Alternative Poster Campaigns - 'Christmas'...

This newest addition to my collection is from a set of what I believe to be unpublished studio 10x8's taken of a series of poster mockups for Superman: The Movie featuring variations on the tagline and featuring art (with the exception of the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 utilized in full colour and the liner notes of the Varese Sarabande sountrack release in 1998...

Ultimate Reeve Superman 1:1 Progress...

More progress images of my fullsize Superman display from the Super-Talented John May. This dry-fitting of the head to the body is vital to establish correct proportions in the overall figure to correctly capture Reeve's unique physique. The six/six mannequin was a true find as its muscular without being bulky and with its long legs and relaxed pose ideally convey the physicallity of Reeve's incarnation. Once the head is complete, brackets will be used to fix the head to the shoulders before filling & sanding can take place. Though the body is the closest match commercially, more modifications will be needed to bulk out the thin legs and to shorten the torso to meet the maximum height requirement of 6'5"....More to come...!

Christopher Reeve - 1952 - 2004

Today would have been Christopher Reeve's 58th birthday. I'm often asked how I feel about his passing and his influence on me, and rather than acknowledge the most bittersweet of tragedies I have an overwhelming sense of pride. If only the rest of us could forge such a lasting legacy twice over - first making us believe a man could fly and second making us believe a man could overcome.
Above is an article written by me for UK Collectors magazine TV & Film Memorabilia published in 2005 detailing Reeve's life and career with an emphasis on collectables produced during his tenure. The fact that an influx of new items bearing his likeness now and to come is a fitting testimony to Reeve's place in out hearts as the definitive Superman...

Crew Apparel - Superman IV Flying Unit Jacket...

This newest aquisition of genuine set-used Crew-wear is notable for the fact it once belonged to somebody working on the 'Flying Unit' and would have been present during most if not all stunt/ flying scenes. One suspects this blue satin Bomber jacket would have been most useful during the chilly November nights at Elstree Studios in 1986/7. From my collection...

'Hooray For Hollywood' Waxwork....

One of the many choice exhibits in a waxwork museum which, to the best of my recollection, I discovered in Kissimmee's Old Town, Orlando, Fl in the late nineties. While its usually always a pleasure to see Christopher Reeve's Superman represented in any form - this particular piece is more notable for its comedy value though the recent Cinemaquette offering seems to emulate the hair. Photographs by me.

Japanese Programme Books...

Showcasing arguably the sharpest and most colourful photography available from the Movie series, these Japanese Promo magazines 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 more rare imagery. From my collection!

Behind The (Deleted) Scenes - Metropolis JFK...

More from the set of Jeremy's school from Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - In reality the Woughton Campus of the Sir Frank Markham Comprehensive School in Milton Keynes, UK, Circa 1986. Note veteran make-up artist Stuart Freeborn attending to Reeve's sideburns - Freeborn was the Make-Up Supervisor on all four pictures. From the pages of Starlog #119;
"It takes about an hour and a half to make Chris up as Superman, and about thirty minutes to do his Clark Kent makeup. Chris' face is just about the same as it was ten years ago - I know makeup men are supposed to say that anyway, but in this case, its really true..."

Exclusive Euro Photostory - Conclusion...

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).
Coming soon, the first pieces of the BRAVO multi-part Superman painting - this assembles a giant rendering of Christopher Reeve fist pointed and will, once again, be exclusive to this site...

Super Comic Book Adaptations...

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 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 Origins 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. From my collection...

"I Found...This Crystal..."

Easily the most recognisable and iconic prop from the movie series - Star Wars designer John Barry's conception that Krypton was a world forged from Crystal would also be utilized as the basis of their technology. A staple of the comic mythos today, the knowledge crystals (now named Sunstone Crystals) and the use of symbols to denote Kryptonian clans were nonetheless elements introduced by the movies.
Replicas of Jor-El's gift to his son have been prevalent for some years in the form of resin castings. These, while adequate, are traditionally not based upon actual props but a generic close-enough design and often identifiable by rough and/or bubble-filled casting.
The replica above has been cast in a very limited run in REAL crystal and is a direct copy of the prop used by Christopher Reeve in his scenes from Superman II. From my collection...