The Best of Superman
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- DirectorDave FleischerSteve MuffatiStarsBud CollyerJoan AlexanderJackson BeckSuperman battles a criminal mastermind and his robot army.Before the Max Fleisher cartoons, SUPERMAN COULDN'T FLY (originally, in the comics, he jumped like a flea)!!! These cartoons gave him the literal power of flight, and helped make the character a household name. 17 short films representing some of Superman's greatest adventures, and some the best cell-drawn animation EVER made.
- DirectorLee SholemStarsGeorge ReevesPhyllis CoatesJeff CoreyWhen underground beings explore the surface world from a deep oil well and inadvertently cause a panic, only Superman can prevent a tragedy.Shot in just 12 days in black-and-white, with a run-time of 60 minutes, this "feature film" introduced George Reeves as the new Superman, with Phyllis Coates playing Lois Lane. Reeves was rigged up to a harness to achieve the illusion of flight, making this the first live-action flight of Superman. It was made as a kind of pilot episode to gage audience reactions to the potential for an ongoing series. It proved to be a surprise hit at the box office, and was later re-edited an re-inserted into the first season as the only two-part episode.
- StarsGeorge ReevesNoel NeillJack LarsonThe Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the "Daily Planet."Produced with sponsorship from Kellog's, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates reprised their roles and quickly became household names, although original Lois Lane actress Noel Neill would replace Coates after the first season. Coates gave Lois a hard-edged flavor that cemented the character as one who tries to out-stage her male counterparts, but Neill was more audience-friendly. The first two seasons were - in retrospect - surprisingly violent, noir-ish and grim, but the violence was toned down, more sci-fi elements were introduced, and the hardened criminals gave way to more comical bunglers (the series also switched to color film). It lasted 6 seasons.
- StarsBud CollyerJackson BeckJack GrimesSuperman protects Metropolis and the world from a variety of threats while working at the Daily Planet as Clark Kent.Almost a decade after the popular live-action series, and over two since the Max Fleischer cartoons, Superman returned to animation via Filmation, featuring the voices of Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander, who had provided the voices of Clark Kent and Lois Lane for the popular radio broadcast, which preceded even the Fleischer cartoons. Collyer popularized the notion of altering his voice inflection between mild-mannered Kent and deep-voiced Superman.
Later seasons were packaged together with other DC heroes like Aquaman and Batman, featuring cameos and short segments with the Justice League and Superboy. - CreatorGardner FoxStarsDanny DarkCasey KasemOlan SouleThe greatest of the DC Comics superheroes work together to uphold the good with the help of some young proteges.Danny Dark ("This Bud's for YOU") lent his voice to Superman in this long-running, frequently-name-changing incarnation of the Justice League of America, which was a popular, Saturday-morning cartoon smash from Hanna-Barbara, which I would literally LEAP out of bed on Saturday mornings to go and see, possibly while wearing a Superman cape my mother bought for me. Thanks, Ma, and thanks to all who made this charming series, which even today, I hum the music to when I'm working out. Whoops. Too much information.
Introduced the ultimate challenge for the League at the Hall of Justice; their dark counterparts in the LEGION OF DOOM!!! Great concept of an somewhat organized super-criminal gang. Great skull-shaped building in the swamp, too. Totally stirred the imagination when I was young, and makes me smile when I see nods to it in the Bruce Timm series, and was I ever THRILLED - even as an adult - to see JLA: Trapped in Time, which is a modern-day homage to this classic series.
As a kid, I remember wishing that the bright and cheery, utterly inoffensive kid's shows would "grow up" a little (as I was), and feature stories more in line with the comic books that spawned them (and to be fair, comics were growing up fast in the wake of Superman: The Movie, and Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns).
At long last, the villain Darkseid was introduced into animation, and the Superfriends had to team up to stop him and his minions, even if the vignettes were only ten minutes each.
I was 12 years old, reading comics that were, in the wake of Superman: The Movie and Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, growing up with me, ready to stop watching Saturday morning "kids" shows forever, when suddenly, the animation on one of my old favorites subtly improved, the stories were extended to a full 30 minutes each, and more "grown up" threats and drama were introduced - like comic book favorite Darkseid.
