find...and as an extra special treat instead of just telling you about them, we're going to let you see for yourselves. So sit back and enjoy Superman's Top Ten Appearances in Other Media!
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#10 I Love Lucy: Lucy and Superman
Medium: Television
First Seen: January 14, 1957
Superman: George Reeves
It was the meeting of two American icons when Superman came to visit the Ricardo home. Lucy's attempts to get "Superman" for little Ricky's birthday party had failed and in a desperate attempt to save face she decided to dress up as the Man of Steel herself and enter through the window. Of course, in classic Lucy style, she managed to get herself stuck on the ledge, facing the perils of birds and a rain storm. Meanwhile, Ricky (the elder, played with the usual hammy glee of Desi Arnaz) had managed to find someone to fill the role of Superman himself, someone who suspiciously resembled George Reeves from the wildly popular Adventures of Superman TV show. His "acting" credentials are somewhat called into question, however, when he easily tosses aside a heavy piano with one hand and leaps out on to the ledge himself in order to (what else?) save the day. The final exchange between Lucy, Ricky and Superman is a sitcom classic that not only capped an incredible pop culture crossover, but also showcased the charm and comedic chops of Reeves in the company of one of the greatest comediennes of all time.
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#9 Superman (Fleischer Studios)
Medium: Animation
First Seen: September 26, 1941
Superman: Bud Collyer
With an innovative blend of rotoscoping and more traditional "loose" animation and the voice talents of Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander from the Adventures of Superman radio show as Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Fleischer Studios brought the Man of Steel flying simultaneously into the worlds of film and animation, two media who would come to dominate repeatedly over the decades. With a heavy focus on action and sweeping orchestral score, the cartoons are a dazzling spectacle of eye and ear candy, typically sending Superman up against mad scientists, giant robots, spies, saboteurs and natural disasters...usually having to rescue Lois in the process (the constant "damsel in distress" status may seem rather politically incorrect today, but we ARE talking about a cartoon series that had an episode titled Japoteurs, so being PC probably wasn't high on their list of priorities). Even after the Fleischers handed over the production of the cartoons to Famous Studios, their iconic style remained, influencing not only future Superman projects but animation in general even to this day.
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#8 Smallville
Medium: Television
First Seen: October 16, 2001
Superman: Tom Welling
It’s safe to say that Smallville isn’t your classic portrayal of Superman. Instead, this representation introduced the general public to a high school boy just coming to grips with having abilities and origins that set him apart from everybody else, yet still had an overwhelming desire to help those around him. The point of this show was simple: long before there was Superman, there was Clark Kent. He was a boy who lived in a small town in Kansas and just happened to be friends with a certain bald billionaire, which is probably one of Smallville’s greatest accomplishments. This version of Superman’s childhood is important in that it shows how, before being an arch nemesis, Lex Luthor was a close friend to a boy named Clark Kent. Though many consider the show to have long overstayed its welcome, to this day it still introduces audiences to reinterpretations of the Superman mythos, as well as adding characters of its own, particularly a certain blonde cousin of an intrepid investigative journalist (let's not play coy here...we love Chloe!). While hardly Emmy worthy, Smallville entertains audiences and gives the generations of today another reason to like the Man of Steel.
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#7 Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Medium: Television
First Seen: September 12, 1993
Superman: Dean Cain
It was the autumn of 1993. In comic books, Superman had just come back from the dead. And in television, he was about to be resurrected as well. Taking the classic formula of the Superman mythos and adapting it into something more akin to a prime time romantic soap opera proved to be a stroke of genius as both fans of classic superhero action and old school love stories tuned in to watch Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain flirt with and pine for one another in the time honored Clark/Lois/Superman love triangle. With a style that deftly combined a modern aesthetic with the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930s and 40s, Lois and Clark was a hit. Hatcher and Cain weren't master thespians, but they had an onscreen charisma and chemistry plus eye candy good looks that more than made up for it. And with the acting chops of John Shea's Lex Luthor and Lane Smith's inexplicably Elvis-obsessed Perry White supporting them, it made for damn fine television indeed. The show was never able to match the charm of its first season as each subsequent season just went more and more off the rails...but even still, going back now and watching that classic love story blossom all over again, is something that can make fanboy and fangirl alike smile.
