Superman: adaptations and adoptions

Kent’s teenage years before becoming Superman, focusing on his origins, friendships, and moral dilemmas.

- Todd Sales Lucero

Another adaptation of Superman was released worldwide on July 9th, with premieres as early as June. Two of the first three Superman films came out during my early childhood, so I was introduced to the Man of Steel early on. Over the years, whenever a new Superman film came to theaters, I made sure to watch it. This includes “Smallville”, where a young Clark Kent experiences adolescence, and “Supergirl”, where Superman’s cousin takes the spotlight. I appreciated that the latest Superman adaptation stayed faithful to the storyline, and in this age of over-sensitivity, they kept Superman’s character true to his origins.

A 1995 academic study shows that Superman has been a childhood favorite among Filipino boys and girls. Homegrown heroes like Darna and Captain Barbell were inspired by the Superman mythos, and new Superman movie releases always attract Filipino audiences. Superman was created in 1938 by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, originally conceived as a villain in a 1933 short story titled “The Reign of the Superman”. Thankfully, the character evolved into a hero inspired by science fiction, mythology, and popular culture.