Superman's first movie holds up to this day

Superman has had tons of movies over the years, each with something of it's own to offer the fans. Whether you grew up watching the Christopher Reeve classics or the recent DCEU movies, there is a Superman movie for everyone. Heck, there is a new Superman in James Gunn's DC Universe now, too.

Of course, the original DC movie was Superman and the Mole Men, starring George Reeves as Clark Kent and his heroic alter ego. George Reeves is known for his role as the Man of Steel in the TV show, Adventures of Superman, which ran for six seasons between 1952 and 1958. Superman and the Mole Men was a trial run for the series, essentially serving as an early backdoor pilot.

Superman and the Mole Men tells a thoughtful story

Much like the first two seasons of Adventures of Superman, Superman and the Mole-Men is in black-and-white. The movie is shorter than the average superhero film, but it covers a lot of ground in that time.

Clark Kent and Lois Lane get sent to a town which recently began drilling, only to find that the Mole Men were living right underneath them. The film doesn't focus on action, like other superhero movies, but rather, on the struggle for peace between the town and the Mole Men.

Superman seeks to find understanding between the people and the Mole Men. The people are afraid of them, and some of them try to destroy the Mole Men. The Man of Steel has to step in to save the Mole Men from the people, the exact opposite of how the movie began.

Ultimately, the Mole Men decide to bury themselves underground, and avoid contact with the surface world. They are safe from the humans who would seek to destroy them. It's a bittersweet ending, but one that ultimately allows the Mole Men to find safety away from anyone who meant to do them harm.

The reason Superman and the Mole Men is such a cornerstone of superhero movies isn't only that it is the first Superman movie, but that it doesn't solve it's central conflict through an action scene, or a fight with a villain. The message of peace transcends traditional superhero conflicts.

Superman and the Mole Men is a must watch for fans of superhero movies. It is a crucial piece of superhero history. George Reeves gives Superman an amazing portrayal, starting the character's time at the movies strong. Superheroes owe a lot to this movie, there couldn't have been a better big screen debut for The Man of Tomorrow.