It was sad that this would prove to be the final season of what started as The Superfriends, and interesting to think what it could've become had the trend of "maturing" continued. As-is, it represents the closest the light-hearted Superfriends ever came to truly matching their comic book counterparts until Bruce Timm reinvented American animation with Batman: The Animated Series and all that followed. - DirectorGiancarlo VolpeStarsDiedrich BaderLaura BaileyDante BascoLex Luthor is frozen during a battle with the Justice League. He thaws out in the 31st century, discovers Time Trapper and prevents Superman's arrival to Earth as a baby. Future teen heroes Karate Kid and Dawnstar must stop him.Made during the Bruce Timm era but not by Bruce Timm himself, this Justice League adventure was made to answer parents' concerns that their kids cartoons were becoming too adult.
To be fair, Bruce Timm and company launched Batman: The Animated Series in prime time for that very reason - they wanted to be more like the comics and tell adult-themed stories. But parents expecting Superfriends have a point to make too, so Batman became less scary, and this was a deliberate throwback to what made those old shows so great.
Hearing that it was so kid-friendly, I almost didn't watch it, but someone said it was a love-letter to the Superfriends, so I had to check it out, and indeed, it is jam-packed with references to that old show, from the Legion of Doom to the image of the heroes and villains running at each other like opposing football teams. Awesome stuff, with terrific animation, that proves you can still have fun with these characters, even if the finer details of the story are better left unquestioned. - DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.What else can I say about Superman: The Movie that others haven't said? I dragged my family to the theater to go see it, and my sister HATED the idea. But I'd gone to see The Black Stallion (she loved horses), so my parents made her go to see Superman. By the time we left, she was in love with Christopher Reeve. She enjoyed the hell out of that movie, as did my parents; one who'd grown up reading the comics and watching the old George Reeves series, and the other who was a pilot and loved to fly.
To this day, I'm still amazed by how ahead of it's time it was. It took the subject matter seriously. It had a LOT of fun, but the themes were reasonably complex, the romance was a complete and utter surprise, Reeves' portrayal of Clark Kent was an absolute CLASSIC, and the score by John Williams still turns me into a little kid whenever I think about it.
Not only is it the first big-budget superhero movie, not only does it have an A-list cast that upstaged Marlon Brando with a screenplay by Mankiewicz and Puzo, but in all my years of watching mass media, it is also one of the BEST MOVIES that I've ever seen. - DirectorRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMargot KidderSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.If you thought the original film didn't have enough Super-action, this one delivered... even if it was a little more dopey in some of its pratfalls. It featured the stunning moment when Lois Lane first realized that Clark Kent was Superman - even if the resolution was a super-power no one could have expected (or explained) - and the fights are just worth it. One guy says, "Man, this is gonna be good!" And he was right. Sadly, it falls just short of being truly GREAT. But topping the original is a rare feat for any sequel. This one did all right.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsChristopher ReeveRichard PryorMargot KidderSynthetic kryptonite laced with tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel.This is a Richard Pryor movie featuring Superman. Pryor plays Gus Gorman, a computer savant who ends up getting blackmailed into working for a Lex Luthor type (played by Robert Vaughn, complete with a bubbly, hench-woman at his side) who wants to take over the coffee trade. That's right, an evil scheme to monopolize the coffee bean industry. Not kidding.
Anyway. Superman repeatedly thwarts his plans with super-deeds, so Gus is blackmailed into making synthetic Kryptonite, which ends up having odd effects on Superman right when Clark Kent is getting cozy with high-school sweetheart Lana Lang at a Smallville reunion.
Clark battles his drunken, Bizarro-self (although largely in his own mind), fights his way through a missile attack, and squares off against pseudo-Lex and his evil sister, who gets morphed into a killer cyborg by Gus' out-of-control super-computer. Ultimately, Gus has to make a choice about which side he's really on.
I mean, it's a Superman story. It features Christopher Reeve, Annette O'Toole as Lana Lang, and a solid cast. It just isn't a GREAT Superman story. It was the law of diminishing returns for what shoulda/coulda been a franchise to rival James Bond. - DirectorJeannot SzwarcStarsHelen SlaterFaye DunawayPeter O'TooleAfter losing a powerful orb, Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.An epic tragedy featuring an utterly wasted cast. Worth it only for a few fleetingly good scenes, in particular, the 45 second sequence where Kara learns to fly.