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#6 Adventures of Superman (TV Show)
Medium: Television
First Seen: September 15, 1952
Superman: George Reeves
Superman's first foray into television wasn't overly dependent on big time supervillains or special effects. Usually, he just wound up facing off against generic gangsters and mad scientists. No wirework for the flying (an early accident had Reeves insist against it) and while Superman's barrel chested frame could deflect bullets, he still always ducked when the crook inevitably decided to try throwing the gun at him. Still, Reeves' performance alone made you believe in Superman. Those broad shoulders, the corner-of-the-mouth grin, those knowing parental eyes. The man was like a Curt Swan drawing come to life. It is a testament to Reeves and the program that despite a severely low budget, children still flocked to see the Man of Steel's latest televised adventures, tying towels around their necks and wishing they could fly. Tragically, this meant that Reeves became indistinguishable from the iconic role, denying him work once the show was done and allegedly leading to him taking his own life. But even marred by this sad news, there is still something nostalgic and powerfully inspiring about seeing Reeves on the small screen, saving the day, flying through the air or just that debonair Cary Grant way he'd slide on his fedora as Clark Kent, smirking at some comment Lois would make about Superman, sharing that secret knowledge that only he and the audience shared.
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#5 Superman Returns
Medium: Film
First Seen: June 28, 2006
Superman: Brandon Routh
The writing/directing team that lifted X2: X-Men United to such great heights reunited not to tell the next installment of Marvel's Merry Mutants, but instead to resurrect DC's Man of Steel in the realm of celluloid. After years of failed pitches and scripts (including such talents as Kevin Smith and JJ Abrams), Bryan Singer took an incredibly back to basics approach by quite literally taking over where Richard Donner left off after the first two films (the third and fourth movies are, mercifully, ignored). Structurally, it mirrors the first movie so closely that many accused it of merely being a rehash of that iconic film...but upon closer inspection, each element reveals itself as a darkly subverted version of its predecessor. Superman and Lois' rooftop interview and flight together are no longer a fanciful flirtation of wonder and magic, but a longing and bittersweet moment of "what might have been." Luthor's latest real estate plot is both grander and more destructive, while his use of Kryptonite to incapacitate Superman is a study in cruel brutality compared to the camp silliness of draping it upon him as a necklace. The visual spectacle of it all introduces us to a whole new world of "wow"! The plane sequence in particular combines action packed special effects with visual poetry so neatly that you can't help but feel like a kid again, seeing movies for the first time. Newcomer Brandon Routh calls upon the spirit of Christopher Reeve while also making the role(s) subtly his own, while Kevin Spacey out-Luthor's the great Gene Hackman with a slyly sinister but still very fun take on the villain. And Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane represents the viewpoint of an increasingly cynical audience...questioning whether we need a Superman in our world while desperately needing one to emerge. And we are blessed to know that he can...and will...return, always.
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#4 Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
Medium: Film
First Seen: November 28, 2006
Superman: Christopher Reeve
The fall out between Richard Donner and the Suskinds over the second Superman film has become the stuff of Hollywood myth and legend. While the theatrical release of Superman II, featuring a large amount of reshot footage by replacement director Richard Lester, has a lot to enjoy, it still feels lacking. The comedic shtick elements seem out of place, the new and random super powers (Telekinetic finger beams? Cellophane chest shield "nets"? Amnesia kiss?) distract and what should have been a continuation from Donner's original first movie comes across as a somewhat disjointed and inferior sequel. In 2006, Donner had the opportunity to piece together his own cut as best he could with some of his discarded footage, screen tests and the like filling in the gaps. And while it is by no means a polished film and still has its share of flaws, it proves itself to be a more consistent and satisfying vision, allowing Reeve's performance to truly shine and bringing Marlon Brando's Jor-El back into the film to allow for a deeper thematic and character arc. It is as piecemeal as the released Lester cut, but in the end, as a film in its own right and an artifact of "what might have been," it proves itself the superior vision of the Man of Steel on the big screen.
