Comic Book Resources

To the greatest Superhero HAPPY BIRTHDAY

technically he’d only be 17 or 18

it’s impossible for Superman to be 70 years old if today is a leap year and he was “born” on a leap year, it would have to be a multiple of 4 so he’d be 68 or 72, and since he would only actually have a birthday every four years, he’s either 17 or 18

congrats Supes your old enough to buy a drink in Canada

Hmm, I thought, Supes birthday would be in april? Now I’m confused…

1. Either me wearing a Superman costume at age 3 or a Max Fleischer’s cartoon. Can’t remember which came first.

2. I officially started reading American comic books a decade ago. For years I was a fan of Spider-Man and X-Men, so they were my first natural experience with the industry. Superman wasn’t one of my faves at the time, so i wasn’t interested in his books. I did, though, tried some of his then-issues later. I think it was in 1999 or 2000. An issue penciled by Ed McGuinness I believe where Superman found out out that the Lois he’s been living with is an impostor, thus causing him to search for his wife. I believe that was my first Superman issue.

3. Superman: Red Son. As one who hates the DCU Superman, I really love his Elseworlds counterparts, TV and movie adaptations. Of them all, Red Son is my favorite. Mark Millar did an amazing job with this Soviet version of an alien making Earth into his own image. And the end, well, it’s one of my favorite story finales as well. Coming close: Superman: Secret Identity.

4. Tough one. Like I said, I’m not a big fan of Superman nowadays. I think that I have two ultimate visions of Superman - one classic and the other modern. The classic ultimate vision is by Ross Andru (with Curt Swan coming close). The ultimate modern vision to me is by Ed McGuinness (coming close: Jim Lee and Carlos Pacheco).

5. Christopher Reeve may be the ultimate answer and will always be remembered as THE Superman. I can’t think of anyone else depicting both Clark and Supes so well and perfectly. The only one comes close IMHO is Dean Cain, but he had no good acting talents and only looked perfect as Superman (though his hairdo could be done much better). As Clark he stank.

Happy 70, Kal-El!

I am actually doing my graduate research in superheroes and performance. What inspires me most when I consider Superman as a performative folkloric icon is that everyone has their own Superman. Some still think of Superman as a leaping, barrel-chested man who battles fat cats and corrupt politicians. Others see him more as Christopher Reeve with Clark Kent’s whimsy and Superman’s boldly charming sense of assurance. And still others remember their own version from books, comics, cartoons, etc. Superman is who we are.

Here’s to an enduring icon that both reflects and defines the zeitgeist and Americana.

–K

PS My favorites are the “For the Man Who has Everything” and “What’s so Funny about Truth, Justice and the American Way?” And–for the fan boy in me–I loved “Emperor Joker.”

1. First memory has to be seeing re-runs of the old TV series. That is what motivated me to pick up comics in the first place, since it was a Superman magazine.

2. One of those Giant-Sized deals with Luthor and Brainiac. I read it over and over until the cover came off.

3. Superman the Movie is the easy answer. It is hard to top, but I loved the first season of ‘Smallville’.

4. Honestly, Steve Rude from “World’s Finest”. I loved the combination of Shuster, Fleisher and Kirby influences.

5. Chris Reeve.

Could someone explain to me how this month is his first appearance? According to wiki, Action Comics #1 debuted in JUNE 1938, not February/March.

1. Seeing tapes of the old 1950’s TV show that my dad somehow got his hands on. It wasn’t a very good show, but at age five it was the best thing ever.

2. My young-ass-ness is gonna show on this one: while I had already experienced Superman in many mediums by this point, the first actual COMIC of his that I probably read was his death issue, which a friend of mine bought at the time.

3. For the Man Who Has Everything is pretty classic… in two minutes I’ll probably change my mind, so I’ll stick with this before that can happen. Although, I will say that actually (gasp) I prefer the cartoon version of the story. I know it’s sacrilege, but that version makes both Batman’s and Mongul’s visions much, much creepier.

4. Whichever Fleischer drew those cartoons.

5. Christopher Reeves, but really only for how dorky his take on Clark Kent was. I honestly haven’t yet seen an actor do a version of Superman that I could be happy with.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?
Seeing “Superman: The Movie” at age almost-4, though according to my parents I was a Superman fan prior to that and forced them to take me to the movie.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?
Not sure, as it’d be pre-age 4, even… probably one of the issues coming out in the late 1970s.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?
Curt Swan

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?
Christopher Reeve

Could someone explain to me how this month is his first appearance? According to wiki, Action Comics #1 debuted in JUNE 1938, not February/March.

Seriously? Nobody else got this?

The Wiki is wrong.

The date on the cover of Action number one (and all magazines, to this day) is the date the magazine is to be pulled from the newstands. Not the date the magazine was shipped to newstands and available.

It wasn’t the anniversary of Action Comics #1 it was Superman’s birthday (although it wasn’t Clark Kent’s birthday).

Also, yesterday was Captain (Shazam) Marvel’s birthday (but it wasn’t Billy Batson’s birthday).

Hopefully that will be the nerdiest thing I say for awhile, but probably not.

1. Superman is one of those things that I think of as always being there, like my parents, but, even though I’m sure I’d seen the 1950s television program, my earliest memory is of the CBS Saturday morning cartoon series.