- DirectorSidney J. FurieStarsChristopher ReeveGene HackmanMargot KidderThe Man of Steel crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's latest creation, Nuclear Man.The writers of this film, Lawrence Konner (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Mighty Joe Young, The Jewel of the Nile), and Mark Rosenthal (The Legend of Billy Jean, Mona Lisa Smile, I Robot) did their best to tell a significant Superman story. A little boy asks why doesn't Superman just get rid of the planet's nuclear weapons, and he hears of it, and decides to take on the responsibility. Pretty awesome. Potentially very moving and in the 80's - TOTALLY relevant, dudes - but it was produced by Cannon films, which slashed the budget at every turn, resulting in a film with nearly un-watchable special effects.
All involved do their best however; Gene Hackman returns as Lex Luthor, John Cryer ROCKS as his nephew Lenny, Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper, and Marc McClure return as Lois, Perry White, and Jimmy Olsen, and I heard Chris Reeve donated his paycheck to a charity (awesome guy). There's even a super-battle with Nuclear Man (one of Luthor's creations). Sadly, Cannon simply didn't supply the funds to finish the fx, and the results, as Reeve himself admitted, were terrible.
Still, in concept a better and more meaningful story than Superman III, and worth it just to see Clark Kent go on a double date with Superman. - CreatorJoe ShusterJerry SiegelStarsStacy HaidukGerard ChristopherPeter Jay FernandezThe adventures of the Man of Steel in his teenage years.The first season wasn't great - though John Haymes Newton looked the part - with Superman going up against crime bosses, land developers, dirty cops, etc. Stand-out episodes introduce Kryptonite, feature time travel, and introduce Mr. Mxyzptlk.
The second through fourth seasons had a major overhaul, with Gerrard Christopher taking over the lead. He was a long-time comic fan, and helped steer the series into more comic-friendly territory, introducing Metallo and Bizarro, seeing Jor-el and Lara, and featuring more super-powered bad guys, with cameos from Noel Neill and Jack Larson (the original Lois and Jimmy).
It started out in a college setting, then switched to a Paranormal Research Facility (before The X-Files and the more recent Adventures of Supergirl). It got better with every season until Warners decided to make its own prime-time series called Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. - CreatorDeborah Joy LeVineJoe ShusterJerry SiegelStarsDean CainTeri HatcherLane SmithIn addition to fighting evil, Superman has a burning romance with Lois Lane in both of his identities.I didn't love this series when it started, but should've stuck around. Like many Superman shows, it started with a lack of super-powered villains, and later became more comic book friendly, adopting more sci-fi themes.
I missed out on the Clark and Lois wedding, and the return to the idea that Clark's is the dominant personality, with Superman being more of a disguise, but I always thought of this as being a romantic couple's mystery show rather than a superhero kind of thing. I'll go back and finish watching one of these days. - CreatorJoe ShusterJerry SiegelBob KaneStarsTim DalyJoseph BolognaDana DelanyThe last son of the planet Krypton protects his adoptive home of Earth as the greatest of the superheroes.Superman: The Animated Series was a love-letter to the Max Fleischer cartoons, and to the fans. It is the single most-accurate adaptation of the comic book character ever (seeing Darkseid and Apocalypse animated in all their epic glory were dreams come true for me), while also adding material of its own. Case in point - Braniac - easily the most awesome interpretation of the character ever, created exclusively for this series, and yet worthy of a Superman live-action feature. Simply a great show.
- DirectorCurt GedaScott JeraldsDan RibaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownThe last survivor of the dead planet Krypton uses his amazing powers to defend people of his adopted world Earth.This was a phenomenal re-introduction to Superman. I was six when Superman: The Movie rolled out, and grew up on the John Byrne-era comics, but I was blown away by the concept of making Braniac a Kryptonian computer, and having him play such a key role in Jor-el's last adventure.
The scenes of Clark growing up were faithful enough, and his first conflict with a Lex Luthor-funded battlesuit - driven by John Corbin, the man who would become Metallo - showed that Bruce Timm and company had many tricks up their sleeves, and were planning to make this the best Superman series ever. They succeeded, and it only got better from here. - 1996–200022mUnrated7.6 (579)TV EpisodeDirectorToshihiko MasudaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownLex Luthor learns that Superman is vulnerable to kryptonite and attempts to use it to kill Superman.
- 1996–200022mUnrated8.1 (564)TV EpisodeDirectorKenji HachizakiStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownJohn Corben returns as a kryptonite-powered cyborg eager to kill Superman.
- 1996–200021mUnrated8.2 (547)TV EpisodeDirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownBrainiac, once Krypton's all-knowing planetary computer, comes to Earth as part of his information-gathering trek across the galaxy. But, as Superman discovers, Brainiac's intent after gathering the world's knowledge is to destroy the Earth.This is another great Braniac story. The writers and producers clearly had a plan, and like the early seasons of Batman: The Animated Series, they executed it brilliantly, setting up threads, and pulling those strings later when necessary.
