Superman in other media

Adaptations of Superman in other media
Actors who have portrayed Superman: (top) Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve (bottom) Dean Cain, Tom Welling, and Brandon Routh
Created by	Jerry Siegel Joe Shuster
Original source	Comics published by DC Comics
First appearance	Action Comics #1 (June 30 1938)
Films and television
Film(s)	Superman (1948) Superman (1978) Superman Returns (2006)
Television show(s)	Adventures of Superman (1952) The New Adventures of Superman (1966) Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) Superman (1996) Smallville (2001)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s)	It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman (1966)
Audio presentations
Radio show(s)	The Adventures of Superman (1940) DC Comics Super Heroes - Attack of the Elementals (1995)
Games
Video game(s)	Superman (1979) Superman (1988) Superman: The Man of Steel (2002)

The comic book character Superman has appeared in many types of media. Since his first appearance in 1938, Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.

Portrayals

Among the actors who have played Superman/Superboy (and/or his alter ego, Clark Kent) are:

• Ray Middleton (1940–1944)
  • 1939 New York World's Fair
• Kirk Alyn (1948–1950)
  • Superman (serial)
  • Atom Man vs. Superman
• George Reeves (1951–1958)
  • Superman and the Mole Men
  • Adventures of Superman (TV series)
• Johnny Rockwell (1961)
  • The Adventures of Superboy
• Bob Holiday (1966–1968)
  • It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (Broadway musical)
• David Wilson (1975)
  • It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (TV special)
• Jeff East (1978)
  • Superman: The Movie
• Christopher Reeve (1978–1987)
  • Superman: The Movie
  • Superman II
  • Superman III
  • Superman IV: The Quest For Peace
• John Haymes Newton (1988–1989)
  • Superboy
• Gerard Christopher (1989–1992)
  • Superboy
• Dean Cain (1993–1997)
  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
• Tom Welling (2001–2011)
  • Smallville
• Brandon Routh (2006)
  • Superman Returns
• Henry Cavill (2013)
  • Man of Steel

Voice only

• Bud Collyer (1940–1949, 1966–1969)
  • The Adventures of Superman (radio)
  • Superman (1940s cartoons)
  • The New Adventures of Superman
• Bob Hastings (1966–1969)
  • The New Adventures of Superman
• Danny Dark (1973–1986)
  • Super Friends (1973 TV series)
  • The All New Super Friends Hour
  • Challenge of the Super Friends
  • The World's Greatest Super Friends
  • Super Friends (1980)
  • Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show
  • The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
• Beau Weaver (1988–1989)
  • Superman (TV series)
• Tim Daly (1996–2000, 2002, 2006, 2009–2010)
  • Superman: The Animated Series
  • The Batman/Superman Movie
  • Superman: Shadow of Apokolips
  • Superman: Brainiac Attacks
  • Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
  • Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
• Christopher McDonald (2000)
  • Batman Beyond
• Jeff Kramer (2002)
  • Superman: The Man of Steel (video game)
• George Newbern (2001–2008, 2010)
  • Justice League
  • Static Shock
  • Justice League Unlimited
  • The Batman (TV series)
  • Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
• Michael Dangerfield (2005)
  • Krypto the Superdog
• Crispin Freeman (2006)
  • Justice League Heroes
• Yuri Lowenthal (2006–2008)
  • Legion of Super Heroes
• Brandon Routh (2006)
  • Superman Returns
• Adam Baldwin (2007, 2011)
  • Superman: Doomsday
  • DC Universe Online
• Kyle MacLachlan (2008)
  • Justice League: The New Frontier
• Christopher Corey Smith (2008)
  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
• Joseph May (2009)
  • Batman: Black and White
• David Lodge (2009)
  • Superman: Red Son
• Mark Harmon (2010)
  • Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
• Nolan North (2010-present)
  • Young Justice
• David Kaye (2010)
  • DC: Super Friends
• James Denton (2011)
  • All-Star Superman
• Roger Rose (2011)
  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Radio & other audio