2. The earliest I remember is Superman #183 which reprinted . . .

3. My favorite Superman story is the original “The Death of Superman!” written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Curt Swan with inks by George Klein (though GCD credits Stan Kaye).

4. Curt Swan inked by George Klein or Stan Kaye.

5. Christopher Reeve.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

Probably watching an episode of the Adventures of Superman on the Commander Tom Show on WKBW Channel 7 Buffalo sometime around 1973. Though I also have a dim memory of seeing the cartoon on Sesame Street where Superman demonstrates all the things with the letter S

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

If we’re excluding Justice League of America and World’s Finest appearances and concentrating on solo Superman action it was a mid 1970s issue, which if memory serves me right was “The Miracle of Thirsty Thursday” by Elliott S! Maggin. I read it in a barber shop. The one I really remember most was reading Action Comics #1. Not the original of course, but in the mid-70s there was a an idea to make a roll of disposable towels made of foam rubber called “Super Sponge Towels”. They included a reprint of Action #1 as a giveaway. I was very disappointed to discover the first Superman story was, in fact, left to be continued the next issue!

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

I’m going to have to say Superman The Movie, because it’s my all-time favourite movie (I revere it the way my friends revere Star Wars) and I just adore it for the way it captured everything I loved about Superman and bringing it to life.

A close second would be the Superman novels written by Elliot S. Maggin in the late ’70s (Superman: Last Son of Krypton and Superman: Miracle Monday). Third place would be “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” by Alan Moore and Curt Swan, which summed up everything that was wonderful about the Silver Age Superman right down to bringing out the underlying tragic nature of the Superman mythos

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Mostly Curt Swan, though Wayne Boring comes to mind as well. But I have to admit the Superman comic I most collected was Byrne-era and afterward so Byrne’s and Ordway’s Superman hold special affection in my heart.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher Reeve, because he incarnated the part like no one else. I love the scene in the first movie where he toys with the notion of revealing his identity to Lois and he takes off the glasses and stands up straight and you see how much thought he’s given to making both parts separate and distinct and yet the same person.

That said, I love all the actors who played him: Kirk Alyn for all his theatricality (still better than many of his serial contemporaries) was a charming Clark Kent; George Reeves played Superman and Clark Kent as a father-figure and understood very early on that the only way to make the part work was to play it like the lead of a sitcom– his character is always the smartest person in the room; And I thought Dean Cain did a brilliant job in Lois and Clark bringing emotional vulnerability to the part. Even Brandon Routh, who is probably my least favourite (and even then I think that’s more down to Bryan Signer’s direction), has some nice moments. I even enjoy Bob Holiday in the 1966 musical (though sadly there isn’t any footage of him performing in the role though we have the cast record)

1) The New Adventures of Superman animated show by Filmation. In particular: The neat way that Bud Collyer’s voice deepened as he changed to Superman in the Daily planet supply closet

2) Superman v.1 #236. Scary, scary Neal Adams cover:

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=24148&zoom=4

3) Superman vs Muhammad Ali

4) Curt Swan

5) Christopher Reeve - but Bud Collyer’s voice sure was cool!

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

Seing Superman II as a kid.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

http://www.dcindexes.com/giants/bestdc.php?choice=bestdc16
A pretty goofy, but fun read.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

Superman/Batman: “The Superman-Batman Split” (18 pages)
Cary Bates (Writer), Neal Adams (Penciller), Dick Giordano (Inker)
From World’s Finest Comics #176, June 1968

From the aforementioned DC Digest.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Curt Swan, then Neal Adams.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Anyone who says anything but Reeve is wrong. Seriously you guys.

1. Underoos.

2. I have no idea, but it would have probably been published in 1982 - we took a road trip that year, and I bought a lot of comics.

3. Probably his appearance near the end of the Starman series: the line “everything I do is like that” really captured a hint of what it would be like to be a Superman among men.

4. John Byrne - couldn’t get enough!

5. Christopher Reeve.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?
** Super Friends

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?
** Don’t know

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?
** Alan Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?
** Shuster

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?
** Christopher Reeve

When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

JURGENS!

My favorite memory of Superman is watching my four year old son love him no matter what incarnation he is seeing. He doesn’t care whether it’s Chris Reeve or Brandon Routh. John Byrne or Curt Swan he could give a crap less about. He’s not concerned if he can push planets or if a 2 megaton nuke will kill him. He’s just a fan of the character. He loves Superman. He knows that Superman comes from Krypton, was raised by Ma and Pa Kent, is Clark Kent, loves Lois Lane, fights Lex Luthor and Doomsday and for truth, justice and the American way. What a dumbass, he doesn’t know that today’s Superman is portrayed far too weak and that Pa Kent should be dead. This fool doesn’t even understand the difference between Kal-El and Kal-L. I’m amshamed but I’m trying to teach him.

1. When I would get home from kindergarten, I would watch Superman/Superboy cartoons from the 60’s.

2. My cousin gave me a box of comics from the 60’s that had a bunch of Action, Superman, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen issues in them, so I’m not certain of the firt one I read. First one I bought that I remember was Superman Family #179.