- 1996–200021mUnrated7.4 (483)TV EpisodeDirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyMichael YorkIntergang boss Bruno Mannheim receives powerful alien weapons from a mysterious benefactor.While a little improbable, this episode sets up the notion that the minions of Darkseid are dipping their toes in the affairs of Earth, in this case, by selling futuristic weapons to gangsters.
- 1996–200022mUnrated7.1 (453)TV EpisodeDirectorNobuo TomizawaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyDavid KaufmanWhile on a space mission, Superman discovers a massive humanoid stone giant, lashed to an asteroid, that breaks loose and runs amok.From the first episode, STAS established itself as a science-fiction series first and foremost. It only stood to reason then, that there should be giant monsters at some point. The series was notable for showing Superman with limited powers more in line with the Max Fleischer cartoons, where he really had to work to keep an airplane from crashing, for example, making him more vulnerable than some depictions, where he could fly into the sun without breaking a sweat. In Bruce Timm's universe, when the Man of Steel battles a giant monster, he's not always sure he'll be able to beat him with brute strength, forcing him to use his mind. THAT attribute made this Clark Kent very much like the John Byrne comic book variant.
- DirectorToshihiko MasudaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyCharlie SchlatterSuperman and The Flash compete in a charity running race around the world, but have to stop to deal with the Weather Wizard.It's an age-old question among comic book geeks - who's faster? Superman, or the Flash? Here, the world of animated superheroes opens up the throttle as Superman welcomes the first of three future Justice League members to appear on his show (eventually including Green Lantern and Batman). Who wins? Who cares? Its twice the super-power crammed into one memorable episode.
- 1996–200021mUnrated8.2 (496)TV EpisodeDirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownClark encounters a clone of himself who decays into a flawed version dubbed Bizarro.Bizarro's origins are modified here from their origins in the comics, but he's such a ridiculous character to begin with, it's hardly a bad thing. What's great about Bizarro is that he's a literal mirror opposite of Superman. He's a tragic villain, to be sure, but often a humorous one, albeit a deadly threat that Superman can't simply ignore.
- 1996–200021mUnrated7.5 (424)TV EpisodeDirectorKenji HachizakiStarsTim DalyDana DelanyMalcolm McDowellAn amnesiac Metallo reemerges from the ocean and is adopted by two children on an island.
- 1996–200022mUnrated8.2 (428)TV EpisodeDirectorHiroyuki AoyamaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownBrainiac's consciousness, in control of LexCorp's computer systems, forces Luthor to rebuild his primary body in secret.Couldn't get enough of the new-and-improved Braniac.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyMichael IronsideTo curry his father's favor, the New God brute, Kalibak, goes to Earth to battle Superman.I read the comic books where Darkseid invaded Earth and did all kinds of shocking things to Superman, and I knew the series was heading there, but the insufferable TEASE! Bruce Timm made us wait for it...
Here, Darkseid's son Kalibak attacks Metropolis to win favor with his father, on the day when Johnathan and Martha Kent are visiting the big city. It's a great juxtaposition of parenting styles and one of those things that makes Clark Kent such a Superman. - 1996–200022mUnrated7.5 (416)TV EpisodeDirectorHiroyuki AoyamaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyCorey BurtonAfter inadvertently receiving recorded memories of Krypton, Bizarro attempts to recreate those memories in miniature in his own twisted way, including its end.
- DirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyXander BerkeleyAs inventor John Henry Irons fears, the pilot of his imperfect prototype power armor becomes violently unstable.
- DirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyMichael DornMalcolm McDowellJohn Henry Irons must give his equipment a trial of fire as Steel to help Superman oppose Metallo.
- 1996–200022mUnrated8.6 (464)TV EpisodeDirectorDan RibaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyMichael IronsideOrion, an alien escapee from the planet Apokolips, seeks Superman's help in his effort to stop Darkseid from conquering Earth.YES!!! This is the first major battle in the war between Superman and DARKSEID (here voiced by Michael Ironside)!!!
