SOARING TO SEVENTY- FIVE! 'SUPERMAN' RETURNS...

American Legend! SUPERMAN, as personified by Christopher Reeve, protects Humanity. All images: copyright DC COMICS/WARNER BROTHERS

Thrilling fans for seventy-five years, the alien born hero with the superhuman powers but the often fragile human heart and conscience, the Kryptonian red-caped, blue tights wonder with the kiss-curl, Kal-El, aka SUPERMAN, as originally created by then Ohio-born youngsters Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster back in pre-World War II, endures as one of pop culture's most incredible and entertaining creations within the realms of comic art, film and TV medium storytelling.

The iconic 1938 comic book covers that launched the hero to the world.

In and out of his secret identity as mild-mannered, bumbling spectacled Clark Kent in his day job as reporter on the all-important Daily Planet newspaper, Superman's life journey has seen him take on all manner of foes from Earth and space (including the varied schemes of the power mad businessman Lex Luthor), whilst his relationships with his human friends have blossomed, especially with friend/lover/spouse Lois Lane, the reporter with the ballsy streak who wins the Man of Steel's heart with the detonating speed of a green Kryptonite arrow, created during an arena where strong and sexy on-screen women like Bette Davis, LanaTurner and katherine Hepburn were coming to the fore, and who has evolved and became a woman of her time in subsequent incarnations and re-imaginings.

Kirk Alyn as the first on-screen SUPERMAN. Image: COLUMBIA.

Followed into colour by George Reeves.

Superman (1948) Columbia Movie Serial Episode One (Part 1 of 3) - YouTube
Adventures of Superman Season One Opening Credits - YouTube
The Adventures of Superman - YouTube

Superman ➟ The Comic Strip Hero (1 of 5) - YouTube
Look Up Into The Sky, The Story of Superman Part 1 - YouTube

A truly tough act to follow. The one and only Christopher Reeve in 1978's SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE.

In the realm of comics Superman has continued to ride the tide of evolution, too- he helped push the allied cause in World War II, fought the racism of the Ku Klux Klan and saluted the brave men and women that survived and endured the world-changing events of 9/11 (heck, he's even boxed against Muhammed Ali!), and has been written and illustrated, killed off, brought back to life and endlessly re-imagined by some of the finest talents out there (including the likes of Curt Swan, Neal Adams, THE X-MEN's John Byrne and Frank Miller). On the film and TV screens he's caught the attention and beloved respect of generations of audiences. From his early days in the radio imaginations of the 40s and 50s, then as an animated triumph, he became the star of breathless cliffhanger COLUMBIA serials starring Kirk Alyn in the role, to the B/W and colour antics of the underrated George Reeves, who caught the early technology of the video age at just the right time, though tragically suffered the curse of typecasting, in the late fifties. A star of futher numerous colourful animated series into the seventies, he then returned as a living breathing star played by a later real-life superman and human inspiration, Christopher Reeve, in the first two (of four) phenomenally successful movies starting from the late seventies to the late eighties, making us believe all over again, and wonderfully, that a man could fly, from the creative talents of the Alexander Salkind film-making family, director Richard Donner (who caught the true zeitgeist of the character and brilliantly cast Reeve), alongside the romantic, majestic, legendary soaring into your heart and soul theme by John Williams.

Superman: The Movie - Opening credits HDV - YouTube
Superman (1978) New Trailer HQ - YouTube
The Making Of Superman The Movie 1978 (Part 1) - YouTube
Original Superman Trailer 1978 - YouTube
Superman II - Movie Trailer - YouTube
Superman III ( Trailer ) 1983 - YouTube
Superman IV ( Trailer ) 1987 - YouTube

Back on TV,  Dean Cain's Superman gets a little heroic help from a masked Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher).

SMALLVILLE brought a younger take to the franchise, with Tom Welling as Clark Kent.

