11. Learning In Leaps And Bounds
One of Man Of Steels standout sequences is Supermans first flight. Coming just as were ready for some action, its a great build up that doesn't lose anything from overexposure in the trailers. The slow build up, with Superman slowly getting braver in his leaps is a very involved comic book reference, recapping the real world development of the character. Originally Superman could only jump large distances, slowly learning to fly; exactly what happens here. But its more than just a real world nod. After smashing through a mountain (a genuine laugh out loud moment before the indestructibility of Kryptonians got boring) and finally getting in the air, the scene moves to another, this time in world comic book reference; Birthright, the comic book from which several elements of Man Of Steel were taken, featured a near identical scene with Supes gleefully flying through the plains of Africa.
10. Mort Weisinger School
As everyone knows, Clark Kent attended Smallville High School, but as Man Of Steel expands, he spent his even earlier years at Weisinger Public School. Seen in a photograph of Jonathan and his adoptive son at a science fair, its one of the films most affectionate nods. Mort Weisinger was the editor for Superman during what is known as the Silver Age of comics (essentially between the simple early years and the modern day) and ended up defining Man Of Steel in a very odd way he was the person who shepherded in many of Supermans more science fiction inspired elements. Having him honoured here is something gratifying for long standing fans of the comics; many of the references in the film tend to the more recent Bronze Age and beyond, justified given the age of the crew, but a shame given the hero's legacy.