(Image via SupermanHomepage.com)
My earliest memories of Superman were watching 'Adventures of Superman' on television when I was around 8 or 9 nine years old. It was the syndicated reruns of the black and white show that ran in the 1950's starring George Reeves as Clark Kent aka Superman. It was a fun show with decent special effects for its time and it really got me excited to see 'Superman: The Movie' around that same time period. Once I saw it I not only believed a man could fly I believed in the magic of truth, justice and the American way.
The movie starring Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Margot Kidder, and Christopher Reeves as Superman elicited a sense of wonder and joy that I haven't felt since from a comic book-based movie. Now to be honest, I'm a bigger Batman fan and while I loved Tim Burton's and Christopher Nolan's takes on the Dark Knight Detective they failed to capture the wide-eyed optimism and humble righteousness that the Superman movie did. Perhaps it was my young unspoiled and naive state of mind at the time. It was far from the more cynical adult I would become and undoubtedly subconsciously measured every superhero movie by that experience ever since. Superman represented the best in all of us.
His mid-west upbringing was relatable, to a point, with the same insecurities of growing up and being unsure of who you are and what you are capable of. There is a time when we must take responsibility and embrace our identity and most of all do what is right for our fellow man. Superman despite being invincible and powerful transcended the comic book pages and reminded us that being truthful and seeking justice wasn't just for Kryptonians but for everyone. He was an example of what we could be in guiding principles if not in supernatural physical ability.
In the following years, I would discover comic books and start collecting various titles including Superman. I enjoyed the work of many different writers and artists. All providing the Man of Steel with great adventures that would challenge his worldview on mankind. I followed intermittently as he died and inevitably returned from death. Also followed his exploits with the Justice League and guest appearances on other books. In fact, Comic Book Resources has compiled a great list of some of the best issues of Superman comics.
And now with the new Superman movie, Man of Steel, coming out June 14 the time has never been better to revisit those old stories and see those old movies. After so many failed attempts to bring Superman back to the big screen with a good story worthy of his stature it appears Warner Bros. has finally gotten it right. At least that is my hope. Perhaps there's a kid out there who'll experience the movie like I did and be inspired for years to come as well. Here's to another 75 years!
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