3. FAVORITE Superman has to be”For the Man Who Has Everything.”

4. Curt Swan is the only Superman artist.

5. Christopher Reeve is the best Superman.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

That would be the “Kryptonite No More!” cover with Neal Adams having Supes breaking those green chains. Awesome stuff.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

See Above

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

“Whatever happened to the man of tomorrow?” may be the best Superman story ever; although “For the Man who has Everything” is my favorite Robin story co-starring Superman. I always loved Superman-Robin team-ups.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Swan & Anderson rock the artwork all night long. Byrne is a close second.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher Reeve is by far the best; but George Reeves and Kirk Alyn will always have a sentimental spot in my heart.

~~JD~~

1. Seeing the Filmation Superman on SESAME STREET when I was really little.

2. A thick 100 Page Spectacular chock full of reprints from the Golden and Silver Ages.

3. A tie: “For The Man Who Has Everything” and SUPERMAN Vs. MUHAMMAD ALI. (This answer might change tomorrow!)

4. 3-way tie: Swanderson, Neal Adams and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.

5. Christopher Reeve, natch!

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

Probably one of the old Filmation cartoons.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Easy one - Action #428, ‘Whatever Happened to the Man of Steel?” Cary Bates and Curt Swan - got it signed by Mr Swan himself before he passed on.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

I always got a kick out of Superman Red/Superman Blue (the original, not the latter day story)

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Swan

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Reeve, of course.

1. It could be the Superfriends, but I’m not entirely sure.

2. I can’t seem to make my mind up on that, actually. I could either put the fall of Coast City in #80 (vol. 2), Supes’s official comeback from death– mullet & all– in #82; hell, I guess I could even go back farther than those and put the Superboy short drawn by Carmine Infantino in the old “Free To Be… A Family” book (my Ma read that to me and my little sis all the time as kids).

3. I think Joe Kelly’s “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Truth, Justice, & The American Way?” is what I’ll put for the top. Alan Moore’s (with help from Curt Swan & Dave Gibbons, natch) “Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?” & “For The Man Who Has Everything” are also excellent. The “Of Thee I Sing” guest shot in Hitman is another (I still can’t believe Garth Ennis can get it that well).

4. Swan, Jerry Ordway, & Bruce Timm– with maybe a few others– seem to get a lot of time in my head.

5. Reeve.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

George Reeves on black & white television

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

An 80 page 25¢ giant World’s Finest purchased on a road trip when I was 6.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

The Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons special with Mongul and the “Gift”

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Joe Shuster’s, with honorable mentions to Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson and, of course, Neil Adams

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher Reeve and George Reeves, in that order.

1. Watching the movie when I was 4, it was a gift, a pirated VHS tape which I still have. Krypton was trippy for me then and I remember the death of Jonathan Kent and the funeral, plus Supes’ agony at Lois’ death and him screaming. Those things are burned into my memory.

2. Death of Superman funeral comic, I was 9 I think.

3. For some reason I always watch that episode of Smallville where Clark is on Red K in Metropolis, it’s so well written and I just admire the photography sometimes, but I like this idea of Clark in Metropolis working with Rutger Hauer.

4. Jim Lee and Curt Swan.

5. Since Tom Welling hasn’t played Superman yet i’ll say Christopher Reeve, but Tom Welling is the most perfect Clark Kent ever.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

I know I had to be be aware of him before this (most likely from the Superfriends cartoon–the way an entire generation was introduced to many of DC’s heroes), but my stongest first true memory of Superman was a comic book that my Dad gave me: Superman 317. Keep reading.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Anyone who has seen the cover to Superman 317 probably has it burned in green in their brain. Look it up if you don’t know what I’m referring to. It’s a classic Neal Adams drawing of Superman from the waist up, hunched over, muscles rippling, glowing green from Kryptonite poisoning with his mouth twisted in a violent shout, “Before I die…I’m taking you with me!” Still the coolest cover I think I’ve ever seen. The comic itself wasn’t that great; the story was about Metallo using a beam to basically rip people’s hearts from their bodies (creepy, especially to a six year old), and although I really like and respect Curt Swan and his terrific work, his interior art couldn’t compete with that particular cover. Pretty much no one’s could.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

I really think the best Superman story concept ever was seriously hurt in its telling: Superman II. A brilliant conceit: Superman gives up his powers to be with the woman he loves, only to find that 3 evil, all powerful Kryptonians have conquered the world in his absence. Neither the Lester version nor the new Donner Cut (in their entireties) have truly done justice to this idea, though there are many moments in both of these films that do approach the greatness of the story concept. I, like many Superman fans can only wonder, “What if?”

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Although I grew up with the Curt Swan take on the Man of Steel, I will probably always think of Byrne’s rendition as my favorite graphic depiction of Superman (although I love many other artists depiction as well, McKone, McGuiness, Ordway, Pacheco). John Byrne’s 80’s version of the Last Son of Krypton really struck me as Superman the way (I thought) he should be. Tough looking, sharply angled “S,” regal cape folded over the shoulders…now this was how I thought Superman should be.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

It’s been said before, it’s been said better, but Christopher Reeve made me believe a man could fly. His performance in this role (both roles) was brilliant. There have been other great performances in the Blue and Red, but I say the same thing that both Dean Cain and Brandon Routh (Supermen both) have said, “Chris was my Superman.” Chris is my Superman still.

