If you were of school age in the 70’s and 80’s, there is a strong possibility you will have carted your dinner around in a lunchbox from Aladdin industries. With licenses ranging from ‘Annie’ all the way through to ‘Zorro’ their sets (including matching thermos flask with one gulp capacity) were robust and distinctive, often adorned with exclusive artwork on the lid.
Though boxes had been produced by Aladdin for both Superman: The Movie and Superman II, shown above is the inexplicably scarce Superman III edition. As almost all of these were put to good use back in the day (I last saw one through envious eyes in possession of a school pal) it is also rare to find one in such good condition – a testimony to their resolve. Photograph’s by me with the exception of the graphic at bottom courtesy Jim Bowers.
From cover to (backward) cover, this quartet of publications above may have text in Japanese but are easily the definitive photo reference for the first three Superman Movies –
From the top; Starlog Publications Superman: The Movie Companion, Japanese Starlog magazine June 1979, Superman II Roadshow booklet and Superman III Companion. Occasionally popping up on popular auction sites for ever-increasing amounts, my recommendation for starting a Superman Collection (besides Series 1 the Topps Trading Cards) will always be Book One…
Yet another SUPERMANIA exclusive – these steel printing plates (measuring approx. 15 1/2 x 21cm) surfaced in Australia and featured in an auction of original art –
Showcasing previously unseen artwork by renowned poster artist Daniel Goozee, the influence of his famous James Bond posters is clearly evident in the sketches above. From the top – Amazing renderings of Christopher Reeve battling himself in the junkyard with Richard Pryor looking on; An obvious homage to Octopussy as Superman contends with Disco babes with Pryor clinging onto his ankles and a clear Ken Adam/Moonraker take on Ross Webster’s lair with Robert Vaughn and Pryor conspiring against a backdrop of even more Bond babes.
Although beautifully executed, alternate art (featuring Reeve and Pryor airborne) was utilised for the teaser poster for Superman III but Goozee would paint the final art used on the UK Quad poster and go on to complete the quartet by painting the poster for Superman IV…
Showcasing arguably the sharpest and most colourful photography available from the Movie series, these Japanese Programmes also contain Cast & Crew Bios along with the standard synopsis of each picture.
The first in a number of posts to come of Japanese printed matter including clippings with even more rare imagery..!
Once DC comics sold the rights to adapt Superman for the Silver Screen to European producer Alexander Salkind, among the mess of litigation that took almost thirty years to unravel was the ownership of the story.
Mario Puzo was credited as the writer of both Superman: The Movie and Superman II yet little of his work beyond concept and structure made the final cut. This is one theory as to why there was never a comic-book adaptation of the first two Superman Movies, The other is nobody at DC had thought of it yet.
Over the next decade the situation was rectified and adaptations of Superman’s III and IV took their rightful place on newsstands along with every major DC property to follow. Fans have longed for the set to be complete for decades along with Puzo’s original colossal volume. During the wait some visionary DC Writers and artists have taken it upon themselves to envision an origin story using the theme and tone of the movies as a major influence. The best of these is John Byrne’s Man Of Steel mini-series from 1986 and the bang-up-to-date Superman: Secret Origin series by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.
From the top; French Superman No: 136 (Circa 1979 – Although the perfect cover for an adaptation sadly houses nothing more than a reprint of two silver-age adventures) Superman III Movie Special, Superman III 7Up Promotion Cover variant and Superman IV; The Quest For Peace Movie Special…
