FRANCO FRIDAYS Meets SUPERMAN WEEK!
—
It’s SUPERMAN WEEK! Because there’s a fancy new movie out! Click here for the COMPLETE INDEX of columns and features! Look, up in the sky! — Dan
—
By FRANCO
Superman.
When I was a kid, I didn’t get to go to the movies a lot. So when I was in middle school and it was toward the end of the school year they announced there would be a school-wide assembly and we would be watching a movie. (Trust me. It was a rare thing back then) I remember walking into the auditorium and seeing the big reel-to-reel projector they had set up. It was Superman: The Movie with Christopher Reeve.
I was beyond ecstatic! I would get to watch a movie? In school? And it was going to be Superman?
I remember the whole thing. The time we had to wait for the guy running the projector to change the reel (the whole movie didn’t fit on one). The whole school in one place watching this thing. Kids leaving to go to the bathroom. No thanks, I would wait for a reel change. Loved the whole thing. It was great and I remember being so excited.
Fast forward a few years and I’m working in my parents’ restaurant in Cross River, N.Y., as I did many days of the week. And this real tall guy with brownish blond hair walks in and orders some pizzas. I stammered a bit when I saw him. Told him I was a big fan but couldn’t really muster up much more than those few words.
Christopher Reeve thanked me. Signed his credit card receipt, took his pizzas and left. I was left stunned by the experience. Jeez Louise! I had just met Superman!
Since then I’ve met a few Superman actors, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill. All of them were very nice and I was excited to meet them. But there was something about that first Superman movie and then meeting Mr. Reeve that really left an impact on me. That guy was my Superman.
I’ve seen all the other movies. Had some issues here or there (as I did with the first Superman movie as well) but none of them gave me that excitement that I had waiting in the auditorium way back in middle school….
I’m so excited, I created this especially for this SUPERMAN WEEK column!
Until now. Man, I saw the trailer for the new James Gunn Superman movie and I got those feels all over again. I’m not ashamed to admit I got a bit teary-eyed. It looks so good. I’m sure after the fact, I might question some choices that were made but right now that feeling of excitement is there like it has not been for a long time. I’m going, and getting the biggest bucket of popcorn and I’m gonna enjoy believing a man can fly… again!
Happy Friday
—
MORE
— The Complete SUPERMAN WEEK INDEX of Columns and Features. Click here.
— 13 QUICK THOUGHTS on James Gunn and David Corenswet’s SUPERMAN. Click here.
—
Franco and his forehead have traveled the world and he writes and draws stuff. Franco is the creator, artist and writer of Patrick the Wolf Boy and Aw Yeah Comics! Franco has worked on books/comics, including Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures. Franco was also a high-school teacher and is one of the principal owners of Aw Yeah Comics retail stores. Dan made Franco add that he has won three Eisners.
July 11, 2025
Man, I gotta say, the original Superman movie is one of the few I can think of where watching the opening credits is supreme entertainment all by itself (yeah, I had to click on the video).
The swooping, projecting credits with their beautiful blue, sans-serif block lettering, as combined with the fantastic John Williams score, are so dramatically compelling. A masterstroke.
July 11, 2025
My first live action Superman was George Reeves. He never had a supervillain, maybe because costs, maybe because the writers couldn’t portray one with a straight face. It was usual bad guys who would shoot at him and out of frustration throw their pistols at him. That was unintendedly humorous. But he was played straight and Clark Kent did act like a reporter.
July 11, 2025
My first live action Superman was George Reeves. He played it straight and made believable Clark Kent as reporter. There was no supervillain. Maybe because of costs, maybe the writers couldn’t portray one with a straight face. So Superman usually fought typical bad guys who would shoot at him and out of frustration threw their pistols at him, which lead to unintendedly humorous moments.
July 11, 2025
Nothing more John Williams than the score he conjure for Superman. Aural perfection.
July 11, 2025
I hope the new movie is everything you want it to be! I’m pumped for it, myself. And, like you, I have fond memories of Superman: The Movie, although I never had the chance to hand Christopher Reeve a pizza. I also remember watching the TV series (with George Reeves) in reruns as a kid. Loved it, too!
July 11, 2025
Franco, you lucky dog!
My friends took me to see Superman as we all returned from College, as I was the only comic book geek among them. They watched me the whole time for my reaction. I told them afterward that they wearing sports figures jerseys and being theater fans was no different than my enjoyment of Superheroes.
I can’t wait to see this Superman too!