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The
Superman Museum
Journey to Metropolis
By Ryan Lybarger
Metropolis
exists right here in the Midwest. Granted, it has more in
common with Smallville than it does with Chicago, but it exists
nonetheless. Metropolis, Illinois is situated in southern
Illinois, not far from Padukah, Kentucky. Metropolis is one
of the quaint small towns with lots of charm and no nightlife.
It has a few motels, some bed-and-breakfasts, numerous restaurants
(I'd recommend the Waffle Hut for breakfast), and the one
and only Superman Museum, home of the largest collection of
Superman paraphernalia and merchandise ever assembled.
 This
is no joke. Lex Luthor could get enough green kryptonite in
Metropolis, IL to build a Superman-proof mansion. The exposure
to Superman stuff begins at the city limits. Street signs
bear the now familiar S-shield and businesses incorporate
Big Blue's image into their ads. The most impressive sign
that this is the Superman capital of the world rests in front
of the town hall: a 15-foot tall, painted, bronze statue of
the greatest superhero of all time. It's pretty freaking huge.
I had my girlfriend snap several pictures of yours truly posing
at the statue's base. The fact that a community of less than
5000 people raised enough money for a $125,000 statue should
go a long way, proving how important a cultural icon Superman
is.
The next
step was the museum. The Superman Museum is located about
100 feet from the statue, in an old brick building that might
have been a general store at one time. The walls are festooned
with images of Superman, Supergirl and campaign posters (it
seems Jim Hambrick, founder of the museum, has aspirations
of holding public office). After posing for several more photos
with my head on Superman's shoulders, we went inside.
At first
glance, I thought we were in any small town comic book shop.
Then I realized that everything had a Superman-theme. This
was the gift-shop. Hats, shirts, action figures, boxers, hard
to find items, posters and more were crammed onto the shelves
and into the aisles of the shop. Within minutes, I found several
items I had been looking for, along with a few I had to have.
First, the tour.
After
paying our $3 bucks a piece (children under 12 are free with
a paying adult), we passed though the turnstiles and into
Superman-land. The first thing I thought was that it was kind
of cold. The next thing I thought was it was kind of dark.
Then I focused and tossed all of the negative stuff out the
window. The walls and shelves were covered with authentic
Superman costumes from the movies, TV shows, and serials.
There were photos and stills from all the incarnations of
Superman. Original art from the comics and movie posters hung
on the walls. Autographed photos were everywhere. There were
even props from all of the Superman TV programs and movies
(even the ill-fated, ill-conceived Superboy Adventures). One
room was a shrine to Supergirl: The Movie. Another featured
props and costumes from the Adventures of Lois and Clark.
Throughout the museum, toys, clocks, models, collectable cards
and cereal boxes lined the walls. One booth displayed all
the Superman timepieces that had been made. The whole thing
was amazing. General Zod's boots were there, too ("Come, son
of Jor-el. Kneel before Zod!").
For me,
the two coolest things were the boots worn by the first big-screen
Superman and George Reeves' phone booth. The boots were old
and not even red (like that mattered, it was shot in black-and-white).
They had history to them though. The phone booth made me want
to change into costume. Sadly, I had no spandex under my hooded
sweatshirt. All of these items made me proud to be a comic-
book geek. I mean who has more influence: Superman or Michael
Jordan. Who will be remembered longer? Who hasn't done a Hanes
commercial? It was as if Superman was real and I was looking
at his old clothes.
The Superman
museum was a pure joy. For an hour, I felt like I could fly,
like bullets would bounce off of my chest, and like maybe,
just maybe, there are heroic ideals in this all to cynical
world. Anyone who has ever enjoyed Superman, or anyone who
needs to be reminded that they, at one time, believed a man
could fly, should make a trip to the Superman Museum in Metropolis,
Illinois. I feel like a Muslim who has made the journey to
Mecca. The only thing that would be cooler than this would
be meeting Superman himself.
Ryan
Lybarger works at a really big drug company in Indianapolis
the kind that Lex Luthor probably owns). He really wishes
he could fly.
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