Some fine examples from the Japanese advertising campaign for Superman: The Movie in 1978.
Of all the artwork used to spread the word of the Man Of Steel’s cinematic debut, the designs from the Far East were easily the sharpest and most colourful. From the top, magazine ad, Chirashi-style leaflets and article splash page…
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…
From the pencil of Martin Asbury – this sequence on the balcony of Lex Luthor’s Penthouse made it more or less completely intact in the finished picture save for a Nuclearman gimmick or two.
Notice how Nuclearman himself is rendered as a featureless Golem as intended in the script back when Christopher Reeve was to portray both characters. Nuclearman was cloned from Superman’s DNA after all…
The first exclusive images of the third figure from the Superman: The Movie Movie Masters Collection reveal Gene Hackman’s incarnation of Lex Luthor appeared in Toyfare magazine this week –
While I fully support the line I think this looks the weakest offering so far but then I thought the same of the Superman before it was revised so changes may still occur. As I mentioned in my review of the General Zod figure, these would be outstanding figures for the time if it was 1980.
Adorned in his iconic bad-taste suit, the headsculpt is a passable Hackman and the hairpieces are reasonable sculpts also. The Kryptonite chain is a great touch, however, and will be a fine addition to the Superman figure when that is offered by mattycollector.com on Dec 15th…
Another SUPERMANIA exclusive – Starting above is a serialisation of storyboards from Superman IV: The Quest For Peace by acclaimed UK artist Martin Asbury.
These never-before-published sequences are from the longest cut of the movie and feature the script in its entirety and much more detail of the various Nuclearman battles. Collected in a handsome red binder, this significant find was rescued from a skip at Elstree Studios some years ago. Sadly, only the second binder of two survived (picking up from the gym scenes) but nonetheless feature the majority of the action.
Keep checking back for more updates…!