• 1940s: The Adventures of Superman, radio series starring Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander.
• 1966: The Adventures of Superman, vinyl LP featuring Bob Holiday as Superman.
• 1970s - 1980s: various Superman-related vinyl albums from Peter Pan Records.
• 1993: Superman Lives!, BBC Radio Light Entertainment, BBC Radio 5. Superman is voiced by Stuart Milligan.
• 1995: DC Comics Super Heroes - Attack of the Elementals - audio drama featuring the Justice League. Superman is voiced by David Earl Waterman.
• 2008 The Never-Ending Battle Graphic Audio Superman was voiced by James Konicek. Mr Konicek has also voiced Superman in other DC Comics Audiobooks put out by Graphic Audio (www.graphicaudio.net)

Film

See also: Superman in film

• 1948: Superman a serial in 15 chapters starring Kirk Alyn and Noel Neill; recounts origin story; then fights the Spider Lady.
• 1950: Atom Man vs. Superman serial in 15 parts starring Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill and Lyle Talbot. Fights Atom Man / Lex Luthor.
• 1951: Superman and the Mole Men, feature film, starring George Reeves and Phyllis Coates.
• 1954: Stamp Day for Superman, short film featuring George Reeves and Noel Neill promoting Stamp Day for the U.S. Treasury.
• 1978: Superman: The Movie, directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine. Superman is ranked at no. 26 on The AFI's Top 50 Heroes list based on his appearance in this film.^{[citation needed]}
• 1979: The Return of Superman, also known as "Turkish Superman" is an adaptation of Superman from Turkey.^{[citation needed]}
• 1981: Superman II, directed by Richard Lester and starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, and Terence Stamp.^{[citation needed]}
• 1983: Superman III, directed by Richard Lester and starring Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Annette O'Toole and Robert Vaughn.^{[citation needed]}
• 1984: Supergirl, spin-off directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Helen Slater and Faye Dunaway. In the film, Superman as portrayed by Christopher Reeve appears on a poster, and Marc McClure repeats his role of Jimmy Olsen from the Reeve features.
• 1987: Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Jon Cryer and Mariel Hemingway.
• 1992: Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation, a cameo appearance where he saved Babs and Buster Bunny and Byron Basset.
• 2006: Superman Returns, directed by Bryan Singer and starring Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey and James Marsden.^{[citation needed]} The film also includes material featuring Marlon Brando (originally filmed for Superman: The Movie).
• 2006: Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut. New edit of Superman II, featuring around 80% new footage originally shot by director Richard Donner, including material featuring Marlon Brando.
• 2013: The upcoming Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Michael Shannon.

Television

• 1952–1958: Adventures of Superman TV series, starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates (season 1) and Noel Neill (seasons 2 - 6).
• 1957: I Love Lucy - "Lucy and Superman" episode featuring George Reeves as Superman.
• 1961: The Adventures of Superboy unaired TV series pilot starring Johnny Rockwell.
• 1975: It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman, Televised production of the Broadway play starring David Wilson and Lesley Ann Warren.
• 1988–1992: Superboy television series, starring John Haymes Newton (1988–1989), Gerard Christopher (1989–1992) and Stacy Haiduk.
• 1993–1997: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman television series, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher.
• 2001–2011: Smallville television series, starring Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack, Erica Durance, Justin Hartley and Cassidy Freeman.

