Superman On Trial To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Superman the BBC produced a docudrama about Metropolis’ superhero.[1] This story was partly based on Superman: Last Son of Krypton and some early issues of Adventures of Superman. The BBC released an Audiobook production in 2010.

Superman On Trial
Written byDirk Maggs
Directed byDirk Maggs
StarringStuart Milligan
Lorelei King
William Hootkins
Leon Herbert
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time43 min.
Original release
Release5 June 1988 (1988-06-05)

Story edit

Poisoned with Kryptonite and put on trial for causing as many disasters as he prevents, Superman must relive his past as his closest friends and allies try to save him from eternal imprisonment in the Phantom Zone. Prosecutor Lex Luthor (who is also running for Mayor of Metropolis) squares off against Superman's advocate, Lois Lane in front of acting judge, one of the Guardians of the Universe. Luthor claims that because Superman is an alien, he should not be "meddling in human affairs." Witnesses appear from both the comic world, like Jimmy Olsen, and from the real world, like Adam West (TV's Batman), Jenette Kahn (then-President, DC Comics) and Dave Gibbons (DC Comics artist/Co-creator, Watchmen). In the end, the Guardian rules that because Superman was raised by human parents, he acquired human values and was thus part of humanity.[2]

Cast edit

Later Developments edit

When Maggs's Superman radio series went into full swing, actresses Shelley Thompson and Lorelei King swapped the roles of Lois Lane and Lana Lang, and along with Perry White, Garrick Hagon took up the role of Jonathan Kent, while the parts of Jor-El and Lara were assigned to Dick Vosburgh and Jane Wittenshaw respectively.

References edit

  1. ^ "BBC Genome Project". Superman on Trial. 5 June 1988. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  2. ^ Maggs, Dirk (2010). Superman: On Trial (Special Edition (Audio CD) ed.). BBC Audiobooks. ISBN 978-1609980436.