This first issue included the first appearance of Lois Lane, and the paper they worked for was The Daily Star. 

   Superman's worst enemy, Lex Luthor had red hair when he first appeared in Action Comics # 23. 

   It was in Superman # 61 that Superman found out about Kryptonite, and found that he was really from Krypton.

   In 1986, to clean up story continuity from the past 48 years, DC and John Byrne produced, a six issue mini series, to redefine Superman for his second 50 years.

   In 1992, Superman was "killed off" by Doomsday, and you almost thought he wouldn't be back. He did return, and several battles later, figured out a way to defeat Doomsday, at least, so far.

   In October, 1996, Superman married Lois, mainly due to the characters getting married in the popular television show, Lois and Clark, based on America's longtime favorite hero. The one-shot special edition comic is one of the top comic money makers of 1996. You'd never know it by the comic book fan reaction, most copies were bought by fans of the television show.

   In Superman (current series) # 123, Superman changed to two distinct superman, but that was resolved by issue # 135.

   In 1948, the First Superman movie serial was released, starring Kirk Alyn, as the Man of Steel, battling the evil Spider Lady. The second was in 1950.

   The Superman TV show lasted from 1953, until 1957. It starred George Reeves as Superman. For a black and white TV show, the effects were pretty good. It was neat to watch the bullets bounce off Supes every episode, but made me wonder when, invariably, the bad guy would then throw the gun, and Superman would duck. 

     Of course that Episode of I Love Lucy, featuring Lucy stuck out on a ledge in a Superman suit is an all time classic. George Reeves guest starred!

   There was an Indian Superman Movie in 1960, and outside of some episodes of TV's animated Super-Friends, that was it until the late 1970s. After the success of "Star Wars", everything sci-fi came back into vogue, and the door for a new Superman film was opened.

   The first "Modern Era" Superman movie was released on December 15, 1978. At that time, there was a great Saturday Night Live, guesting Margot Kidder as a Lois Lane who had dated the Hulk, and others, including the Thing. Look for it on Comedy Central! (John Belushi, as Hulk laughing at Ant-man for having the strength of a Human still cracks me up!)

It was followed up by Superman II in 1980, written by Mario Puzo, possibly the best of the series, and my personal favorite, although many longtime fans prefer the 1978 film.

Co-starring Richard Pryor, possibly the worst Superman film was Superman III, although Superman IV The Quest for Peace may hold that honor. Ask any of the dozens who went to see it!

   Superman: The Last Son of Krypton was a TV movie released in 1996, combining the first three episodes of the cartoon.

Directed by:
Bryan Singer
Writers:
Michael Dougherty
Dan Harris
Cast:
Brandon Routh -
Clark Kent/Superman
Stephan Bender -
Clark Kent at 15
Kate Bosworth -
Lois Lane
Marlon Brando -
Jor-El (stock footage)
Sam Huntington -
Jimmy Olsen
Kevin Spacey -
Lex Luthor
James Karen -
Ben Hubbard
Frank Langella -
Perry White
James Marsden -
Richard White
Noel Neill -
suprise guest appearance
Kal Penn -
Stanford
Parker Posey -
Kitty Koslowski
Eva Marie Saint -
Martha Kent
Richard Branson -
Humself(?)

Late 2003 - Rumours say that Natalie Portman has been asked to play Lois Lane in the "all new" Superman movie, and there are also stories that "Superman sets" are being built in England. No word on a workable script or even official director though. Brett is Ratner out, Richard Donner is now the "most likely" director...

Late 2002 - Warner Brothers announced that Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) will direct, J.J. Abrams has written the script, and Jon Peters will produce the upcoming movie. No release date was announced, but we expect it to be mid to late 2004. Will Keanu Reeves fill the long standing Clark Kent/Superman/Reeves connection?

August 2002 - Warners has cancelled plans for a Batman/Superman film, concentrating on two individual films instead.

July 9, 2002 - Warner Brothers announced today that Batman vs. Superman was being written by "Seven" screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, with filming sceduled for early next year.

April 2002 - Rumors are flying online that Warner Brothers would like to offer Brendan Fraser the role as the Man of Steel!

Late February, 2002 - Variety reports that Charlie's Angel's director, McG has signed to do the upcoming Superman Film. Hopefully, it will be right after he's finished Charlies Angels 2:Halo this spiring. J.J. Abrams will be has been signed to write the script.

August 2001 - It was reported on AintItCoolNews.com that John Travolta was asked to be in the "upcoming" World's Finest Feature Film in a Superman/Batman team up. Some other reports stated that he may be the villain in the film.

April 2001 - Paul Attanasio, former Washington Post movie critic, who received Oscar nominations for Donnie Brasco and Quiz Show, has been asked by Warner Brothers to write the script for the on/off/on/off Superman movie. Nothing official has been announced yet.

June, 2000 - Nicolas Cage tells MrShowbiz.com that he has left this project. His reason for leaving was that the delays had gone on for "too long."

1999/2000? - Warner Brothers has a site, SupermanLives.com and it leads to the main Warner site.

Mid 1999 - An insider at Warner Brothers announced that a Superman/Batman team up film is a good possibility. The Batman versus Superman controversy begins.

Early 1999 - Nicolas Cage walks away from the lead role in Superman. "I'm just going to sit this one out, "he says, "and when it's serious, well, hopefully I'll do it."

Late 1998 - Nicolas Cage is back, along with Jon Peters! The death and re-birth of Superman, Script by Dan Gilroy. After the George Clooney fiasco, Batman and Robin, Peters said that "the Batman franchise is dead...". The $100 million film could be in theatres by Summer 2000!

Mid 1998 - The Nicolas Cage/Tim Burton Superman film is dead. Tim said they chose Wild Wild West over Superman for the Big Warner Brothers picture that year. Once again, the Superman Movie is in limbo

Late 1997 - Kevin Smith is out, but the idea of of an "Everyman Superman" is in. So is Tim Burton and (a controversial) Nicolas Cage as Superman, Jack Nicholson as Lex Luthor and Sandra Bullock as Lois Lane. .

Later 1996 - Kevin Smith's vision of Superman could be released by 1998! His story picks up with the ramifications of the Death of Superman, at the hands of Doomsday, and the effects on the entire DC Universe. His plans include the characters from the "Reign of Superman" and includes a visit to Hawkman's world of Thanagar. Kevin also indicated that he was writing movies just to get into comics!

Late 1996 - it was reported that Producer/ Director/ Actor/Comic Book writer Kevin Smith was writing a screenplay involving the return of Superman, after his defeat at the hands of Doomsday.