This page will contain discussion groups about The Incredibles, as they become available.The IncrediblesThe Incredibles is Pixar Animation Studios' sixth animated feature film, released by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution in the United States on November 5, 2004 and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 26, 2004. It was released in a two-disc DVD (in both widescreen and full frame versions) in the U.S. on March 15, 2005. It was written and developed by Brad Bird, formerly director of The Simpsons and best known for directing the animated movie The Iron Giant. The Incredibles was originally developed as a traditionally animated movie, but after Warner Bros. shut down its animation division, Brad Bird moved to Pixar and took the story with him. Voice castSee also: Voice actor The Underminer, the villain who appears at the end of the film
PlotSpoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.Fifteen years ago, the world's superheroes were overwhelmed by lawsuits over the damage and injuries that sometimes resulted from their rescues. In exchange for immunity from these suits, the "supers" retired from heroics, and the government relocated them with civilian identities. Now Bob Parr, formerly Mr. Incredible, lives a quiet suburban life with his wife Helen (formerly Elastigirl) and their three secretly super powered children. Bored with this life of mediocrity, he occasionally sneaks out with his friend Lucius (formerly Frozone) to fight crime and protect the innocent. Upon receiving a mysterious benefactor's invitation to be a hero again, Mr. Incredible leaps at the opportunity. But the "benefactor" turns out to be a villain named Syndrome who carries a grudge: as a boy, he idolized the superhero, even going as far as inventing machines that would allow him to become "Incrediboy," but Mr. Incredible squelched that dream. Thereafter he dedicated his life to eliminating superheroes while he perfects a destructive robot that only he will be able to defeat with his inventions; he plans on unleashing it for a while then defeating it so that he will be seen as a hero. It's up to the rest of the Parr family to save Mr. Incredible, and to stop the robot after Syndrome loses control of it. Many have noted that the plot contains elements of Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy, especially her political theories of individual rights. The desire of the government and Syndrome to quash the powers of the "supers" is seen as a reflection of the "tyranny of the majority" (or Ochlocracy) rejected by objectivists and libertarians. The disdain for mediocrity voiced by Dash ("Everyone's special ... which is another way of saying that nobody is") and echoed by Syndrome ("...when everyone's super, no one will be.") amplifies this plot point. In interviews following the Academy Awards, Director Brad Bird denied that the movie was inspired by objectivist philosophy. In an interview with IGN (http://dvd.ign.com/articles/594/594806p3.html), he said... "I think it got misinterpreted a few times. Some people said it was Ayn Rand or something like that, which is ridiculous. Other people threw Nietzsche around, which I also find ridiculous...Some people said it was sort of a right-wing feeling, but I think that's as silly of an analysis as saying The Iron Giant was left-wing." Main charactersSpoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.Mr. IncredibleRobert "Bob" Parr, "Mr. Incredible" (6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), 350 lb (159 kg) The "hero's hero", Bob possesses tremendous strength and reasonable resistance to harm. Trapped in a dead-end job as an insurance adjustor, he reminisces about "the glory days" when he was celebrated for using his abilities to save people. ElastigirlHelen Parr, "Elastigirl" (5 ft 8 in (1.73 m), 125 lb (57 kg)) Helen Parr can stretch any part of her body a long way. She can also reshape her body in a variety of ways shown in the movie including becoming a parachute or a rubber boat. She is a dedicated spouse and parent and is frustrated with her husband's continuing dreams of glory. DashDashiell "Dash" Robert Parr (4 ft 0 in (1.22 m), 65 lb (29 kg)) Young Dashiell has fast reflexes and the ability to run and swim extremely quickly. He can also run across the surface of water without sinking. He exhibits overconfidence, cockiness, and hyperactivity; a bit of a showoff, he chafes under his mother's refusal to let him be in sports at school, for fear that his superpowers might be noticed. Dash's name relates to his talent for speed. VioletViolet "Vi" Parr (4 ft 6 in (1.22 m), 90 lb (41 kg)) Stuck at the cross-roads between girl and woman, Violet desperately wants to be like everyone else, to blend in with normal people and not to stand out. Appropriately, her superpowers allow her to turn instantly invisible. Violet can also generate spherical force fields. Her character development seems to be one of the side-stories in the movie, despite the fact that Violet herself isn't shown in very many scenes. (Certain speculation has been that this is due to the processing and time required to render Violet's full-length flowing hair.) One of these character developments appears to be the gained confidence needed to approach her crush, Tony Rydinger. Violet's name can be taken from the slang term shrinking violet, which means a shy person (usually a girl) or as a reference to ultraviolet light, which is outside of the visible spectrum. Jack-JackJack-Jack Parr (30 in (0.76 m), 25 lb (11 kg)) Jack-Jack is the baby of the family. At first he's supposed not to have any "super" powers, but later on it is revealed that he has a whole set of them which include turning himself on fire, transforming into metal, into a gremlin-like creature, teleporting, floating, laser-vision, and going through walls. Most of these powers are shown in the Jack-Jack Attack short film which is included in The Incredibles DVD. His name and multitude of powers suggest he is/will be literally a Jack-of-all-trades (also, that the Jack in poker can be used as a wild card). FrozoneLucius Best, "Frozone" (6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 180 lb (82 kg)) A long-time friend of the family, Frozone can generate bursts of ice from his body; the amount of ice depends on the amount of water available in the air and in his body. During the movie it's suggested that he has adapted to civilian life much more easily than his long-time friend, Bob Parr, though he still possesses a command center of sorts, as well as his super suit and all of his old gadgets in working condition. SyndromeBuddy Pine, "Syndrome" (6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 185 lb (84 kg)) This misguided villain was once Mr. Incredible's "greatest fan". In an attempt to earn his hero's respect, Buddy Pine tried to aid him in fighting crime as "Incrediboy", with gadgets he had invented in his spare time, as well as showing plenty of "gee-whiz" spunk. Instead of respecting him as the sidekick he wished to become, Mr. Incredible kicked him out on the curb—quite literally. Out of bitterness, he recreated himself as an evil genius that plotted revenge on his former idol. After his initial plans were foiled, Syndrome planned to abduct Jack-Jack and raise him as a sidekick, but failed. Syndrome's cape got caught in his jet's intake and sucked him in. If not for the engine's blades, the explosion immediately following seems to point towards the conclusion that he died. MirageMirage (Height unknown, Weight unknown) The seductive representative of Syndrome, and possibly wittingly his accomplice in the murder of many "supers". Despite several nods towards a more intimate relationship between Mirage and Buddy Pine (Syndrome), it is never explicitly stated in the movie. Moreover, it is not known whether or not she herself is a "super". Though seemingly at ease with Syndrome's casual regard to murder she nonetheless does have a "line" which she refuses to cross. EdnaEdna "E" Mode (3 ft 8 in (1.12 m), "not telling dahling") An eccentric costume designer who apparently designed the costumes for many members of the superhero community, saying that she "designed for gods". To that end, not only does she take the aesthetics of the clothes into account, but also their practical uses such as its protective qualities and how it can accommodate the powers of the wearer. Edna's no-nonsense personality and round glasses are a direct homage to Edith Head, the legendary Hollywood costume designer, perhaps with nods to Elsa Klensch and Anna Wintour. The film's creators couldn't find an appropriate actress to voice Edna, so Brad Bird provided the character's voice (with its unique German/Japanese accent) himself. Edna Mode also appeared with Pierce Brosnan to present the Academy Award for Costume Design at the 77th Academy Awards. Others
US box office takeIts opening box office sales in the United States exceeded that of Pixar's previous animation films. At the time of its release, its opening-weekend attendance ranked fifth in 2004, behind Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Spider-Man 2 and The Passion of the Christ. It was ranked 14th among all opening-weekend results at that time. All figures in United States dollars.
The movie grossed a total of roughly $259,000,000 in the United States, and $366,000,000 in foreign markets, making it the fifth- and fourth-highest-grossing movie, respectively, of 2004. It is Pixar's second-highest-grossing movie, after Finding Nemo, and the third-highest-grossing superhero movie, after Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. DVD extrasThe Incredibles 2-disc Collector's Edition DVD set was released on March 15, 2005. Two versions of the set are available: one widescreen and the other full screen (this is unlike releases for other Pixar films, which often contained both versions in one set). Like many other DVD releases, there are various extra features available on the two discs including:
MerchandisingSeveral companies released promotional products related to the movie. Dark Horse Comics released a limited series of comic books based on the movie. Kellogg's released an Incredibles-themed cereal, as well as promotional Pop Tarts and fruit snacks, all proclaiming an "Incrediberry Blast" of flavor. Furthermore, in the weeks before the movie's opening, there were also promotional tie-ins with SBC Communications and McDonald's. In Europe, Kinder chocolate eggs contained small plastic toy characters. In Mexico there has been a craze about the movie, literally hundreds of items are being sold there, with several of them being exclusive to Mexico. Already many stores around the country have been reporting being completely sold out of certain popular items. Video gamesThe IncrediblesThe Incredibles also spawned a video game for the consoles Playstation 2, XBox, and Gamecube. The game features 18 levels, based on the film, and there are five playable characters. They are:
Other Characters
The Incredibles: Rise Of The UnderminerAnnounced at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), there will be a sequel to the Incredibles video game, called Rise Of The Underminer. This game will take place after the first movie/game and the basis will be destroying the Underminer. (See Voice cast for a picture of the Underminer.) From ign.com:
Comic book, movie, and television tributes and referencesSpoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.The world of The Incredibles has several similarities to constructs from other comic book, film, and television universes.
