Last week, we finally got to see the brand new Superman movie. Superman was amazing. As a Superman fan, and comic book reader since the 1970s, this movie really embodied the comics and the storyline was captivating. Seeing Superman and Krypto was a thrill for me, because our (late) dog Dolly and I would do events as that duo. Today's blog, though, is about this great movie.
(Photo; Krypto sits while Superman (David Cornswet) asks what was up with Krypto's destructive behavior in the Fortress of Solitude.)
This movie was fantastic. It teared me up several times.
(Photo: Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor)
Although I was a big fan of Henry Cavill's Superman, David Cornswet truly embodied Superman and Clark Kent. He provided a distinction between the two characters, similar to the way Christopher Reeve did in the 1970s-80s films. Although I loved Henry Cavill as Superman, he never really got a chance to portray Clark Kent much and wasn't able to make that distinction as David Cornswet did. David's performance was much more like the comic book character I've always loved.
The actor who played Lex Luthor was brilliant. He totally made me me feel anger and loathing toward the Lex Luthor character, who also reminded me of a person in the real world, currently bilking people for his own profits, and trying to rule as a monarch. A true depiction of a villain.
(Photo: Back in 2006, I dressed up as Superman, and our dog, Dolly dressed as Krypto. We went to several events that way in the Baltimore area and people got to know us!)
Although I thought the selection of the other heroes was odd, I loved the combination by the end of the film.
Mr. Terrific, a tech genius and a man with the "highest IQ" was critical in figuring out a serious threat. Green Lantern's (GL) Guy Gardner- the cocky, egotistical Green Lantern (not my favorite GL) added character to the movie. The only one I could've done without was "Hawkgirl." - I love Hawkman, but Hawkgirl has never been a strong character, and she didn't add anything. They could have chosen a different female superhero. Seeing Metamorpho, the element man portrayed on screen was exciting to me, as he's never been in anything but cartoons.
The portrayals of all in the Daily Planet newspaper were wonderful, and I really warmed to Rachel Brosnahan's portrayal of Lois Lane. It was like reading the Superman comics from the 70s and 80s to see Jimmy Olsen (photographer/reporter), Cat Grant (gossip columnist), Steve Lombard (sports reporter and jerk to Clark),and Perry White the editor. They also used the "Miss Tesmacher" character well. She was created in the Christopher Reeve Superman films of the 70s/80s and had not been a comic book character.
Krypto stole my heart. I hope we see more of him in the upcoming Supergirl film coming out in 2026.
I've been a Superman fan since the 1960s, and recently I read a book that was published around 2013 that covered the history of Superman in Comics, newspapers, radio shows, television and films. The book "Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero" by Larry Tye did a good job of covering the character's history, and the struggle of the co-creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
You'll learn that Siegel and Shuster from Cleveland, Ohio regrettably sold the rights to the character for several hundreds of dollars (in 1939) to 2 slick businessmen named Jack Liebowitz and Harry Donenfeld who knew they had a success and they raked in millions. Siegel and Shuster and their families fought for decades to recover ownership rights from National Comics (now DC Comics) and they finally were able to claim creator credit again, and receive funds (Although Joe Shuster, the artist and co-creator of Superman, lost most of his slight and died nearly broke in 1992). I also learned that different religions tried to claim Superman belonged to their beliefs- which is just ridiculous. You'll learn a lot from this book and why I read it.
WHY I READ IT - I really loved Superman comics from the mid-1970s to 1986 when DC Comics decided to reboot Superman's comic book and the Superman character (which irritated the hell out of me). I also loved George Reeves TV Superman from the 1952-1958 show (which I saw in re-runs) and Christopher Reeves 1978-1987 films. - SIde note about the Comics - WhenDC Comics rebooted Superman in 1986, they did away with stories of Superman as Superboy, erased Krypto the Superdog and many other things I loved about the character. At least now in 2024 they brought back "a Superboy" - although not Superman when he was young, it's his clone. Superman and Lois also married and had a son, named Jon, who is also called a "Superman" although that's confusing. And I was very happy DC brought back Krypto, too. - But all that aside. following is the summary of the book, and why any Superman fan may want to read it.
