Limelight: Look, up in the sky By Lubna Abdel-Aziz It was the golden age of science fiction. Following the works of Jules Verne and HG Wells in the late 1800s, the children of the 20th century became pre-occupied with the possibilities of the real and the imaginary. Eugene Zamiatin wrote We (1924), Karl Capek discussed the atomic bomb in Krakatit (1924), and Aldous Huxley created his Brave New World (1932). In 1930 Hugo Gernsbach coined the word "science fiction". Riding the tide, popular "pulp magazines" produced scientific marvels for the readers' pleasure, giving birth to such writers as Paul Andersen, Isaac Asimov and Theodore Sturgeon. Courageous and noble super heroes were created possessing a strong moral code, and a willingness to risk their own safety, in the service of good, to remedy society's major ills. To do that, they concealed their true identities, wore flamboyant costumes that captured the imagination of an impressionable generation, anxious to overcome the burdens of two world wars. No one could quarrel with such colossal creations. They came to be loved, revered, and above all, believed. While Batman and Spiderman are equally unreal superheroes with their own style of razzle-dazzle, Superman has the most enduring appeal among mere mortals. He was the brain-child of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Schuster, two high-school classmates from Cleveland, USA, both enamoured with science fiction. Siegel came up with almost all of the superhuman legend, giving him his distinctive costume in the brightest colours of red, yellow and blue, adding 'S' in a triangle on his chest. Schuster added a cape to help the effect of the motion. He hailed from a distant planet, Krypton, a civilisation of super beings, representing "the human race at its ultimate peak of perfect development". Faced with the impending destruction of his planet, by vast quakes, Jor-L places his infant, Kal-L, into an experimental rocket and launches him into space. He lands on planet Earth, and is adopted by an older childless couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent. They give him the name Clark, the first name of the most popular film star of the era, the alluring Mr Gable. The couple soon discovers that their foster son is endowed with supernatural abilities, such as reading English immediately. Clark observes that nothing less than "bursting shell" pierces his skin. He could travel faster than the speed of light, and journey through the barriers of time and space. His powers are firmly attributed to Earth's lesser gravity. His only vulnerability is kryptonite, once a beneficiary substance of his native soil, now reversed, following the explosion of his planet. On January 1933 a fansize publication called Science Fiction prints The Reign of Superman. Superman became a success in the comic book field, but it was not until 1939 when it was syndicated in newspapers, that it became an instant hit with readers of all ages, who needed an escape from the woes of the Great Depression. He was given a voice in 1940, when he debuted on radio in the Adventures of Superman. The public wanted more. A year later he came alive on the screen in 17 visually advanced colour cartoons, where he participated in WW II, aiding the Allies against Hitler and Japan. In 1942 Superboy was born describing his life as a child. In 1948 a 15-part movie serial, with actor Kirk Allyn, was produced. In 1951 actor George Reeves donning the famous Superman attire, appeared in a sensational film Superman and the Mole Men. Both Reeves and Superman flew onto the TV screen, in a highly successful series which had viewers crying: "Look, up in the sky. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman." He was "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap over tall buildings in a single bound!" There were never more superheroes following the success of the TV series. We had Supermen, Superwomen, Superboys, Supergirls, and even Superdogs. The public was no longer disposed to swallow anything super, including Superman. The Man of Steel took a long vacation which lasted almost two decades. But planet Earth was not done with Superman yet. He was back on the big screen in 1978 with the promise to viewers: "You will believe that man can fly," -- and they did. The film gained gravitas with the inclusion of serious actors like Marlon Brando as Jor-L, Superman's father; Gene Hackman as his greatest enemy from Krypton, Lex Luthor, while Superman himself was portrayed by a virtual unknown, a 26-year-old actor by the name of Christopher Reeve, who became the embodiment of Superman. The film earned $300 million worldwide, a phenomenal figure for that time, and Superman Reeve became an undisputed international hero. Reeve returned in Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), and Superman IV (1987). Audiences were saturated with film versions, but Superman continued his thrilling ride on the small screen in Superboy, and Lois and Clark, each series had a healthy four-year run. Following the successful return of another superhero franchise, Batman Begins (2005), Superman Returns is bigger and better than ever, earning over $200 million since its release. Versatile director Bryan Singer ( Usual Suspects, 1995, X-Men Franchise 2000-2003) launched his new millennium Superhero, with another virtually unknown actor, 24-year-old Brandon Routh (rhymes with south); chooses Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, to fill the large shoes of Gene Hackman, his nemesis from Krypton. He even uses old archive shots of the legendary Marlon Brando, as Superman's father from the 1978 version. His film resuscitates a disappointing summer season, following the unimpressive showing of the Da Vinci Code. Film viewers across the globe are hypnotised by the amazing digital effects, artfully used by Singer who mixes live action with computerised imagery, in an innovative style, leaving the viewers helplessly breathless. Singer surpasses his previous successes in other beloved blockbusters, with highly intelligent superhumans, and incredible technological feats, or is all this wondrous achievement, the work of Superman ? I teach you the Superman. Man is something that is to be surpassed From Thus Spake Zarathustra Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844- 1900)