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#3 Superman: The Animated Series
Medium: Animation
First Seen: September 6, 1996
Superman: Tim Daly
On the heels of the hugely successful Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm and company decided to bring their accomplished hand to the Last Son of Krypton with the same ethos that made the Dark Knight so popular: boiling the character down to his iconic elements, creating a stylized world for him to live in, surrounding him with an incredible ensemble of idiosyncratic characters and antagonizing him with a gallery of villains who combined classical elements with gorgeous and innovative redesigns. And, of course, get top voice talent to pull the performances off. Tim Daly and Dana Delaney had both made names for themselves as TV stars and proved why as they took on the roles of Superman and Lois Lane, while cult film star and veteran character actor Clancy Brown brought his unique blend of basso charm and menace to a Luthor who took John Byrne's vision of a corrupt businessman and refined him to a whole new level of awesome. Combining spectacular action with a flirtatious romance and goofy sense of humor, Superman could also turn in a moment and scare you behind the nearest couch or break your heart. It only lasted for a few seasons, but those few have endured as a fantastically fun and emotionally engaging testament to the power of Superman.
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#2 Justice League (Unlimited)
Medium: Animation
First Seen: November 17, 2001
Superman: George Newbern
As high as the Batman and Superman animated series may have raised the awesome bar, Justice League cleared it completely. And then, adding the word Unlimited to the title, they grabbed the bar, broke it in half and played a 20 minute drum solo that would have made Keith Moon weep. The show reached new heights of animation style, character designs, vocal performances and storylines. While Superman was no longer the only star or even featured in some episodes (and Daly's confident baritone was replaced with Newbern's strong but slightly wearied voice, a choice that worked quite well as the seasons went on), the show always came back to him as the touchstone, the axis around which everything revolved. Luthor, Darkseid and Brainiac continued to resurface as the League's greatest villains and threats. Superman was the impetus for the beginnings of Cadmus (one of the series' most daring and accomplished storylines). And it usually came down to Superman to wrap up the big battles. More mature and thoughtful than a mere Superfriends, this version of the Justice League, like Superman himself, soared high and bright to inspire us all.
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Who says we don't love you? Here's a bonus clip of JLU to help give you some resolution for the heartache of the Superman: The Animated Series clip above! This one's for Turpin!
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#1 Superman: The Movie
Medium: Film
First Seen: December 15, 1978
Superman: Christopher Reeve
There are some movies that transfer their source material directly to the screen and there are other movies that adapt it for the language of a different medium. And then there are movies that truly transcend their source material, transforming it in turn. Richard Donner’s Superman is one of those rare films. Donner juxtaposes Superman’s idealism against some of the darker elements of 70s cinema: there are echoes of disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure and Towering Inferno, John Williams’ score sounds like a joyous retort to the threat of his music in Jaws and Margot Kidder's Lois Lane betrays a post-Watergate cynicism about elected politicians and the "American Way." But the darkness is never in the foreground for long, thanks to a script full of wit and heart. Lois isn’t a crusading journalist but stands in the tradition of wisecracking reporter-broads that dates back to movies like His Girl Friday. Nor is she the only character to be given some great lines. Even "boy-scout" Superman and "mild-mannered" Clark are given one-liners to add playfulness and edge to the powerful protagonist as portrayed by Christopher Reeve, who is a revelation in not one, but both roles. As Superman he stands up straight and his voice is resonant. As Clark, he slouches and speaks with a nasal whine. But Reeve never pulls the two performances too far apart. There are always signs of one identity in the other, most noticeably a sly smile that both share. Reeve could play confidence and vulnerability with equal skill and had great comic timing to boot. Superman: The Movie is practically a textbook for how to make a great comic book film: draw your inspiration from both media, write a clever, killer script and, of course, put a fantastic actor in the central role.
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Whether on the big or small screen, the comic book panel or the animation cel, Superman continues to appear in every decade, for every generation. A hero, an ideal, too mighty and powerful for one medium to hold. Sadly, none of the great songs about Superman made the list. So, as a special treat, as we close out this week's column and prepare to bring you next week's grand finale, we present to you our special musical guest...Crash Test Dummies with Superman's Song! See you next week!
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Superman: The Movie: T. Martin
Adventures of Superman, I Love Lucy: Lucy and Superman, Justice League (Unlimited), Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Superman (Fleischer Studios), Superman: The Animated Series, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman Returns: Jordan T. Maxwell
Smallville: Greg Reeves
Contributors: Jesse Baer, Nick Costanzo, Anthony Devlin, Chris Eight, James Groves, John H, Jon Hancock, Stephanie Kay, Michael Regan, Kevin Sutton, Eric Travis
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The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.