(Photo: This is Joe Shuster's boyhood home in Cleveland, Ohio. I took this pic when I visited the city. The house is privately owned, but they put up Shuster's artwork outside for fans. For the story of my visit CLICK HERE. Credit: R.G.)
TITLE: Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero
by Larry Tye
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The first full-fledged history not just of the Man of Steel but of the creators, designers, owners, and performers who made him the icon he is today, from the New York Times bestselling author of Satchel and Bobby Kennedy
(Photo: Jerry Siegel's (Superman co-creator) boyhood home in Cleveland, OH. Also privately owned, but has a plaque outside commemorating Jerry. CLICK HERE for the story of my visit. Credit: R.G.)
Legions of fans from Boston to Buenos Aires can recite the story of the child born Kal-El, scion of the doomed planet Krypton, who was rocketed to Earth as an infant, raised by humble Kansas farmers, and rechristened Clark Kent. Known to law-abiders and evildoers alike as Superman, he was destined to become the invincible champion of all that is good and just—and a star in every medium from comic books and comic strips to radio, TV, and film.
But behind the high-flying legend lies a true-to-life saga every bit as compelling, one that begins not in the far reaches of outer space but in the middle of America’s heartland. During the depths of the Great Depression, Jerry Siegel was a shy, awkward teenager in Cleveland. Raised on adventure tales and robbed of his father at a young age, Jerry dreamed of a hero for a boy and a world that desperately needed one. Together with neighborhood chum and kindred spirit Joe Shuster, young Siegel conjured a human-sized god who was everything his creators yearned to be: handsome, stalwart, and brave, able to protect the innocent, punish the wicked, save the day, and win the girl. It was on Superman’s muscle-bound back that the comic book and the very idea of the superhero took flight.
(Photo: All of the actors who played Superman on television or in films since 1948 (left) to 2023 (far right). CLICK HERE FOR LIST.)
Tye chronicles the adventures of the men and women who kept Siegel and Shuster’s “Man of Tomorrow” aloft and vitally alive through seven decades and counting. Here are the savvy publishers and visionary writers and artists of comics’ Golden Age who ushered the red-and-blue-clad titan through changing eras and evolving incarnations; and the actors—including George Reeves and Christopher Reeve—who brought the Man of Steel to life on screen, only to succumb themselves to all-too-human tragedy in the mortal world. Here too is the poignant and compelling history of Siegel and Shuster’s lifelong struggle for the recognition and rewards rightly due to the architects of a genuine cultural phenomenon.
From two-fisted crimebuster to über-patriot, social crusader to spiritual savior, Superman—perhaps like no other mythical character before or since—has evolved in a way that offers a Rorschach test of his times and our aspirations. In this deftly realized appreciation, Larry Tye reveals a portrait of America over seventy years through the lens of that otherworldly hero who continues to embody our best selves.
In a previous blog, I took you to the boyhood home of Superman Co-creator and writer Jerry Siegel. In today's blog, I visited his friend Joe Shuster's boyhood home. Joe was the guy who illustrated Superman from his creation with Jerry, and for decades. Here's the story:
ABOUT JOE - Joe Shuster was best friends with neighborhood buddy and high school classmate Jerry Siegel. When Jerry concocted the idea of Superman in 1932, it was Joe who drew him.
(Photos: Reproductions of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, surround the empty lot where Joe Shuster's boyhood apartment stood in the 1930s).
THE LOCATION - The apartment house where the Shuster family lived is now a vacant lot, but the fence around it has been hung with 2x3-foot metal panels that reproduce the cover and first 13 pages of Action Comics #1, the first Superman story, which was published on April 18, 1938. The neighborhood isn't the safest area, but it is certainly worth the trip for any Superman fan.
STREET SIGNS - The street signs for the neighborhood feature the Superman insignia and an honorary name paired with the actual name of each street. You can stand at the corner of Joe Shuster Lane and Lois Lane. (known as Amor Avenue and Parkwood Lane)
After visiting Joe Shuster's former house site, I visited Comic Heaven - a great comic book store outside of Cleveland and spent several hours there! I was in "Comic Heaven!"
