Toyetic: Superheroes

More from last week's Toyetic photoshoot. These are Justice League-related toys from a lot of different lines: Brandon Routh from Superman Returns, a Green Lantern figure from the DC Universe figures, an "Identity Crisis" Green Arrow and Hawkman from some fast-food restaurant tie-in (Jack in the Box, maybe?)

The People vs. Superman

The New York Times has a feature about a Yale exhibit showcasing superheroes and courtrooms. My first thought was that an entire exhibit could be built around Daredevil, alone, but guess what? Neither Matt Murdock nor the Man Without Fear rate a mention. Harvey Dent's name doesn't appear in the story, either. Pfft.

Don't let that get you down, though. While the author's own knowledge of comics appears to be incredibly limited, he doesn't waste any time pointing out that comic creators don't seem to know much about the law. Apparently research is necessary only if you draw funny books.
From the story:

"For starters, the little girl in that Superman cover would have been seated in the witness chair, if in fact taking sworn testimony from a minor in open court was allowed in the Metropolis jurisdiction, and Superman would have been elsewhere in the courtroom. But you probably won’t mind that the creators sacrificed a bit of reality for drama, which is also why, you know, the main character can fly."

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News Design: Superman

Here's an interesting look back at the various actors who have played Superman over the years. It's interesting (to me, at least) that the majority of these actors pinned on the cape during my lifetime, which is odd when you consider that Superman has been around for 70 years.

I'll also award a few extra brownie points for featuring a behind-the-scenes photo of Christoper Reeve that I've never seen before.

News Design: Superman

Here's a newspaper page showcasing Superman Returns, as well as a character I don't recognize. I'm also not entirely clear on what country it's from ... the language doesn't look familiar. Any help?

Superman hits the road

From the Hypno-Pimp:

"He’s not faster than a speeding bullet, he’s not more powerful than a locomotive and he’s not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but “Superman” Allen Mullins is able to walk great distances in the name of the real heroes of today — the American soldiers. Although Mullins, 27, of Dalton, Ga., has never been a soldier himself, he has taken up the cause of ensuring veterans are taken care of when they return home from war by walking from state to state, capital to capital to ask anyone who will listen for help."

 Mullins was spotted today in Columbia, S.C.

Pop Art: From my personal stash

Looking through the handful of sketches I own, there aren't a lot of conventional pieces. Sure, there are a few (Kyle Baker's drawing of The Shadow, for instance) but I don't have a lot of superhero art drawn by regular superhero artists.

The one above is among the lot I'd call typical of my collection: Superman, by Georges Jeanty.

Now, the request was for a sketch of Christoper Reeve as Superman. Likenesses are very difficult to do, and I've even had some professional artists pass on some requests because they don't trust their abilities to capture someone's likeness.

So I wasn't surprised - or even disappointed - when a convention sketch didn't look like Reeve's spitting image. What's funny is that Jeanty has spent a lot of time over the last few years drawing Buffy the Vampire Slayer for Dark Horse. It's not my imagination that his sketch of Superman looks a little like Xander, is it?

The Internet Time Machine

A look back the Internet message boards in 1977, shortly after the casting announcement for Superman the Movie:


Ladykiller71: WTF? They cast some soap actor as Superman?


SexyLexy: This movie's gonna suck. A bunch of unknown actors, and directed by teh guy who made The Omen? Really? This shows a fundamental lack of understanding about why Superman works.


Supermonkey: If it's not set in the '40s and have SUoperman fighting giant robots, not interested. Hope it tanks.


GO-GO-GODZILLA: Christopher Reeves (?) was choice #547. Every other actor turned it down. Paul Newman wasn't interested, neither was Robert Redford. This smells of FAIL.


FarrahHair: Newman as Superman would have been AWESOME.


3scompany: What about Burt Reynolds?


KISSARMY: Reynold's won't shave his 'stache for nobody. Last time he did some dude got raped in the woods by hillbillies. He's superstitious about it now.


SexyLexy: I wonder of Christopher Reeves is related to George Reeves, the ONE TRUE SUPERMAN. He probably changed his name just to get the part.


GO-GO-GODZILLA: I wouldn't be surprised if they try to make Superman "modern" by having him cuss and making Lois show her tits and shit.


Supermonkey: Did someone say tits?


FarrahHair: I'd pay to see Superman dropkick Barry Manilow into the sun.


KISSARMY: Does anybody care about Superman anymore? Where's my Howard the Duck movie!?


FrodoWasRight145: I was trying to be optimistic about this whole thing but damn, this sounds terrible. And KISSARMY ... Howard the Duck would make a kickass film.