Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis Superman. Which crisis? What about Zero Hour? Byrne's Superman or Siegel's? Which Siegel's, the Golden or Silver Age? Superman comics continuity is much more confusing than that of other superheroes, but not to worry...his film timeline is much easier to deal with, as I will now show you!
THE 'SUPERMAN IN OTHER MEDIA' TIMELINE1.
Short Films Both the 1941 Max Fleischer cartoons and the 1948 Kirk Alyn serials can be assumed to mostly fit into the continuity of the
Superman Radio Show that began in 1940. Easy enough.
2.
Superman and the Mole MenThis movie, starring George Reeves, fits into the continuity of the
Adventures of Superman television show. Prequels to the Adventures of Superman, and this movie, include the 1942
Adventures of Superman novel by George Lowther, and the 1961 TV Pilot,
The Adventures of Superboy.
3.
Superman: The Movie Franchise Timeline #1a. This franchise begins with Richard Donner's 1978
Superman: The Movie During the movie, Superman discovers the Fortress of Solitude and there is a gap of several years before he appears as Superman During this time,
The Adventures of Superboy, the Salkinds' 1988-1992 television series, takes place as a sort of prequel. Then the rest of the movie takes place.
b.
Superman II (1980) by Richard Lester[/b]
c.
Superman III (1983) by Richard Lester
d.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), written by Christopher Reeve
4.
Superman: The Movie Franchise Timeline #2a. This franchise begins with Richard Donner's 1978
Superman: The Movie During the movie, Superman discovers the Fortress of Solitude and there is a gap of several years before he appears as Superman During this time,
The Adventures of Superboy, the Salkinds' 1988-1992 television series, takes place as a sort of prequel. Then the rest of the movie takes place.
b.
Superman II (2006) by Richard Donner (or, the Richard Donner cut)
c.
Superman Returns (2006) by Bryan Singer
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So basically, if there were a multiverse for Superman movies, we would have three Superman earths, one having a split timeline. A much better track record than the comics