AllMovie

While some have chalked it up to be a blatant shill for the Man of Steel's return to the big screen, this documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Burns is an exhaustive look at the comic hero that has captured America's imagination since debuting in Action Comics #1 in 1938. What's amazing about the special is how it lays out how each incarnation of the superhero has impacted the character's mythology in one way or another. Whether it's Kryptonite being introduced in the radio dramas or arch-nemesis Lex Luthor making his first appearance in a serial, not the comic pages, there are plenty of surprises along the way that will surprise most viewers. With intriguing looks at both the Superman bombs (the mid-'70s Broadway musical and the extremely weird SuperPup TV show being the best) and successful film outings, Look, Up in the Sky! delivers the blemishes as well as the highlights of the caped hero. Through it all, the character has continued to thrive, even if the actors portraying him have not -- as evidenced in the chilling segments on George Reeves and Christopher Reeve. Clocking in at two hours, the documentary is a bit on the long side, though fans will no doubt appreciate its attention to detail and the obvious love that emanates from all its participants -- even self-proclaimed "Superman fan" Gene Simmons, whose appearance here is just as weird as the rocker himself.