Although the first episode of this two-parter mainly deals with Orion's arrival in Metropolis to seek Superman's help, it nonetheless gets the ball rolling, and warns that not everyone will be safe. - 1996–200022mUnrated9.1 (511)TV EpisodeDirectorDan RibaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyMichael IronsideSteppenwolf, a hunter from Apokolips, joins Darkseid in his battle to take over Earth.Darkseid and his parademons invade Metropolis, and Superman is powerless to stop them all!!! The citizens rise up, only to be struck down, and Darkseid offers only one chance - OBEY - or be destroyed!
Nothing against Lex Luthor (who makes a cameo), but Darkseid is f'n scary, and this was his first major battle with the Man of Steel. The final title card says it best - THIS IS NOT THE END.
A great episode and tribute to Jack Kirby. - 1996–200022mUnrated8.0 (443)TV EpisodeDirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyNicholle TomSuperman rescues and brings home the sole survivor of the lost Kryptonian colony of Argos, the rambunctious Kara aka Supergirl.This two-parter is both an introduction to the animated Supergirl, and a follow-up to the events of Apokalips... Now! Superman visits the remains of Krypton in a space ship, and finds a survivor on Krypton's devastated sister-world, Argo - a teen-aged girl.
Bringing her home to Kansas, he spends three years trying to acclimate her to life on Earth, but she's ready for some action. On a trip to Metropolis, she finds it, in an adventure with Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, that leads her to find one of Darkseid's minions, Granny Goodness, still on Earth, plotting it's destruction. - 1996–200022mUnrated7.8 (427)TV EpisodeDirectorButch LukicStarsJason MarsdenCorey BurtonJason PriestleyThree members of the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 30th century travel back in time to stop Brainiac from killing Clark Kent in his youth.The Legion of Super-Heroes guest-stars in a time-travel episode that sees Braniac of the future going back to stop Superman before he became Superman. It was Braniac's last appearance on the show, but he would be back - big time - in Justice League.
- 1996–200021mUnrated7.2 (377)TV EpisodeDirectorShin'ichi TsujiStarsTim DalyDana DelanyGilbert GottfriedIn an attempt to sidestep his agreement to stay away from the third dimension, Mr. Mxyzptlk convinces Bizarro to return to Earth and attack Superman.
- 1996–200022mUnrated8.3 (430)TV EpisodeDirectorButch LukicStarsTim DalyDana DelanyMichael P. GrecoWhen Green Lantern Abin Sur fatally crash lands on Earth, his power ring selects a young artist as a replacement.I have a theory that this iteration of Superman, as good as the entire series is, is technically an alternate reality, or one of any number of Earths that is not Earth One. My proof? The fact that Green Lantern Abin Sur comes to Earth, and upon dying, gives his power ring to Kyle Rayner, not Hal Jordan. It's still a good episode, and it's still a faithful-enough adaptation of the origin of the Green Lantern of Earth - facing off against Sinestro, no less - but it's not Hal, ergo, it is not Earth One.
- DirectorShin'ichi TsujiStarsTim DalyNicholle TomMike FarrellUpon returning from Metropolis, Kara finds the Kents, and most of the population of Smallville as well, under the thrall of a strange itinerant preacher.
- DirectorCurt GedaStarsTim DalyDana DelanyClancy BrownSuperman is brainwashed to believe he is the adopted son of Darkseid and now has orders to conquer Earth.Only the most incredible series finale EVER. Inspired by both an Elseworlds story and a number of Superman comics from the 1980's, Kal-El is brainwashed into serving Darkseid, and proves an unstoppable force against those who would oppose them. Tricked into believing that his ship crashed on Apokolips, where the benevolent Darkseid raised him and trained him to serve order, he wages war on innocent worlds. His reward for defeating them? The chance to rule a rebellious planet called Earth.
All I can say is, when Clark finds out what Darkseid has done to him, its the super-battle of the freakin' century. UTTERLY AWESOME, and a great way to both end the series, and start the Justice League. - CreatorBob KaneWilliam Moulton MarstonJoe ShusterStarsCarl LumblyPhil LaMarrMichael RosenbaumSeven of the most formidable heroes form arguably the most powerful team ever.If you liked Superman: The Animated Series, this continues the high level of quality and some of the stories introduced in both the animated Batman and Superman adventures.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroySusan EisenbergCarl LumblyBatman and Superman team up to deal with an alien invasion, and a telepathic message leads the duo to a military base housing future ally J'onn J'onzz.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroyMaria Canals-BarreraSusan EisenbergDarkseid convinces the League to help him fight Brainiac from destroying his planet of Apokolips.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroyMaria Canals-BarreraSusan EisenbergLex Luthor finds an extremely advanced android that can imitate superpowers and manipulates it to attack the Justice League.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroyMaria Canals-BarreraSusan EisenbergIn an alternate reality, a version of the Justice League known as the Justice Lords discovers the League's world and plot to take it over.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroyMaria Canals-BarreraSusan EisenbergWhile the Justice League is experiencing serious internal friction, Gorilla Grodd carefully assembles a well organized supervillain team to attack it.