(This obviously mirrors what occurred with the supers in 'The Incredibles'). Mature themesHelen Parr aka Elastigirl with baby Jack-Jack at home Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow."The Incredibles" is set apart from other Disney and Pixar films by its adult themes. This is the first Pixar film to use only human characters, and also the first to receive a PG rating (though in the United Kingdom it received a lower U rating). FamilyEarly in the film, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl share playful and somewhat suggestive banter in a scene that takes place prior to their getting married. Years later, Bob and Helen are shown in a variety of domestic and passionate moments. One montage shows Bob and Helen playfully pinching one another in the derrière as each passes by the other in the hallway of their home; and later after they exchange an off-to-work kiss, Helen pulls him back into the home. Bob is clearly happy to be a costumed hero once again; Helen is happy for her husband also, because she believes he has moved up in his job. On the other hand, Bob seems to alienate himself from his family. He holds on to the glory days; when he puts on his super suit, his attention seems more on becoming the center of attention he once was. Bob becomes somewhat distant, and his distraction with his heroics leads Helen to think he is having an affair. Bob realizes how important his family is, once he believes they died by Syndrome's hand. Furthermore, as Bob and his family look to overcome the villain, all their abilities come together to win. Violence and deathThe Incredibles features an unusual amount of death and destruction for a Disney animated production. There is a black-humor montage showing the death of supers who perished because of their capes getting caught in doors, jet plane engines, etc. In an intermediate scene, Bob finds the skeletal remains of a fellow super, Gazerbeam, who had gone missing (presumably having taken the same offer Bob did to relive the glory days of being a super again). Bob later learns that many other supers (male and female) suffered the same fate and that these deaths are an indirect result of his having rejected Syndrome years earlier. Bob briefly believes that his family (Helen, Dash, and Violet) are killed by Syndrome as they rush to the island to save him. In anger, he threatens to kill Syndrome's assistant, Mirage on two occasions. Helen warns Violet and Dash that the "bad guys" will not hesitate to kill them just because they're children. When they are separated from their mother, they must and do protect themselves by hitting or indirectly (perhaps accidentally) killing Syndrome's henchmen. Bob and Helen are more active in incapacitating or destroying their enemies. Killing by superheroes is a rare occurrence even in adult-oriented comic books; killings caused by teenage heroes are almost unheard of. Further along in the film, as Syndrome's deadly Omnidroid attacks a populated city, Bob and the family encounter a trailer full of henchmen who are cheering at the mayhem the Omnidroid is causing and drinking shots of liquor for every civilian who runs screaming. As the airplane scene was originally written, Elastigirl's friend Snug (whom she called before flying the jet) piloted the plane and was killed when the missiles hit. However, the narrative demands of establishing audience rapport with the character, to provide emotional impact for his death, threatened to extend an already unusually long animated film (as Brad Bird explains in the commentary on deleted scenes). The scene was rewritten with Elastigirl piloting the plane, which had the additional benefit of showing her skills and her coolness under fire. Nonetheless the scene is harrowing to watch, with Elastigirl using real-life military transmission jargon (such as the term "buddy spike") in order to try and prevent what she believes to be a friendly fire incident. Importance of role modelsBuddy Pine, who later becomes the deadly Syndrome, seems to look up to Mr. Incredible as a big brother or father figure. He has been warped so much by Mr. Incredible's rejection to having a partner, that he holds a grudge for 15 years in order to get revenge on all supers. Appeal of ElastigirlElastigirl finds more than just her hairstyle has changed in the last 15 yearsFrom forums dedicated to "The Incredibles" on IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, IGN.com, to personal blogsites, and even online film reviews, there is a question, generally by male viewers, on whether or not it is right to say the characters of Mirage and Elastigirl are sexy eye-candy. A reviewer for InnerArt.com (http://www.innerart.com/performancespace/#incredibles) of "The Incredibles": Since this is animation, we lose out on the pleasure of Holly Hunter in the flesh, but Elastigirl certainly fills out a lycra spandex suit in the best possible way. Another fan described her as the ideal life-mate. Smart, capable, funny, sweet, loyal, strong, sexy... Her heat is what we bring to her. IMDB thread (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317705/board/nest/13648301). Unlike the overblown Jessica Rabbit, this character seems to appeal to the human side. Additional images of Elastigirl
AwardsWon the Oscar in 2005 for Best Animated Feature as well as Best Achievement in Sound Effects Editing. The Incredibles also received nominations for Best Original Screenplay for writer/director Brad Bird and Best Achievement in Sound but did not win either. This page about The Incredibles includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about The Incredibles News stories about The Incredibles External links for The Incredibles Videos for The Incredibles Wikis about The Incredibles Discussion Groups about The Incredibles Blogs about The Incredibles Images of The Incredibles |
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The Incredibles also received nominations for Best Original Screenplay for writer/director Brad Bird and Best Achievement in Sound but did not win either. Superman - who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel with his bare hands, and who disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a neverending battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way.". Won the Oscar in 2005 for Best Animated Feature as well as Best Achievement in Sound Effects Editing. It's Superman! Yes, it's Superman - strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Unlike the overblown Jessica Rabbit, this character seems to appeal to the human side. It's a plane. Her heat is what we bring to her. IMDB thread (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317705/board/nest/13648301). It's a bird. Smart, capable, funny, sweet, loyal, strong, sexy.. Look! Up in the sky. A reviewer for InnerArt.com (http://www.innerart.com/performancespace/#incredibles) of "The Incredibles": Since this is animation, we lose out on the pleasure of Holly Hunter in the flesh, but Elastigirl certainly fills out a lycra spandex suit in the best possible way. Another fan described her as the ideal life-mate. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. From forums dedicated to "The Incredibles" on IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, IGN.com, to personal blogsites, and even online film reviews, there is a question, generally by male viewers, on whether or not it is right to say the characters of Mirage and Elastigirl are sexy eye-candy. More powerful than a locomotive. Incredible's rejection to having a partner, that he holds a grudge for 15 years in order to get revenge on all supers. 2#⇧ Narrator Bill Kennedy intoned at the start of each program: "Faster than a speeding bullet. He has been warped so much by Mr. 1#⇧ Moses, Gilgamesh). Incredible as a big brother or father figure. See also: Superdupont, Superlópez. Buddy Pine, who later becomes the deadly Syndrome, seems to look up to Mr. See: Superman in popular music. Nonetheless the scene is harrowing to watch, with Elastigirl using real-life military transmission jargon (such as the term "buddy spike") in order to try and prevent what she believes to be a friendly fire incident. Superman has long been a popular subject for music, inspiring songs by artists ranging from The Kinks and Barbra Streisand of one generation through The Sugarhill Gang, Genesis, R.E.M., Crash Test Dummies, and Spin Doctors to current performers like Eminem, Dream Theater , Three Doors Down, Our Lady Peace and Five For Fighting. The scene was rewritten with Elastigirl piloting the plane, which had the additional benefit of showing her skills and her coolness under fire. The Swedish parliament was considering at the time whether to intervene and overrule the initial judgement.[3] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3701802.stm). However, the narrative demands of establishing audience rapport with the character, to provide emotional impact for his death, threatened to extend an already unusually long animated film (as Brad Bird explains in the commentary on deleted scenes). In 2004, local authorities in Sweden refused to allow a child to be named Stålmannen, which means Superman (literally: The Man of Steel). As the airplane scene was originally written, Elastigirl's friend Snug (whom she called before flying the jet) piloted the plane and was killed when the missiles hit. Hyperion has been revamped in a new Marvel series, Supreme Power, giving a new take on the Superman mythology. Further along in the film, as Syndrome's deadly Omnidroid attacks a populated city, Bob and the family encounter a trailer full of henchmen who are cheering at the mayhem the Omnidroid is causing and drinking shots of liquor for every civilian who runs screaming. DC in turn introduced the "Assemblers of Angar", a thinly-veiled Avengers pastiche. Killing by superheroes is a rare occurrence even in adult-oriented comic books; killings caused by teenage heroes are almost unheard of. Hyperion stood in for Superman, the Whizzer for The Flash, etc. Bob and Helen are more active in incapacitating or destroying their enemies. The Squadron Supreme was created to do unofficial JLA/Avengers crossovers; the "new" characters were thinly veiled versions of their DC JLA counterparts. When they are separated from their mother, they must and do protect themselves by hitting or indirectly (perhaps accidentally) killing Syndrome's henchmen. One of the few Superman-like characters that DC Comics allowed to stand without litigation is Hyperion, from Marvel Comics's superhero team, Squadron Supreme. Helen warns Violet and Dash that the "bad guys" will not hesitate to kill them just because they're children. In 1998, an American Express commercial featured real-life Jerry Seinfeld and an animated Superman as buddies holding a running conversation around New York City. Bob briefly believes that his family (Helen, Dash, and Violet) are killed by Syndrome as they rush to the island to save him. In anger, he threatens to kill Syndrome's assistant, Mirage on two occasions. Seinfeld is also famous for having a Superman reference in every episode. Bob later learns that many other supers (male and female) suffered the same fate and that these deaths are an indirect result of his having rejected Syndrome years earlier. Jerry affectionately addressed some of his girlfriends as "Lois Lane". In an intermediate scene, Bob finds the skeletal remains of a fellow super, Gazerbeam, who had gone missing (presumably having taken the same offer Bob did to relive the glory days of being a super again). On the Seinfeld TV show, a Superman statue sat on the stereo in Jerry's livingroom, and a Superman refrigerator magnet was always visible in his kitchen. There is a black-humor montage showing the death of supers who perished because of their capes getting caught in doors, jet plane engines, etc. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld expressed his fandom of Superman in several ways. The Incredibles features an unusual amount of death and destruction for a Disney animated production. Moore produced 22 issues of Supreme that paid homage to the classic "Silver Age" Superman. Furthermore, as Bob and his family look to overcome the villain, all their abilities come together to win. In the 1990s, comic book artist and writer Rob Liefeld created a Superman pastiche and starred him in his own comic book series, Supreme. The series, published by Liefeld's Awesome Comics, sold moderately well at first, but sales dwindled until the series was taken over with issue #41 by writer Alan Moore. Bob realizes how important his family is, once he believes they died by Syndrome's hand. Well-known spoofs of Superman include Mighty Mouse, Underdog, Super Grover, and Super Goof. Bob becomes somewhat distant, and his distraction with his heroics leads Helen to think he is having an affair. One of the first Superman-like characters to emerge, Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel, sparked legal action because of its similarities to Superman. He holds on to the glory days; when he puts on his super suit, his attention seems more on becoming the center of attention he once was. Nevertheless, a great many imitations and parodies of Superman have appeared over the years. On the other hand, Bob seems to alienate himself from his family. DC Comics has trademarked variations on the "super" theme, such as "superdog" and "supergal", to circumvent parody or product confusion. Bob is clearly happy to be a costumed hero once again; Helen is happy for her husband also, because she believes he has moved up in his job. Superman is a staple of American pop culture. One montage shows Bob and Helen playfully pinching one another in the derrière as each passes by the other in the hallway of their home; and later after they exchange an off-to-work kiss, Helen pulls him back into the home. Other sources cited as inspirations include Doc Savage and The Shadow. Years later, Bob and Helen are shown in a variety of domestic and passionate moments. Additionally, Superman is believed to have been
