Superman: New Image of Clark Kent and Krypto Released
Crypto was inspired by James Gunn's dog
The launch of the new DCU with Superman is getting closer by the day: Now there's a new picture of Clark Kent and his four-legged sidekick Krypto.
In the image published by James Gunn, Clark Kent and Krypto can be seen looking at the Earth together from the moon. On Instagram, James Gunn writes:
"Krypto was inspired by our dog Ozu, who we adopted shortly after I started writing Superman."
Krypto first made his appearance in 1955 in the 210th issue of "Adventure Comics". Just like Superman, the dog also comes from the planet Krypton. In the comics, the four-legged friend was sent into space by Superman's father in a test rocket to find out whether living beings could be evacuated from Krypton to another planet. Due to an unexpected change of course, however, Krypto eventually landed on Earth. There he became Superman's faithful companion and pet.
What makes Krypto so special is that he has the same superpowers as the Man of Steel. These include superhuman strength, exceptional speed, outstanding senses and the ability to shoot heat rays from his eyes.
The fact that Gunn has Krypto appear in his new "Superman" film shows that he is also bringing lesser-known DC characters into the spotlight. We'll get to see a whole bunch of characters in "Superman" anyway: For example, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Rick Flag Sr, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, Green Lantern and many more. With so many characters, there is of course the danger that Gunn will lose sight of the actual main character and perhaps get a little carried away. We will find out whether his plan works when "Superman" is released on July 11, 2025.
Superman in the movies: A journey through all the real-life adaptations of the Man of Steel
Since Superman first flew across the pages of Action Comics #1 in 1938, the "Man of Steel" has become one of the most popular and best-known superheroes in the world. Over the decades, the Kryptonian has been brought to the big screen in numerous live-action adaptations. Each era of Superman films reflects both the time in which they were made and the development of the character and the superhero genre. Below, we take a look at all the live-action adaptations of Superman and how they portrayed the iconic hero.
1. Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)
The first live-action adaptation of "Superman" was released in 1948 as a serial feature film. In this series, which consisted of 15 chapters, Kirk Alyn played the role of Superman. The movie introduced many of the classic Superman elements, including Lois Lane and the evil Lex Luthor. The series film is particularly memorable for its effects, which were groundbreaking for the time. In the sequel "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950), Alyn returned to the role, while Lex Luthor as Atom Man forged his diabolical plans against the superhero.
2. Superman and the Mole Men (1951)
The first independent feature film about Superman came in 1951 with George Reeves in the lead role. "Superman and the Mole Men" was a movie that served as a pilot for the TV series "Adventures of Superman", which ran from 1952 to 1958. Reeves' portrayal of Superman shaped the image of the hero for many viewers in the 1950s. The movie itself was a simple adventure that focused on Superman's struggle against misconceptions and prejudices when strange creatures emerged from the bowels of the earth.
3. Superman (1978) and the Christopher Reeve era
The big breakthrough for Superman in the cinema came with "Superman" in 1978, starring Christopher Reeve, who is still considered one of the best Superman actors today. The film was directed by renowned filmmaker Richard Donner. The film was a milestone in the superhero genre and set new standards for comic book adaptations. With its optimistic tone, John Williams' unforgettable score and a profound portrayal of the character, Superman became a cinematic phenomenon.
The plot tells the classic Superman story: young Kal-El, the last son of Krypton, is sent to Earth, grows up as Clark Kent and becomes the hero Superman. The movie also introduced the legendary Lex Luthor, played by Gene Hackman, as the main antagonist. The success of the movie led to three sequels.
"Superman II" (1980) , also originally directed by Richard Donner, was however handed over to Richard Lester during production. Superman takes on the three Kryptonian villains General Zod, Ursa and Non, who are threatening the Earth.
"Superman III" (1983) introduced a more humorous tone, pitting the superhero against a computer-genius villain. This movie, with Richard Pryor in a leading role, is often considered less successful.
"Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" (1987) attempted to end the series with a strong anti-nuclear message, but the poor budget and weak effects led to the movie being considered a failure.
4. Superman Returns (2006)
Almost two decades after "Superman IV", Bryan Singer brought Superman back to the big screen with "Superman Returns". Brandon Routh took on the role of the Man of Steel, and the film billed itself as a direct sequel to "Superman II", but ignored the events of Parts III and IV. Superman returns after a long sojourn in space, only to find that the world has moved on without him. While the film had impressive effects and honored the old films, it didn't quite live up to expectations. Despite this, Routh's portrayal of Superman was largely well received.
5. Man of Steel (2013) and the DCEU
With the advent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, pressure grew on DC Comics to create its own cinematic universe. In 2013, Zack Snyder launched the new era of the Superman character in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) with "Man of Steel". Henry Cavill took on the role of Superman and brought a more serious, darker interpretation of the hero. The movie retold Superman's origin story and introduced General Zod as the main antagonist, played by Michael Shannon.
Snyder's version of Superman was controversial, particularly because of the destruction shown in the final battle of Metropolis. However, Man of Steel was commercially successful and paved the way for further DCEU films.
6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Superman returned in 2016 in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", once again directed by Zack Snyder. The film pitted the Dark Knight (Ben Affleck) against the Man of Steel and also introduced the beginning of the Justice League with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). The film was criticized for its dark tone and chaotic plot, but went on to achieve remarkable box office results worldwide.
7. Justice League (2017) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Superman also played an important role in "Justice League" (2017), where he was brought back to life after his death in "Batman v Superman". The release of "Zack Snyder's Justice League" in 2021 – after the highly criticized 2017 theatrical cut – gave Superman more depth and contributed to the positive reception of the character.