- DirectorButch LukicStarsKevin ConroyMaria Canals-BarreraSusan EisenbergDuring a battle with the Revenge Squad, Superman apparently falls in battle.
- DirectorButch LukicStarsKevin ConroyMaria Canals-BarreraPhil LaMarrHawkgirl's people, the Thanagarians, arrive to offer the planet protection from another alien race threatening to invade Earth.
- 2004–200621m8.6 (1.1K)TV EpisodeDirectorDan RibaStarsGeorge NewbernSusan EisenbergKevin ConroyBatman and Wonder Woman find Superman immobilized in the Fortress of Solitude by a plant sent by the would-be conqueror Mongul.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosStarsKevin ConroySusan EisenbergGeorge NewbernA team of too-good-to-be-true superheroes find out the truth about their origins and go on the rampage.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroySusan EisenbergCarl LumblySuperman battles Doomsday in the heart of a volcano. Doomsday is revealed to be a modified clone of Superman. Batman probes the Cadmus conspiracy to destroy the Justice League.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsGeorge NewbernKevin ConroyCarl LumblyCaptain Marvel joins the Justice League and his innocent presence inadvertently causes friction with Superman.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosStarsCarl LumblyGeorge NewbernMichael RosenbaumLex Luthor executes his masterstroke to eliminate Project Cadmus and frame the Justice League.
- DirectorDan RibaStarsKevin ConroySusan EisenbergPhil LaMarrWhile the senior Leaguers struggle to respond to the mysterious main gun firing, Amanda Waller orders Galatea to lead a full attack on the Justice League.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosStarsKevin ConroyGeorge NewbernSusan EisenbergThe Justice League charter members must battle the combined Lex Luthor/Brainiac menace alone.
- DirectorSam LiuLauren MontgomeryStarsWilliam BaldwinMark HarmonChris NothA good version of Lex Luthor from a parallel Earth comes to the Justice League's dimension for help to fight their evil counterparts.Crisis on Two Earths was the first major adaptation of concepts from Crisis on Infinite Earths. It opened the door for Bruce Timm and company to start doing alternate interpretations of these characters, and also delivers some epic superhero battles, which is all you can really ask of these things, right? The fact that it delivers a solid story is icing on the cake, and the reason why I usually enjoy Bruce Timm and company.
- DirectorDave BullockStarsDavid BoreanazMiguel FerrerNeil Patrick HarrisIn the 1950s, a new generation of superheroes must join forces with the community's active veterans and a hostile US government to fight a menace to Earth.
- CreatorGreg WeismanBrandon ViettiGeoff JohnsStarsNolan NorthDanica McKellarJesse McCartneyTeenage superheroes strive to prove themselves as members of the Justice League.
- CreatorAlfred GoughMiles MillarStarsTom WellingMichael RosenbaumAllison MackA young Clark Kent struggles to find his place in the world as he learns to harness his alien powers for good and deals with the typical troubles of teenage life in Smallville, Kansas.I doubted until the pilot aired, and then I was hooked. My girlfriend and I watched this action-packed "no tights, no flights" adaptation of Superboy for years, and though there were moments of eye-rolling drama, and moments that were less than perfect, there were enough homages, twists, and heartfelt GOODNESS that it just made us excited to see more.
Frequently a love-letter to the Richard Donner/Tom Mankiewicz Superman - featuring a crystalline Fortress of Solitude, and cameos from Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve himself - it also had innumerous nods to the comics, with the inclusion of the entire Justice League minus Batman, and was so good that many wondered whether or not the cast would simply keep the series running when Clark finally did become the Man of Steel. Sadly no, but it did inspire the WB to create Arrow, which led to The Flash, which led back to Supergirl, all of which were frequently better than the feature films when it came to capturing the essential qualities of these classic characters. - DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.