Animated

• 1941 - 1943: Fleischer Studios/Famous Studios' Superman theatrical cartoon series of 17 shorts initially starring Bud Collyer.
• 1966 - 1969: Various Superman series by Filmation. Featured Bud Collyer as Superman and Bob Hastings as Superboy.
  • 1966: The New Adventures of Superman
  • 1967: The Superman-Aquaman Hour of Adventure, which included three Justice League of America shorts also featuring Collyer as Superman.
  • 1968 - 1969: The Batman-Superman Hour
• 1973 - 1985: Various Super Friends series produced by Hanna-Barbera. Featured Danny Dark as Superman.
  • 1973: Super Friends
  • 1977: The All-New Super Friends Hour
  • 1978: Challenge Of The SuperFriends
  • 1979: The World's Greatest Super Friends
  • 1980 - 1983: Super Friends
  • 1984: Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show
  • 1985: The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
• 1988: Superman TV series based on the "new" DC Comics Superman. Produced by Ruby-Spears. Starred Beau Weaver and Ginny McSwain.
• 1996 - 2000: Superman by Warner Bros. Starred Tim Daly and Dana Delany.
• 2000: Batman Beyond episodes "The Call Parts 1 & 2" by Warner Bros. featured an older Superman (Christopher McDonald) as the leader of the Justice League.
• 2001 - 2006: Justice League / Justice League Unlimited by Warner Bros. Features George Newbern as Superman.
• 2004: Static Shock
• 2005: Krypto the Superdog, TV series. Superman, voiced by Michael Daingerfield, appears in the first episode.
• 2006: Superman: Brainiac Attacks, straight-to-video film utilizing character designs from Superman: The Animated Series. Stars Tim Daly and Dana Delany.
• 2006 - 2008: Legion of Super Heroes by Warner Bros. Features Yuri Lowenthal as Superman.
• 2007: Superman: Doomsday straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Features Adam Baldwin as Superman.
• 2007 - 2008: The Batman by Warner Bros. Superman is featured in the two-part season 5 premiere, "The Batman/Superman Story" and the two-part series finale, "Lost Heroes". George Newbern reprises the role.
• 2008: Justice League: The New Frontier straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Features Kyle MacLachlan as Superman.
• 2009: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Features Tim Daly as Superman.
• 2010: DC Super Friends straight-to-video animation by Warner Bros. and Fisher-Price. Features David Kaye as Superman.
• 2010 - 2011: Batman: The Brave and the Bold by Warner Bros. Superman and Wonder Woman are seen in a non-speaking cameo from the rear in the second season episode "Sidekicks Assemble!". Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, and his wife Lois Lane are later seen clapping at Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's wedding in one of Alfred Pennyworth's detective stories in "The Knights of Tomorrow!". Superman, voiced by Roger Rose, is featured in the season 3 premiere, "Battle of the Superheroes!".
• 2010: Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Superman is voiced by Mark Harmon.
• 2010: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Tim Daly reprises his role as Superman.
• 2010 - present: Young Justice by Warner Bros. Features Nolan North as Superman.
• 2010: Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam straight-to-video short film by DC Comics. Features George Newbern as Superman.
• 2011: All-Star Superman straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Features James Denton as Superman.
• 2012: Justice League: Doom straight-to-video film by DC Comics. Features Tim Daly as Superman.

Video games

Main article: List of Superman video games

• 1978: Superman by Atari for the Atari 2600.
• 1984: Superman III by Atari for the Atari 8-bit family of computers. Unreleased.
• 1985: Superman: The Game by First Star Software for the Commodore 64.
• 1987: Superman by Kemco for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
• 1988: Superman: Man of Steel by Tynesoft for the Commodore 64.
• 1988: Superman by Taito; Arcade game.
• 1992: Superman: The Man of Steel by Virgin Interactive for the Sega Master System.
• 1992: Superman by Sunsoft for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
• 1994 / 1995: The Death and Return of Superman by Sunsoft for the Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
• 1995: Justice League Task Force by Acclaim for the Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
• 1998: Superman by Titus for the Game Boy.
• 1999: Superman by Titus for the Nintendo 64.
• Cancelled: Superman by Titus for the PlayStation.
• 2002: Justice League: Injustice for All by Midway for the Game Boy Advance. Superman is a playable character.
• 2002: Superman: The Man of Steel by Infogrames/Atari for the Xbox.
• 2002 / 2003: Superman: Shadow of Apokolips by Infogrames/Atari for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube.
• 2003: Superman: Countdown to Apokolips by Infogrames/Atari for the Game Boy Advance.
• 2003: Justice League: Chronicles by Midway for the Game Boy Advance. Superman is a playable character.
• 2005: Justice League TV Games unit by Jakks Pacific. Superman is playable in some games, non-playable in others.
• 2006: Superman: The Greatest Hero by VTech for the V.Smile system.
• 2006: Superman TV Games unit by Jakks Pacific. Five different games featuring Superman.
• 2006: Justice League Heroes by Eidos for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PlayStation Portable. Superman is a playable character and is voiced by Crispin Freeman
• 2006: Superman Returns by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 2, Xbox & Xbox 360. Features voices from the cast of the film.
• 2006: Superman Returns by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo DS.
• 2006: Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude by Electronic Arts for the Game Boy Advance.
• 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe by Midway for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
• 2011: DC Universe Online by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows.