inspired in part by Philip Wylie's 1930 science fiction novel Gladiator, about a man whose superhuman strength inspires him to help
the human race, but who is instead spurned by humanity precisely because of his power. Incredible and Elastigirl share playful and somewhat suggestive banter in a scene that takes place
prior to their getting married. Both Superman's name and the premise of his character owe a debt to the concept of the Übermensch, developed by the 19th century philosopher
Friedrich Nietzsche, and elaborated upon by George Bernard Shaw. Early in the film, Mr. "The Incredibles" is set apart from other Disney and Pixar films by its adult themes. There have also been numerous animated cartoon series starring the Man of Steel:. (This obviously mirrors what occurred with the supers in 'The Incredibles'). Among the actors who have played the role are George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, and Dean Cain. The world of The Incredibles has several similarities to constructs from other comic book, film, and television universes. The Superman character has made the transition to radio, television, and movies, each on multiple occasions. From ign.com:. Current comics in which Superman does not star, but appears regularly:. (See Voice cast for a picture of the Underminer.). Current comics starring Superman:. This game will take place after the first movie/game and the basis will be destroying the Underminer. Pre-Crisis, Superman's foster parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, died in the summer after his high school graduation; post-Crisis, the Kents are alive and well and are regularly visited by Clark, who relies on them for advice in difficult times. Announced at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), there will be a sequel to the Incredibles video game, called Rise Of The Underminer. The Superboy name has also been the name of denizens of other dimensions, such as one from a "pocket universe" parallel dimension in the late 1980s post-Crisis Superman comics, and several individuals the current Superboy encountered during his trip through Hypertime (one of those essentially being an exact double of the pre-Crisis Superboy). Other Characters. A new Superboy character who is a clone of Superman was created in the early 1990s; adventures featuring this character continue to be published. They are:. The original Superboy, introduced in 1944's More Fun Comics #101, represented "the adventures of Superman when he was a boy." This Superboy is no longer in publication, as post-Crisis continuity deemed that Clark Kent did not become a superhero until he reached adulthood. The game features 18 levels, based on the film, and there are five playable characters. There have been a number of characters called Superboy. The Incredibles also spawned a video game for the consoles Playstation 2, XBox, and Gamecube. This especially applies to the Special Crimes Unit (SCU), a police unit that deals with superpowered threats, led by Captain Margaret Sawyer, one of the few openly gay characters in mainstream superhero comics today. Already many stores around the country have been reporting being completely sold out of certain popular items. In Metropolis, Superman enjoys a close relationship with the police department. In Mexico there has been a craze about the movie, literally hundreds of items are being sold there, with several of them being exclusive to Mexico. Superman also has a rogues gallery of supervillain enemies, including:. In Europe, Kinder chocolate eggs contained small plastic toy characters. Familiar supporting characters in the Superman mythos include:. Furthermore, in the weeks before the movie's opening, there were also promotional tie-ins with SBC Communications and McDonald's. In 2003, DC Comics released a 12-issue maxiseries titled Superman: Birthright, written by Mark Waid and penciled by Lenil Francis Yu; this was made into a retcon of Superman's post-crisis origin, replacing Byrne's version, but yet using many elements from that version, along with elements that subtly tie into the Smallville television show. Kellogg's released an Incredibles-themed cereal, as well as promotional Pop Tarts and fruit snacks, all proclaiming an "Incrediberry Blast" of flavor. so far. Future editorial changes to the series may reverse some or all of these changes. Dark Horse Comics released a limited series of comic books based on the movie. In 1995, Superman (or rather, Clark Kent) finally married Lois Lane, and the two have had a happy marriage.. Several companies released promotional products related to the movie. He returned from the dead, though his "death" gave rise to a number of new characters and storylines. Like many other DVD releases, there are various extra features available on the two discs including:. In the epic The Death of Superman storyline, the hero apparently died at the hands of supervillain Doomsday. Two versions of the set are available: one widescreen and the other full screen (this is unlike releases for other Pixar films, which often contained both versions in one set). Two alterations have had long-term effects. The Incredibles 2-disc Collector's Edition DVD set was released on March 15, 2005. Most notably, his alterations to Lex Luthor, altering him from a scientific oriented villain to a businessman remain to this day. It is Pixar's second-highest-grossing movie, after Finding Nemo, and the third-highest-grossing superhero movie, after Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. But Byrne's changes became the template for Superman's origin and characterization for almost two decades. The movie grossed a total of roughly $259,000,000 in the United States, and $366,000,000 in foreign markets, making it the fifth- and fourth-highest-grossing movie, respectively, of 2004. Byrne himself quit the books after a few years because he felt DC was not supporting the changes he made. All figures in United States dollars. Some fans debated whether the more drastic changes were necessary, and some of the more traditional historical elements Byrne removed from the backstory were later restored. It was ranked 14th among all opening-weekend results at that time. The re-launch of Superman comic books returned the character to the mainstream, again in the forefront of DC's titles. At the time of its release, its opening-weekend attendance ranked fifth in 2004, behind Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Spider-Man 2 and The Passion of the Christ. This 1986 reboot brought substantial changes to the character and met huge success at the time, being one of the top-selling books. Its opening box office sales in the United States exceeded that of Pixar's previous animation films. Writer-artist John Byrne joined Superman and re-started with his The Man of Steel retelling of his origin. Edna Mode also appeared with Pierce Brosnan to present the Academy Award for Costume Design at the 77th Academy Awards. By the early 1980s, DC Comics had decided that a major change was needed to make Superman more appealing to current audiences. The film's creators couldn't find an appropriate actress to voice Edna, so Brad Bird provided the character's voice (with its unique German/Japanese accent) himself. Facing myriad perils, his powers have increased to the point that he is nearly omnipotent. This poses a challenge for writers: "How does one write about a character who is nearly as powerful as God?" (Superman's Kryptonian name, Kal-El, resembles the Hebrew words for "all that God is") This problem contributed to a decline in Superman's popularity, especially during the 1960s and 1970s, when Marvel Comics brought a new level of character development to mainstream comic books. Edna's no-nonsense personality and round glasses are a direct homage to Edith Head, the legendary Hollywood costume designer, perhaps with nods to Elsa Klensch and Anna Wintour. During a multimedia career spanning over sixty years, Superman has starred in every imaginable situation, throughout the universe, and in many eras of history. To that end, not only does she take the aesthetics of the clothes into account, but also their practical uses such as its protective qualities and how it can accommodate the powers of the wearer. DC soon took Siegel's and Shuster's names off the byline. Edna "E" Mode (3 ft 8 in (1.12 m), "not telling dahling") An eccentric costume designer who apparently designed the costumes for many members of the superhero community, saying that she "designed for gods". In 1946, when Siegel and Shuster sued for more money, DC fired them, prompting a legal battle that ended in 1948, when they accepted $200,000 and signed away any further claim to Superman or any character created from him. Though seemingly at ease with Syndrome's casual regard to murder she nonetheless does have a "line" which she refuses to cross. The Saturday Evening Post reported in 1941 that the pair was being paid $75,000 each per year, still a fraction of DC's Superman profits. Despite several nods towards a more intimate relationship between Mirage and Buddy Pine (Syndrome), it is never explicitly stated in the movie. Moreover, it is not known whether or not she herself is a "super". DC copied the character without remuneration to the creators, while suing other companies for copying it. Mirage (Height unknown, Weight unknown) The seductive representative of Syndrome, and possibly wittingly his accomplice in the murder of many "supers". Siegel and Shuster sold the rights to the company for $130. If not for the engine's blades, the explosion immediately following seems to point towards the conclusion that he died. The revised Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, June 1938. Syndrome's cape got caught in his jet's intake and sucked him in. Occult, who made his first appearance in New Fun Comics #6, October 1935. Out of bitterness, he recreated himself as an evil genius that plotted revenge on his former idol. After his initial plans were foiled, Syndrome planned to abduct Jack-Jack and raise him as a sidekick, but failed. In 1935, their Superman story was again rejected, but DC Comics printed another of their creations, Dr. Incredible kicked him out on the curb—quite literally. The story did not sell, forcing the two to reposition their character on the right side of the law. Instead of respecting him as the sidekick he wished to become, Mr. Their short story "The Reign Of The Superman" concerned a bald-headed villain bent on dominating the world. In an attempt to earn his hero's respect, Buddy Pine tried to aid him in fighting crime as "Incrediboy", with gadgets he had invented in his spare time, as well as showing plenty of "gee-whiz" spunk. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster not as a hero, but as a villain. Incredible's "greatest fan". However, Superman continues to be a driving force in the medium after more than sixty years. Buddy Pine, "Syndrome" (6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 185 lb (84 kg)) This misguided villain was once Mr. Indeed, Batman has undergone an increasingly dark makeover. During the movie it's suggested that he has adapted to civilian life much more easily than his long-time friend, Bob Parr, though he still possesses a command center of sorts, as well as his super suit and all of his old gadgets in working condition. On several recent occasions, Batman has faced Superman, and Batman has served as a foil to Superman's goodness; Batman, in his more recent incarnations, won't hesitate to use guile or underhanded tactics to gain an advantage, while Superman will be overly hesitant to use his natural gifts as an unfair edge. Lucius Best, "Frozone" (6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 180 lb (82 kg)) A long-time friend of the family, Frozone can generate bursts of ice from his body; the amount of ice depends on the amount of water available in the air and in his body. Superman fights fair long after both sides have begun swinging below the belt, knowing that his vast powers require him to act with equal restraint. His name and multitude of powers suggest he is/will be literally a Jack-of-all-trades (also, that the Jack in poker can be used as a wild card). Superman may seem old-fashioned and even quaint compared to the "dark avengers" who currently command the lion's share of the market, and this is intentional. Most of these powers are shown in the Jack-Jack Attack short film which is included in The Incredibles DVD. Superman's "lily white" persona has been mocked, ridiculed, and spoofed, especially in recent comic book history, when "grim and gritty" comics dominated the market. At first he's supposed not to have any "super" powers, but later on it is revealed that he has a whole set of them which include turning himself on fire, transforming into metal, into a gremlin-like creature, teleporting, floating, laser-vision, and going through walls. Superman's daily martyrdom is reflected tellingly in print during his reappearance in the mid-1990s miniseries Kingdom Come, where he is