What would be Superman's own personal favorite movie/show about himself?

[Buried Alien]

Imagine this:

Mr. Myxlpltk sends present-day comics Superman (regular mainstream continuity) into OUR world, on which he's stuck and from which he cannot leave to return to his own world until he fulfills the following conditions:

1. He's given nearly all well-known cinematic, animated, and TV live action versions of himself to watch over a period of roughly one month: his viewing will include all the old Kirk Alyn serials of the 1940s, select episodes of George Reeves' ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN TV series, the Christopher Reeve SUPERMAN movies, various animated depictions spanning the Fleischer cartoons of the 1940s to the current DC animated features, select episodes of the 1990s LOIS AND CLARK series with Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain, select episodes of SMALLVILLE, the DCEU movies featuring Henry Cavill's Superman, etc. Pretty much, a sample of everything he's been in on film and television for the past 80 years.

2. He is to write a detailed review of what he liked and didn't like in each portrayal, and which ones his favorites are, and which he didn't care for.

What reviews do you expect Superman to give the various media portrayals of him over the years?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Kuwagaton]

I feel like while Clark isn't someone who needs light fare, it's either that or a healthy shade of "black or white" morality to escape. Remember that most of the people he had to regulate tend to be pretty scummy and that he also helps with a lot of traumatic incidents. Some old fashioned heroics, Kill a Mockingbird, renaissance types... pulp, will do it for him. So somewhere around what we tend to with what people call classic.

Kirk Allyn seems to fit the bill and being a kind of pioneer is very admirable, but I think Clark can still chuckle at the old school weirdness. Where Reeves is a model, and Reeve is a brother/peer appreciation.

The Fleischer films work because they're all of the above and so easily digestible. Clark has a moment to sit down and watch for once. Superman is good and not grey, and it's very thrilling even at such a low power level. A quick nostalgic shot to wash down the day, works alternating with Lois and Clark. Between Adventures and that show is a cheesy but sweet spot.



And, not just imposing with my own impressions, I have to say that by the same token something muddy wouldn't work. I think he's right along with Waid and others getting put off by arguably bleak, less aspirational fare. Stuff that hits close to home in maybe the form of a critique. He'd prefer to relate to Magnificent Seven or Thor Ragnarok over his own Man of Steel, though he'd find Cavill and Adams sincerely charming.

[superduperman]

He would absolutely LOVE the Fleischer cartoons! I have no doubt about that in my mind. Ditto the Adventures of Superman show. And the Donner movies. Or at least the first one. He'd probably be middle of the road on things like Smallville and L&C. He'd probably respect TAS. I think he'd like Supergirl just because he would think it's great his cousin got her own show. He'd HATE MOS. The killing of Zod. The destruction porn. None of that is his style. That's why I don't have a high opinion of those movies and I doubt he would too. I've actually kind of wanted to do a story where Superman goes into the "real" world and sees all the different depictions of himself. I would also love to see Batman do the same. Being so serious all the time.

[Jim Kelly]

Clark has appeared as Superman in at least two movies. I know he's not vain, but I imagine that he takes some pride in his film career and he's probably a popular guest on the convention circuit. Then there's the films and TV shows of Gregory Reed, probably the greatest actor to play Superman and a personal friend of the Man of Steel.

[stargazer01]

I suspect Superman would really like everything I like from his shows and movies..

He would be impressed with the action, drama and heart in Death of Superman animated movie. BvS would make him feel let down and miss-represented. He would love the story, drama and action in Man of Steel but think Superman would find a way to save Pa Kent. He would find the Fleischer cartoon pure joy. He would definitely feel very let down by the CW Superman version. He would love Chris Reeve in the first movie and be blown away by the score by Williams. He'd definitely like most of the animated shows and movies like Superfriends and JL.

[CRaymond]

the fleischer cartoons

[Buried Alien]

Clark has appeared as Superman in at least two movies. I know he's not vain, but I imagine that he takes some pride in his film career and he's probably a popular guest on the convention circuit. Then there's the films and TV shows of Gregory Reed, probably the greatest actor to play Superman and a personal friend of the Man of Steel.

In which books can we read about this, Jim? Sounds fascinating.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Jim Kelly]

In which books can we read about this, Jim? Sounds fascinating.

On account of his resemblance to Superman, Kent is cast as the Man of Tomorrow in a new Hollywood picture, in the newspaper strip continuty---November 17, 1941 to February 14, 1942, collected in the first volume of SUPERMAN: THE DAILIES (the last stoy in the collection).

The same thing happens in SUPERMAN 196 (May 1967),"The Star of Steel," but this time Clark falls in love with his co-star, Lyrica Lloyd. I've remarked on this story a few times, because it was the first issue of the SUPERMAN title that I bought and it made a big impression on me. It hasn't yet been reprinted.

I'm sure there were other stories like this, because heroes going Hollywood seems to be one of the repeated plots in a lot of comics (and not just DC).

Superman himself, or rather Kal-El, got cast in a movie but not as Superman, when he returned to Krypton and met the stunning actress, Lyla Lerrol. That was in SUPERMAN 141 (November 1960), "Superman's Return to Krypton." I guess, the way that story turns out, Superman had no chance to see the finished project (unless Jor-El copied the video onto the hard drive of baby Kal-El's rocketship computer). He might have watched it with Lyla in the fantasy life he had in "For the Man Who has Everything"--SUPERMAN ANNUAL 11 (1985).