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Superman, the iconic superhero Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created in 1938, has been a beloved figure in popular culture for over 80 years. Over the years, Superman has undergone numerous iterations, adaptations, and reimaginings in various forms of media, from comic books to films, television shows, and video games. In this article, we will explore the many variations of Superman and how they have evolved over the years.
The first Superman, created in 1938 by Siegel and Shuster, was a far cry from the character we know today. The original Superman was a vigilante who fought for justice in the streets, taking on corrupt politicians, gangsters, and abusive husbands. He did not possess the ability to fly, but he could leap tall buildings in a single bound, run faster than a locomotive, and have incredible strength.
As Superman’s popularity grew, he underwent some changes. In the 1940s, Superman became a more lighthearted character, and the stories focused on his exploits as a superhero. This era is often called the Golden Age of comics, featuring Superman fighting against supervillains like Lex Luthor and Brainiac.
In the 1950s, Superman underwent another significant transformation. This era is known as the Silver Age of comics, featuring a more science-fiction-oriented Superman. Superman gained new powers during this period, including heat vision and x-ray vision. Unfortunately, he also developed a weakness to kryptonite, a mineral from his home planet that was deadly to him.
The 1970s saw another shift in Superman’s portrayal as comics began to address more social and political issues. This era, known as the Bronze Age of comics, featured a more mature and introspective Superman. The comics explored issues like race relations, drug abuse, and environmentalism. Superman also gained a new power, the ability to project a “super flare” of energy from his body.
In the 1980s, Superman underwent a significant reboot, resulting in a more grounded and realistic character version. This era is known as the Modern Age of comics, and it featured a Superman who struggled with his place in the world and his relationships with those around him. This era also introduced new characters like John Henry Irons (aka Steel) and Doomsday, the creature responsible for Superman’s death.
In 2011, DC Comics launched a massive reboot of its comic book line, including Superman. The New 52 era featured a younger, less experienced Superman still trying to find his place in the world. The character was redesigned with a new costume and an altered origin story. This era also saw the return of characters like Brainiac and Doomsday.
In 2016, DC Comics launched another reboot of its comic book line, focusing on returning the characters to their core values. The Rebirth era featured the return of the classic Superman, who had been absent from the comics for several years. This Superman was married to Lois Lane and had a son named Jon. The Rebirth era also saw the return of characters like Lex Luthor and the Eradicator.
Superman’s popularity is not limited to comic books. He has also been featured in various other forms of media, each with its take on the character. Here are some of the most notable variations of Superman outside of comics:
The Superman film franchise began in 1978 with Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie, starring Christopher Reeve as the man of steel. This film and its sequels, Superman II, III, and IV: The Quest for Peace, followed the classic Superman mythos, with Lex Luthor as the main antagonist and Superman fighting for truth, justice, and the American way. In 2006, the franchise was rebooted with Superman Returns, directed by Bryan Singer and starring Brandon Routh as Superman. This film was a direct sequel to the original Donner films and continued the classic Superman story.
In 2013, the franchise was rebooted again with Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Henry Cavill as Superman. This film presented a darker and more serious take on the character, with a more realistic and grounded approach to the story. The film was followed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, which saw Superman and Batman teaming up to take on the villainous Lex Luthor and Doomsday. In 2017 Superman was featured in the Justice League, which saw Superman resurrected after his death in Batman v Superman to help save the world from the threat of Steppenwolf.
In 2021, Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Better known as “The Snyder Cut”, was released. After Zack Snyder stepped down from directing the original film because of the death of his daughter and the critical and commercial failure of the final product, many fans wanted an alternate cut faithful to Snyder’s vision. This version, The Snyder Cut, a 4-hour film, was announced in February 2020 by Snyder himself. The movie was significantly superior to the theatrical version.
Superman has also been featured in several television shows over the years. One of the most popular is the 1950s series Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves as the Man of Steel. This series followed the classic Superman story and featured many of the same characters as the comics. In the 1990s, Superman was featured in the hit series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which focused on the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane. The series presented a more romantic and comedic take on the character, and it was a huge success during its four-year run.
In the early 2000s, Superman was featured in the animated series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which followed the adventures of the superhero team. These shows presented a more action-oriented take on the character, and they were praised for their brilliant writing and dynamic animation.
Whether in comic books, movies, or television, Superman is one of the all-time favorites. The Man of Steel has stood the test of time and will likely go down in comic book history as the most iconic character ever. Are you a fan?!
