Superman: A Decade-by-Decade Homage to 80 Years of Iconic Media

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For 87 years, Superman has been a staple in print media, with numerous films, TV shows, and animated series showcasing the character. Each period added unique aspects to the mythology of the Last Son of Krypton. Here’s how James Gunn’s “Superman” pays tribute to each decade of this legendary superhero’s history. Please be aware that some of these elements reveal plot twists in the movie, so if spoilers are your weakness, we advise watching the film first, then returning to read this.

The 1930s: Superman #2

In the second issue of Superman, published in 1939, just a year after the character’s introduction in DC Comics, the Man of Steel intervened to prevent a war in the fictional nation of Baravia. This event plays a significant role in James Gunn’s interpretation of Superman. Despite Superman being a relatively new character during the 1930s, the film still acknowledges this early period of his history quite significantly.

The 1940s: The Animated Fleischer Studios Superman Cartoons

Today, the animated shorts created by Fleischer Studios from 1941 to 1943 continue to stand out as the most impressive superhero animations ever made, even after 85 years. These cartoons marked the beginning of Superman’s ability to fly, rather than just leaping over tall buildings, demonstrating his full range of powers more effectively. A memorable scene from these animated shorts features Superman saving Lois Lane by using his entire body (and cape) to shield her from a stream of molten material. In the movie Superman directed by Gunn, Kal-El protects a child in a similar manner, mirroring this iconic scene from World War II-era cartoons.

The 1950s: Krypto the Superdog, the Fortress of Solitude

The period known as the Silver Age of comics started for Superman in the late 1950s and continued until around 1970. During this time, Superman’s stories grew larger and more science fiction-oriented, with new alien adversaries like Brainiac emerging. This era is also notable for the creation of the Fortress of Solitude by DC writers, as well as Krypto the Superdog. Both elements became essential parts of the Superman legend. The Fortress made its debut in Action Comics #242 in 1958, while Krypto first appeared in 1955. These elements play a significant role in Gunn’s Superman movie, explaining why many people refer to the film’s Silver Age vibe.

The 1960s: Metamorpho, Ultraman

In the Superman universe, one of the metahumans is Metamorpho, also known as The Element Man, whose original name is Rex Mason. This peculiar character, capable of transforming his body into any element, was among the quirkier creations from DC Comics’ Silver Age and even had his own comic series. Although the Ultraman in the movie differs from the one in the comics, the name Ultraman for a duplicate of Kal-El that Superman must battle was first introduced in a 1964 issue of Justice League of America.

The 1970s: Superman: The Movie, The Hypno-Glasses

In my viewpoint, the ’70s influence that significantly shaped Gunn’s interpretation of Superman is none other than Richard Donner’s 1978 classic film, “Superman: The Movie.” This cinematic masterpiece left an indelible mark on Gunn’s work. For instance, you can hear a remixed version of John Williams’ legendary Superman theme in our movie. Moreover, the character of Eve Teschmacher, Luthor’s girlfriend, was specifically created for Donner’s film. The crystalline design of Superman’s Fortress is also a nod to its counterpart in the 1978 film. Furthermore, Lex Luthor’s land-grab scheme mirrors his devious plan from the Donner movie. Even the “Hypno-glasses” used to conceal Superman’s identity are reminiscent of those featured in a 1978 issue of the Superman comic series.

The 1980s: John Byrne’s Man of Steel Reboot

During the 1980s, following the universe-reshaping event known as “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” writer and artist John Byrne revamped Superman’s story for contemporary times. This transformation occurred in his six-issue mini-series titled “Man of Steel.” One significant alteration was to Clark Kent’s longstanding adversary, Lex Luthor. Unlike the 80s portrayal, Lex Luthor shifted from a mad scientist to a billionaire businessman. The character we encounter in “Superman” is largely based on this reimagined version.

For the initial 50 years of Superman’s storyline, his foster parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, had passed away before he donned his superhero cape. However, this was altered in the ’80s; in Gunn’s movie, these parents are portrayed as still alive. Furthermore, during the ’80s, a fictional universe known as the “Pocket Universe” was introduced where a younger version of Superman existed. Although not identical in Gunn’s film, the concept of a “Pocket Universe” played a significant role in shaping Superman’s character during this period.

The 1990s: Superman For All Seasons, Mister Terrific, Kingdom Come

In the world of Superman comics, it was consistently depicted that Lois Lane wasn’t aware of Clark Kent’s secret identity until 1990. However, Gunn’s version of Superman skips this convention and portrays a ’90s-style Lois Lane who already knows Clark Kent is Superman. Additionally, the character Mister Terrific, who plays a significant role in the movie, first appeared in comics in 1999.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I couldn’t help but notice the striking similarity between Gunn’s movie and the atmosphere of “Superman: The Animated Series.” Although the film doesn’t explicitly reference the cartoon, it evokes a comparable feeling. Interestingly, Superman’s distinctive ‘S’ emblem was first introduced in Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ groundbreaking series, “Kingdom Come.” Furthermore, the All-American portrayal of Smallville, as depicted in Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s mini-series, “Superman For All Seasons,” seems to have influenced Gunn’s film significantly.

The 2000s: Superman: Birthright, All-Star Superman, Smallville

At the dawn of the 21st century, numerous notable Superman productions emerged, serving as a foundation for Gunn’s movie. In the comic books, Mark Waid’s “Superman: Birthright” offered a fresh take on the character’s genesis, with Lex Luthor publicly suggesting that Superman was an early Kryptonian invader. This idea is echoed in the film, where Lex employs a media blitz to tarnish Superman’s reputation using details about his extraterrestrial origin. The visual style of Grant Morrison’s “All-Star Superman” significantly impacted the movie, particularly the design of the robots within the Fortress. Additionally, the TV show “Smallville” played a significant role in shaping “Superman,” as Jor-El in the series sent his son Kal-El to Earth with the intention of transforming humanity to resemble Kryptonians, presumably for molding the species in their image.

The 2010s: The New 52

In the film, the costume of Superman bears a strong resemblance to the character’s outfit from the 2011 New 52 DC Universe reboot, featuring a higher collar and intricate stitching patterns on the body. However, unlike the New 52 version, the film’s Superman dons the classic trunks that David Corenswet wears.

In the early stages of writing his script in 2022, Gunn’s interpretation of Superman during the 2020s is yet to significantly impact him. However, it’s expected that future Superman films might draw inspiration from contemporary works like “My Adventures with Superman” and “Absolute Superman”. So, we’ll simply have to wait for the next installment to unfold.

2025-07-11 20:33