1. When I was little, I had a VHS tape of the old Fleischer Superman cartoon, the original one with “the mad scientist”. I watched the tape so many times I broke it.

2. The first issue of the death of superman. Yeah, yeah, I know. I was 7 at the time. sue me. I have a great fondness for the death of superman since it was the first time I actualy bought a comic monthly rather then just watch the tie-in media or grab odd issues at supermarkets or book stores.

3. Red Son. Dispite it removing the best part of what superman stands for (”the american way”) it’s still the best superman story of all time.

4. Byrne… or Jurgens. Don’t make me pick.

5. I think most of the different actors that have played superman have brought something else to the role, but Christopher Reeves defined the part for a generation. No way to get around that.

I can’t answer all of the questions with properly memorized authority, but the one true Superman artist was Swan and the one true actor as Chris Reeve.

Now, that’s not to take away from some of the other artists who have handled Superman over the years. Some have done some extremely inspiring work - but Swan nailed it first for me and to that I remain true.

And it is to take away from other actors portrayals of Superman. Sorry guys - Reeve was Superman. There can’t be another more perfect.

1. Begging my parents to take me to see Superman IV as a child, and them refusing. For once, they were right.

2. Actually, it was an issue of Supergirl (or something featuring her) that had a back-up story about He-Man which I thought was really neat too.

3. I can’t remember the issue, but I believe Dan Jurgens drew it, and the cover advertised “STILL only 75 Cents!”. Toyman kidnaps a bunch of children (shock) who are being abused and/or neglected, and tries to create a perfectly happy, fun world for them to live in. Naturally Superman has to break up the game, but the final panel featuring Schodt weeping over the remains of his dream was always very touching. I always disagreed with the later choice to turn him into a child killer.

4. It used to be Dan Jurgens when I was a kid, but lately it’s been Renato Guedes.

5. I believe everyone becomes attatched to the Superman they first see in live action, much like a baby bird does to the first thing it sees after hatching. Christopher Reeve all the way.

Happy birthday, Superman. Time to revel in my geekery.

1) My first memory involving Superman is actually my first natural memory in life, which is either really cool or a bit sad, depending on your perspective. I was about 2 or 3 at the time and prone to safety-pinning a bath towel around my neck and running around my grandmother’s house with my arms straight out, simulating flying. I’ve loved flight my entire natural life, so Superman was a character I gravitated to at a young age (for that reason alone, at the time).

Also, I was way into Kenner’s Super Powers line of action figures, which were released when I was the same age. As a 3 and 4 year old, I spent tons of time goofing off with those things.

2) The first comic I ever read was this. It was published before I was born, but I found it in my grandmother’s basement when I was in preschool. Apparently, one of my uncles owned it. It’s a digest-sized edition reprinting some of DC’s best from that year. Among them was ACTION COMICS 502.

3) Anything written by Grant Morrison. Also, the idealist/optimist in me loves “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?” (from ACTION 775) because it shoots all the hateful, misanthropic, post-modernist cliches right out of their saddle. Screw that crap. It’s such a great statement about Superman’s relevance in the world today.

4) Swan. Or possibly Adams.

5) Hate me for saying it, but I think Reeve is a tad overrated. His real-life heroism was more impressive to me than his acting.

I’m still waiting for the definitive portrayal of Superman. I like Kyle McLaughlin’s voice, though. That was a good casting choice.

Great idea for a blog entry and great questions. Kudos!

1. I remember absolutely HAVING to have the 8″ Mego Superman toy when I was four years old way back in 1977.

2. Superman #330, Dec, 1978. Superman is wearing glasses on the cover trying to convince Lana that he is in fact Clark Kent, but she’s not buying it. My older cousin used to read these to me…

3. Hmm…so many good ones. My Top Three are probably “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, & the American Way?”, and “Man For All Seasons”. “Birthright” was great as well, as was the 1987-88 four-issue miniseries “World of Krypton”.

4. It really depends on what context I am thinking of him in; sometimes I think of the Bruce Timm animated version, sometimes I think the Alex Ross style, and sometimes I think of Curt Swan (who was the definitive Superman artist in my youth).

5. I was born in the 70’s, so of course Christopher Reeve is ALWAYS going to be Superman to me.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

My grandfather teaching me how to read with a Superman comic.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

I don’t know really, but I always remebered one with Superman and Batman, where to fight an alien Superman used the Batman costume, and Batman the Superman one.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

Superman for all seasons. The best and most emotional Superman story of all time.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

I love Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Neal Adams, John Byrne, Dan Jurgens and Jim Lee.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher Reeve.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUPERMAN!!!

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

That’s a tough one because I can’t recall a time that I didn’t have a general awareness of Superman. I would say though that My strongest memory is of learning that the movie was going to be showing for the first time on ABC and being besides Myself with excitement after having looked the View Master Reels to death I was thrilled in the way only a kid can be thrilled. Edited for time and content? Didn’t care it was Superman. Not widescreen? Didn’t care it was Superman. Commercial breaks? Didn’t care it was Superman (and it made it handy for bathroom breaks).

