Watch: 8-Minute Video Essay Explores How Animator Max Fleischer Defined Superman

Have you gotten your fill of Superman yet? Whether you love or hate Zack Snyder’s interpretation of the iconic superhero with “Man of Steel” and this past Friday’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” it’s just one in hundreds, if not thousands, of incarnations of Krypton’s sole survivor. With nearly 80 years under his belt, he is among the first and proudest superheroes in U.S. history. “The Hercules of American culture,” as he is boldly called by YouTuber kaptainkristian. And in his latest video, “Superman - The Golden Age of Animation,” we get a thorough, loving look back at what brought the alien in red and blue tights off the page and into the hearts of millions.

While many would believe either George Reeves, Christopher Reeves or Kirk Alyn were among the first on-screen representations of the iconic DC character, it was actually through Max Fleischer, the creator behind animation icons like Popeye and Betty Bop, where audiences first started to believe a man could fly....