The "blatant rip-offs of Superman in advertising" thread...

[JulianPerez]

Making references to Superman in places like advertising doesn't bother me because Superman is a character that - like Tarzan - has become so ubiquitous in pop culture the world over that, in a sense, he belongs to everybody just like Beethoven or Wagner...and further, when you reach the level of fame that Superman has reached as a fictional character, you start to represent a characteristic - in Superman's case, his ability to do anything (which is something a good computing firm would want!)

There was a story about the head of the recently opened BarnesAndNoble.com telling his computer technicians to think of themselves as Hercules. Not just because of Hercules's strength and fortitude, but because Hercules was the killer of Amazon women! 

But if you want to see one especially funny reference to Superman in advertising, here in Miami the Uruguayan restaurant ZUPERPOLLO will oblige!



www.zuperpollo.com

Intriguingly, their specialty is steak, not chicken.

[dmat]

I'm not sure if anyone knows of/recalls this, but a few years ago a fellow by the name of Russell Oliver got in some trouble with DC.  He'd show up on local (Toronto) TV in ads, calling himself Cashman ("your jewelery for my cash!").  His costume was Superman's, except with a C instead of an S.  I wish I had a photo, because nothing did justice to the suit like a balding, slightly overweight, glasses wearing, middle-aged dude 

He even has a reference in Wikepedia, and since he's no longer referring himself as Cashman, I'm thinking DC lawyers did their job pretty thoroughly.

[jamespup]

In the 60's, there was a dry-cleaning establishment in Lake Ronkonkoma NY called Kent Cleaners.

In one of the display posters in the store, was a drawing of a fellow in a suit and glasses that looked remarkably like the Curt Swan version of Clark Kent

I can't determine if it was a chain of stores or not....unable to find a copy of the poster online anywhere

[Aldous]

I wish I had a photo, because nothing did justice to the suit like a balding, slightly overweight, glasses wearing, middle-aged dude 

It'll even happen to the big guy himself one day...

[Aldous]

Here is the label from a can of food that was sitting in my kitchen cupboard. I must have seen this particular food label many times, but I never properly noticed the Superman rip-off.



And yes, that is a can-opener hanging from his belt.

[jamespup]

That's GREAT !   I assume he's Beanman !

[Aldous]

A security company's sign on a shop in Melbourne.

     

[jamespup]

http://www.charlesro.com/welcome_to_charles_ro.htm