pictured as a bearded carpenter with a long beam of wood across his back, mirroring a Christ-like image of a man who gave himself for a world that, in that storyline, did not love him. Jack-Jack Parr (30 in (0.76 m), 25 lb (11 kg)) Jack-Jack is the baby of the family. In many ways, Superman is truly one of the most "human" heroes conceived, since he responds to emotional grief in stark contrast to the way he shrugs off bullets, bombs, and death-rays. Violet's name can be taken from the slang term shrinking violet, which means a shy person (usually a girl) or as a reference to ultraviolet light, which is outside of the visible spectrum. Far from a perfect individual, Superman is often pictured with a sense of childish innocence mixed with patriarchal restraint. He is also a man with an incredible depth of feeling, since he lives within his own mind as much as he does in the reality of society, often struggling with the differences between the right answer and the practical one. (Certain speculation has been that this is due to the processing and time required to render Violet's full-length flowing hair.) One of these character developments appears to be the gained confidence needed to approach her crush, Tony Rydinger. He writes fiction in his spare time, publishing two books, "The Janus Contract" and "Under a Yellow Sun". Her character development seems to be one of the side-stories in the movie, despite the fact that Violet herself isn't shown in very many scenes. This was a further motivation for Superman becoming a reporter, for it is then possible that his physical abilities give him no unfair advantage in a field where the critical skills are intellectual (although his editor, Perry White, praised him in Superman: The Movie as "the fastest typist I have ever seen"). Violet can also generate spherical force fields. In this manner, Superman's excessive arsenal of powers is rendered secondary to his ability to convince others to act. Appropriately, her superpowers allow her to turn instantly invisible. Through these conflicts, discussions of good and evil are formed, as Superman struggles with restraint in the face of bigotry, avarice, and cruelty. Violet "Vi" Parr (4 ft 6 in (1.22 m), 90 lb (41 kg)) Stuck at the cross-roads between girl and woman, Violet desperately wants to be like everyone else, to blend in with normal people and not to stand out. It is also important that Superman often struggles with vast social issues in his fiction, including tackling world hunger, unsuccessfully, in a short wide-panel 1990s graphic novel called Peace on Earth. (with artwork by Alex Ross). Dash's name relates to his talent for speed. This line of thinking, that Superman is a hero as deeply conflicted with his gifts as Batman is with his past, is key to the modern interpretation of Superman not as a better man, but what is best in man. He exhibits overconfidence, cockiness, and hyperactivity; a bit of a showoff, he chafes under his mother's refusal to let him be in sports at school, for fear that his superpowers might be noticed. In an extraordinary show of mutual respect, Superman has given Batman a ring of green kryptonite, so that if he ever lost his reason, posing a danger to himself or to humans, Batman could use the ring to defeat him. He can also run across the surface of water without sinking. He therefore makes it a point of submitting to authority, helping him to feel a restraint on his actions. Dashiell "Dash" Robert Parr (4 ft 0 in (1.22 m), 65 lb (29 kg)) Young Dashiell has fast reflexes and the ability to run and swim extremely quickly. They reveal his self-doubts, and his fear that he might abuse his powers and become a monster, subject to no one. She is a dedicated spouse and parent and is frustrated with her husband's continuing dreams of glory. Recent writers have attempted to deepen Superman's persona and provide a rationale for his goodness. Helen Parr, "Elastigirl" (5 ft 8 in (1.73 m), 125 lb (57 kg)) Helen Parr can stretch any part of her body a long way. She can also reshape her body in a variety of ways shown in the movie including becoming a parachute or a rubber boat. His modesty and humility catches his foes and critics off-guard, as they do not understand why he spends his life helping others and doing good. Trapped in a dead-end job as an insurance adjustor, he reminisces about "the glory days" when he was celebrated for using his abilities to save people. He often acts behind the scenes and lets others receive the credit. Incredible" (6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), 350 lb (159 kg) The "hero's hero", Bob possesses tremendous strength and reasonable resistance to harm. He rescues cats from trees and participates in community fund-raisers. Robert "Bob" Parr, "Mr. Superman has been willing to lay down his life or sacrifice his powers for good. Other people threw Nietzsche around, which I also find ridiculous...Some people said it was sort of a right-wing feeling, but I think that's as silly of an analysis as saying The Iron Giant was left-wing.". He seems out of place and out of touch with his world because he is, in fact, the product of 'better times' more than the real world. Some people said it was Ayn Rand or something like that, which is ridiculous. The education he received on the family farm is the most potent symbol for 'old fashioned values' one can conjure, and this helps ground the character. "I think it got misinterpreted a few times. While Jor-El sent Kal-El to Earth because he felt the human race had the capacity to be great and good if they wished to be, it is clear that Kal-El chose to become Superman and a force for good. In an interview with IGN (http://dvd.ign.com/articles/594/594806p3.html), he said... This is why, despite the emphasis on Superman having powers "far beyond those of mortal men," his name referred also to his goodness. In interviews following the Academy Awards, Director Brad Bird denied that the movie was inspired by objectivist philosophy. As superhero stories became more oriented toward young readers, the writers moved toward his better known "boy scout" persona. Even so, Superman's capacity for a violent anger is a key element to many of the most 'dramatic' moments in his appearances, since it is this sort of telling snapshot into his psyche that allows readers and watchers to see that Superman's goodness is not inherent to his being, but learned, like it is with us. The disdain for mediocrity voiced by Dash ("Everyone's special ... which is another way of saying that nobody is") and echoed by Syndrome ("...when everyone's super, no one will be.") amplifies this plot point. Superman is also nearly always portrayed as having had some hand in WWII, when the timeline permits. The desire of the government and Syndrome to quash the powers of the "supers" is seen as a reflection of the "tyranny of the majority" (or Ochlocracy) rejected by objectivists and libertarians. In one really early story in which the government would not help maintain low income areas unless a disaster occurred, Superman went on a rampage and created one. Many have noted that the plot contains elements of Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy, especially her political theories of individual rights. Originally, Superman's personality could be rough and destructive. Incredible, and to stop the robot after Syndrome loses control of it. When he had Kandor in his possession in the pre-Crisis comics, all of these improvisations were supplemented by the products of the professional tailors and lenscrafters available in the bottle city. It's up to the rest of the Parr family to save Mr. Superman also sometimes carries spare change in his hollowed-out belt buckle, which also doubles as a Justice League communication device. Thereafter he dedicated his life to eliminating superheroes while he perfects a destructive robot that only he will be able to defeat with his inventions; he plans on unleashing it for a while then defeating it so that he will be seen as a hero. Since they were of Kryptonian origin, Clark could fire his heat vision through them without melting them (in contrast, the post-Crisis Clark has to lift his glasses [made of ordinary materials] off his eyes when he uses his heat vision). Incredible squelched that dream. In the original comics, Clark's eyeglass lenses were made from two small rounded pieces of glass from his spaceship. But the "benefactor" turns out to be a villain named Syndrome who carries a grudge: as a boy, he idolized the superhero, even going as far as inventing machines that would allow him to become "Incrediboy," but Mr. In the post-Crisis comics, his costume is invulnerable because of the bioelectric field that his cells produce (see how it works). Incredible leaps at the opportunity. While carrying passengers in flight, Superman would wrap them in his cape to protect them from air friction. Upon receiving a mysterious benefactor's invitation to be a hero again, Mr. His armor-like costume could also protect others that wore it. Bored with this life of mediocrity, he occasionally sneaks out with his friend Lucius (formerly Frozone) to fight crime and protect the innocent. Said blankets, like everything else from Krypton under a yellow sun environment such as Earth's, shared Clark's invulnerability. Incredible, lives a quiet suburban life with his wife Helen (formerly Elastigirl) and their three secretly super powered children. Superman's costume was created by Ma Kent; pre-Crisis, she created it out of the blankets from the rocket that brought him to Earth. Now Bob Parr, formerly Mr. If his powers were disabled or he needed stronger protection, Superman also had his "Supermobile," a small flying car-like vehicle which could fly anywhere and use its powerful waldo arms to handle outside objects. In exchange for immunity from these suits, the "supers" retired from heroics, and the government relocated them with civilian identities. For situations involving kryptonite, Superman in the original comics had a collection of lead-lined suits for protection. Fifteen years ago, the world's superheroes were overwhelmed by lawsuits over the damage and injuries that sometimes resulted from their rescues. This one remaining robot was destroyed by superheroine Donna Troy, at the expense of her own life, though she was soon resurrected. See also: Voice actor. Post-Crisis, Superman at one time had built various Superman robots; however, all but one were destroyed, with the sole remaining robot currently being kept on duty at the Fortress of Solitude. shut down its animation division, Brad Bird moved to Pixar and took the story with him. He largely abandoned them when Earth's pollution began to interfere with their functions. The Incredibles was originally developed as a traditionally animated movie, but after Warner Bros. Superman, in the pre-Crisis comics, also had androids that could impersonate himself (as both Superman and as Clark Kent). It was written and developed by Brad Bird, formerly director of The Simpsons and best known for directing the animated movie The Iron Giant. A trademark of the Fortress in all of its incarnations is a memorial statue of his Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara, holding up a globe of the planet Krypton. on March 15, 2005. Superman also stores in the Fortress various equipment, weapons, and vehicles of Kryptonian design, including a large fighting mecha called a battlesuit and a means of accessing the Phantom Zone. The Incredibles is Pixar Animation Studios' sixth animated feature film, released by Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution in the United States on November 5, 2004 and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 26, 2004. It was released in a two-disc DVD (in both widescreen and full frame versions) in the U.S. Superman and fellow superhero Steel encased the Fortress in a tesseract, permitting the Man of Steel to carry the Fortress wherever he travels. Ready for action. The device created the Fortress which contains much of Krypton's technology, including artificially intelligent robots. A heroine for troubled times. Post-Crisis, the Fortress was originally created by the Kryptonian artifact, the Eradicator, when Superman tried to dispose of it in Antarctica. En route. For years, Superman worked to reverse the city's condition, while also enjoying the opportunity to visit a native community where he was an honored guest. Those Who Walk in Darkness, a novel by the author/director, John Ridley, tells the story of an LA cop--Soledad O'Rourke--part of a special squad called M-Tac, who hunts superhumans, former superheroes and villains called 'metanormals' who have been outlawed in U.S. Most importantly, the Fortress was where Superman stored the bottle city of Kandor, which pre-Crisis, was a Kryptonian city shrunken and stolen by Brainiac prior to the planet's destruction. Incredibles trivia from imdb.com (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317705/trivia). It also had tribute rooms to personal friends like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Batman, and Clark Kent (to throw off suspicion about his secret identity by visitors unfamiliar with it), where Superman prepared special gifts for each in the event of his death. The name came from a nickname director Brad Bird and his wife had for one of their sons. Pre-Crisis, the Fortress included laboratories, a private zoo of alien animals, a room for communication with the Phantom Zone with a projector to place or remove people from it, a Krypton memorial, a trophy room, and a gym with custom exercise equipment. Jack-Jack Parr was not named for the late pioneering talk show host Jack Parr. While various 1940s comics made mention of Superman having a "mountain retreat," the Fortress in its familiar sense was first introduced in the comics in 1958. In addition, the design of several characters (out-of-proportion heads, facial features) mirror characters in Rankin-Bass productions. The Fortress acts as Superman's getaway, although it has communications equipment for urgent messages. The Year Without a Santa Claus: This Rankin-Bass stop motion special included the character Heat Miser - Syndrome's hair is clearly modeled on Heat Miser's. The Fortress of Solitude, located in the Arctic in the pre-Crisis version of the mythos and (until recently) in Antarctica in the post-Crisis version, in recent issues of the comic book, however, the Fortress has been destroyed and Superman rebuilds it deep in the Amazon. Unfortunately, Thomas didn't see the finished movie, because he died in September 2004. Given his abilities, personal equipment plays less of a role for Superman than for other superheroes. They also had a cameo appearance in The Iron Giant. Kryptonians are also vulnerable to magical and psychic effects, although they are no more detrimentally affected by such effects than a normal human would be. They had advised Brad Bird during the making of the film. The effects of the new blue kryptonite are unknown at this time. Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston: These highly respected animators, two of Disney's Nine Old Men and authors of The Illusion of Life, make a cameo appearance in the movie at the end, providing their own voices. Recently, with the destruction of the Kryptonite meteor in Superman/Batman, large quantites of kryptonite have fallen to earth; new forms beyond the red and green are believed to be amongst them, however, only blue kryptonite has been seen in addition to the previously known types so far. Like the Fantastic Four, The Avengers team also features its share of married superheroes, such as Ant-Man and Wasp. Since that time, an updated version of red kryptonite was reintroduced into the comics. The Avengers found out the truth and expelled him. Other variants were introduced sporadically, but after the 1986 John Byrne reboot, all versions except for green were retconned out of existence. The Avengers: The plot of deliberately creating a destructive crisis so he could look the hero when he stops it was used by Avenger Henry Pym (Ant-Man, Giant Man, Goliath and Yellowjacket at various times) who felt underappreciated as a superhero. Since Krypton was destroyed, its remains (rendered radioactive by the explosion) have been spreading throughout the universe as kryptonite, a crystalline substance which has several major variants:. Incredible accidentally refers to Buddy as "Brodie" (the name of Jason Lee's character in this film). As a Kryptonian, he has one specific area of vulnerability. Mallrats: At one point, Mr. But historically, many stories have established that Superman can in some manner have progeny. Freakazoid: In the deleted scenes part in the DVD, an early version of Syndrome is shown that makes him look like an evil version of Freakazoid. On the television series Lois and Clark, the pair adopted a child who, like Clark, came from mysterious origins. Dragon Ball Z: Syndrome's appearance and costume is reminiscent of the diminutive Saiyan Vegeta from the manga and anime series. The issue of whether Superman can father children is humorously explored in the movie Mallrats, as well as in the essay Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex by sci-fi author Larry Niven (originally published in his 1971 collection All the Myriad Ways.). In the background is played the actual soundtrack from the speederbike scene from "Return of the Jedi".). Like humans, he needs food and water to survive. (On the 2nd disc of the DVD, there is shown a video clip of the "100 Mile Dash" scene in an early rendering stage. He does not sweat under earthly conditions, as no temperatures are high enough to make him secrete liquid to cool himself down. Star Wars: Dash's chase sequence with Syndrome's hover-saucer squads echoes, both in sound and visuals, the Endor Forest chase sequence between Luke, Leia and Stormtroopers on hoverbikes from Return of the Jedi, as well as the Podrace scene from The Phantom Menace. Procedures like surgery are impossible without special equipment. Incredible is akin to those used in Mission: Impossible to assign missions. Since he is not human, he cannot donate blood, tissue, or organs. Mission: Impossible: Elastigirl's methods of stealth and espionage are reminiscent of the television show, as is the classic 5/4 time signature in the main musical theme. Also, the self-destructive device through which Mirage contacts Mr. There are some things Superman cannot do. The soundtrack used for one of the trailers was The Propellerheads' track On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which shares its title with the Bond film and borrows heavily from many Bond themes. It is unknown whether higher energy stars might increase his powers even more. Finally, Edna Mode has been equated to Q in her role as provider to the heroes, as sarcastic commentator of the heroes' actions, and for her single-letter nickname "E". More recent exertions caused less of a power drain, suggesting that he is now either storing more energy, or growing stronger under the yellow sun. Incredible's car, the Incredibile, has a passenger-side ejection system similar to the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. Earlier in his life, as in his battle with Doomsday, Superman's solar energy supply was depleted by exertion. Mr. In recent comics, Superman seems to be slowly building up immunity to kryptonite, and it is possible that its effect is in part psychological. The use of Mirage as the beautiful but evil character who turns to the side of good is a common Bond characteristic. His powers return quickly once the kryptonite is removed. In particular, the use of a volcanic crater as a villain's rocket launch site is quite similar to You Only Live Twice. Kryptonite exposure also stops the process that converts yellow sunlight into superpowers, leaving Superman immediately weakened. No underwater base to the sophisticated sets from Tomorrow Never Dies. Red solar radiation creates a chemical which does not lead to the super energy produced by K-ATP. Incredible to Nomanisan Island; in fact, most of the appearance of Syndrome's "lair" bear a huge debt to many of the headquarters of Bond's villains, from the modest Dr. Near a red sun, his powers would fail faster. In The Spy Who Loved Me, Bond had a Lotus Esprit which became a submarine, bearing more than a passing resemblance to the aircraft which becomes a submarine to carry Mr. He replenishes his supply even on cloudy days, and weakens only after a week without sunlight. James Bond: There are numerous Bond tributes, including many musical cues in the soundtrack. Superman's cells store vast amounts of yellow solar energy. Also, basic design for the Omnidroid has some similarities to some of the Alien ships in the War of the Worlds. He sees all wavelengths, from radio to X-rays, allowing him to detect thermal trails and other "invisible" things. Mostly visible in the scene directly prior to it emerges from its giant spherical container. His taste, smell, and touch are equally acute. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds. Solar energy magnifies its accuracy, allowing him to fine-tune it. The War of the Worlds: Another possibility for the inspiration of the final Omnidroid may come from H.G. Due to Earth's thinner air, he can hear things no human can. The "sound" of the Omnidroid's laser cannon is virtually identical to Maximilian's similar weaponry. Superman's other senses are less linked to solar energy than his strength and speed. The spinning blade arms are strikingly similar. He is invulnerable to forces under 1 kt., and is harmed only by repeated blows of over 1 mt. His brain and nervous system keep up with his enhanced speed, as they too are amplified by K-ATP. If inverted, the head of Omnidroid has the same configuration and red glowing eye of Maximilian's head. When his cells become "supercharged" under a yellow sun, a Kryptonian becomes super-powered. Reinhardt. Superman has been shown shaving and presumably cutting his hair by reflecting his heat vision off of a piece of curved, reflective metal from the rocket in which he landed. The Black Hole: Some may not recall Disney's modestly successful 1979 theatrical release, but Brad Bird obviously did: his final Omnidroid version has some striking similarities to Maximilian, the evil servant of the mad-man scientist Dr. His hair is invulnerable, too. Also, the scene near the start of the film where a criminal shoots a machine gun at a tailing police car is similar to a scene in Spider-Man 2. This "aura" surrounds Superman's epidermis and teeth, and possibly his nails as well. Also, the arms of the omnidroid somewhat resemble the arms of Doc Ock, and it behaves like him too in several scenes. First, cell membranes and organelles become more resistant to harm; secondly, a bioelectric field surrounds the cells, making them thousands of times tougher. Incredible stops an elevated train from driving off the track bears striking resemblance to the scene in Spider-Man 2 where Spider-Man stops the uncontrolled train from driving off the track's terminus. Under a yellow sun, other factors contribute to invulnerability. Spider-Man 2: The scene where Mr. In addition, Krypton's gravity was 50-100 times stronger than Earth's, so Kryptonian cells are also much stronger and denser than a human's. There are 2 differences: The Spirit's mask is blue and he always wears a blue fedora. "K-ATP" is produced rapidly, enabling a Kryptonian to build up reserves that permit days of super-powered activity in the absence of sunlight. This is similar to the costume worn by The Spirit, a superhero whose adventures were published from 1940 to 1952. The solar energy supplements respiration, such that when cellular materials (perhaps Kryptonian ATP) combine with glucose, they produce abilities beyond those of humans under a yellow sun. Incredible wears a blue suit with a red tie and a black domino mask. Under a red sun, this yields increased abilities, which are multiplied a thousand-fold by a yellow sun. The Spirit: In one scene, Mr. Kryptonian mitochondria absorb certain wavelengths of the radiation emitted by solar fusion. The "missile lock" sequence on the plane also bears strong similarities to the Blackbird jet sequence in X-Men 2. One such "scientific" explanation used in various recent analyses of how Superman's powers might work is as follows:. That move is called "The Fastball Special" where a strong superhero throws a willing partner toward an opponent to attack, a favorite move of Colossus and Wolverine. John Byrne in his 1986 reboot suggested that Superman's powers were telekinetic in their functioning (in addition to the traditional yellow sun explanation). (This is never actually displayed on-screen, thus dodging lawsuit problems, but the implication is clear.) In addition, in a attempt to stop Syndrome from carrying off Jack-Jack, Elastigirl tells her husband to throw her upwards toward the villain. Krypton's red sun), as well as to a much lesser degree Earth's lower gravity; when under a red sun, a Kryptonian would be completely powerless, even if it was a low-gravity environment. One of them, Gazerbeam, is seen to have incised letters into a cave wall while his body was pinned in place. In the early 1960s, after the introduction of Supergirl, this was amended to Kryptonians deriving their powers from mainly exposure to a yellow sun (vs. Also, several of the superheroes, including Frozone, have goggles similar to Cyclops'. By the late 1940s, this was changed to Kryptonians only gaining superpowers when under a lower gravity environment such as Earth's. X-Men: Syndrome's main computer bears a striking resemblance to Professor X's Cerebro chamber as presented in the X-Men movies. In the earliest comics, all Kryptonians were said to possess superpowers while on Krypton. The Doom Patrol first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80, June 1963. Various explanations have been offered over the years explaining how Superman's powers work. Incredible refers to his family as "my greatest adventure". Superman's powers are derived from his Kryptonian biology and Earth's sun (a yellow star), and are likely increased by Earth's lesser gravity (versus Krypton's higher gravity). (Elasti-Girl's power is the ability to alter her size.) Another Doom Patrol reference appears when Mr. His strength too has increased, to the point of allowing him to move mountains again. Doom Patrol: Elastigirl's name was presumably inspired by Elasti-Girl, a founding member of the DC Comics superhero team The Doom Patrol. As in the original series, writers again gradually increased his powers. Since "coming back to life" during The Death of Superman story arc, Superman can once again survive nuclear blasts, though they leave him wounded and weakened, and he can no longer fly faster than the speed of light or travel through time under his own power. The hero's sidekick, realizing what his mentor has done endangering innocents for a mere publicity stunt, leaves him in disgust. When Superman was revamped in 1986, he became more