- DirectorRichard DonnerRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMarlon BrandoSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.This what-if fan edit of the un-used footage from Richard Donner's aborted Super-sequel gives fans a glimpse of what might have been. its a better story than what we got with Superman II - much less of a small town hick parody - even if it is decades late, and forced to use footage from casting tapes, with no ability to put the finishing touches on it that Donner would've wanted. Still, there's enough here to give a pretty good idea of the missed opportunity that would've made Superman II into another phenomenon; a case of a "director's cut" that actually makes it feel like an almost completely different film.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsBrandon RouthKevin SpaceyKate BosworthSuperman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world.Bryan Singer - God bless him - went way out of his way to recreate all the things fans loved about those Donner pictures, even casting Chris Reeve lookalike Brandon Routh in the title role. He uses Marlon Brando's performance. He takes us back to the crystalline Fortress of Solitude, casts Kevin Spacey to play a very comical - if homicidal - Lex Luthor, and even re-uses John Williams' classic score! For all intents and purposes, this is more of a direct sequel to Superman II than the Richard Pryor Superman III, ESPECIALLY if you watch the "Donner Cut" first, which is why I consider it an "alternate" Superman III.
Sadly, Singer and company removed a lot of the fun. This Superman is so dour and morose at times, that it makes a case for Gus Gorman. They also committed a travesty - SPOILER ALERT - not by making Superman a father, or having Lois be the mother, but by making Superman an absentee, weekend Dad. CANNOT HAPPEN. You can do that with Batman, but not the Man of Steel. Its a valiant effort, and worth a watch to be sure, but just off the mark enough to cement the notion that it was time to let go of Superman: The Movie as a franchise. You can't save everybody, Clark. - DirectorSam LiuStarsClancy BrownKevin ConroyTim DalyWhen Lex Luthor gets elected US President, he uses the threat of an oncoming kryptonite meteor striking Earth as a rationale to frame Superman.A straight-to-DVD adaptation of the first six issues of the popular Jeph Loeb comic run, Superman/ Batman: Public Enemies tells a pretty awesome story in which Lex Luthor has stolen the Presidency, and frames Superman for murder at a time when a large chunk of Krypton is heading straight for Earth.
- DirectorLauren MontgomeryStarsAndre BraugherKevin ConroyTim DalyBatman discovers a mysterious teen-aged girl with super-human powers and a connection to Superman. When the girl comes to the attention of Darkseid, the evil overlord of Apokolips, events take a decidedly dangerous turn.This direct follow-up to S/B: Public Enemies is, at its heart, a Supergirl origin story. It also features Wonder Woman and Darkseid, making it a personal favorite, as it has DC's "big three" squaring off against one of the best Superman villains of all time, who ISN'T Lex Luthor.
- DirectorJames TuckerStarsMatt BomerStana KaticJohn NobleSuperman and Supergirl take on the cybernetic Brainiac, who boasts that he possesses "the knowledge and strength of 10,000 worlds."This isn't a direct sequel to S/B: Apocalypse, but I consider it the third part of that "trilogy", as it features Supergirl in a prominent role. It's a reintroduction of Braniac, and though I thought it was better handled in Superman: The Animated Series, the animation here is far superior. It's also worth it for the moments with Lois and Clark, something I don't often say about animated interpretations of these characters.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosStarsZach CallisonJames GarnerJosh KeatonSuperman finds a foe who may be too powerful even for him to defeat in the murderous Black Adam. Fortunately, Black Adam's real target is the Earth's Mightiest Mortal--Captain Marvel.A solid short film featuring two of the strongest DC heroes going head to head. The DVD also has shorts with Green Arrow and Catwoman, among others, but this is nearly half an hour, and is definitely the best.
- DirectorMichael ChangStarsGeorge NewbernPauley PerretteRobin Atkin DownesThe Man of Steel finds himself outshone by a new team of ruthless superheroes who hold his idealism in contempt.For anyone who ever thought Superman was too "nice" or "good" or "decent" to combat real evil, and to those who feel a harsher approach is necessary - fighting evil with evil - Superman vs. The Elite addresses those issues.
Its a testament to the power of this character, provides a chance to see him take the gloves off, and also shows off his intellect, which is something that has been diminished at times to prevent him from being "too powerful". This is a reminder that the guy from Kansas via Krypton can be good, and kind, and decent, and still out think and out fight the rest. Another solid comic adaptation. - DirectorLauren MontgomeryBruce TimmBrandon ViettiStarsAdam BaldwinAnne HecheJames MarstersWhen LexCorps accidentally unleash a murderous creature, Doomsday, Superman meets his greatest challenge as a champion. Based on the "The Death of Superman" storyline that appeared in DC Comics' publications in the 1990s.This isn't my favorite Bruce Timm adaptation, but it dutifully recreates the death and rebirth of Superman, and has a pretty amazing brawl with Doomsday.
