Battle of the men

Slated for a March release in theatres here, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the first crossover superhero movie from the DC Extended Universe, starring Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman. Graphics artist Low Zhang Quan tracks the two superheroes’ transition in costume and character, from graphic novel to the silver screen.

GRAPHICS: LOW ZHANG QUAN

SUPERMAN OVER THE YEARS

   SUPERMAN II (1980)

Director: Richard Lester
Actor: Christopher Reeve

Widely considered as the most iconic Superman, Christopher Reeve’s Superman II earned a box office profit of $190.4 million — the highest grossing opening weekend in 1980. Director Richard Lester focused on developing the superhero’s romantic relationship with Lois Lane and characterised alter-ego Clark Kent as a more emotionally senstive person than the original character was. Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert gave the movie 4 out of 4 stars.

   SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)

Director: Bryan Singer
Actor: Brandon Routh

Chosen primarily for his resemblance to the Superman of the 80s played by Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh’s portrayal of the resilient hero was met with criticism by fans, who said he lacked charisma and had no chemistry with actress Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. Critics’ reception was lukewarm — while some took issue with Singer’s safe (read: boring) take on the franchise, others praised the film for its sleek special effects and nostalgic design.

   MAN OF STEEL (2013)

Director: Zack Snyder
Actor: Henry Cavill

Set in a modern context, the costume was redesigned with darker tones and the iconic red trunks were dropped. Unlike previous Superman movies, Snyder’s Man of Steel was somber and dramatic. Critics were mixed about the film, which was either criticised for straying too far from Superman’s original characterisation or commended for its epic battle scenes.

ACTION COMICS SUPERMAN (2015 -)

Superman’s identity crisis hits a peak in this comics series, with      his identity exposed and his power stripped. He faces more challenges than ever, like struggling to carry out the gargantuan duties of protecting the world, and begins to question if he should continue being a superhero. The 77-year-old character also confronts current social issues in the US, such as police brutality.

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US SUPERMAN (2013)

Superman goes dark in this version in the comics. As the main antagonist, the fallen hero now has no qualms about killing and rules Earth with an iron first, in the name of justice and peace. While the character starts off as a well-meaning anti-villain, he becomes increasingly savage and ruthless.

BATMAN OVER THE YEARS

BATMAN (1989)

Director: Tim Burton
Actor: Michael Keaton

Fascinated by Batman and the Joker’s disturbing relationship in the 1939 comics, director Tim Burton defied public expectations in his dark, haunting superhero movie. While the film was generally well-received by fans and critics, fans were initially unconvinced that Burton and Michael Keaton could pull off a serious movie. Keaton went on to star in the Oscar-winning Birdman (2014), as an actor trying to stage his comeback years after his on-screen success as a popular superhero.

BATMAN & ROBIN (1997)

Director: Joel Schumacher
Actor: George Clooney

Despite bearing resemblance to the comic book hero, even George Clooney could not salvage the disaster that is director Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin. Critics condemned the movie for its overdone tongue-in-cheek interpretation of the franchise. Some cast members also complained about Schumacher’s directing skills after the production of the film, adding that Schumacher had referred to the film as a cartoon. Chris O’Donnell, who played Robin, even said he felt he was acting in a toy commercial.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Actor: Christian Bale

Drawing inspiration from the comics, director Christopher Nolan produced one of the best-performing Batman movies at the box office. Critics have praised the film for its thoughtful exploration of the plot, ambitious production and sleek aesthetic. The Batsuit, for one, was made of 110 separate pieces. As the final installation of Nolan’s Batman trilogy, the positive reaction from fans and critics allayed the director’s initial fears that a third movie could fall flat.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (1986)

Set in a dystopian future, a retired 55-year-old Bruce Wayne is forced to clip on his wings again to fight crime despite struggling with old age. Sounds familiar? The comics series was inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, and is also a visual reference for Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The series was mostly a hit with fans. Ranked as the best Batman graphic novel by IGN Comics and other publications, the popularity of the series brought the troubled superhero back into pop culture consciousness.

DETECTIVE COMICS BATMAN (2015 -)

Following Batman’s apparent death in Batman #40 (2011) comics, Police Commissioner of Gotham City James Gordan picks up the mantle of Batman in a machine suit. The radical storyline by Batman writer Scott Snyder is the biggest change to the 76-year-old character since The Dark Knight Returns.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Nanyang Chronicle on March 7, 2016, with the headline ‘Battle of the men’. Print Edition