Best Adaptations of Superman

15. Look Up in the Sky!  The Amazing Story of Superman (2006)

May be odd to include a documentary on this list, but it is a very good one.  It not only captures the history of Superman, but also his sentimentality and cultural impact.  It was essentially released as a marketing tool for Superman Returns.  But the interviews with creators such as Richard Donner and fans like Mark Hamill are emotional and sincere enough to make it entertaining and meaningful.  Definitely worth a watch.

14. All-Star Superman (2011)
A lot of the entries of this list are part of the DC Original Animated Movies line of direct-to-video movies, that can mostly be found on Netflix.  I was not a huge fan of Superman: Doomsday and have not seen Superman: Unbound.  This adaptation of the well-recieved Grant Morrison run is very beautiful.  It is a loving, almost epic look at the Man of Steel.  I have never been too fascinated by the concept of Superman's death, but this tells that story well.  Great interpretation of Luthor and one of the best portrayals of the relationship with Lois Lane.

Also I swear that a few years prior I suggested on a forum that James Denton should voice Superman (fitting since his Desperate Housewives co-stars Kyle MacLachlan, Dana Delany, Teri Hatcher, Mike Farrell, Lesley Ann Warren, John Newton, John Schneider and others have all appeared on the show.  I am probably the only person who is a fan of both Superman and Desperate Housewives).

13. Krypto the Superdog (39 episodes, 2005-2006)
Superman only had one cameo, but Krypto is definitely a Superman supporting character from the comics (mainly from the Silver Age).  Krypto is a fun little series for young audiences.  Superhero fans often think that all cartoons and movies should be for them.  But there is a fantasy behind superheroes that speaks to kids and this is a fun little cartoon that is very accessible.

12. Superman Returns (2006)
Definitely has its flaws, but it was an admirable attempt.  I would say that this is one of the most beautiful looking Superman movies, the cinematography is stunning and a lot of the images are just gorgeous to look at (i.e. Superman listening to the voices in space).  This was a great homage that just did not quite hit is mark as a blockbuster, but still worth a watch.

11. Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
Superman is a strong enough character to stand out in ensembles such as Crisis on Two Earths and Justice League: Doom.  This story chronicles a transition of the superheroes from a World War II/Golden Age mentality to a Cold War/Silver Age one.  Superman is very much the anchor who tries to help out his friends that are not as well received by the government and public.  Some fascinating real world parallels, such as why Superman is more accepted than an alien like Martian Manhunter.

10. Superman II (1980)
In some ways this is superior to the original, giving Superman a physical threat (and a great one, played memorably and magnificently by the great Terence Stamp).  However this is where the live-action movies got less sincere and more outlandish.  Thankfully there is The Richard Donner Cut, an edit of the movie showing what the original director had intended.

9. Adventures of Superman (104 episodes, 1952-1958)
This one has never reran too much, it is much more of a legend to me as I have seen very little of it.  But from what I have seen, heard from fans who grew up with it and read of its influence it is definitely one of the most important Superman adaptations.  This was the most popular portrayal of the character until the late seventies and George Reeves helped to define the character to a mainstream audience.

8. Man of Steel (2013)

People are really split on this.  Some of the audience thinks that it is an untouchable masterpiece and others absolutely loathe it.  I am honestly somewhere in between.  I don't agree with all of the filmmakers' choices but it did enough right by me.  It is difficult to find a new take on Superman that makes sense.  This was at least heading in the right direction with the amount of action and the emotional beats.  The cast was perfect with Kevin Costner making a strong impact, Amy Adams as one of the best versions of Lois Lane and Henry Cavill being extremely charming.  The highlight of the movie for me was the tornado scene where Jonathan Kent almost had me tearing up.

7. Superman/Shazam! the Return of Black Adam (2010)
In the comics Superman has been a good way to ground and raise the popularity of lesser known heroes.  Captain Marvel has been out of the public's eye for a long time (since he competed with Superman comics in the Golden Age).  This movie really makes you wish that DC used the character more as he really has a great story.  Pairing him with Superman makes sense, Superman is such an idealistic character that he works well with an innocent kid.  This is a great short subject.

6. Smallville (218 episodes, 2001-2011)
The show certainly lasted longer than it should have, but it still is an interesting take on the Man of Tomorrow.  It makes great use of Clark Kent's supporting cast in ways few other adaptations do and the writers found creative ways to tell a superhero story on a television budget.  It added the new character of Chloe Sullivan to the Superman mythos, played by the lovable Alison Mack.  Other stand-outs in the cast were John Schneider as an honorable Pa Kent and Michael Rosenbaum who I named as one of the best villain performances of all time.

5. Superman vs. the Elite (2012)
My second favorite of what I have seen of the DC Original Animated Movies.  Based on Joe Kelly's almost classic story What's Wrong with Truth, Justice and the American Way?  The movie takes a  look at the qualities of Superman that many movies, comics and TV series try to change.  It shows the difficulty of operating under idealism in a harsh world.

4. Superman (1978)
The movie that created the superhero movie genre and still holds up as a classic.  Richard Donner found the right balance between drama and fantasy and the special effects were great.  Of course the two best things about this movie is John Williams' score (which is what I hear when I think of heroism) and Christopher Reeve's performance.  Just absolutely iconic and rightfully loved.