vulnerable and was no longer omnipotent. Unfortunately for him, the villain double-crosses him and causes the robot to rampage out of control until another superhero teams intervenes to stop it. He could even vibrate his body so fast, the vibrations rendered him "invisible" to the human eye. He commissions a giant robot from a super villain that he will defeat in combat using a special remote control. From the 1940s through the early 1980s, Superman's powers were nearly unlimited: he could travel millions of light-years in brief periods of time; he could dive into stars unharmed; he could travel through time by moving at speeds faster than light; and he could move planets and lift any weight. Astro City: The plot of the storyline "The Tarnished Angel" concerns a hero who wants to improve his reputation among the citizenry. His powers include:. This reflects the anti-mutant sentiment exhibited in the Marvel Comics universe (particularly in The X-Men) and in a more limited fashion in the DC Comics universe. After Byrne's 1986 rewrite, Superman's powers were diminished, though have grown again since then. After a public-relations fiasco, superheroes are forced by the government to live in seclusion without the use of their powers. His powers were relatively limited in the early stories, but grew to become near-godlike by the 1980s. Powers: Certain people are born with superpowers, without an explanation (such as mutation). Superman possesses extraordinary powers which render him, as stated in the lead-in to the 1950s television series, "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound". This is a key element of the climax of the Watchmen story. Thus made invisible, he appeared to enter the building as Kent and exit seconds later as Superman. Incredible discovers that Syndrome is responsible for systematically attacking and murdering superheroes one by one, a conspiracy that Rorschach suspected in Watchmen. In addition, in an attempt to set him up as a superhero, Syndrome sends a robot through space to destroy a city and make it appear like an alien attack. In the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie, Kent, comically unable to use a newer, open-kiosk pay phone, entered a revolving door and changed clothes while spinning within it at superspeed. More obvious and direct tributes to Watchmen include: Mr. Clark sometimes has to quickly improvise in order to find a way to change unnoticed. The heroes in Watchmen are also forced into retirement for similar reasons - lawsuits and public backlash. In the comic books he rarely does so, favoring the Daily Planet's storeroom. Watchmen: Edna's rant against superhero capes echoes a minor background detail, in which a 1940s hero named Dollar Bill was killed because his cape was caught in a door and he was shot to death by a bank robber.[1] (http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionscomic/watchmen/dollarbill.html) The theme of superheroes being resented by ordinary people is also shared with Watchmen, although most of the "superheroes" in Watchmen do not have any extra-normal powers beyond superior skill, technology or intellect. In the Fleischer animated series of theatrical cartoons, he often ducked into a telephone booth to make the transformation. This change could just be benign or else is a reference to the previous Pixar film Monsters, Inc. When crises arise, Clark quickly changes into Superman. Jack-Jack's transformation into a monster (after first lighting on fire, then turning to metal) could be a reference to Beast Boy, though that character only turned into actual animals. Fellow reporter Lois Lane became the object of Clark's/Superman's romantic affection. Lois's affection for Superman and her rejection of Clark's clumsy advances have been a recurring theme in Superman comics, television, and movies. Fantastic. Largely working on his own, his identity is easily kept secret. Elastigirl's stretching powers also reference the DC hero Elongated Man, particularly her tendency to stretch her neck, which is a trademark of the DC character more so than Mr. In Metropolis, Superman (as Clark Kent) works as a reporter at the Planet, "a great metropolitan newspaper" which allows him to keep track of ongoing events where he might be of help. Incredible's nemesis Bomb Voyage bears a close physical resemblance to The Batman's nemesis The Joker. A 2004 miniseries, Birthright, introduced further changes to Superman's origin story, bringing back some of the pre-Crisis elements eliminated by John Byrne and introducing elements of the Smallville television series. Mr. Clark soon told her he was Superman, which caused a brief strain in their relationship, but they eventually married, in the mid-1990s special Superman: The Wedding Album. The movie also deals with the government's edict that causes the supers to retire, a plotline reminiscent of the explanation of the Justice Society of America's pseudo-retirement in the McCarthy era. In the early 1990s, Lois and Clark fell in love. The movie's disparaging treatment of child sidekicks ("Incrediboy") is a response to the number of pre-teen wards like Robin that accompanied Batman, Green Arrow, and other crime fighters from the 1940s onward. As in the original version, Lois Lane is Clark Kent/Superman's love interest. DC Comics: Dash's power could also be a reference to The Flash. The concept that Clark is the real man, and the greater emphasis on his earthly upbringing, is a deliberate reversal of the earlier, pre-Crisis version. Hulk: There are some similarities to the film Hulk, such as the pitiful attempts to destroy the monster by shooting at it with a machine gun or armored tank. Also post-Crisis, people do not suspect that Superman is hiding his real identity because he wears no mask. This metal-changing ability could also be a nod to Colossus of X-Men fame. In the post-Crisis comics, Clark Kent is presented more as the "real" person, with Superman the secret identity that he presents to the world to prevent his enemies from harming his family or friends. Jack-Jack's ability to set himself on fire is similar to the Human Torch, and the ability to turn himself into iron closely resembles the powers of Absorbing Man, who can absorb the properties of anything he makes physical contact with. The Kents were kept alive during Clark's transition to Superman. Dash Parr's powers appear to be quite similar to Quicksilver's, as well as arguably parts of his personality. Jack-Jack's (the baby's) powers are quite similar to those of Vision of Marvel's Avengers, while some fans suggest Jack-Jack might actually be a reference to Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Susan Richards from the FF, who with his reality-altering powers could be the most powerful being in the Marvel universe. The remodeled Clark did not become a superhero until just before starting work at the Daily Planet, when he prevented an experimental spacecraft from crashing in Metropolis. Marvel Comics: Frozone's power is the same as Iceman's. After leaving Smallville, he traveled the world before settling in Metropolis, completing his education, and going to work at the Daily Planet. Incredible opens his shirt to reveal his costume underneath. In the retelling, Clark's powers developed gradually, beginning with his nigh-invulnerability, and he didn't fly until he was a teenager. Also, a telephone booth appears in the background of one scene, and in another scene, Mr. As in the original version he was found and adopted by the Kents, and raised like a normal human. Superman: The city where all of the superheroes live after the batch of lawsuits is called "Metroville", possibly as a tribute to Superman's Metropolis combined with "Smallville". Effectively this Superman was "born" on Earth, and was a "son" of Earth as much as Krypton. Incredible and Elastigirl. While a fetus, he escaped Krypton's destruction in a spacecraft (his "birthing matrix" with a rocket engine attached), and landed months later outside of Smallville, by which time he had fully gestated into an infant. Fantastic and Invisible Woman carry on a romantic relationship before eventually marrying; this is mirrored by the courtship and marriage of Mr. In this "post-Crisis" version, starting with the miniseries The Man of Steel, Superman—like all "post-Crisis" Kryptonians— was created through in-vitro fertilization on Krypton. In the Fantastic Four comics, Mr. In 1986, after the Crisis on Infinite Earths miniseries, DC Comics hired writer/artist John Byrne to recreate the Superman character and retell the Superman mythos, reshaping the previous forty-eight years of stories by putting several new twists on the established mythos. Syndrome's army of henchmen, near unlimited resources, and high-technology all echo the Fantastic Four's greatest villain, Doctor Doom. After graduating with a degree in journalism, Clark was hired by the Daily Planet. In the end of the movie, a villain called the Underminer appears which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Fantastic Four's villain, the Mole Man. During his junior year, Clark changed his superhero name to Superman. Jack-Jack could also represent Franklin Richards (see Marvel Comics paragraph). After he graduated from high school and the Kents died, Clark moved to Metropolis to attend Metropolis University. Incredible's super-strength and easy-to-lose temper reflect the powers and personality of The Thing. At the age of eight, Clark adopted the superhero identity Superboy, and began to fight crime, both in the present and in a far future time as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Mr. During this time, both Clark and the Kents had discovered Clark's amazing powers, and, with Clark realizing the good he could do with his powers, began training their adopted son to use his powers wisely. Fantastic's and Invisible Woman's, while Jack-Jack briefly displays powers similar to that of the Human Torch. By the time Clark started school, the Kents had sold their farm and moved into Smallville, where they purchased a general store. Elastigirl and Violet's powers are the same as Mr. After formally adopting him, the Kents raised him on their farm through his pre-school years. Fantastic. (In the earliest comics, the Kents were named "John" and "Mary"; in a 1942 text novel and the 1950s television series The Adventures of Superman, the Kents were named "Sarah" and "Eben.") They named him Clark, after Martha's maiden name. Incredible" is similar to that of the FF's leader, Mr. Kal-El's ship landed in a field near the town of Smallville, and was discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent. The moniker "Mr. Moments before Krypton exploded, they launched Kal-El in a rocket ship towards Earth, knowing that Earth's lower gravity and yellow sun would give the boy extraordinary powers. The Fantastic Four: There are several similarities to the world of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four, another family-unit that fights evil in matching specialized costumes. Disbelieving Jor-El's prediction, they refused to warn their fellow Kryptonians, and forbade Jor-El to do so. Jor-El promised that neither he nor his wife Lara would leave Krypton, and decided to use the little time remaining to save his son. Omnidroid: Three levels are entirely based on defeating the Omnidroid. When Kal-El was two or three years old, Jor-El learned that Krypton was doomed to explode, and he brought this to the attention of Krypton's ruling leaders, the Science Council. Edna: Never appears. In the legend extant in the early 1960s (and memorably summarized at the start of each episode of the 1950s Adventures of Superman television series[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#fn_narration)), Superman was born on Krypton as Kal-El, the son of Jor-El, a scientist and leader. Mirage: Appears only in two movie clips and a voiceover. The modern story of Superman's origin parallels that of other cultural heroes and religious figures [1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman#fn_narration) who were spirited away as infants from places where they were in danger. Syndrome: Appears only in a movie clip. These changes, while significant, permit the retention of the core elements that make Superman an iconic character. Incredi-Ball: Dash and Violet combine in a force field. Editors and writers used the process of retroactive continuity, or retcon, to adjust to changes in popular culture, eliminate restrictive segments of the mythos, and permit contemporary storylines. Supersuit is her only costume. Superman's abilities and relationships have changed over time. She sneaks past guards invisibly. Superman is a loan translation from the German Übermensch (literally "over-man" or "super-man"). Violet: Used once. Clark's love interest is fellow reporter, Lois Lane. Two suits: secret identity and supersuit. When not fighting the forces of evil as Superman, he lives disguised as Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered reporter" for the Daily Planet. Dash: Used for only two levels, both of which are running in a time limit. As he grew, he discovered that he possessed superhuman powers. Older Helen (2 levels; new "i" suit). He was sent to Earth in a rocket by his scientist father Jor-El moments before Krypton exploded, landing on Earth outside the town of Smallville, where he was discovered and adopted by the amiable Jonathan and Martha Kent. Young Helen (1 level; original suit). Superman was born Kal-El on the planet Krypton. Elastigirl: Used for only 3 levels.