Theater & live appearances

• 1940: New York World's Fair Broadway actor Ray Middleton played the Man of Steel in his first public appearance on July 3 for "Superman Day". Several photos of him in costume survive.^[1]
• 1966: "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman", a Broadway musical; lyrics by Lee Adams, music by Charles Strouse. Starring Bob Holiday and Jack Cassidy.
• 2010: "The History of Invulnerability", a play about the creation of Superman and the childhood of one of his creators, Joe Shuster.

Literature

• 1942: The Adventures of Superman by George Lowther
• 1971: "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" by Larry Niven
• 1978: Last Son of Krypton by Elliot S! Maggin
• 1981: Miracle Monday by Elliot S! Maggin
• 1991: "Ubermensch!" by Kim Newman
• 1994: The Death and Life of Superman by Roger Stern
• 1996: Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel by C. J. Cherryh
• 2005: It's Superman! by Tom De Haven
• 2007: The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
• 2009: Enemies & Allies by Kevin J. Anderson

Merchandising

Superman peanut butter

• Sunnyland Refining Co., in 1981, marketed jars of creamy and crunchy peanut butter using the familiar image of Superman. In the 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great, it was noted that this was DC's first licensing deal for a brand of food.^[2]
• A Superman pinball machine was produced by Atari in 1979.^[3]

Theme park rides

• Superman: The Escape, roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
• Superman: Ultimate Flight, roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Six Flags Great America.
• Superman - Ride of Steel, roller coaster at Six Flags America. Also at Darien Lake without the "Superman" branding.
• Superman - Ride of Steel, different roller coaster found at Six Flags New England.
• Superman: Krypton Coaster, roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
• Superman el Ultimo Escape, roller coaster at Six Flags México.
• Superman Escape, roller coaster at Warner Brothers Movie World.
• Superman: Tower of Power tower ride at Six Flags Over Texas.
• Superman: The Ride, roller coaster in Six Flags Holland. Now called the Xpress (roller coaster), and the theme park is now called Walibi Holland.

Music

Songs about or that reference Superman:

• 1966: "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan
• 1968: "Superman" by New Riders of the Purple Sage
• 1969: "Superman" by The Clique (covered by R.E.M., 1986)
• 1971: "The Day Superman Got Busted" by Company Caine
• 1972: "Superman" by Alison McCallum
• 1972: "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" by Jim Croce (covered by Poison, 2006)
• 1974: "Carpet Crawlers" by Genesis
• 1975: "Black Superman (Muhammad Ali)" by Johnny Wakelin
• 1976: "Superman Lover" by Johnny Guitar Watson
• 1977: "Superman" by Barbara Streisand
• 1978: "Bicycle Race" by Queen
• 1978: "What's Next to the Moon" by AC/DC
• 1978: "Can You Read My Mind" by John Williams and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
• 1979: "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" by The Kinks
• 1979: "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang (covered by Def Squad, 1998)
• 1981: "O Superman (For Massenet)" by Laurie Anderson
• 1981: "The Land of Make Believe" by Bucks Fizz
• 1983: "Make Me A Believer" by Luther Vandross
• 1985: "Impressed" by Charlie Sexton references Superman and Lois Lane (from Pictures for Pleasure)
• 1986: "Land of Confusion" by Genesis
• 1987: "Sunset Superman" by Dio
• 1989: "Heaven" by Warrant
• 1989: "Superman" by Robyn Hitchcock
• 1991: "Superman's Song" by Crash Test Dummies
• 1991: "Superman" by Alanis Morissette
• 1991: "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" by Spin Doctors
• 1991: "Superman" by Gaunt
• 1991: "Can't stop this thing we started" by Bryan Adams
• 1993: "Award Tour" by A Tribe Called Quest
• 1994: "Black Superman" by Above the Law
• 1994: "Silvergun Superman" by Stone Temple Pilots
• 1996: "Real World" by Matchbox Twenty
• 1997: "Superman" by Goldfinger
• 1997: "Superman's Dead" by Our Lady Peace
• 1999: "Waitin' for a Superman" (Is It Gettin' Heavy??)" by The Flaming Lips
• 2000: "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down
• 2000: "Say It Isn't So" by Bon Jovi
• 2000: "Save Me" by Aimee Mann
• 2001: "Superman (It's Not Easy)" by Five for Fighting
• 2001: "Superman" by Bush
• 2001: "Jimmy" by Amy Jo Johnson
• 2001: "Superhero" by Brian McKnight
• 2002: "Invincible" by Emma Bunton
• 2002: "Where Are You Going?" by Dave Matthews Band
• 2002: "Superman" by Eminem
• 2002: "Superman" by Lazlo Bane
• 2004: "Big Red Cheese" by The Roy Clark Method
• 2004: "超人"(Superman) by Mayday
• 2004: "Change you or Change Me" Fabolous
• 2004: "Black Superman" by Jude
• 2004: "100 Ways" by JC Chasez
• 2005: "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" by Sufjan Stevens
• 2005: "Superman on Ice" by 13 & God
• 2005: "Superman" by Stereophonics
• 2006: "Kingdom Come" by Jay-Z
• 2006: Superman by Sandi Thom
• 2007: "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy
• 2008: "Superman" by T-Pain
• 2008: "Superman" by The Game
• 2008: "Hero" by Pop Evil
• 2008: "Superman 14" by Kevin Costner and Modern West
• 2009: "Superman High" by R. Kelly and OJ
• 2009: "Superman" by Willie Nelson
• 2009: "No One Likes Superman Anymore" by I Fight Dragons
• 2010: "Superman Tonight" by Bon Jovi
• 2010: "Fire in the Kitchen" by Manafest
• 2010: "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem

Art

• 2007: Beautiful Superman, a sculpture by David Herbert,^[4][5] exhibited in 2008 in The Hague Sculpture in The Hague.^[6]

Web Shows

• 2006 - present: Galacticast

Notes

1. ^ "SUPERMAN DAY! - 1940". Superman Through the Ages. http://fortress-of-solitude.nu/supermanday/. Retrieved 2010-09-13. 
2. ^ Marx, Barry, Cavalieri, Joey and Hill, Thomas (w), Petruccio, Steven (a), Marx, Barry (ed). "Superman Peanut Butter Brand Licensing Pioneered" Fifty Who Made DC Great: 52 (1985), DC Comics
3. ^ "The Internet Pinball Machine Database". Ipdb.org. http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=superman&search=Search+Database&searchtype=quick. Retrieved 2011-03-12. 
4. ^ "David Herbert:Biography", Saatchi Gallery. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
5. ^ Velasco, David. "Miami vices", Artforum, 8 December 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
6. ^ "The Hague Sculpture", denhaagsculptuur.com, 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2010.

References

• "O Superman: Music & comics" (by Alan Moore, The Daredevils #5, 1983)