In today's blog, I visited the boyhood home of Jerry Siegel, one of the two Superman co-creators. Although you can't go in the house because it's privately owned, they do have a Superman insignia and plaque outside of the house for fans. Today's blog is filled with photos and Superman history.
SPECIAL STREET NAME - Jerry Siegel was the writer and creator of Superman, while his friend Joe Shuster was the illustrator. Jerry grew up on Kimberely Street, and it has been given the additional name of "Jerry Siegel Lane."
What happened to the Siegel home?
Upon the sale of Jerry Siegel’s boyhood home on Kimberley Avenue in 1950, the family moved to University Heights. Over the decades, the house fell into disrepair and was sold again in 1983. When some dedicated comic aficionados and Clevelanders decided to recognize the achievements of Superman’s creators, they formed the Siegel & Shuster Society. As their first initiative, they raised funds to restore the Siegel home as the “Birthplace of Superman.”
They also worked to create a permanent Superman display at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and campaigned to produce an Ohio license plate emblazed with the iconic “S” shield and the motto “Truth, Justice and the American Way.” These efforts helped promote Cleveland as Superman’s original home.
JERRY'S DESK & HIGH SCHOOL - The desk that Jerry Seigel used to write Superman stories is now on exhibit in the Cleveland Public Library. He purchased this desk in 1940 when he moved to University Heights, Ohio. He wrote hundreds of scripts on this desk for Superman comics and newspaper strips as well as his other character creations like the Spectre (another of my favorites), the Star Spangled Kid, Slam Bradley and Robotman.
His daughter, Laura Siegel Larson donated the desk to the Cleveland Public Library in 2017 where is on display.
At the Library, there's also a photo of the high school where he and his friend Joe Shushter went to high school.
THE MODEL WHO BECAME "LOIS LANE" - Jolan Kovacs was hired by Superman artist Joe Shuster to serve as a model for Lois Lane, Superman's girl friend (later wife). Joanne Siegel was an American model, who in the 1930s worked with Superman artist Joe Shuster as the model for Lois Lane, Superman's love interest. She later married Superman's co-creator Jerry Siegel and sued for restoration of her husband's authorship copyright in the Superman character.
HOW IT HAPPENED - In 1935, while still attending high school, she placed an advertisement in Cleveland's The Plain Dealer offering her services as a model.[1] The ad stated: "Situation Wanted — Female ARTIST MODEL: No experience."[2] Joe Shuster, who was working on a new comic character, Superman, responded to the ad. Prior to the modeling sessions, Shuster's co-creator, Jerry Siegel, had developed an idea for a journalist to be Superman's love interest, Lois Lane. Shuster hired her as a model for Lois, and his depiction of Lois was based on his drawings of her hairstyle and facial features. Interviewed in 1996 by The Plain Dealer, she recalled, "I remember the day I met Jerry in Joe's living room. Jerry was the model for Superman. He was standing there in a Superman-like pose. He said their character was going to fly through the air, and he leaped off the couch to demonstrate."
This is one of my favorite blog posts from my Cleveland adventure, because Superman is one of the main reasons I visited the city. Superman was created by two Cleveland area high school boys in the late 1930s. On my city tour, I learned about the exhibit in the library and it was awesome! There's a large statue of Superman on the second floor of the library that serves as a starting place. Today's blog has all the photos of the extensive exhibit!!
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT - The Cleveland Public Library has a huge Superman exhibit on the second floor. Exhibits feature memorabilia including art, movie and television posters, toys, comics and artifacts from the Mike Curtis Collection of Superman Memorabilia and other prominent collectors.
