Zack Snyder's much-anticipated Superman film arrives in cinemas this year, so we thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring you some classic pictures of the superhero from Krypton
The first sighting of the Man of Steel in June 1938 on the cover of Action Comics. The issue originally cost 10 cents but now sells for seven figures at auction Photograph: HO/Getty ImagesPhotograph: HO/AFP/Getty ImagesIn 1939 he appeared in his own comic. Here is the first issuePhotograph: APSuperman quickly captured the public's imagination. Here a helium inflated model rises over the Times Square crowd to lead the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 1940. His effigy has continued to pop up at parades to this dayPhotograph: APThe first cartoon incarnation of Superman was produced by the Fleischer & Famous Studios in 1941 and ran until 1942. The Fleischer cartoons were responsible for Superman being able to fly. When they started work on the series, Superman could only leap from place to place (hence "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound" in the opening). But they deemed it as "silly looking" after seeing it animated and decided, with Detective Comics's permission, to have him fly instead Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex FeaturesPhotograph: otherKirk Alyn was the first actor to play Superman on screen in cinemas in the 1948 Columbia serial Superman which was comprised of 15 episodes. Here he arrives in the nick of time to save housewife (Jean West), from a fire in an apartment buildingPhotograph: Underwood & Underwood/CorbisSpoiler Alert! This photo may shatter the illusions of some viewers as it shows the special-effects Kirk Alyn employed in the 1948 Columbia Superman serial Photograph: Underwood & Underwood/CorbisA poster advertises the 15 episode 1950 serial Atom Man vs Superman starring Kirk Alyn as the Man of Steel battling Lex Luthor, secretly the Atom Man who is blackmailing the city of Metropolis by threatening to destroy the entire community Photograph: SNAP/Rex FeaturesPhotograph: SNAP/ Rex FeaturesSuperman (Kirk Alyn) saves Lois Lane (Noel Neil), girl reporter on the Daily Planet, from certain death as he stops her car just before it is about to topple over a cliff in the 1950 serial Photograph: Underwood & Underwood/CorbisPhotograph: Underwood & Underwood/CorbisIn 1951, George Reeves took over the role as Superman in the first feature length movie, Superman and the Mole MenPhotograph: Everett Collection/Rex FeaturesShot in 12 days on a studio backlot, here George Reeves helps out the little guys in 1951's Superman And The Mole Men Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex FeaturesThe success of the movie lead to the television series Adventures of Superman which ran from 1952 to 1958. George Reeves as Superman, stands behind a group of armed men in a still from the series. The death of George Reeves in 1959 of a gunshot wound, aged 45, under disputed circumstances (officially ruled as a suicide) is said by some to have been the start of the 'Superman Curse' which is alleged to have claimed many victimsPhotograph: Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesFans had to wait until Christmas of 1978 for the next movie. Directed by Richard Donner, Superman was a huge critical and commercial success. Christopher Reeve took the starring role. Major stars Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman signed on to play Jor-El and Lex Luthor with Brando famously trousering $3.7 million up front, plus 11.75% of the gross profits from the film despite only being on set for two weeks Photograph: Warner Bros/AllstarPhotograph: Allstar/WARNER BROS/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar1980s Superman II was another success despite stiff competition from Raiders of the Lost Ark. However 1983's Superman III didn't fare so well with fans feeling that Christopher Reeve's co-star, comedian Richard Pryor, played the whole film for laughs. Reeve appeared in a fourth film in 1987 but it was a flop Photograph: Moviestore Collection/AlamyPhotograph: Moviestore collection Ltd / Alam/AlamyHelen Slater hit the big screen as Supergirl in 1984 in a (not very well received) spinoff Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex FeaturesPhotograph: Moviestore Collection / Rex FeatLois and Clark : The New Adventures of Superman was a television series that ran from 1993 to 1997. Superman's role was secondary to Clark Kent, played by Dean Cain, and the show centred around his relationship with Teri Hatcher's Lois Lane Photograph: Warner Bros/Rex FeaturesPhotograph: c.Warner Bros/Everett / Rex FeaturesAnother television adaptation, Smallville, premiered in 2001 and ran for 10 years. The series follows the adventures of Clark Kent (Tom Welling), who resides in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman. Here he abuses his powers to check out Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), the girl next doorPhotograph: THE RONALD GRANT ARCHIVEBryan Singer directed the 2006 movie Superman Returns with Brandan Routh playing the superhero. The film received positive reviews and many award nominations. A sequel was planned for a summer 2009 release, but the project was later cancelled Photograph: Warner Bros/Rex FeaturesPhotograph: c.Warner Br/Everett / Rex FeaturesAnybody who is anybody has worn one of these T-shirts. Homer sported a snug version in 2007's The Simpsons Movie Photograph: 20th Century Fox/AllstarPhotograph: C20TH FOXComing to screens in the UK in June, director Zack Snyder reboots the franchise with Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel Photograph: Warner Bros/AllstarPhotograph: Allstar/WARNER BROS./Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar
