1. Superman's Propaganda Film To Make You Buy Stamps
Batman's first film depiction fit with the use of many popular characters of the era, with everyone from the Dark Knight to Porky Pig used to lampoon and otherwise crush the Axis powers in film. The comics took on a similar vibe, with the famous cover that saw Batman, Robin and Superman astride a US bomber ship headed for Germany. The Man Of Steel has lasted as an enduring icon for American power in a way Batman didn't, which means he's continued to be used as a propaganda tool by the US government. In perhaps the weirdest DC film ever to be made seriously, top this Sandman Superman was even used to get people to buy US saving bonds. 1954's Stamp Day For Superman starred George Reeves, of black-and-white the Adventures Of Superman TV series, and involved the Man Of Steel foiling a robbery by a guy who never bothered to save his money. Produced in collaboration with the United States Department of the Treasury, the film was only ever shown in schools. Not only the weirdest early DC movie, then seriously, when did defending the Earth involve telling kids to by stamps but also one of the most little-seen. It's in the public domain so you can watch it on YouTube, if you can handle 18 minutes of it...
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