For more information, contact the Literature Department: 216-623-2881 or Literature@cpl.org
Two young men in Cleveland, Jerry Siegel (1914-1996) and Joe Shuster (1914-1992), created Superman in 1933. Siegel and Shuster each lived with their Jewish immigrant parents in the working-class Glenville neighborhood in Cleveland. Siegel initially conceived of Superman, and Shuster brought the character to life through sketches, sometimes drawing his creations on brown wrapping paper or the back of wallpaper. The two friends drafted the first Superman comics in Siegel’s childhood home in Glenville. After struggling to promote Superman for several years, Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to DC Comics in 1938 for $130, an amount that would be equivalent to just over $2,000 in 2017.SOME FAVORITE EXHIBITS- There was a copy of the cover of Action Comics #1 from June 1938, the debut of Superman. A poster of Henry Cavill urging kids to read (he played Superman in the Man of Steel and Justice League Films of the 2020s).
There was a poster from the 1950s TV show pilot with George Reeves as Superman in "Superman and the Mole men."
As a dog dad, dog rescuer AND a huge superhero fan (especially loving Superman's dog, Krypto), this is a moving story of a rescue dog at death's door was saved by the producers of one of my favorite superhero television programs. This dog was given the chance to become Krypto.
Here's the story from Comicbook dot com
(Photo: Krypto and Superboy in the Titans TV series. Credit: DC Comics)
Titans' Krypto Has a Heartbreaking Real-Life Origin Story
Before Pepsi landed the role of Superboy's sidekick Krypto on DC's Titans, the dog was on the verge of being euthanized.
Like many superheroes, the real-life dog behind Krypto on Titans has a heartbreaking origin story.
Animal trainer Melissa Millett spoke with Kansas' WKRG about finding Pepsi, the white dog that plays the role of Superboy's sidekick on DC's live-action Teen Titans TV series. Originally, the dog was discovered in Missouri as a puppy, clinging to life in the cold. He had heartworms and was up for being euthanized at the crowded shelter in Leavenworth, KS, that he ended up in.
"They took him to the shelter, and there’s just too many dogs, so he was at risk for euthanasia," said Millett, who trains animals for TV and movies. Luckily, Pepsi looked the part of the comic book canine. "The dog has to look like the comic book character, and Pepsi is the closest that we found to that original comic book character look," Millett continued.
As it turns out, it was something Kansas-specific that helped Pepsi stand out. "He was wearing a Kansas City Chiefs collar, and it looked like a superhero collar," Millett said. "So we took that as a sign, so we were just rooting for them in the Super Bowl. It’s amazing."
(Image: Krypto the Superdog, by Alex Ross)
Like in the comics, Krypto has superpowers similar to all Kryptonians on Earth. And Season 3 of the show will feature even more of the powerful pup.
"It’s an extremely popular show, and [Krypto] has all of Superboy’s powers. He can fly. He has human intelligence. He’s got laser eyes, just it’s really cool. I knew I wanted him to be a movie star, so all of his training is geared towards being a movie star," Millett concluded.
Season 3 of the show will feature even more characters from comic book lore. Starfire will have to contend with her sister, Blackfire. And with Dick Grayson now Nightwing and Jason Todd becoming Red Hood, Tim Drake's Robin will make his live-action debut.
When the Superman character was celebrating the 75th anniversary in 2013, Dragonfly
books issued a special short illustrated book about his creators, Jerry Shuster and Joe Siegel.
The book was actually published 5 years in advance, in 2008 and is 11" by 8" wide, so it's a large illustrated book! It's called "Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman." It was written by Marc Tayler Nobleman and illustrated by Ross McDonald.
It provides a nicely illustrated story of the two high school friends in Ohio, who created Superman and pitched their comic strip to newspapers. You'll learn about what happened to the character and how Superman "took off!"
At the end of the book, you'll read about how the estates of the creators reclaimed rights to the Superman character (they sold the rights off for $130 in the 1940s). Now their names appear in every Superman comic.
I highly recommend this for all fans of Superman!
