Although they belong to different franchises, DC and Marvel, we were nearly treated to a Superman vs. Spider-Man fight 77 years ago. Such a fight would be particularly entertaining, given both characters are among the most popular superheroes of all time.
An MCU/DCU crossover isn’t currently on the cards, meaning it might be an exceptionally long time (if at all) before we can see characters from each franchise going toe-to-toe. By then, it remains to be seen whether the current Superman and Spider-Man actors will still be embodying the roles.
Superman’s cinematic history is one of the most extensive in superhero cinema. David Corenswet now portrays the eleventh rendition of the character in the DC Universe. 77 years ago, however, the role was first portrayed by Kirk Alyn, who starred in a serial that delivered a spider-themed Superman fight.
DC Came Oddly Close To Superman Vs Spider-Man In The 1948 Superman Serial
Superman was first adapted for the big screen in a 1948 serial. Film serials were a common feature of the time, which comprised episodic installments of a single story. 1948’s Superman serial was a huge success, and centered on Superman’s run-in with a spider-themed villain, Spider Lady.
Spider Lady, portrayed by Carol Forman, is the kingpin of crime in Metropolis who dons a pretty standard villainous outfit comprising a black dress and eye mask. The spider gimmick, meanwhile, hinged on her use of an electrified spider-web. Unfortunately, Spider Lady does not boast spider-themed powers, and she instead relies on kryptonite to help fight against her rival.
The only fight that was arguably closer to a Superman vs. Spider-Man fight was depicted in The Flash​​​​​​. This was when Nicolas Cage’s ill-fated Superman was seen fighting a giant spider, a plot point that was reportedly written into the Superman movie that was never made.
I’m Still So Fascinated By The First Chapter In Superman’s Full Movie History
Now that Superman is such a large part of superhero cinema, there’s something special about his first live-action outing. Although we are now treated to some incredible CGI spectacles in the DCU’s Superman, seeing the new comic book character adapted to live-action for the first time was particularly groundbreaking at the time.
I’m fascinated by how this early superhero movie navigated special effects. For example, due to budget and technology constraints, shots of Superman flying were entirely animated. Nevertheless, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of the 1948 serial, as its success vindicated future adaptations of Superman and other superheroes in general, securing him as a visual character perfect for cinema.
Superman
- Release Date
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July 15, 1948
- Runtime
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244 Minutes
- Director
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Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr
- Writers
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Lewis Clay, Royal K. Cole, George H. Plympton, Arthur Hoerl, Joseph F. Poland