Eventually relinquishing the role, Reeve would enlarge his film and TV career beyond the cape, with the small screen seeing Superman making a less than blockbuster action style comeback after the movie series (and its SUPERGIRL spin-off) had diminished their then box-office potential, though his romance with Lois Lane was explored to popular acclaim and some hearty fun with the likes of the Dean Cain/ Teri Hatcher starring LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. Befofe that, there would also be an earlier reasonably popular SUPERBOY series (starring Gerard Christopher). Then came the re-imagined exploits of Kal-El as Clark Kent before he donned the iconic costume, growing up in SMALLVILLE for ten very successful 90210'ish seasons (starring Tom Welling).

LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN Intro / Opening Credits - YouTube
Smallville Season 9 Opening Titles **HD** - YouTube
Superboy TV series - (1988-1992) - YouTube

SUPERMAN RETURNS, with Brandon Routh as Kal-El.

Numerous unsuccessful attempts to get the movie franchise back on its feet (including aborted efforts from Tim Burton (with Nicholas Cage as a very different Superman) and BAD ROBOT wunderkid JJ Abrams) would come and go, but noted rising star director Bryan Singer, a critical and box office trustee what with his work in taking MARVEL COMICS THE X-MEN to the screen) finally brought the caped wonder back to celluloid and digital life in 2006, with his love letter to the Donner films that captured his and the fans imaginations in their formative years. Beautifully made, and with the Reeve lookalike Brandon Routh confidently, and much under-ratedly, handling the important tole with charm and strength, its a shame that SUPERMAN RETURN didn't quite catch the audiences interest as much as Reeve's version- Singer's aborted second film, planned to solidify the filmmakers lofty trilogy ambitions, not taking place..

Superman Returns Teaser HD - YouTube
Superman returns trailer - YouTube
Superman Returns Trailer - YouTube
Deleted Scene: Return to Krypton SCENE - Superman Returns MOVIE (2006) - HD - YouTube
Superman Blu-ray Anthology Trailer (Revised) [HD] - YouTube

Re-imagined once again, Henry Cavill is the 2013 take on the MAN OF STEEL.

Now, in 2013, with DC COMICS/WARNER BROTHERS determined to make a more box-office friendly, audience relevant entry in the franchise, to prove that their comic book characters can be successfully translated to the big screen anew, like BATMAN recently had, filmmaker Zack Snyder (best known for his biceped action fest 300) brings an all-new take to Krypton's last son with the epic MAN OF STEEL, starring Henry Cavill, arriving in cinemas this month, and looks set to put action and adventure, alongside a very real story of family and love, back into our heroes steel blue, Earth-patritoic soul. From the scope of the trailers so far, with a supporting cast that easily matches that of the first 1978 SUPERMAN movie, its superb action scenes, special effects, and overall new attitude in portraying our hero, his family heritage and the effects of his discovered presence to the people of Earth, it looks a winner.

The new-look Superman with Lois Lane (Amy Adams).

man of steel official trailer 1 - YouTube
Man of Steel - Official Trailer #2 [HD] - YouTube
Man of Steel - Official Trailer 3 [HD] - YouTube
Man of Steel - "Fate of Your Planet" Official Trailer [HD] - YouTube
Superman: Zack Snyder Short, New Logo for 75th Anniversary of Character

Entertainment Weekly's recent soaring cover celebrating Superman at 75.

KOOL TV raises its glass to salute the man, the SUPERMAN (and the many people over the years bringing him to reality), whose beliefs in "truth, justice and the American way" are now so ingrained...

Celebrating SUPERMAN's epic life, ages of adventure (key issues and storylines), and heroism as a DC comics institution, alongside years of memorable friends and enemies, DORLING KINDERSLEY BOOKS have released a wonderfully nostalgic book, compiled and written by Daniel Wallace, full of classic art from the thirties to now, that's well worth getting hold of.

Some lovely spreads from the new DORLING KINDERSLEY  release on the DC Comics icon: SUPERMAN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE MAN OF STEEL. With thanks to DK for the images. 

Available from AMAZON: Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel Dk Superman: Amazon.co.uk: Daniel Wallace: Books

STAR-SPANGLED SEX SYMBOL. 'WONDER WOMAN' RETURNS TO UK TV...

