io9
After being burned by tell-all biographies and exposés like Adam West's Back to the Batcave, it's easy to turn a wary eye to the next book that promises to give you the "real story" about what went down in Hollywood's conference rooms and executive offices with regards to one of the most popular comic book characters ever created. However, Jake Rossen's Superman Vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon actually lives up to the hype, and makes us yearn for the Superman movies that never were.
Rossen took what was a cover story at Wizard Magazine about the problematic history of making a new Superman movie into a fully fleshed-out book that includes interviews and anecdotes with just about everyone that was involved with the Superman franchise over the years. Sure, the common knowledge stuff about producer Jon Peters wanting writer Kevin Smith to give Lex Luthor a gay alien dog is in here, but there's a ton of new information in here as well, like the details about a non-sucky version of Superman III that never happened.
Plus, can you imagine Neil Diamond as Superman? It almost happened. Sweet Kryptonite, bad times never felt so good. I'm still in the middle of this one, so if it turns out worse than Superman IV, try and find the forgiving circuits in your brain. However, it gets harder and harder to put down so I doubt that will happen. Pick up a copy tomorrow during new comics day, and weep for what almost could have been.
Comments
Anyone else reading all-Star Superman? That is what a Superman movie should be. What's been on screen? Not so much. Maybe one day...
I like the sad, lonely Superman who knows, had he existed in a different age, that he would be a God. The Superman who knows no matter what he does he will always be different and deep down feared by humans...
I can't remember who said it...about how Batman is Bruce Wayne's 'real identity' but that Clark Kent is Superman's...I don't agree with this...
and what makes me really like the best of the Superman/Batman stories is that Batman is always conscious of Superman's alien origin and that when the shit hits the fan and it comes down to "us vs them" Superman will always be one of 'them'.
i need a delaware address does anyone have a delaware address?
@mgoldfarb: "I can't remember who said it..."
Bill said it in Kill Bill II
@mgoldfarb: That was David Carradine's speech at the End of Kill Bill. It predates that of course but the sentiment is a valid one. too bad it never comes out in the screen versions. If there was a movie that should have followed the Hero's Journey a little closer, it's a superman movie.
Oh wow! I'm going to buy myself a book about movies that ... were never made ... well, I guess it would make something to talk about...
@Gyrus: Watch the Donner cut of Superman II. Not exactly perfect, but pretty good.
@gyrus
All-star Superman is one of my favorite depictions of Superman along with Waid's Birthright.
They are the two best examples of how to make Superman believable.
All-Star superman rocks.
I HATE All-Star Superman. It embodies everything I hate about the DC universe in general.
I can see how people would be into it and I'm not saying it sucks, but personally I HATE it and a movie based on it would essentially turn out like "Batman & Robin".
And here I thought the reason was the dreaded Superman Curse.
I LOVE All-Star Superman. And a movie based on it would probably essentially turn out like "Batman & Robin".
@Gyrus:
ugh...yeah, now I remember...
stupid Tarantino...
@Imipolex_G-Unit: No, that's not what the speech was in Kill Bill 2.
The gyst of the speech was that most of the superheroes (like Batman) had to put on a costume to become the hero, but Superman was born Superman, and always is, whether he wears the costume or not. The Clark Kent persona is Superman's take on humanity.
On topic, there are other movies out there which thanks to the hacks in the business, never got made.
[www.pointlesswasteoftime.com] is a good place to start.
On the "An Evening With Kevin Smith" DVD, he talks at some length about the process he went through writing his Superman movie. At one point, Big Blue had to fight a giant spider because, in the words of the producer, "The spider is the king of the insect kingdom." That producer's next movie: Wild Wild West. (There's also some great stuff about Tim Burton and Prince.)
There's a very similar book from the 90s detailing the various un-made "Doctor Who" movies. The book is called "The Nth Doctor" and sweet fancy Moses, we were spared some horrifying crap in these un-made concepts. Leonard Nimoy and Steven Spielberg both took cracks at it.
I rather like the way Byrne recreated Superman and how it all came about, digging up all the pre-crisis crap has turned me off to the books now, I'm holding onto a imaginative and unique retelling of the superman mytho, everything since has been rehashing old crap and not moving forward.
@DAppammattoxx: I got to disagree about Birthright. I liked the Byrne origin and hated the fact that is was retconned.
@Robert Isbell: I 100% agree.
@DAppammattoxx: I love Kurt Busiek's Superman: Secret Identity. One of the best Superman graphic novels around. I must have read it ten times so far.
does anyone remember "Last Son of Krypton"? by Elliot S! Maggin...
read it when I was a kid and I think I still have it...
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