ACTION COMICS, 1938In 1933, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman. Superman first appeared in Action Comics before being sold to Detective Comics (DC Comics) in the late 1930s.

Photo Source: Jim, the Photographer via Flickr

MACY’S THANKSGIVINGDAY PARADE, 1940

It’s not a bird or a plane, but in 1940 the Superman balloon made its début at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Superman is considered to be one of the largest balloons, if not the largest, in the parade’s history.

Photo Source: Ken Lig / JUST SHOOT IT! Photography via Flickr

KIRK ALYN, 1948/1952The Man of Steel made his first box office appearance in 1948 when Kirk Alyn portrayed the famed superhero in Superman. Alyn reprised his role two years later in the sequel, Atom Man Vs. Superman.

Photo Source: sciondriver via Flickr / Rolf obermaier via Wikimedia Commons

GEORGE REEVES, 1952-1958

Once Superman conquered crime on the big screen, Alyn handed the cape over to George Reeves who fought for justice on the small screen in 102 episodes of The Adventures of Superman.

Photo Source: sciondriver via Flickr / U.S. Treasury Department via Wikimedia Commons

DC JUSTICE LEAGUE OFAMERICA, 1960s

Superman joined the Justice Society of America in the 1940s, and he became a member of the Justice League of America in the 1960s. Fellow Justice League superheroes include Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow. In a 1963 comic, “Crisis on Earth-One,” the Justice Society saves the Justice League and the day.

Photo Source: HART (1-800-HART) via Flickr

CHRISTOPHER REEVE, 1978/1980/1983/1987

Flying into Superman super-stardom in 1978, Christopher Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel for a decade on the big screen. Reeve appeared as Superman in four major motion pictures: Superman, Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV.

Photo Source: sciondriver via Flickr / Jbfrankel via Wikimedia Commons

DC Comics, 1980sAfter 50 years of fighting crime and saving the world, the Kryptonian we know as Superman has been an icon of inspiration for generations of children (and adults). While he might have gained a little more tone after all the crime-fighting, he’s still the admirable Clark Kent who uses his abilities for the good of humanity.

Photo Source: frogDNA via Flickr

DEAN CAIN, 1992-1997Dean Cain’s portrayal of Superman was that of a new era… at least according to the title: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The new adventures focused mostly around Clark Kent, the man, as well as Lois Lane’s and Clark’s relationship, but Superman also had his fair share of airtime.

Photo Source: sciondriver via Flickr / Alan Light via Wikimedia Commons

TOM WELLING, 2001-2011

Tom Welling spent ten seasons as Clark Kent on the TV series, Smallville. Before Clark became the Man of Steel, he was a Kansas farm boy/ young Kryptonian finding his place on Earth. Clark learns to harness his abilities, fighting crime as “The Blur.” Eventually Clark earns the cape and the name Superman; however, audiences only get a few glimpses of Welling as the hero better known as Superman. The photo (left) was actually created by a fan.

Photo Source: klavious5 via deviantart.com

BRANDON ROUTH, 2006Brandon Routh claimed the role of Superman for Superman Returns, the superhero’s first appearance on the big screen in almost 20-years.

Photo Source: Shaun Wong via Flickr / Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

HENRY CAVILL, 2013

Eighty years after Superman’s creation, Henry Cavill stepped into the Superman suit in Warner Bros.’s Man of Steel. The series reboot may lead to a DC Comic superhero franchise and the first Justice League film.

Photo Source: Eva Rinaldi via Wikimedia Commons