American beauty! Lynda Carter as WONDER WOMAN. Image: CBS TV.

America's greatest, sexiest comic book heroine-the eternally stunning Amazon Island princess who decided to save the world, WONDER WOMAN, as iconically personified by the attractive and spirited form of once beauty queen Lynda Carter, still "the body" in my book-move over Elle MacPherson!, returns to British TV from today, three times a week (Monday-Wednesday) on the UK's HORROR CHANNEL. Its seventies kitsch at its best and brightest, what with its aliens, monsters, bonkers computers. crazed baddies and beat-up-able baddies who truly underestimate the powers of our patriotic super lady on a weekly basis.

Becoming a true TV sensation of the time- a role model for young girls and women, and admired by red-blooded males- Carter's three-year reign as the TV incarnation of WONDER WOMAN has not been challenged, remaining the ultimate version of the character to audiences around the world. There have been further attempts by film and TV companies to renew her crime-fighting antics, including one failed pilot episode a few years back starring Adrienne Palicki, but Carter's innocent and strong performance, alongside her formidable figure and stunning looks, has proved a tough act to follow. But with box office potential still to be mined, there are Hollywood business hopes, what with the continued re-imagining success of her JUSTICE LEAGUE colleagues Batman and Superman, that DC COMIC's top female icon will eventually return to live-action adventure.

Wonder Woman Opening Theme Season 1 - YouTube

GOTHAM'S RECKONING! 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES'

The final battle. Christian Bale suits up for war in Gotham City, as THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Images: WARNER BROTHERS.

He's fought battles against some of the most belligerent and dangerous foes ever to threaten his blighted, corrupted city of Gotham: from the sinister vagaries of the visceral nightmare machine that was the Scarecrow, the strongest must survive at all costs mentality of Ra's-al Ghul, the wanton destruction and anarchy of the totally insane and colourfully psychopathic Joker, and the twisted malevolence of the revenge fuelled and brutally scarred Two-Face, the once noble and dignified district attorney Harvey Dent. Now, from the ashes of such evil come Batman's most destructive and powerful physical threat yet, the anarchistic terrorist known as Bane, as personified by the breathing masked venom of Tom Hardy in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, the final film from mega-talent Christopher Nolan's written and directed world box office shattering intelligent action/drama blockbuster series featuring the caped crusader, Batman, originally created by Bob Kane, now so well on-screen personified by Christan Bale in a brave and bold cinematic vision far removed from anything previously seen in the character's long life on film and TV screens.

Good versus evil, and Gotham is in chaos.

In a dramatic up scaling of events parallelling whats happening in the real economic world the poor become poorer and the rich become richer in Gotham City, leading to a series of riotous and murderous events ripe for the emerging threat of Bane to take advantage and control of, using a calculated rebellion mixing the worse of Gotham's criminal low life with the embittered denizens of Gotham as a revolution begins, leading to the return of Bruce Wayne as Batman after ten years away from protecting the people, and having been previously branded a fugitive for the murder of Harvey Dent-a scapegoat role he himself decided to take on to preserve his late friends dignity as a moral crusader against evil and corruption, rather than be discovered for his terrifying final life as Two-Face. But, this time around, can even Batman be Strong enough to take on the strength and seemingly unceasing terror tactics of Bane and his life and death changing agenda? And how will his alter-ego of Bruce Wayne be personally and physically caught in the crossfire of the carnage that is Gotham's greatest modern-day nightmare?

