Superman

Supergirl understandably wanted to keep the emphasis on its title hero throughout Season 1, rather than risk any potential Superman overshadowing, though the series’ bizarre habit of featuring the character just offscreen had many wondering if TV-movie boundaries came into play. The arrival of Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman in Season 2 certainly changes that, though producers say they were actually surprised by Warner Bros. decision to let them use the Man of Steel.

As tends to be the case with live-action superhero costumes, Supergirl got ahead of Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman suit debut with a glossy first look at the new Man of Steel posed with his cousin. Now, sneak a much more detailed peek with new Supergirl Season 2 set photos, as Superman goes up, up and away!

John Byrne is a controversial figure in comics, all the more so as he's moved to disavow his work with mainstream publishers, yet his legacy within the industry is undeniable, and his contributions to iconic franchise properties and to early creator-owned independent work are worthy of celebration. Born on this day in 1950, John Byrne moved from England to Canada at the age of eight, and it was here that he first encountered American superhero comics. He enrolled in --- but dropped out of --- the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, and began contributing to Roger Stern and Bob Layton’s Contemporary Pictoral Literature. Their character Rog-2000 was spotted by Charlton Comics, and the team began contributing back-up stories in the pages of E-Man.

Unfortunate news for fans of former Lois Lane and revered star Noel Neill, as the iconic Adventures of Superman star has passed away at age 95. Neill had portrayed the famous DC supporting character as early as 1948, including cameos in both Richard Donner’s 1978 update and 2006's Superman Returns.

News recently broke that Superman will make his first appearance on Supergirl in season two, which is something of a surprise. Many people have commented that Supergirl's portrayal of Superman is the best there’s been on TV or the movies in years, even though he’s barely in it. He’s a distant figure, far away. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if that’s not the best way to handle the character in the role many people want him to occupy.

Who is the best superhero? It’s a question that’s long existed without an objective answer, but one exhaustive, seven-year study claims that there is a definitive answer. So the next time you’re locked into an argument with a fellow comic book fan, you can feel free to whip out this scientific research to prove your point.

For as many Superman movies exist, there are just about twice as many versions of the iconic superhero that didn’t make it to the big screen. Perhaps the most famous of the bunch is Tim Burton’s Superman movie, which would have starred Nicolas Cage. But there was another notable project that never got off the ground, with Jude Law briefly attached to play the Kryptonian hero. There are a few reasons why that movie didn’t move forward, but for his part, Law explains what made him change his mind about taking on the famous role.

NBC’s half-baked DC comedy Powerless won’t officially make its impact until sometime at midseason, but the full trailer managed to make its way online ahead of schedule. Get it while it’s hot, as DC namedrops galore rain down on the superhero insurance comedy!

It’s the third Monday in May and you know what that means… Good Miracle Monday, everyone! Today of course marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of when Superman defeated the great and powerful C.W. Saturn, and the people of Metropolis learned the meaning of joy. Although our collective memory of that monumental day remains hazy, throughout the world humanity celebrates with a day dedicated to friends, family and recreation and --- if it brings happiness --- reflection. The holiday first appeared in Superman: Miracle Monday, a novel by Elliot S. Maggin, published in 1981, which follows a time-traveler named Kristin Wells from the 29th century who journeys back to discover the origin of the holiday and accidentally becomes wrapped up in its very events. While Miracle Monday has become a holiday for Superman fans in the vein of April 27th for Alien fans or May 4th for Star Wars lovers, it remains a fairly obscure piece of the franchise's history that has only been referenced on a handful of occasions.

Well, considering the amount of time Syfy’s proposed Superman prequel drama Krypton has spent on the bench, the Man of Steel’s grandpa was bound to leap forth eventually. So it is, that Syfy has given an official order to Krypton, taking us to a time way, way before Superman first donned the cape.

Superman is often defined by his powers or his quite literal alienation, but the Man of Steel is so much more than that. Superman represents the potential of humanity through his kindness, his empathy and his generosity. All of these qualities he learned directly from two people, Jonathan and Martha Kent, and when you change anything about that dynamic, you wind up with a very different Superman. In John Byrne’s classic reinvention, Man of Steel, there’s no mention made of ancient Kryptonian family crests; instead, Clark sits down with his dad and designs a logo based on the “Superman” name already coined for him by the Daily Planet, while Ma works on the costume. It isn’t all fun family crafts however, as it’s Pa Kent who takes Clark aside when he’s young and inspires him to be more than just a high school football star.

Lois Lane wasn't designed to be a headliner, but simply a player in Superman's adventures. Over the years, she's evolved to become his rival, foil and competitor, his friend, partner and colleague, and his girlfriend, lover and wife. She's been a damsel in distress, a sidekick, and yes, a hero in her own right. In Investigating Lois Lane, author Tim Hanley traces the character from her inspirations to her appearances in receny comics and adaptations. We talked to Hanley about his new book, what works best for the character, and where he thinks she should go next.