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Well again I have to go with the first one really make an impression. And that would be the one about the aliens who eliminate heroes and the very concept of heroism from earth and take it over and the two boys who dream of a Hero with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men and by dreaming bring him into existence. At the time I was struck by how scary a world without Superman was. Later it would come to mean something even deeper to me as I got older.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

For me it is the issue of I believe it’s Action from a few years ago now. In it Lois Lane has been kidnapped and replaced by the Parasite and after being shot by a kryptonite bullet Superman has enlisted Batman’s aid in finding her. Batman has explained to Superman that he deals with all the really awful things he deals with by distancing himself from the horror seeing things in abstract. As the issue goes on they hit a dead end and Superman is half dead, he forces himself on and propels Batman as well by reciting personal details about Lois, making her more to Batman than an abstract. And I love the way that shows something that is central to Superman. Superman cares. Really cares. To him people are more than statistics. They are real and important. It is why he does what he does. He cares.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

My Superman will always be the Curt Swan Superman. He managed to ground the character in a visual reality and at the same time never detract from the majesty of all his super feats.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Sorry no question here. Only one actor allowed the spirit of Superman to so completely posess him that he changed his life because of it. Christopher Reeve did not play Superman. Christopher Reeve was Superman.

1. OK my first memory of Superman would have to be George Reeves in the Adventures of Superman (That dates me)

2. I can’t actually remeber the first Superman story I read other than it would have been a Curt Swan b&w reprint digest which was stocked by our local newsagent here in Australia back in the 60’s

3. I’m basing my favourite Superman story on two which for some reason have always stuck with me. In comics its Alan Moore’s ‘Whatever happened to the Man of Tomorrow’ and a particular George Reeves episode which I can’t remember the title but in it he flies a little crippled girl around the world. Seing as I was in calipers at the time myself I’ve always had a soft spot for it. To me its always summed up the type of person Superman is and represents.

4. In comics at any rate I always think John Byrne’s Superman hit the nail on the head. His Batman too for that matter they hearken back to the original lantern jawed portrayal of the characters but with better art.

5. My favourite cinematic Superman would have to be the Fleischer cartoons which I understand rotoscoped the actor portaying Superman. Generally speaking all the ‘real live’ actors portraying Superman look too thin.

1.What is your first memory involving Superman?

my first memory of Superman was as a kid watching him on tv in the old filmation cartoons.

2.What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Action Comics 456, the one with Superman being attacked by the shark from Jaws. I thought that was a really cool cover, but found the story with Green Lantern’s villian the Shark lacking.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

Alan Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tommorrow?” that was such a great story. Moore took everything John Byrne said was wrong with the Superman Legend and made it work.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Dan Jurgens Superman was my favorite

5.Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Even though the later movies were flawed, hands down it was Christopher Reeve.

1. Watching, for the first time, Superman: The Movie.

2. That might be Superman: Speeding Bullets

3. Comics? THE DEATH AND RETURN OF SUPERMAN

4. Unspecific. Though the JLU Superman pops up at times.

5. Christopher Reeve. Brandon Routh is #2.

Hmm, I thought, Supes birthday would be in april? Now I’m confused…

Actually, it is not really Action #1’s debut date. February was the month Julie Schwatrz (spelling) came up with back in the day as Superman’s birth month.

Actually, it is not really Action #1’s debut date. February was the month Julie Schwatrz (spelling) came up with back in the day as Superman’s birth month.

Yeah, it’s weird that we have all the “But it’s not Superman’s debut month!” when the first post explained why we’re referring to this as Superman’s birthday.

To put the answers to the questions into context, I’m 43 years old, so….
1. FIRST SUPERMAN MEMORY:
My first memory was watching the Filmation cartoons of the 1960s on Saturday mornings. I instantly fell in love with the character, so one day in 1970…

2. FIRST SUPERMAN COMIC BOOK
…My Dad brought home this “Comic Book” thing… SUPERBOY #164, sporting a great Neal Adams cover of the boy of steel weeping over his dead father in a car crash that was apparently (according to the word balloon) “…All MY FAULT!” I was again hooked right away, and a quick trip to the Thrift Drug (how I miss those spinning drug store racks) netted ACTION COMICS #387 and SUPERMAN #225.

3. FAVORITE SUPERMAN STORY
That’s a toughie… Off the top of my head, if I had to pick only one, it would be the ongoing saga of the “Sand Superman” that siphoned off some of his power in Denny O’Neil’s early ’70s revamp. I was a new reader, but even at that age, knew that this was some major upheaval in the Superman saga. (Altho’ yes, “Whatever Happened” is also manna for longtime fanboys).

4. THE SUPERMAN IN MY HEAD
Is actually MY version… which is an amalgmation of my favorite iconic Supeses… mostly Curt Swan & Murphy Anderson, with some Shuster, some Reeve, some Lopez, some Adams, and some Kenner Super Powers.

5. BEST ACTOR
Anyone who doesn’t say Christopher Reeve is either fooling themselves or an idiot. Nobody and I mean NOBODY else ever came close to nailing the precise, perfect combination of relaxed confidence mixed with humility and a wry sense of humor that the character needs to both be believable and likeable. Tom Welling comes in second, and the worst by FAR was Dean Cain.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?
2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Both questions share the same answer. I cannot tell the title or issue, but it was a SUPERBOY story that showed him flying through some lead pipes, chased by Kryptonite man (?) who could turn the lead to kryptonite just by touching it. I was a small kid when I got this comic, and had to be told who was the blue and red character by my father!

