Although SUPERMANIA’s long-standing relationship with Propstore has been going on for some years now, after last years bumper offering of incredible artefacts from all four Superman Movies It seemed there was no chance such a feat could be repeated. Indeed, after 40+ years, how many loft finds and shed discoveries from various former crew and/or family could there possibly be? No, the 2021 auction was surely the pinnacle of what remains of available Superman ephemera. The exquisite miniatures. The hairpieces, the crystals. Even Valerie Perrine’s iconic dress. After the last visit, we all shook hands and drove home with a sense of finality – how lucky were we to see these wonderful pieces before they were scattered across the world to their new custodians?
Well. Turn’s out joke’s on me.
Not content with having just as enviable a selection as last year, Propstore have gone one better by presenting a catalogue of fresh items in this years Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction with a complete costume from the Salkind Superman trilogy as their premiere lot. While Propstore has seen many a Super-garment pass through their hands, rarely does a complete costume (below, on a finished display, no less) become available. And quite the example it is too, with the description revealing it to be a composition of screenworn items from all 3 films, presenting a unique opportunity to own a piece from each in the franchise.
Also for Reeve fans there is the 1:1 in flight model from Superman II, an autographed still and my personal favourite lot, the two Leather-bound scripts personally signed by Reeve and donated as a prize to UK TV show Multicoloured Swapshop, where the provenance on offer is about as comprehensive as can be.
Enjoy the preview video (top) courtesy of the Capedwonder Podcast where Jay Towers and I interview Propstore CEO Stephen Lane and look out for the upcoming video on the SUPERMANIA YouTube channel as we prepare to visit the Propstore office once again at the end of this month. Until then, I will keep any predictions about next years auction firmly in check…
Now that the site has been rebranded and revamped (thank you all so much for your support..!) its time to get back to what SUPERMANIA does best, showcasing rare and obscure collectables –
And they don’t come much better than this amazing curio from the Netherlands – a Superman – The Movie Promotional poster in four parts and over two metres long – making the figure of Christopher Reeve life-sized. This package was only available as a mail-away for collectors of the Monty Gum Superman Trading Cards – where ten empty packets plus 50p in postage would also enlist you in the Monty Superman Club.
In absence of the Topps trading card sets in some European Territories, local confectionary companies like Monty Fabrieken (of Leiden, Holland) picked up the licence and produced packets containing 3 cards and the obligatory stick of bubble-gum.
Whereas the cards and wrappers (produced in two sizes) occasionally pop up on auction sites, this particular piece of ephemera (complete with card cover and four postcards) is notable for its rarity and few complete examples are known to exist –
The copy above came to be in the SUPERMANIA collection from a folder of Dutch/German clippings, its previous owner obviously passionate Superman devotee from childhood. This set was pieced back together from the scrapbook with the posters in pristine condition tucked between the (mostly water damaged) pages. Until recently I had no idea what its origin was until another collector proudly posted his copy on Instagram…
Like so many of us only last year, life as we knew it had changed and not for the better. In the worst cases, we lost loved ones and for the rest of us – the world was on indefinite hold. While I don’t pretend my situation was any worse than anybody else’s, by September of 2021 I was unemployed for the first time in over 20 years, bored and miserable with no motivation.
It was one of those days in the endless weeks staring into the abyss and avoiding job websites that the phone rang. It was an International number. My first instinct was simply to reject the call but something told me to pick up. A booming voice with a broad US accent greeted me on the line, the kind that raises your spirits when you listen to the radio, for example.
“Hey Martin! Its Jay. How are ‘ya!?”
“Jay? Wow. Hello. To what do I owe the pleasure??
“So Jim and I are thinking of doing a thing at Motor City Comic-Con this year. A little Superman IV reunion.”
“Well. What a fantastic idea. Would you like me to contribute or something?”
“Actually yes – we want you to come over.”
“Come over?”
“Ya! To Detroit for the event. It’ll be great. Jim & I are dying to meet you”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. We want you there. You’re gonna love it”
“Ah…you know I don’t think I’ve ever been so flattered to be asked about anything more. I’m overwhelmed, but…”
“But what?”
