Happy Birthday Kal-El!
Today Superman turns an astonishing 70 years old. Quite a feat for the man of steel.
From his humble beginnings created by Joe Schuster and Jerry Siegel in 1932, this pulp comic character quickly sky rocketed to pop culture status thanks to a fancy little thing called "radio" and eventually the rights sold to Detective Comics, Inc. in 1938. Superman's character would usher in a golden age of fanciful and colorfully dressed adventurers who themselves have become part of mainstream American culture. He has known love and loss, triumph and tradgedy over the course of his career. Even at one time hooking up with a mermaid:
On television he'd be played by George Reeves, who sadly would not be able to be faster than a speeding bullet. In the 90s he would be played by Dean Cain, who sadly refused to take acting lessons. On film he would be portrayed by Christopher Reeve, who sadly was allergic to horses and by Brandon Routh who sadly would not work again despite a valiant effort on his part.
As part of the pop cultural landscape Superman has gone through many make overs over the past 70s years. In the original comics he could not fly and could only "bound" from one place to the next. Later he would become one of the single most powerful comic characters ever, doing things like pushing the world out of orbit, traveling back and forth in time and using his "super whisteling" powers to defeat evil doers. But as readers aged Superman needed another reimagining and after Crisis of Infite Earth's and DC's giant restart of continuity, his power levels were brought down to something more story manageable for writers tired of having to make up new superpowers every month. Eventually in the 90s the big blue boyscout would have his ass handed to him and was "killed" only to return with a mullet.
Eventually as the 90s ended so did the "business up front and party in the back" attitude of the Man of Steel, and as he started to make certain questions regarding his sexual prefference started to wear a dashing ensemble:
In an era who's top television ratings belonged to those of "Darama and Greg" and "Will and Grace" this was a bold and brave move. Which of course leads us to the televised Superman musical we all know and love so much:
However the classic image would return once more, as radical costume changes never last long in the comics world (hey if it ain't broke don't fix it).
Here's to you Superman, upholding the virtues of truth, justice and the American way.
From his humble beginnings created by Joe Schuster and Jerry Siegel in 1932, this pulp comic character quickly sky rocketed to pop culture status thanks to a fancy little thing called "radio" and eventually the rights sold to Detective Comics, Inc. in 1938. Superman's character would usher in a golden age of fanciful and colorfully dressed adventurers who themselves have become part of mainstream American culture. He has known love and loss, triumph and tradgedy over the course of his career. Even at one time hooking up with a mermaid:
On television he'd be played by George Reeves, who sadly would not be able to be faster than a speeding bullet. In the 90s he would be played by Dean Cain, who sadly refused to take acting lessons. On film he would be portrayed by Christopher Reeve, who sadly was allergic to horses and by Brandon Routh who sadly would not work again despite a valiant effort on his part.
As part of the pop cultural landscape Superman has gone through many make overs over the past 70s years. In the original comics he could not fly and could only "bound" from one place to the next. Later he would become one of the single most powerful comic characters ever, doing things like pushing the world out of orbit, traveling back and forth in time and using his "super whisteling" powers to defeat evil doers. But as readers aged Superman needed another reimagining and after Crisis of Infite Earth's and DC's giant restart of continuity, his power levels were brought down to something more story manageable for writers tired of having to make up new superpowers every month. Eventually in the 90s the big blue boyscout would have his ass handed to him and was "killed" only to return with a mullet.
Eventually as the 90s ended so did the "business up front and party in the back" attitude of the Man of Steel, and as he started to make certain questions regarding his sexual prefference started to wear a dashing ensemble:
In an era who's top television ratings belonged to those of "Darama and Greg" and "Will and Grace" this was a bold and brave move. Which of course leads us to the televised Superman musical we all know and love so much:
Click to viewHowever the classic image would return once more, as radical costume changes never last long in the comics world (hey if it ain't broke don't fix it).
Here's to you Superman, upholding the virtues of truth, justice and the American way.