by Reymundo Salao
MAN OF STEEL opens today, and I cant help but talk about the legacy of the Superman movies and enumerate his finest onscreen moments. SUPERMAN has had various iterations onscreen (on TV and Movies); from the serials and TV series of the 1940s, 1950s, to the cartoon series of the 1960s, 1970s, to the Christopher Reeve Superman movies of the 1980s, to the TV series Lois & Clark in the 90's and till the present, with the reboot and relaunch of Superman via director Zack Snyder and producer supervisor Christopher Nolan. Most of them were popular iterations. But, dare I say; only a handful of them stand out as decent adaptations of who or what Superman is. Let me share with you what is THE BEST of Superman (And I'm sorry, because for me, the Christopher Reeve Superman movies are weak, and are excluded from this list). These are the finest iterations of Superman onscreen...[read the rest of the article after the jump]
1. Superman: The Animated Series -
If you ask me, this is the ultimate, quintessential interpretation of Superman. Done in the most canon-conscious and in the most mature manner, this Superman series is smart, dramatic, and outright superior. It weaves the best Superman origin story linking the destruction of Krypton (Superman's planet) to the character of Brainiac, which originated as a Kryptonian artificial intelligence. The first three episodes of the series (entitled Last Son) are a must-see for Superman fans. Notable episodes include "The Late Mr. Kent", "Father's Day" and the "Legacy" saga which sets Superman into a vengeful bloodlust against Darkseid. It is under the supervision of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini (the people who were responsible for the monumentally popular Batman Animated Series, Justice League series, and created the DC Animated Universe. It is under the watch of these people that DC comics characters are brought to life in animated series and animated movies, in a manner that does justice to DC's reputation. If you ask me, the other (non-animation) failed DC properties such as the rejected Wonder Woman TV series, the embarrassing Green Lantern movie, and the failed Superman Returns (2006) should have gone through the hands of these guys.
It chronologically continues the Superman and Batman animated timelines, Superman's character progresses as a member of the Justice League and had gone through various episodes that had evolved the character through many adventures and trials. The most notable ones include a story involving his death and being trapped in an alternate future Earth where he becomes friends with Vandal Savage, a villain who successfully destroyed all humanity and had become overwhelmed with regret and sheer boredom. There is also one episode where we see Superman trapped in a dreamlike state where he is living his fantasy of being home in Krypton, married, having a son, and living a happy family life. And then there's the final episode of the series where he gets to have a godlike epic battle with Darkseid. The Justice League series is rich with so many storylines that make Superman human, emotional, and strong; a character you can easily idolize as a true super hero. On a personal note, I never idolized Superman before.
3. All-Star Superman (Direct-to-Video Animated Movie) -
This is the Superman-Lois Lane love story done right. It is never corny and stupid as the 1980's movies were. In this story, Superman had received an overdose of solar radiation while battling a booby-trapped genetically enhanced clone. Although this overdose gave Superman new powers, it is also slowly killing him. Fully conscious of his impending death, Superman spends his time, not only fixing things that should be resolved before he leaves this Earth, but also he spends his time with Lois the woman he loves. Aside from the adventure and action, this story has a bittersweet and deeply romantic tone that gives you a sense of longing when the movie is over.
Adapting The Death of Superman storyline, including the resurrection story, except for the Reign of the Superman storyline. This adaptation has Superman facing a creature who is an unstoppable force of nature known as Doomsday. With Superman dead, one can only be sure that Lex Luthor will be doing everything in his power to acquire a shred of Superman's DNA. Just like any of the other interpretations of Superman on this list, it has everything a good Superman story should have; powerful emotions and epic epic battles.
5. Superman vs The Elite (Direct-to-Video Animated Movie) -
Has Superman become obsolete and old? Superman may be a superhero but are his methods irrelevant? This is the question asked when a group of new superheroes known as The Elite are introduced into the limelight and has proved to be heroes that break the (old) rules by being harsher, more aggressive, and providing a more permanent solution to the most lethally delinquent of criminals; they kill them. In this animated movie, Superman faces not only The Elite, but also the public sympathy. Despite being animated in a more subtle, suspiciously intentional, cartoony manner, Superman vs The Elite provides a story that makes you actually think and reflect on the virtues of what must be done in order to battle evil and crime. This is based on "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?," the story published in the comic book Action Comics #775 (March 2001), which was called "the single best issue of a comic book written in the year 2001", was voted the #1 in the Top Ten Comics of the Decade, #21 in the list of "Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years" and named the "Greatest Superman Story of All Time" by Wizard Magazine.
Although it was indeed the 1940's, the Fleischer Superman cartoon series 'got it'. They understood the potential of Superman and had given it a serious, non-goofy treatment. It should be noted, anyway, that in the U.S., way back in the 1940's animation was also an entertainment which is not merely for kids, but for adults as well. It was only in the 1970's and 80's when cartoons became heavily associated solely as for entertainment for children. Fleischer delivered outstandingly impressive animation for Superman, and historically in the Superman mythos, it is in these animated shorts where Superman evolved from a superhero who leaps tall buildings, into one who flies. The Fleischer Superman cartoon series also became the inspiration for creating the highly successful Batman The Animated Series in the 1990s.
7. Smallville TV Series -
While it may not be on top of the list in terms of Superman adaptations, it still is a damn good series that gives a damn good adaptation of the Superman story. Perhaps the only demerit of this series is that it frequently makes alterations to what is already canon in Superman history. But those changes that they make is what made the series outstanding. From the simple concept of Lana Lang having a kryptonite necklace, which in effect, makes Clark Kent awkward when he's around her, to the concept of making Lex Luthor and Clark Kent as best friends when they were younger. Many of these alterations have in one way or another made perfect sense to make the Superman mythos more practically believable and/or more dramatic.
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