BONUS! This 2 minute video was created for the 2013 seventy fifth anniversary of Superman - and it gives a quick run through his entire history in comics, tv and movies: From the creative minds of Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) and Bruce Timm (Superman: The Animated Series) and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this short follows Superman through the years, from his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics #1 to Henry Cavill in this year's Man of Steel...all in two minutes! VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ebXB0lBoaQ0
Wow. What a great follow up to the amazing Wonder Woman film from this past summer. GO SEE "JUSTICE LEAGUE." This is a film that I've been waiting for since 1974 when I first read the Justice League of America comic book in 1974. It features so many favorites. - If you loved Wonder Woman, you'll really like Justice League. If you thought the film "Batman Vs. Superman" was too dark (as I did), this is a LOT lighter and has humor relief from the characters of the Flash and Aquaman. I WILL get this on disk when it comes out. I LOVED IT 5 OUT OF 5 STARS. So, here are my thoughts on a character by character breakdown: Wonder Woman has a fantastic opening scene against terrorists in London. I was almost cheering, because that was truly the way Wonder Woman should be depicted. She's a True highlight. Batman - Ben Affleck's Batman was a bit dark, but that's what Batman is supposed to be! Dark, brooding, and analytical. He played the character perfectly. Cyborg - I confess, not one of my favorite heroes, and to me he will always be a member of the Teen Titan (because that's what he was developed for in the early 80s). The characterization was flat and I didn't care about the character (although he has some cool abilities) Flash - Before I saw the film I thought "Barry Allen/Flash is a blonde Police CSI, super smart - so why did they pick a young dark-haired actor?" - but the actor really pulled it off. Funny, making it light-hearted and was a treat to watch. I wanted to see more of him. Aquaman - Like Flash, I thought it was an unusual casting, but turned out really appealing. Arthur Curry/Aquaman is a well-groomed, blonde-haired, muscular guy without tattoos. However, the actor cast had a shaggy head of dark hair, beard and moustache, and lots of tattoos. There was a version of Aquaman in the 1990s that had that mountain man look (and I hated it). However, the film showed off the character's strength, and even had a sense of humor, which made him more appealing. The scenes of him in Atlantis with Mera (his later wife) were well-done. SUPERMAN!!! - Yes, by now everyone knows he is resurrected. Every single scene with Henry Cavill were favorites. (Of course, when he came back to life and was shirtless for about 5-7 minutes, Tom finally stood at attention, as I did!- Henry is HOT). **The interaction between Lois (Amy Adams) and Clark (Henry Cavill were fantastic and will bring tears to your eyes (well, it did to me). The Villain "Steppenwolf" and the "Parademons" - They made for an army of bad guys to fight, and the story was good. Of course, they hinted at Darkseid (a villain I'm tired of), but he didn't show. Over all- Every single character was well-done in Comic-book style. The story was fast-paced, and I can't wait to see it again. I'm sure there were things I missed. - Rob (Note: Tom, not a superhero fan thought it was okay to good). https://youtu.be/r9-DM9uBtVI
As both a scientist and a Superman fan, there was one story that DC Comics published in 2012 involved both Superman and Neil deGrasse Tyson... where Neil helped Superman see the last light from the exploding planet Krypton. - There is a cool 6 minute video that explains how the story came together, too (see below). - Rob
Here's the story of how it came to be from the American Museum of Natural History: Action Comics #14, published in November 2012 by DC Comics, reveals that even Superman visits the Museum’s Hayden Planetarium—and not just to see the Space Show.
The
superhero, it turns out, comes once a year to see images of his far-off
home planet, Krypton, said to orbit its home-star every 382 days. To
locate the fictional planet in the actual sky, DC Comics worked with
astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson,
director of the Museum’s Hayden Planetarium. “When an artist’s muse
leads to scientific themes,” says Tyson, “we are there to help
out.” Tyson elaborates on the process in this video.