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

I remember a saga when Superman got infected by a kryptonite virus X (or something like that) and turned into a leper, and eventually rocketed himself to his death into a star. The story went on for a few numbers, and I remember anxiously waiting for the next installment!

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Curt Swan and Wayne Boring.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher Reeve, no doubt.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?
The Super Friends, probably around when I was 5 or 6. My favorite episode has always been the one where he gets thrown in the evil Super Friend’s universe.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?
Superman #333 was the first Superman comic I ever bought. It featured Bizarro - how great is that?

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?
This is really really tough. I’ve read what others have wrote and many of those stories I remember fondly. And Superman II made such a huge impact on me as a kid. But when I saw the question, the very first story that came to mind was Action Comics #775, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way”. It validated Superman on so many levels. A true classic.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?
It will always be Curt Swan.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?
Christopher Reeve. While the story of Superman II may be flawed, his performance was just on the mark.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

I recall playing Superman and Lois Lane with a girl at my daycare.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Can’t recall. Probably something from a Blue Ribbon Digest or one of those Whitman three packs.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

The original Lyla Lerrol story. But any of the Fleischer cartoons or the second Reeve movie are awesome, too.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Swan.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Chris Reeve is the best. George Reeves was great too.

1. It’s odd, because this keeps coming up since I saw a reference to it on a blog, but my first solid memory of Superman is his appearance in Superman Family #171, the first comic I remember looking at (and only looking; I didn’t know how to read yet). However, I vaguely recall that I had a general sense of who Superman was before that. Possibly the Super Friends?

2. It was an Action annual/anniversary issue. Possibly the 40th anniversary? I must have read some before that, but that’s what stands out.

3. Favorite story without question is “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” Outside of comics, it’s the “Mxyzpixiliated” (or whatever) episode of TAS.

4. I always see the Curt Swan version of Superman in my head. (As an aside, for Batman it’s Jim Aparo)

5. Honestly, I haven’t really been a fan of any of his portrayers, but I would have to go with Christopher Reeve.

1.I remember reading a DC Comics Presents in the mid-70’s where Superman fights Pete Ross after Ross had gone back in time and posessed Superboy’s body! It was awesome! The reason I remember it so vividly is it was the first time ever that when I finished a comic I immedately flipped it right over and started over!
2.Probably the same as #1, but the Superman comic book that had the greatest effect on me as a kid was Action Comics #500 that contained “The Life Story of Superman”. Wow, that was great! They left nothing out, and there was even a little sub-plot involving Luthor cloning Supes while he strolled about the Superman Museum recollecting on his life and adventures. Awesome.
3.Whatever Happened to the Man of Tommorrow? By Alan Moore and Curt Swan effectively gives us the story we will NEVER actually see happen: The End of Superman. Brilliant.A nice book-end to Action Comics # 500 by the way.
4.It’s Curt Swan…and Neal Adams…and maybe even Alex Ross a lil…but in all honesty, it’s Curt Swan.
5.Chris Reeve. If Superman the movie didn’t come out when I was eight years old, bringing characters to life that I’d been reading about for the last three or so years, I doubt I would still be reading comics today. Seeing Supes, Lois, Perry, Jimmy, and Lex brought to life…well, the easiest way to sum it all up is yes, I did believe a man could fly.
Happy 70th Supes! From one of your biggest fans! (I have a George Perez take on Superman’s pose tatooed to my left arm and a Tom Grummet on my right with the words “Truth, Justice, and the American Way”.)
I’ll see you all in Metropolis!

1. My Halloween costume from Pre-School that my Mom made

2. One of the Armageddon 2001 Superman Annuals

3. Tie - Man of Steel & Death of Superman

4. Dan Jurgens

5. Chris Reeves but if Tom Welling ever wore the costume it would be him

1. Curt Swan’s Superman probably from a comic book

2. That’s a hard question. I have always been an avid reader as a child and my mother encouraged my reading by providing me with comic books every week.

It would have been an issue from the mid to late 70s

3. Man of Steel #1-6 : I thought to myself “Finally he’s not corny” and maybe Superman v Shazzam tabloid

4. Always picture him as Curt Swan’s Superman, always wanted to picture him as JL garcia Lopez’s..

5. hands down - Chris Reeves

1. Most likely from the Superfriends. The Wendy and Marvin era.

2. It was probably a Power Records story, where Superman faced a rain of silver bullets, which actually turned out to be an alien race that new not what damage they wrought.

3. I think it was called “For The Man Who Has Everything.” It was the Alan Moore/Brian Bolland annual they did with Mongul and the Black Mercy.

4. Hmmm… either Jurgens (because that version has arguably gotten the most play these last 2 decades) or whomever did the art on Superman during the mid/late 1970’s, particulary the era where Clark Kent was a TV reporter. Though, in all honesty, my favorite is the Siegel/Shuster version, hands down.

5. Christopher Reeve. He brought a certain sincerity to the role that no other actor before or after was able to bring.

-r-

The King Of all Superheroes is celebrating his 70th B-Day.

It’s pretty damn amazing, if you ask me. I can only imagine what DC has in store for Superman’s 75th.