“I’m really not a good flier. I don’t like it at all. ironically…”
“Hey, I don’t like it either but what the hell. Talk with your family and let me know by end of day”
“Wow. Are you sure about this??”
“Absolutely. Talk later”
And so months of intense planning ensued, and for my part there was little I could offer but I’ve watched and listened in awe at how Jay & Jim have turned what was planned as a modest celebration into probably the ultimate (and maybe final?) unique gathering of celebrities from the classic Superman Movie series to date. And I will be part of it. In what capacity yet I still don’t really know beyond representing Capedwonder Europe but I’m so honoured to have been asked that it didn’t seem real. Then a few weeks ago, I was sent this –
Which not only made the whole thing real but is also in my opinion, one of the best Reeve tribute videos ever made. Then there’s this –
Where, unbelievably, I get a mention.
I can’t begin to express my gratitude to these guys for everything they’ve given me – both previously with the guest spots on the Capedwonder Podcast and in advance of this event. Its hard to express just how the invite alone back then went a long way to pull me out of the mire and I’m glad to report everything has gotten better for me since then. Hopefully that goes for the rest of you too. Just like the guys say, I can talk about this stuff all day so if you do attend (and you really should!!) come seek me out, it will be my pleasure to speak with you and maybe help do for you what’s already been done for me. I plan to document the whole trip and upload several YouTube videos on my channel but be sure to watch for live coverage during the event. Details are all below and updates will follow but for right now as Jim would say – Stay Super.
– Martin Lakin, Feb 2022.
35 Years after his Final Flight in Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, the Love and Admiration For Christopher Reeve, both on Screen and in Life, are Stronger and more Inspiring than ever!
Plus, Superman ’78 comic book series writer Robert Venditti and artist Wilfredo Torres will be at the CapedWonder booths to meet you and sign autographs!
The celebrities, Jay, and Jim are so excited to meet you at The Christopher Reeve Legacy Reunion at Motor City Comic Con, May 13-15, 2022! Make plans to be there! Tickets are available now…click here!
This is the Superman Celebration you’ve been waiting for!
“Scholastic Action® features celebrity profiles, and read-aloud plays and high-interest content to help low-level readers build the skills they need to succeed….”
Still publishing to this day with a focus on introducing young people to reading by way of popular culture, Scholastic Inc. were one of the first childrens periodicals to feature the fresh-faced star of the upcoming Superman movie and also provide a handy double-page timeline of his origins.
For middle-schoolers, Christopher Reeve would also appear on the cover of Scholastic Scope In January 1979 and their definitive volume – The Great Superman Movie Book – would first be published in 1981, and again in 1983 to incorporate the newly-released Superman III
While there may have been no reprint to incorporate Superman IV in 1987, Scholastic nonetheless released both a tie-in Novel and a childrens storybook (by Nancy E. Krulik and B.B Hilller respectively) to commmerate the character’s 50th anniversary.
As quick Google search provides no result for the issue above, one must presume its a rarity so SUPERMANIA is proud to archive the feature here – meantime the GSMB continues to be a staple of ANY Superman Movie collection – just make sure the poster is present before adding it to yours…!
The name alone prompts a wave of nostalgia and immediately recalls frenzied sessions of ‘swapping’ stickers with school-friends in the playground. The excitement of finding that special ‘need’ nestled among all the ‘gots’ is something later generations would sadly never be part of, or indeed, understand.
And such variety! There was a collection for everybody. For the girls, Barbie, Sarah Kay and Fame, for the boys there were the annual Football albums but for those with alternative tastes there were Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, E.T. and Superman the Movie…
Don’t remember it? Well, unlike the comic adaptation and photo novel which never actually made print – this album was published in 1978, exclusively for the Italian market. There were also albums published in France, Portugal and the Netherlands by different companies – one can’t help but feel deprived of an essential piece of childhood collecting were it not for the iconic Topps Trading cards.
To make matters worse, flicking through the pages of this complete example, the album is every bit as nicely presented as any one of Panini’s best, utilizing many of the familiar publicity shots while telling the story of the film over a total of 204 stickers.
While this item does occasionally appear on auction sites its rarely complete and individual stickers, after 40 years, are as hard to come by as it sounds – a true jewel in the SUPERMANIA collection…