VIDEO ON HOW THE STORY HAPPENED: https://youtu.be/uZYLN_Ouu5U
CAPTION: During a roundtable discussion with journalists, Hayden Planetarium
Director Neil deGrasse Tyson explains how he helped Superman find his
home planet of Krypton. Tyson appears as a character in the recent DC
Comics' ACTION COMICS #14, "Star Light, Star Bright." In real life, he
consulted a star index and found a real star that supported the
backstory of the comic. The red dwarf star designated for having
the ability to support a Krypton-like planet is located in the
constellation Corvus 27.1 light years from Earth. The star, designated
LHS 2520, possesses a red, highly turbulent surface, somewhat cooler and
smaller than the Sun. To find it in the night's sky, amateur
astronomers and Superman fans can follow these coordinates: J2000 Right Ascension: 12 hours 10 minutes 5.77 seconds Declination: -15 degrees 4 minutes 17.9 seconds Proper Motion: 0.76 arcseconds per year, along 172.94 degrees from due north
FIRST TASK: TYSON DETERMINES KRYPTON ORBITED STAR LHS 2520 IN CORVUS CONSTELLATION
Tyson’s
first task was to figure out where the planet Krypton would be located
in the galaxy. Using the facts of Superman’s fictional life—such as his
age, about 27—Tyson studied published catalogs of known stars to
determine a few possible candidates about 27 light years from Earth,
around which Krypton might orbit.
After hearing about the
candidates, DC Comics homed in on one—a star known as LHS 2520—because
it was within the night-sky constellation Corvus, which is Latin for
crow. As Superman aficionados know, the mascot of Smallville High
School—which Clark Kent attends growing up—is the Crow.
Back on Earth, astronomers don’t know whether LHS 2520 has any
planets orbiting it. But over the past two decades, many astronomers
have discovered planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. Though only a
small portion of the sky has been surveyed so far, about 800 of these
exoplanents have already been discovered, with thousands more observed
but not yet confirmed.
Still, distant stars like LHS 2520 are not
easily observed; in fact, no telescope today is strong enough to see
details of planets as far off as the fictional Krypton would be. To
actually see a planet 27 light years away, says Tyson, a telescope
“would have to be the width of the Earth!”
Instead, today,
exoplanet researchers mostly observe exoplanets indirectly, by watching
the effects of a planet’s gravity on the star, or the tiny eclipses that
occur as planets “transit,” or cross, a star.
But astrophysicists
can combine the powers of telescopes placed at a distance from one
another to amplify their powers of observation. Called interferometry, this method, for now, utilizes small telescopes, not powerful enough to observe far-off Krypton-like exoplanets. SECOND TASK: TYSON DEVISES PLAUSIBLE METHOD BY WHICH SUPERMAN CAN SEE HIS FAR-OFF HOME
To
make the comic’s key plot point—Superman observing his home planet’s
destruction—scientifically plausible, Tyson combined fact with fiction.
In the comic, every actual visible-light telescope on Earth observes
Krypton at the same moment, in effect creating a massive
interferometer—a feat only possible in comics.
Sadly for Superman, this amazing technology allows him to observe the
long-ago explosion of his home planet, the light from which has taken
27 years to reach Earth. “The Planet Krypton has been gone for years,”
reads the comic. “But as far as Superman is concerned—Tonight is the
night Krypton died.”
As a Superman fan since the early 1970s, I love classic stories of Superman and his supporting characters from the Daily Planet where he works as reporter Clark Kent. I recently read a great trade paperback that collects stories from 1952 to 1999 calle SupermanDaily Planet featuring (Perry White, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen). This trade was published in 2006, but you can still find it for sale on-line.
**************************************************
Here's a list of the stories that are included (from DC Comics' website):
NEW YORK (AP) — A rare, nearly flawless copy of Superman’s comic-book debut
has sold for a super-powered price: $3.2 million.
New York comics dealers Stephen Fishler and Vincent Zurzolo said Monday they submitted Sunday’s record-setting bid in the eBay auction for Action Comics No. 1, the 1938 book in which the superhero first appeared. It’s believed to be the highest price ever paid for a comic book, surpassing $2.1 million for a similarly high-quality copy of the same book in 2011.
‘‘It’s hard to believe that a kid’s 10-cent comic could be worth that much money, but it is Superman. That’s an iconic thing,’’ Fishler said. ‘‘It’s the first time anybody saw what a superhero was like.’’
EBay confirmed the price but said it couldn’t yet disclose the buyer’s name.
Created by Cleveland teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Action Comics No. 1 introduces the Man of Steel’s Kryptonian backstory, earthly role as reporter Clark Kent and identity as a champion of the oppressed. It’s seen as the dawn of the comic book superhero, paving the way for a roster of now-famous characters.