Trailers: The Dark Knight Rises - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - YouTube

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer 2 Official 2012 [HD] - Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway - YouTube

The Dark Knight Rises - Official Trailer #3 [HD] - YouTube

On screen Batman faces his toughest and darkest times yet, but behind the camera, Nolan also has several of his own huge challenges and responsibilities to live up to with his third and final entry in his dramatic crusade to make a realistic and darker hero for our times, not only having to dodge the third sequel is always the weakest syndrome/mantra that has affected Hollywood blockbusters over the last twenty years or so, but also build on and top the the fine work he brought to the previous 2008 movie, THE DARK KNIGHT, with its blitzkrieg of popular and critical success, and the wave of adulation and mourning/tributes that followed the late actor Heath Ledger in his impressive performance as the Joker, as well as the sensational modern sci-fi action hybrid Nolan followed that with: INCEPTION. From the trailers so far, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES certainly looks intriguing, has a story that is certainly sophisticated and relevant to our times, has formidable gritty action large and small scale, and looks set to have a physically formidable performance from the always enjoyable Tom Hardy, who has carved out a strong acting career since his early days on BAND OF BROTHERS and as the bald clone baddie Shinzon in STAR TREK: NEMESIS, as well as the aforementioned INCEPTION.

Heroes and villains! Batman, Catwoman and Bane in three great teaser banners for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Friend or foe? Catwoman brings more explosive chemistry to the adrenaline mix.

Lending other anti-hero status to the film, and certainly raising the blood pressure for male viewers in her kinky combat leather, is the lovely Anne Hathaway who brings bitterness and criminal ambition to the role of opportunist high-stakes burglar Catwoman, aka Selina Kyle, whose soon antagonistic will they or won't they relationship with both Batman and Bruce Wayne looks set to be re-imagined and re-ignited in a way slightly different to anything previously established by the no-less impressive Michelle Pfeiffer, alongside Michael Keaton, when she inhabited and dominated the role in Tim Burton's gothic nightmare/black comedy vision that was BATMAN RETURNS. Other fine guest support in the film comes from top-tier INCEPTION stars including Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an impressionable and brave police officer, John Blake, Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, adding sophisticated French glamour and seductive mystery as Miranda Tate (who may also be the revenge-fuelled daughter of the late Ra's-al Ghul) and maybe, if the on-set spoilers have been correct, a cameo from delightful JUNO actress Ellen Page, no stranger to super heroics with her debut in Brett Ratner's lively third X-MEN movie, rumoured to be playing Barbara Gordon-soon to be Batgirl. The film series regular heavyweight supporting star stalwarts of the series also make a much welcome final bow, including the always enjoyable British acting icon Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's conscience and confidante, the ever loyal butler Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Wayne Enterprise's high tech industrialist and savvy weapons supplier-a modern day Q: Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman, fresh from his success in TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, bringing a fine sense of humanity, decency and bravery in the face of adversity as Commissioner Jim Gordon, whose beleaguered character, always a friend to Batman, faces his toughest challenge yet in leading the fight back against the seemingly overwhelming forces of Bane. More noteworthy genre favourites include Matthew Modine as a new Deputy Commissioner, GAME OF THRONES Aiden Gillen, LOST's Brett Cullen as a sticky politician, TORCHWOOD's Burn Gorman, STARGATE's Christopher Judge and PRISON BREAK's Reggie Lee.

Shattered mask. Is this the end of Batman?

Catching all the breathless action with big screen IMAX cameras (including a stunning mid-air hijack opener and a soaring new Batwing fighter in aerial action above Gotham), on the behind the scenes front Nolan brings his usual talented array from the previous two BATMAN films to bear with full creative force, including co-scripter brother Jonathan, composer Hans Zimmer (who has created an ominous new theme of moody chanting for Bane, as well as a true clash of titans movement for Batman and Bane's fist clashing), and cinematography from Wally Pfister. Released from July 20th in the UK by WARNER BROTHERS, custodians of the DC COMICS film and TV realised universe, expect the eagerly anticipated website crashing fan base of Dark Knight fans to rally, not just here but in their worldwide millions, to see, enjoy and speculate on what will hopefully be their favourite comic book hero's greatest on-screen hours.

Here's a few more links related to the film:

'The Dark Knight Rises' Trailer Teases Batman's Suffering, More Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway (Video) - Hollywood Reporter

Six Amazing 'The Dark Knight Rises' Banners Storm The Web - Forbes

6 new photos from ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ - Batman-News.com

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