For many cinemagoers out there today, Superman is nothing more than a brooding hunk of muscle caught up in the clunky CG world of Zack Snyder. While the filmmaker is only two films deep into his Justice League saga, he has managed to redefine the Man of Steel for the modern super-serious superhero era. The only problem is Snyder’s new iteration is less Christopher Nolan and more self-serious god with a grimace.
But, while this writer may have struggled with “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice,” Superman has a much greater legacy than two bloated films. In fact, the Last Son of Krypton has been a staple of cinema for well over 80 years, first hitting the screen just a few short years after his comic book debut in 1938. Since then, in some form or another, he has been nearly omnipresent. And admittedly, much of the allure of Superman is his malleability — over the years he has been shaped to fit the anxiety or need of the moment. Which, in some ways, gives Snyder a pass, as he is simply working to find where an omnipotent alien would fit into the 21st century.
To help run through the many different incarnations of Kal-El, a new supercut has arrived from Burger Fiction. “The Evolution Of Superman In Television & Film” tracks the hero from 1941 all the way to ‘Dawn Of Justice,’ and the results are pretty fascinating. Superman has done and been it all, from serious to campy, and everything in between. And he’s duked it out with Batman more times than a layman can count.
Check out the supercut below and weigh in with your favorite Superman in the comments.