About 100 to 150 copies are believed to exist, only a handful of them in top condition. The book just sold got a seldom-seen 9.0 on a 10-point scale used to measure vintage comic books’ condition.
It was kept for decades in a cedar chest in the West Virginia mountains by a man who had bought it off a newsstand, seller Darren Adams recently told The Washington Post. Adams, a Federal Way, Washington-based collectibles dealer, didn’t immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press.
After the original owner died, a collector bought it from his estate and built a similar cedar chest to store it, Adams told the Post.
Fishler and Zurzolo own ComicConnect.com, which auctioned the 2011 record-setter and a slightly less well-preserved Action Comics No. 1 for more than $1 million in 2010. The rising prices have been fueled by superhero movies and growing interest in comic books as investments — ‘‘an alternative place to put money that has a cool factor to it,’’ Fishler said.
Sunday’s sale also marks a high point for San Jose, California-based eBay, which Adams selected to sell an item often handled by specialty dealers and auction houses. Gene Cook, the online marketplace’s general manager of emerging verticals, said the sale demonstrates ‘‘how eBay plays a role in popular culture by connecting shoppers to must-have merchandise.’’
Some of the proceeds will go to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, in recognition of the late ‘‘Superman’’ movie star.
Wow! This is a great 2 minute Superman 75th Anniversary look at the character through time. Anyone who is a big Superman fan will be able to identify all the versions (including the actors who portrayed him). Of course, I was VERY happy to see Superman's dog Krypto in it!
SUMMARY: From the creative minds of Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) and Bruce Timm
(Superman: The Animated Series) and produced by Warner Bros. Animation,
this short follows Superman through the years, from his first appearance
on the cover of Action Comics #1 to Henry Cavill in this year's Man of
Steel...all in two minutes! After watching the short, be sure to check out DC Comics' official list of annotations: http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2013/10/15/the-superman-anniversary-short-75-points-of-annotation
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXB0lBoaQ0&feature=kp
L to R: Neil, Eric Smith, Chris Scolese, John Mather, Paul Geithner
Neil answers my question about his Superman appearance!
One of the cool things about working at NASA is that we get to work with and meet interesting people. On June 3rd, Dr.
Neil deGrasse Tyson visited NASA Goddard's Space Flight Center and the James Webb Space Telescope team in
Greenbelt, Md, and I (Rob) am one of the
Laura Betz put the entire event together!
science writers on the Webb telescope project and got to hear meet him. HIS SUPERMAN CONNECTION - Because I KNOW that he appeared in Action Comics #14 two years ago, I asked him about it and he was thrilled to tell everyone in the group about it! I went on line and learned that he also told NPR's Morning Edition. (LISTEN TO THE STORY- CLICK HERE) Here's the story: Hayden Planetarium director and
pop-culture go-to science guy Neil deGrasse Tyson tells NPR's David
Greene the story of how he came to lend a hand to Superman.
From Action Comics #14. Cr: DC Comics
DC
Comics, Tyson explains, approached him for permission to use the
Planetarium — as well as his likeness — in a story where Superman
witnesses the destruction of Krypton, since the light from the distant
planet is just now arriving on Earth. Tyson told DC Comics that he was
happy to help, and that instead of just making up the story of Superman
seeing Krypton, he could help them ground it in at least some actual
science. FULL NPR STORY: http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/12/03/166246743/neil-degrasse-tyson-helps-his-new-bud-superman-get-a-glimpse-of-home
Neil Credit: NASA/Rebecca Roth
Neil talking about Cosmos as Rob poses for a picture
In preparation for the UK television debut of "Man of Steel", Sky Movies
has posted the following exclusive interview with Henry Cavill
discussing the process of becoming Superman.If you didn't see "MAN OF STEEL" you should. We're big fans of Henry Cavill from the Tudors, and he bulked up for the role of Superman (and he's hot). This is a great short interview.
VIDEO: http://youtu.be/iytSQkve5Hg
I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob
.jpg)