- DirectorSam LiuStarsJames DentonChristina HendricksAnthony LaPagliaAfter being poisoned by sun radiation, a dying Superman decides to fulfill his lifelong dreams while Lex Luthor has his own agenda.This one-off what-if tells the story of Superman's death after being over-exposed to the Sun's powerful radiation. It's a great love story with Lois Lane, features Lex Luthor at his worst - or best - and is a great reminder why people love this character. It also has a great homage to the comic book version of the Fortress of Solitude.
- DirectorJay OlivaStarsSean AstinZach CallisonChristopher GorhamThe world's finest heroes found the Justice League in order to stop an alien invasion of Earth.This re-introduction of the Justice League based on the "New 52" run in the comics is a highly entertaining reimagining. The costumes are redesigned, Darkseid is the villain, and though long-time fans will know that this story has been done before, it has never looked better. The animation is finally entering the realm of Japanese-quality animation. Its certainly inspired by anime, and why shouldn't it be?
- DirectorEthan SpauldingStarsSean AstinRosario DawsonNathan FillionWhen Atlantian troops assault Metropolis as revenge for the death of their king, the Queen seeks help from the Justice League to find her son who has gone missing during the madness.The sequel to JL: War is largely an Aquaman story, delving into his history and destiny and powers, while also providing the Justice League with a threat big enough to warrant their getting the band back together. Solid animation, great action, great story.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsHenry CavillAmy AdamsMichael ShannonAn alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.A long-overdue reboot that delivers the action and fx, steps away from the Donner-inspired visuals and John Williams music to a large degree, and yet rehashes a lot of the Donner-era material such as Superman's origins, his quest for meaning, his romance with Lois Lane, and ultimate fight with Zod and the remaining Kryptonians) for better and worse.
Zack Snyder's style has polarized audiences, but as a long-time comics fan, I'm used to seeing a variety of interpretations. Yes, I'd prefer a more upbeat and entertaining Superman, but that might sound insulting when the film IS ultimately about hope, and definitely entertains. It was good enough to warrant a sequel, and set the stage for a new DC comics cinematic universe. - DirectorZack SnyderStarsBen AffleckHenry CavillAmy AdamsBatman is manipulated by Lex Luthor to fear Superman. Superman´s existence is meanwhile dividing the world and he is framed for murder during an international crisis. The heroes clash and force the neutral Wonder Woman to reemerge.Another polarizing Zack Snyder film that bravely charts a new visual course while relying on stories comic fans are perhaps, overly familiar with. The Dark Knight Returns has been adapted by numerous filmmakers at this point, each borrowing certain elements. This one features the Clark-Bruce fight, and serves as a kind of prequel to The Dark Knight Returns.
It also sets the stage for the Justice League. The Superman story was butchered in the theatrical cut, but even in the extended edition, its Batman who clearly steals the show (all the same, Superman fans should check out the extended cut to see the character redeemed in many ways). Wonder Woman also steals some of the Kryptonian's thunder, and the ending wasn't as heroic and upbeat as many would've wanted, but it does feature their historic first live-action meeting, and it works.
If nothing else, its an epic effort, and worth every minute for long-time Bat-fans who want to see the Dark Knight take the proverbial gloves off. The best part isn't the title fight, surprisingly, but an intense Batmobile chase and a desparate fight to save Martha Kent from the bad guys, each showing Batman at his most frighteningly brutal. An interesting, if indirect sequel to Man of Steel. - CreatorAli AdlerGreg BerlantiAndrew KreisbergStarsMelissa BenoistChyler LeighDavid HarewoodThe adventures of Superman's cousin and her own superhero career.A surprisingly enjoyable addition to the Superman mythos, which, in its second season, brought in Tyler Hoechlin to play Superman himself. But Melissa Benoist is the main draw; a bubbly, charming, and beautiful actress who can sell the dorky human elements with the stoic superpowers. The Berlanti production crew is to be commended for yet another terrific superhero series in addition to Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow.
It also features J'onn J'onzz, Miss Martian, and other characters torn right out of the comics and lifted from other films. Its a fan's dream come true, and a welcome place keeper at a time when DC's feature films are still trying to find the right tone. In many ways, this show nails it in terms of what fans want out of Superman.