Old Bob (4 levels; new "i" suit). Superman, nicknamed The Man of Steel, is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 and eventually became one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons of all time. Old Bob (3 levels; old blue suit). In an episode of the television series The Monkees, the Monkees audition over the telephone in a phone booth, delaying Clark Kent from using the booth to change into Superman. "Keeping Identity Secret" Bob (1 level; burning building). Superman, who appears in the film wearing only polka-dot boxer shorts, is shown begging the astronauts for the return of his costume. Young Bob (2 levels). In the Philippines-produced movie Fly Me To The Moon (produced around 1988), starring Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey De Leon (the hosts of Eat Bulaga!), Superman's costume got sucked into their spaceship's rocket booster while the three were on their way to the moon. While his techniques are the same, his clothes change:
Incredible. In this story, "Kyril Kentarovsky" took on the identity of "Bolshoiman", who attempted to represent Russia but only managed to get thrown into a gulag (with Leon Trotsky as his cellmate). Incredible & Pals" cartoon which employs the use of Syncro-Vox, a cheap animation technique, and features an optional commentary supposedly by the "real" Frozone and Mr. Author John Varley wrote the short story "Truth, Justice and the Politically Correct Socialist Path", a parody where Superman does not land in the United States but in Soviet Russia. "Mr. Various gag strips, including one by Sergio Aragones in which a hobo finds Clark Kent's abandoned suit inside a phone booth and steals it, and another by Don Martin in which a series of massive lifts induce a "super-hernia.". Top secret NSA files on all the Supers. However, Incredi-Man did so by faking homosexuality;. Includes optional commentary. The character boasted such powers as incredi-hearing and incredi-viola playing, and like Superman, avoided World War 2 service. Written and narrated by veteran animator, Bud Luckey. "The Incredi-Man Archives," an alleged reprint collection of a 1940s infringement of Superman (like Captain Marvel). Was played before "The Incredibles" in numerous theaters. "What If Truth in Advertising Laws Applied to Comic Book Previews," which made sport of DC Comics' killing and reviving the character;. Pixar short film "Boundin'" (04:40) in which an avuncular Jackalope teaches a lamb how to live with himself. "What If Superman Were Raised by Jewish Parents?" (in which the rabbi is unable to circumcise his super-foreskin, but he makes his mother proud by using his vision to become a radiologist);. Making of "The Incredibles" featurette. Other related pieces include:. Various deleted scenes. Since then, numerous MAD articles about or including Superman have appeared, including parodies of the various TV and movie projects. "Incredi-Blunders" - Animation bloopers and outtakes. From its earliest days, MAD Magazine has frequently spoofed the Man of Steel; some consider the parody "Superduperman!" (from issue #4) to be the magazine's first true example of what would come to be the MAD vein. "Jack-Jack Attack" - An animated short that involves a subplot of the main film that explains how Jack-Jack develops his newfound powers and uses them on his babysitter, Kari. The Saint from the independent comic The Pro was an obvious parody of Superman; he wore a blue spandex uniform with a red cape, had a day job as a reporter, and had an unrequited crush on his pushy co-worker. Commentary by Brad Bird and animators. In the darker Supreme Power reboot, Hyperion is taken from his foster family by the government and raised as a super-soldier to be acutely aware of his biological superiority, and believes himself to be better than all humans. Week 8: $2,417,039 (15th). Hyperion, originally of Marvel Comics' Squadron Supreme, was originally a tribute to Superman; like Superman, he was a solar-powered alien who fell to Earth in a spaceship and tried to live as a human. Week 7: $3,120,541 (10th). As a differentiating twist, Apollo is the gay lover of Midnighter, the corresponding Batman-pastiche. Week 6: $5,036,631 (6th). He also gets his powers from the sun, wears a spandex outfit with a triangular logo on the front, and possesses the powers of flight, heat vision and super-strength. Week 5: $9,015,796 (4th). Apollo of the superhero teams Stormwatch and the Authority is often seen as a Superman-pastiche. Week 4: $23,580,279 (2nd). 2000s: Justice League: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited by Warner Bros. Week 3: $26,523,852 (3rd). Late 2000: Batman Beyond episodes "The Call Parts 1 & 2" by Warner Bros. Week 2: $50,251,359 (1st). 1990s: Superman: The Animated Series by Warner Bros. Week 1: $70,467,623 (1st). Late 1980s: Short-lived Superman series based on the "new" DC Comics Superman produced by Ruby-Spears. The Underminer, the villain who appears at the end of the film. Early 1980s: Super Powers: Galactic Guardians. At first, she thinks she can handle Jack-Jack, but the animated short Jack-Jack Attack proves that the baby might be more trouble than she ever could imagine. 1970s: Hanna-Barbera Productions produces several Super Friends series. Kari, Jack-Jack's babysitter while the Incredibles (actually the "Parrs") are away. 1966: New Adventures of Superman. (Unnamed in the film, but listed as Rusty in the credits and "The Disney Adventures Magazine."). 1960s: Filmation's Batman-Superman Adventure Hour. Incredible and his family. 1940s: Fleischer Studios' Superman theatrical cartoons (17 in all, with Bud Collyer providing the voice of Superman). Kid on Bicycle (voiced by the director's son, Nicholas Bird), admires Mr. Starring Brandon Routh as Superman/Clark Kent & Kevin Spacey as his archenemy, Lex Luthor. It appears she is a normal human (rather than a super) and is aware of her husband's secret identity. 2006: Superman Returns, to be directed by Bryan Singer. Honey Best, Frozone's wife and an unseen character, though her voice is heard at one point. 2000s: Smallville television series, starring Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, and Kristin Kreuk, which places Smallville in Kansas. Frank Thomas passed away on September 8, 2004, the day before the movie's DVD commentary track was recorded. Mid-1990s: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman television series, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. Two characters voiced by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, the two surviving members of Disney's Nine Old Men at the time the movie was made. Early 1990s: Superboy television series, starring John Haymes Newton (1988-1989) and Gerard Christopher (1989-1992). Gazerbeam (Simon Paladino), one of the superheroes killed by Syndrome. 1988: Superman's 50th Birthday, TV Special. Rick Dicker (voiced by Pixar animator Bud Luckey), a government agent who was once part of the NSA (National Supers Agency) and now oversees the Superhero Relocation Program; some feel he looks like Richard Nixon and sounds like Ronald Reagan. 1985: Supergirl spin-off movie, starring Helen Slater. Tony Rydinger, Violet's crush. 1980s: Superman films: Superman II, Superman III, and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, starring Christopher Reeve. Principal Walker, Dash's principal (who looks like former president Bill Clinton). 1978 Superman: The Movie, starring Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, and Christopher Reeve. Bernie, Dash's teacher. 1975: "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman", TV special. Hoganson, distressed Insuricare customer. WTOP-TV (now W*USA) used a news theme music based on the play. Mrs. 1966: "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman", a Broadway musical; lyrics by Lee Adams, music by Charles Strouse. Gilbert Huph, Bob Parr's boss at the Insuricare Company. 1951: "Superman And The Mole Men", feature film, and The Adventures of Superman TV series, both starring George Reeves. Incredible's foes in the golden age, is a French Explosives Expert. 1940s: Two Superman serials starring Kirk Alyn and Noel Neill: Superman and Atom Man vs. Superman. Bomb Voyage, one of Mr. 1940s: Superman radio series, starring Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander. Bret Parker – Kari (the Babysitter). Yu: A "re-imagining" of Superman which brings back some old, pre-Crisis concepts and adds new modern ones. John Ratzenberger – The Underminer. Superman: Birthright - a twelve issue maxi-series written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Leinil F. Wallace Shawn – Gilbert Huph. Superman: Red Son - written by Mark Millar, illustrated by Dave Johnson: Elseworlds story asks "What if Superman had been raised in the Soviet Union?" Superman now stands for workers' rights and the struggle for global equality, and sets out to promote world communism. Brad Bird – Edna Mode (E). Superman For All Seasons - written by Jeph Loeb, illustrated by Tim Sale: Superman as a young man in a timeless, Rockwellian America, from confused lad to superpowered metropolite. Elizabeth Peña – Mirage. Kingdom Come - written by Mark Waid, illustrated by Alex Ross: A painted epic, in which Superman has temporarily retired, giving way to a new breed of reckless, morally ambiguous superheroes. The story was novelized by Elliot S! Maggin. Jason Lee – Buddy Pine / Syndrome (formerly Incrediboy). A novelization of the trilogy, entitled The Death and Life of Superman, was written by Roger Stern. Spencer Fox – Dashiell Parr (Dash). The Death of Superman, World Without a Superman, and The Return of Superman - written by various artists, notably Dan Jurgens: the story of Superman's death, the world's (and his loved ones') reaction, and his eventual return. Sarah Vowell – Violet Parr. The Man of Steel - written and illustrated by John Byrne: The revamp of Superman's origins following the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Jackson – Lucius Best / Frozone. Originally published in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583. Samuel L. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? - written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Curt Swan and George Pérez: The final chapter on the pre-Crisis Silver/Bronze Age Superman. Incredible). Reprinted in Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore (ISBN 1401200877). Holly Hunter – Helen Parr / Elastigirl (Mrs. DeMatteis. Incredible. This story was originally published in Superman Annual #11 and recently adapted for the animated series Justice League Unlimited by J.M. Nelson – Bob Parr / Mr. "For the Man Who Has Everything" - written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons: Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman journey to Superman's Fortress of Solitude to celebrate his birthday only to find their friend rendered comatose by the evil alien Mongul by an alien parasite that grants its host the illusion of their heart's desire. Craig T. Miracle Monday - a novel by Elliot S! Maggin: tells the story of Superman trying to stop an entity of pure evil from causing universal chaos. Last Son of Krypton - a novel by Elliot S! Maggin: Superman's "life story" is told and he faces a mysterious alien ruler. Justice League Unlimited. JLA Classified. JLA. Superman/Batman. Adventures of Superman. Action Comics. Superman. Gog: A human from the future who masters time travel, and hates Superman for allowing his parents to die. The Cyborg Superman: A reanimated astronaut cyborg who briefly impersonated Superman after his death, and also destroyed Green Lantern Hal Jordan's home of Coast City. The Toyman: An insane criminal who uses special equipment and weapons based on toys. Eventually, Superman, the superhero Steel, and Darkseid stopped Imperiex by using Doomsday as an ally, along with a powerful weapon called the Entropy Aegis. Imperiex: An all-powerful force of nature whose purpose is destroying galaxies. Doomsday: A mindless, impossibly powerful, raging monster that "killed" Superman during the Death of Superman storyline. Intergang: A nationwide organized crime syndicate armed with weapons supplied in part by Darkseid. Parasite: A superpowered man who can absorb the powers, strength, and memories of any organic being, and wants Superman's power for himself. Their leader is General Zod. Phantom Zone Prisoners: Pre-Crisis, these prisoners are Kryptonian criminals who hate Superman, as the son of their prison's creator, and become extremely destructive when they escape into Earth's yellow sun environment. The post-Crisis version is an alien entity who is an organic being, later converted into a robotic one, with similar ambitions. Brainiac: The pre-Crisis version is an alien android bent on conquest and Superman's death. Mxyzptlk: A being from the fifth dimension with magical powers who delights in tormenting Superman and traditionally could only be made to return to his native dimension by being made to say or spell his own name backwards. Mr. Metallo: A criminal cyborg who prefers using kryptonite as a power source, which makes him a deadly threat to Superman. Bizarro: A grotesquely flawed duplicate of Superman who clumsily tries to emulate the original and causes a great deal of damage in the process. The character is now often associated with Superman. Not originally created as a Superman villain, but by Jack Kirby for his New Gods series. Darkseid: A cruel and merciless alien who rules the planet Apokolips and only deals with Superman when it benefits his own agenda. He was later elected President of the United States; he was removed from this position when his evil nature became exposed to the American public. Post-Crisis, the two first met as adults (though this has apparently reverted back to the pre-Crisis version with Birthright), with Luthor the corrupt head of a mega corporation. Pre-Crisis, arch-villain Lex Luthor was a friend of Clark from Smallville who became a criminal scientist with an all-consuming vendetta against Superman. Lex Luthor: Superman's most well-known enemy. Other notable JLA members include Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and the Green Lantern. The Justice League of America: a team of superheroes of which Superman is a member and often the leader (pre-Crisis, Superman was also a founding member of the group). Post-Crisis, a newer version of Krypto was recently reintroduced. Krypto: In the pre-Crisis mythos, Krypto was the El family pet dog, who was sent into space in a malfunctioning test rocket of Jor-El's, and eventually drifted to Earth, where he was found by Superboy and gained superpowers. Post-Crisis, the name belongs to a clone, originally thought to have been of Superman, that was created after Superman died during the Death of Superman storyline. Superboy: In pre-Crisis continuity, Superboy was the name of Superman as a boy. Steel: An engineer genius named John Henry Irons who created a high-tech, mechanized suit of armor to fight crime in, after Superman's death in the Death of Superman storyline, and still serves as a superhero today. In recent issues of Superman/Batman, a new "Supergirl from Krypton" (looking very much like the original) arrived on Earth. Post-Crisis, several newer unrelated versions of Supergirl have been introduced. Supergirl: Pre-Crisis, Superman's cousin from Krypton. In the current version, they still live in Smallville and Clark visits them regularly and turns to them regularly in times he needs emotional support or advice. Often referred to as Ma and Pa Kent. Jonathan and Martha Kent: Superman's foster parents who adopted and raised him after he landed on Earth. Lana and Pete later divorced. Post-Crisis, this didn't occur; instead, he married Lana Lang, with whom he had a son named Clark. Pete Ross: Clark Kent's childhood friend from Smallville; pre-Crisis, Pete secretly discovered Clark was Superboy, but kept the knowledge to himself. Lori Lemaris: A mermaid who Clark Kent dated while attending Metropolis University, and was the first person he proposed marriage to (though Lori turned him down). Post-Crisis, Lana is aware of Clark's identity as Superman and has protected his secret. Lana Lang: Pre-Crisis, a television reporter who grew up in Smallville and shared Lois Lane's sometime obsession with trying to expose Clark Kent as Superman. Perry White: Editor of the Daily Planet. Jimmy is also known to have associated with Superman, earning him the nickname "Superman's Pal.". Jimmy Olsen: Daily Planet photographer who often works with Lois and Clark, and has become a good friend to both. Actresses portraying Lois have included Noel Neill, Phyllis Coates, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, and Erica Durance. Lois Lane: Superman's love interest, who is often portrayed as indifferent to Clark, but in love with Superman. Jewel kryptonite gave Phantom Zone prisoners amplified mental powers. White kryptonite affects (and kills) only plant life. In some story arcs, it can also counteract the effects of red kryptonite. Blue kryptonite affects only Bizarros, in the same way that green kryptonite affects only Kryptonians. Gold kryptonite permanently removes a Kryptonian's superpowers. In the "Tower of Babel" arc in the JLA comic book, a piece of red kryptonite made his skin invisible, allowing the sun to supercharge his cells past their normal limit and cause great pain to Superman himself. In the television series Smallville, red kryptonite causes the repressed, more violent and less conscientious part of his personality to gain control; on Lois and Clark, red kryptonite induced a sense of apathy. The effects wear off in 24-48 hours, after which a Kryptonian becomes immune to that particular piece. Red kryptonite has unpredictable effects on Kryptonians' physical or mental states, such as splitting Superman in two, inducing amnesia, turning him into a giant, etc. Green kryptonite is fatal to Kryptonians exposed to it for a sufficient period of time. The ability is evident in The New Batman-Superman Adventures and the Justice League cartoon series, though. However, over time, this power as a whole has been scaled back, if not eliminated, in current comics. His skill with science and mathematics were beyond human comprehension. He had a computer-like brain, which gave him total recall and the ability to speak all earthly languages and even most alien ones. In the Silver Age comics, Superman possessed the intelligence of a collection of the world's greatest minds. Super intellect: In the earliest comics, Kryptonians were endowed with genius-level intellects even on their native planet. Eventually, this superior mental talent was altered to being another superpower gained only under the influence of a yellow sun (though Krypton still possessed an advanced educational and intellectual state). One figure for Superman's strength is 250,000 tons. This is because Superman's strength, like his other powers, has fluctuated over time, with the Man of Steel being at times able to shift a planet from its orbit. Super strength: The exact magnitude of Superman's strength is unknown, it is generally accepted that his strength easily surpasses the capacity to lift 100 tons, but how much more is not known exactly. Post-Crisis, his top speed seems to be at or near the speed of light, and he can no longer travel through time under his own power. The earliest Superman ran at a mere 30 miles per hour, but quickly became much faster; by the 1950s, Superman became capable of flying through space at faster-than-light speeds, as well as travel through time. This includes running, but flying is less strenuous and more versatile. Super speed: The ability to move at an incredible speed, like the Flash. Super breath: The ability to create hurricane force winds by blowing, and to chill his breath to freeze a target (this latter ability has also been called "freeze breath"). Originally, Superman could jump 1/8 mile, and only acquired the ability to fly in the early 1940s, when the first Superman animated films were being produced and super-jumping proved to not look very impressive on theatre screens. The power of flight, by force of will, which also allows him to maneuver precisely in any direction, as well as hover. Pre-Crisis, Superman also possessed the power of "super-ventriloquism," or the ability to pitch his voice across vast distances, which he would use in combination with his super-hearing as a means of communication. He is also a brilliant mimic, able to impersonate human voices or animal sounds. Super voice: Superman is a master ventriloquist; he used this once to rescue Lois from criminals. The only Earth creature who can detect sounds at the frequency he can is a dog (70-100,000 Hz). Super-hearing: The ability to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. For these reasons, this explanation for his disguise's effectiveness was dropped, in favor of the traditional "suspension of disbelief" status quo. However, this theory presented numerous flaws, such as various stories where Batman would disguise himself as Clark Kent; it also failed to account for anyone studying Kent's build from behind, let alone how the illusion could work on a video camera or whenever Kent was performing his job as a TV news anchorman. One late 1970s story, attempting to explain the effectiveness of Superman's disguise as Clark Kent, suggested that his super-hypnotism, aided by his Clark Kent glasses, worked continually to make others see him as a thin, mild mannered man, not an athlete in a suit, and even included photographs of himself. This ability was dropped in the modern comics. Super hypnotism: Pre-Crisis, Superman had the ability to hypnotize others at will. These beams can be made invisible, allowing Superman to work undetected. Visually, the power is typically depicted as twin laser beams firing from the eyes. Heat vision: The ability to apply heat to a target by staring intensely at it with the conscious act of activating his power. Microscopic vision: The ability to see extremely small objects and images. Superman can also see the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including infrared and ultraviolet, allowing him to see in the dark. Telescopic vision: The ability to see very distant objects, without violating the laws of physics. In one "post-Crisis" story this trick backfired when Superman simply scanned the field for lead, which instantly stands out as the only opaque substance to his vision, and found the hidden item easily. Opponents sometimes use lead lined constructs in an attempt to hide things from Superman. He can see things behind a wall as if the wall were not there, or can "peel back" layer after layer of matter in his mind. X-ray vision: The ability to see through anything except lead. Vision-related powers:
Still able to withstand artillery shells, lasers, and even nuclear explosions, he would be killed if he flew into a star. In 1986, Superman was somewhat depowered. Near invulnerability: In the 1940s, "nothing less than a bursting artillery shell could break his skin"; by the 1970s he could fly through a star and shrug off a nuclear blast. |