Damn it Big Blue, if only you were real…

1. Hard to say. Perhaps it’s seeing Superman IV at cinemas, or reading the comics. Or both.
2. I think it was one of those old Superman & The Legion Of Superheroes stories, or perhaps a Superman and Destiny story.
3. The aforementioned Silver Age Superman and Destiny story, along with For Tomorrow, Superman: The Movie/Superman II and Superman Returns.
4. Curt Swan, Jim Lee, Lee Bermejo, Dan Jurgens, Ed Benes, Alex Ross.
5. Chris Reeve, Brandon Routh, George Reeves.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUPERMAN!!!!!!

1) Seeing the cover of an early 70’s Superman issue where he turns to molten lava at the Thrifty Drug Store newsrack.

2) Action #455 (1976) where Superman needs the help of SPECIAL GUEST STARS Green Arrow and the Atom to defeat an out of control robot!

3) “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” but honorable mention goest to Kingdom Come, the Silver Age issue of Superman Red/Superman Blue, the original run of the first few issues of Action where Superman is a populist man of the people, All Star Superman, Superman #232 with Lyla Lerrol and not Lyrica Lloyd or Luma Lynai, and of course that famous issue where Lois tries to fool Clark into revealing his secret identity and Luthor tries to kill Superman with kryptonite.

4) 1960’s Curt Swan

5) Dean Cain is my pick because those episodes had an updated charm of the 50’s episodes without the deadbeat dad part. I never liked any of the Superman movies so Christopher Reeve’s standing suffers for that(yes sure Superman sleeps with Lois in the Fortress and gets her pregnant and then runs away to Krypton.) George Reeves is classic, and Tom Welling would be great in a film.

1. From Superfriends circa 1976 most likely.
2. Superbpy and the Legion of Superheroes, I forget which issue specificly but it was the late 70’s and the Legion fought a swamp monster.
3. I love the first issue of Man Of Steel by John Byrne. I loved his take on Krypton.
4. Again with John Byrne. He’s one of my favorite artists and I really wasn’t all too interested in Superman comics until his run.
5. No question- Christopher Reeves.

1) My earliest Superman memories were from the 60’s Cartoons

2) I’m pretty sure my first comic with Superman was “Superman’s Pal: The New Jimmy Olsen” 140/Drawn by Jack Kirby. It was given to me when I was about 6 by an older neighbor.

3) “What Ever Happened to the Man of Steel?” by Alan Moore and Curt Swan. I cry at the end of the first part every time I read it.

4) Wayne Boring. I don’t know why

5) No question - Christopher Reeve

1) watching Superman II at my mother’s best friends house when I was 4 or 5. I remember being enthralled

2)first was probably Superman #73 featuring Booster Gold of all random 1st issues

3)Man of Steel and all initial Byrne/Wolfman issues in 1987. Superman in the “real world” was (and is) very appealing

4)Dan Jurgens- artist on Superman the entire time I was a monthly collector. His superman is modern while remaining classic and does Chris Reeve justice

5) Chris Reeve… as overrated as ALL 5 superman movies are… face it I and II are barely watchable… III and IV, forget it!… Chris’ Superman was everything right about the character.

Seeing as Superman is my favourite superhero, I had to answer these questions.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

I honestly can not remember ever not knowing who Superman was. Superman the Movie came out when I was 2 and I’ve always been aware of it’s existence. Also, my earliest memories go back to when I was 3 and I already had Superman Under-roos and comics, and watching Super Friends on tv. Superman’s always been in my life.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Again, I couldn’t say. I do remember reading DC Comics Presents or Superman and Action when I was 3 or 4. I tell you, DC can’t get Showcase collections of DC Comics Presents in my hands fast enough! It’s superheroes teaming up with Superman!

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

That’s tough. Superman the Movie is one of my 10 favourite movies. My favourite Superman comic book stories are Kingdom Come (it’s essentially a Superman story, and it was a bright spot in the mid 90s when I was otherwise unable to collect comics, the 50s story where Superman goes undercover as a steeplejack to get dirt on a shady construction kingpin, Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite, the Superman/Spider-Man 70s crossovers, Up, Up, and Away… there’s too many more I could name. Oh, as a little kid I loved the Super Friends episode where Supes is turned into a Super Brat child and the Wonder Twins and Firestorm have to try to babysit him. Loved that

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Jose Luis Garcia Lopez. His merchandise artwork was everywhere when I was a kid (from my puzzles, to toy packaging, to my light switch cover…).

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher is the greatest Superman past, present and future. Not that I don’t mind the others, but none embody the mix of assurance, power, gentleness, humility, confidence, and charmisa as well as he did. He’ll always be my Superman.

1. I used to go on camping trips with my dad and sister (it was a special time for us to bond with our dad) and on the way home we stopped at a flea market. I remember an old man giving me a Superman Anniversary button. I guess it must have been his 50th anniversary, which meant I was two. This might actually be my first memory of anything.

2. I think it was either a Super Friends picture book or a Superman/Batman magazine done in the animate series (before the Superman series even came out) that had a retelling of Superman’s origin.

