Superman

Dean Cain is a Superman.

Here's the 26-year-old "Lois and Clark" actor back in 1993 (left) -- and twenty years later, the 46-year-old "Ripley's Believe It or Not" host at the Philly Comic-con last month (right).

Kevin Coster (58) plays Superman's Earth dad Pa Kent in the 2013 action adventure film "Man of Steel" -- while Russell Crowe (49) plays Superman's space dad Jor-El on the planet Krypton.

Henry Cavill is confident ... his Britishness WILL NOT get in the way of his portrayal of Superman in the upcoming "Man of Steel" movie.

Of course, Superman is considered the greatest American superhero of all time ... sorry Batman, Iron Man, Spider-Man, etc. ... and Cavill will be the first non-Yank to play the role.

In fact, he even said he would support an American actor playing James Bond ... as long as that person has the chops.

And if you don't care about Superman ... watch the clip anyway, 'cause Henry is really, really good looking.

Back in 2000, Cage told police someone jacked his authentic copy of Action Comics #1 -- a 1938 classic in which Superman was introduced. Cage had the comic insured ... but it's unclear how much money he got from the insurance company after police confirmed the theft.

Now, after years of searching, investigators found the comic -- valued at more than $1.5 million -- inside of a storage locker in L.A.

Law enforcement sources tell us Cage is NOT a suspect and insist the actor has been helpful with the investigation.

As for the comic -- we're told it's being held as evidence for now ... but the item will eventually be returned to the insurance company.

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ... the guy who played Jimmy Olsen on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" filing for divorce.

Justin Whalin filed for the Big D last week from his hot wife, Reina Flynn, this according to documents obtained by The Daily Planet TMZ.

The dynamic duo had been married for three years -- they have no minor children.

Welling and White were in the video department, and while our spy didn't see what sparked the argument, he did say that Jamie looked furious as she yelled at Tom and stomped off. Call the Daily Planet!

Tom followed, and just like that, Superman and the damsel that he stressed were gone.

Our love affair with our new favorite show "Heroes" shows no signs of subsiding (sorry, "Lost"). In recognition of our new official status as comic-book nerd, we're going to give eBay auction props to the king of superheroes.

"Superman 2" had everything a blockbuster sequel needs: love, the phantom zone, three goth Kryptonians trying to take over the Earth. To show your friends just how far General Zod's diabolical plan went, you must bid on this prop newspaper from the film. Just try not to leave it around your house, a Daily Planet that screams "White House Surrenders" could give your skittish Aunt Beatrice a coronary.

Then, become instant friends with famous "Superman" fans Shaquille O'Neal and Jon Bon Jovi with this next item -- the yellow shield from the cape Christopher Reeve wore in the movies. The shield is secured to a piece of red fabric and framed in a shadow box perfect for framing.

Now your "Heroes" viewing parties are going to be just that much more authentic. Much better then that ratty ol' towel you keep tying around your neck.

25 years ago Richard Donner was removed from the helm of "Superman 2." Hot on the heels of "Superman Returns" release and after the persistence of comic book and Superman fans, his version of the Superman sequel will finally see the light of day.

Donner was famously removed from the movie after not getting along with the producers. British director Richard Leslie was brought on board and they cut out enough of a percentage of Donner's footage to not credit him in the final version of the film. The movie went on to great success, much to the chagrin of Donner.

Now it seems Donner will have the last laugh. 15 minutes originally exorcised from the original movie and banished to the "phantom zone" will be added, including footage of Gene Hackman and the late Marlon Brando in the upcoming "Superman ll: The Richard Donner Cut."

Will Hollywood blockbuster budgets continue to fly "up, up and away?" Not necessarily.

At least, not at Warner Bros. Pictures. After a $225 million "Pirates of the Caribbean" sailed into port, taking the wind out of "Superman Returns'" $205 million Spandex, Warner Bros. executives are said to be circumspect as to whether the Man of Steel will fly again.

Talent agency insiders with ties to the film tell TMZ that Warner Bros. Pictures president and COO Alan Horn has informed agents that a sequel hinges on whether grosses of "Superman Returns" can crest the $200 million mark domestically. What's more, the studio plans to shave millions - many millions - off any "Superman" sequel's budget. (Amusingly, in the current "Superman Returns," Lois Lane pleads with Lex Luthor, "But millions will die! " It turns out she was right on the money.)

As Variety's box office guru Ben Fritz noted last July 4th, "Superman Returns is off to a strong start, albeit not as fast as a speeding bullet. Warner Bros. superhero tent pole grossed a solid $52.5 million on its opening weekend and $74 million over the five-day Fourth of July frame. Since its Wednesday opening, the Bryan Singer-helmed franchise restart has taken in $106 million."

Recently legwarmers crept back onto the pages of fashion mags and the limbs of a fashion victims everywhere. Now, along with skinny jeans and leggings, it seems the all-mighty spandex leotard is back to help you relive all the memories of that big-haired era.

Like rubber bracelets, vogueing and Kaballah before them, this trend is being spearheaded by none other than the queen of reinvention herself, Madonna. On her Confessions tour as well as in her latest videos, the Material Girl struts her stuff in the one-piece wonders showcasing her ripped body like a 47-year-old virgin.

And you can be sure that if Madonna wears it they will come. Stores like American Apparel have started carrying the item in different styles and retailing it for under $30 ensuring that even though they may not look good on everyone, anyone can afford one.

When it comes to "Superman Returns," Warner Bros. is sighing with relief, but not yet swooning with ecstasy. The Bryan Singer re-imagining managed $21 million in its first day in release, or about what Tom Cruise's pre-sofa "War of the Worlds" did on a comparable Independence Day weekend.

Having spoken with a box office expert or two just now, the real worry for Warner Bros. isn't this weekend, which has a luxurious seven days thanks to a Tuesday July 4th holiday. Rather, it's the next, when "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" opens. The Johnny Depp epic is tracking is "off the charts," as Nikki Finke reported weeks ago, and remains so.

Well, the good news here is that while "Superman Returns" won't be the biggest opening in history, at least it will probably be the most heterosexual opening weekend ever: Reports Variety, "As expected, initial group of moviegoers were heavily male, at 58%...Studio is hoping gender distribution will be more even by the weekend."