3. Superman (17 Shorts, 1941-1943)

Some of the best animated shorts of the Golden Age of Animation and the legendary Fleischer studios are these shorts.  Much of what people think of when they think of Superman come from these.  They are well animated and still hold up as great action shorts.  A clear inspiration on many action cartoons and proof that animation can be used for more than just comedy.

2. Superman: The Animated Series (54 episodes, 1996-2000)
This series never gets its due.  It embraces the fantastic and colorful nature of Superman and hits all of the right notes.  The adventures are varied and highlights include Lobo, Darkseid, Brainiac and the hilarious Mr. Mxyztplk.  This is also the best telling of Superman's origin.  A lot of people hate this because it is not like Batman, but it shouldn't be nor is it even trying to be.  It understands what makes Superman works and is a lot of fun.

1. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (91 episodes, 2000-2006)
My most popular blogpost is actually my list of ten best episodes of Justice League.  In the list a lot of the episodes I name focus on Superman.  Having Superman exist in a larger world of heroes raises a lot of fascinating dilemmas and this series really delves into it.  Superman's struggles with power, vengeance, morality, etc.  This is a fully developed character that continues the story arc from Superman: The Animated Series.  Highlights for the character include Twilight, A Better World, Hereafter, For the Man Who Has Everything, Clash, Doomsday Sanction, the entire Cadmus arc and the series finale.  This is all on Netflix and I highly recommend it, this is the best way to portray Superman.

Complex Feelings: Reflections on a Man of Steel by Lex Luthor

Superman.  Why him?  How have I gotten involved with him so much that the two of us are practically synonymous?  I am a very rational man who makes very rational, calculated decisions.  Why do I waste so much of my time, money and livelihood on the alien?  I am smart enough, clever enough and resourceful enough to stay off of his radar.  I have enough money that I do not even need to partake in activities that some would consider criminal.  So why even bother the Big Blue Boy Scout?

There is no one answer to this subject.  I am a very complex man with very complex motivations.  But when it all comes down to it I am a spoiled rich kid who wants a toy.

I am Lex Luthor.  My achievements are unparalleled in the fields of science, business and politics.  Everything I have I have worked for.  I have reached a level above all else on Earth.  I am no longer a man.  I am the only one of my kind.  My intellect had become a burden, because there was no use for it on Earth.  I was a man with a lot of power and no way to use it.  I was bored.  Until he came along.

Superman surprised me and I am never surprised.  Suddenly I had my edge back, a reason to be.  I now had a muse, an adversary, someone to test my superiority against.

And I have not won yet.  Which is fine.  The Man of Tomorrow is a plaything that never gets old.  People like to use simplistic labels of “hero” and “villain.”  But that is all subjective.  Many would consider me to be a loser.  Superman has many short-term victories and I have never succeeded in killing him, although I could really if I really wanted to.  But from my point of view, which is a perspective no other human could possibly understand, I always win.  Because I always get Superman to pay attention to me.

It is not just that I am fascinated with the Man of Steel, I have made him fascinated with me as well.  He is constantly fighting powerful adversaries.  Alien warlords, sentient robots, evil incarnate.  But he always comes back to me.  One of the most powerful beings in the universe, a perfect physical specimen and his arch nemesis is an aging bald man without any powers.  Superman’s entire existence on Earth is to prove my eminence.  He serves me without even knowing it and he will continue to serve me for as long I am able to extend our lives.

Making me one of the most powerful beings in the universe.  Which is a status that I revel in.

Father's Day: Reflections on a Man of Steel by Jonathan Kent

In Smallville everyone is proud of their kids.  We are all old fashioned and nothing matters to us more than family.

Our neighbors always brag about how their son is taking over the family farm.  The town hardware store is run by a father and his daughter.  The Church pianist never misses an opportunity to talk about her son that is serving overseas.

As for me?  Well sometimes it seems like I am the only father in town that doesn’t talk about his son.  There is a lot I could say about him, but there is also a lot I shouldn’t.

 People do ask.  At the grocery store a cashier will sometimes say, “my daughter is home from college, why does Clark never come home?”  To which I say, “He’s busy,” as I subtly smile to myself.

“When is Clark coming home?”  “What is Clark doing in Metropolis?”  “Have you heard from Clark in a while?”  I always have great answers to those questions, but I keep them to myself.

I have every reason to worry about him and what he does.  I know he faces much more danger than he lets me in on.  I know he has stresses he cannot share.  But I don’t dwell on that too much, because I trust and respect him.  And I am proud of my son.

I am proud of my son when I look at the Daily Planet.  I might see a picture of him or I might see his name.  He is in it quite a bit.

I am proud of my son when I wake up and I’m still here.  I think of him when things are peaceful and people are safe.  I know that he had something to do with that.

I am proud of my son when I see a child smiling.  When they have some sort of hope or imagination.  When everybody from a young dreaming child to a weary old man or woman is happy, I know he had a lot to do with that.

So I don’t see my son too much.  I wish I did.  But I understand why I don’t.  There is no one on this planet or any planet that is like Clark.  And I am always proud of him and I hope he knows that.