3. I think that Dini/Timm captured Superman perfectly. Their whole opus is the greatest tribute to Superman (IMHO, better than their Batman), with each episode seeming to touch on a different aspect of Superman, whether is was the reporter, the alien, the inspiration, etc.
Besides them, I think that Loeb/McGuinness captured a lot of great one issue tales about different aspects of Superman. I particularly loved one that dealt with Superman vs. Muhammad X and talked about race. Loeb at his best before he became really odious to me. Superman for All Seasons and any issue of All-Star Superman are also in the running.

4. Weirdly, I think of Lee’s Superman.

Sidebar: I went to Shanghai in November, and on their big shopping road, there is a store called Superman where everything inside (mostly clothes) is Superman related. It was so cool to see so much Superman stuff (more than any store I’ve seen) halfway across the planet!

God, Superman is cool!

…I can’t believe I left off For The Man Who Has Everything. Or the date issue of All-Star Superman. So many great Superman stories. I actually really liked the Superman/Gen13 crossover, which mostly read as a tribute to him.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

Well, I know that I knew of Superman before this, but it was of me and my Dad going to his friend’s house to dub a copy of Superman: The Movie on Betamax. I was a massive fan as a child though, and remember watching the ‘67 Filmation series as reruns on AFTRS (military TV) and the Super Powers Team cartoons as well.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Can’t remember that either. The earliest one I can remember is Superman #11, I believe where he’s battling Mxyzptlk for the first time in Byrne’s run.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

Supreme. It’s not the actual Superman, but it’s as good as he’s ever been. I adore Red Son, Whatever Happened…, The Showdown between Superman and Luthor, Kingdom Come, most of Byrne’s run, Superman the Movie, Superman TAS and especially the Fleischer shorts.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

The Superman of my childhood is the Neal Adams/Garcia-Lopez/Andru Superman that was used heavily in marketing during the eighties. My favorite Superman, the “real” Superman, is Curt Swan’s 60’s version. I am a huge fan of Joe Shuster, Ed McGuiness, John Byrne and Carlos Pacheco as well.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

In terms of physical looks, I think Christopher Reeve is the epitome of what Superman should look like. However, I like George Reeves’ acting style a bit better for Superman himself– a little more masculine, fatherly and authoritative.

My first memory of Superman was probably a Halloween costume, Christopher Reeve movies. Probably one of my strongest memories is reading the newspaper and finding out about the Death of Superman. I was in shock. I could not believe it. For some morbid reason, I wanted to buy as many back issues as I could. And a few months later I did.

My first Superman comic was probably a pre-COIE issue. I thought it was stupid and frankly way too naïve. For a reader of 2000 AD, most DC titles in the early 80’s were not nearly as good. Then, in 1994 I bought Superman # 12, ‘Lost Love’, written and drawn by John Byrne. The story was great, the art was amazing. I started to buy every single John Byrne issue after that.

I have a lot of favorites. Byrne had great stories. But through the years Busiek, Millar and others have been involved in very interesting and appealing limited series like Secret Identity or Red Son.

Superman=Byrne. I still have Byrne’s Superman on my mind.

Christopher Reeve was the best.

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?

The old Superfriends show. I used to watch it all the time.

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?

Not sure what issue it was, but it involved a salior (A Popeye clone) being attacked by a caveman.

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?

“The Man Who Has Everything”. It also was adapted into a great episode of Justice League Unlimited. Also “Superman For All Seasons” and “What Ever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?”.

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?

Swan

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?

Christopher Reeve, hands down.

Happy B-day, Supercheez!!

1. What is your first memory involving Superman?
That Superfriends show, I guess. My mom bought me a supes costume when i was… what? 6? 5? Im not sure. I never took out that thing

2. What was the first Superman comic book you read?
Dont remember the exact issue, but it was a silver age that showed how lex lost his hair (he lived in smallville and was friends with superboy, I guess)

3. What is your FAVORITE Superman story, whether it be comic, movie, TV series or cartoon?
I must confess i havent read a lot of supes stuff. It would be “Superman/Doomsday: The Wars”

4. When you think of Superman, which artist’s take on him do you normally see in your head? Shuster? Boring? Plastino? Swan? Adams? Byrne? Jurgens?
Jurgens.

5. Which of the actors who have played Superman did you like the best as Superman?
Christopher Reeve. I was very sad when he passed and I still miss him

My first clear Superman memory was of a world’s Finest issue at my older cousin’s, where Supes and Batman are trapped on a world under a red sun projector that floated in the sky above. Anybody know what issue that was?

That would likely also count as the first issue I read, although at that time I couldn’t yet read, so infairness it likely dshould not count. Oh lord i sound almost like Dwight Shrute or something at this point.

My favorite Super-man story was probably the coming of Wun-darr in Man-Thing, along with “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” and some of the sillier silver age stuff. I also liked the TV commercial he did a year or two back with Seinfeld.

My defining artist would definately be Swan.
I would love to have seen Kirby’s version without the editing though.

And no other actor compared to Reeve, although those movies got extrememly tedious.

Happy 70th Birthday Superman!
Loved watching George Reeves on WPIX-TV
in New York and the animated Filmation cartoons
Best artists CURT SWAN AND WAYNE BORING.

Not sure if you guys have seen this… but it might help to drum up some of those old memories….

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/features/superman/index.html

Vito