Krypto and Superman – Duncan Rouleau

When I saw the first teaser trailer, released just before Christmas last year, for the James Gunn-directed Superman movie I have to admit to getting a bit emotional. I think this was a perfect storm of three factors coming together: getting old – perhaps you will appreciate it when you get to my age because I certainly did not when I was yours; hearing the rousing and triumphant (slightly modernised) John Williams theme which reminded me of seeing the 1978 Donner/Reeve version which involved a special trip to the capital for me and a small group of similarly-aged family and friends – we should count ourselves lucky that although almost half a century has passed only one of us is no longer here, but we still miss Gary; and seeing the character that comes to the rescue when Superman seems to be out for the count in the frozen wasteland. I think you have to be predisposed to the type of “individual” (no spoilers here in the admittedly unlikely event that you do not know who that is) who is Superman’s saviour in that trailer because a couple of weeks after I watched the trailer again with a small of group of people seeing it for the first time (with me sitting in the back, for obvious reasons) and I noticed that they were visibly unmoved by the trailer and I know that most of them were at best indifferent and perhaps even disliked that sort of character that saves Superman’s bacon near the Fortress of Solitude. If they see the new James Gunn movie perhaps their attitude will change. Let’s hope the film changes a lot of people’s attitudes.

This is a drawing I won just over three years ago in the inaugural eBay auctions in aid of Kepyr. For those outside the US who do not know who Kepyr is – kepyr.org – it is an acronym for Kids Entertainment Professionals for Young Refugees. They raise money to support displaced children around the world. Superman was chosen as the subject for the first charity eBay auction because he is the world’s most famous [former-]child refugee; in his case from the doomed planet Krypton. All the artists who gave work to the auction did it free of charge to a deserving cause which it seems, sadly, is in greater need today than it was three years ago. Originally the auction was open to US citizens only but after I made enquiries – you don’t ask and you don’t get – the organiser was willing to open it out to countries outside the States. So thank you to Henry G of Kepyr who pulled a few strings to permit me to pick up this terrific portrait and also a big thanks to Duncan Rouleau for contributing his time and talent – two acts of kindness which I appreciate. Thank you, gentleman. I am honoured to have this drawing not only for what it depicts but also for what it represents. “Look up.”