This newest addition to my collection (and another SUPERMANIA exclusive!) is from a set of what I believe to be unpublished studio 10×8’s taken of a series of poster mockups for Superman: The Movie featuring variations on the tagline, and featuring art (with the exception of the bottom image) by the legendary Bob Peak.
Though the familiar silver shield and rainbow streak would ultimately be the final image used in the global release, The Peak painting in the first poster was later utilised in full colour and the liner notes of the Varese Sarabande soundtrack release in 1998…
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..!
Presenting the final chapter serialising the hit movie of 1978 published in its entirety for the first time anywhere on the ‘net! (scroll through previous posts for the rest).
And coming soon, the first few parts of the BRAVO Superman life-size collage!
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…
In an age long before the introduction of the digital press pack, these campaign pamphlets would be distributed to Cinemas in advance of release.
Containing the Movie synopsis, cast info, competitions and ad. slicks of varying size – they would also be the source of ordering posters and 10×8 photographs. Increasingly scarce due to their fragility and the fact they were usually disposed of after use – this complete set, however, survives to this day in excellent condition…
