Who’s the Best Superman Ever?

3. GEORGE REEVES | THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1952-1958)

Reeves wasn’t just Superman for kids of the 1950s. Thanks to syndication, he was but also Superman for kids of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and to a lesser extent, even ’80s. Yes, he was mostly forgotten the moment Christopher Reeve copped the cape, but Reeves put the “man” in Superman more than any other actor to play him.

Also from Iowa, Reeves was built like a boxer, which he was before becoming an actor, and despite wearing his superknickers a bit high, he packed plenty of barrel-chested beef into the classic blue-and-red casing. Reeve didn’t play Clark Kent all that differently from Superman, and he had hair like Bowser from Sha Na Na. But he embodied the virtues of the character like only one other.

Suit/Physique: 7
All-American/Alien Dichotomy: 5
Mild-Mannered (Clark): 7
Heroic (Supes): 9
Hair: 6
TOTAL: 34