The character is the original modern-day superhero -- which might be why describing him seems so redundant. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, mild-mannered reporter ... Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, the Daily Planet, kryptonite ... You've heard it all before.
So maybe, instead, it's worth exploring what has given the character such staying power. Problem is, that's probably an impossible question to answer.
If I had to try, though, I'd guess it boils down to two things: wish fulfillment and inspiration.
Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel
(Click to enlarge)
The first is easy enough to explain: it's fun to be Superman. He's super-fast! Super strong! Invulnerable! He can fly! He's got heat vision and x-ray eye sight! Critics have argued that having a nearly-invincible character makes him hard to write for -- when your hero can literally move mountains, there isn't much that can prove to be a real challenge. But, on the other hand, there's no denying the fun of it -- and, in the hands of the right writer, the stories can be all the richer for it.
But Superman is about more than wish fulfillment. As Man of Steel has made clear in its trailers, the character is there to inspire. In striving to be better than what he is, the alien from another world embodies what's best in humanity: courage, justice, compassion, and hope. He inspires the citizens of Metropolis ... as well as his readers.
So before you hit the theater this weekend, take a look at some of the other incarnations of Superman beyond the pages of the comics:
1. On screen
Over a dozen actors have played the role of Superman, on screens big and small. The most famous actor in the role was inarguably Christopher Reeve, who played the Man of Steel for a decade in four film roles. So iconic was his portrayal of Superman that he has remained the definitive movie Superman to this day (whether or not Man of Steel's Henry Cavill becomes the Superman of a new generation remains to be seen).
The mark that Reeve left on the character can't be overstated. But some of Superman's most memorable appearances have been in television. In the 1950s, George Reeves was beloved as the title character in the six-season run of Adventures of Superman. The four-season series Superboy would also find some popularity in the late 80s, but it was two other series that seemed to leave the most lasting mark on the character. First, there was the 1990s series Lois & Clark, which put the story's emphasis on the relationship between the two title characters. And in 2001, a series premiered which would last for ten seasons: Smallville, which chronicles the life of Clark Kent before he dons the Superman suit.
2. On the Broadway stage
Why not -- it worked for Spider-Man! (Well ... sort of.) Charles Strouse's most famous musicals include Bye Bye Birdie and Annie. But less well-known is the superhero musical he penned: It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman.
First opening in 1966, the musical chronicles Superman's fight to defeat the ten-time Nobel Prize-losing scientist Dr. Abner Sedgwick. The play received mostly positive reviews and was even nominated for three Tony Awards, but the show never really caught on and closed after 129 performances. Eventually produced as a TV special, the play was also revived several times -- including this March, as part of New York City Center's Encores series.
3. On the radio airwaves
You don't have to be a fan to know the opening lines. "Look, up in the sky! ..." The long-running radio show The Adventures of Superman ran from 1940 to 1951, usually running several times a week in serial installments.
The afternoon program was a hit among kids and families of the day -- even for those who had never picked up a comic book. With the character having only debuted in comics two years earlier, the voice of Bud Collyer (the actor who played the title character) was the Superman for hundreds of fans.
4. In animation
As an animation buff, I'm biased -- but I still think I might be onto something when I say that Superman's true home is in cartoons. With animation allowing for the kinds of "special effects" that even the most big-budgeted live-action flicks can't hope to achieve, there's no limit to storytelling opportunities for the character.
The famous Fleischer Studios cartoons of the 40s are still the gold standard of superhero animation. These beautifully animated shorts are lavish, lush, and show every penny of their extraordinary budgets (estimated between $50,000-100,000 per episode, unheard of in the day).
And then there's the DC Animated shows and films featuring Superman. After producer Bruce Timm brought Batman to life in the critically-acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, the team turned to Superman, producing a stand-alone series for the Man of Steel and eventually bringing him (and Bats) into a Justice League animated series which premiered in 2001. While the animation is not quite as lush as the gorgeous Fleischer Studios creations, the sharply-written storylines and excellent character-building makes them more than worthy successors to the original shorts.
5. In merchandising
Superman's "S" might be the most recognizable logo in pop culture. As such, it's unsurprising to find that logo slapped onto everything from t-shirts and baseball caps to ice cube trays and steering wheel covers. If you need to buy something, chances are you can find it with a Superman shield sewn on!
Which isn't a bad thing. After all, everybody wants to be Superman.
-- Post by Ms. B
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