Vintage Six-Sheet "Atom Man vs Superman" Restored in Stunning New Video

Vintage Six-Sheet "Atom Man vs Superman" Restored in Stunning New Video

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Neil Cole

Fourth Cone Restoration, a women-owned art studio dedicated to the restoration and conservation of vintage posters, prints, works on paper, collectibles, ephemera, and objets d'art, has completed the painstaking restoration of a vintage six-sheet movie poster for "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950). The transformation is featured in the newly released video entitled "Restoring a MASSIVE 1950s Superman Poster".

The rare poster, measuring nearly 80 x 80 inches when fully assembled, arrived at the studio in several heavily tattered sections. Years of wear had left it brittle, discolored, and structurally unstable. The Fourth Cone Restoration team began by carefully cleaning the surface, removing dirt and residues accumulated over decades. Each section was then repaired, flattened, and meticulously aligned before being linen-backed, a process that stabilizes fragile paper by mounting it to a supportive fabric layer. This method not only reinforces the original but also ensures the piece can be handled, displayed, and preserved for future generations.

The restored work now vividly showcases the bold, dramatic artwork that once drew moviegoers to theaters in 1950. "Atom Man vs. Superman", produced by Columbia Pictures, was the second live-action Superman serial, following 1948's "Superman". The 15-chapter series starred Kirk Alyn as Superman and Noel Neill as Lois Lane, with Lyle Talbot as Lex Luthor in his first on-screen appearance as the villain. The film serial was a milestone in Superman's cinematic history, introducing audiences to the Man of Steel's struggle against Luthor's alter ego, Atom Man.

Fourth Cone Restoration's revival of the poster reflects both the artistry of mid-century film promotion and the studio's deep expertise. With over 45 years of combined experience in linen-backing and paper conservation, the art studio serves collectors, poster dealers, auction houses, museums, and galleries. This restoration not only preserves a rare cultural artifact but also reconnects audiences with the excitement of Superman's early big-screen adventures, making its release especially timely as James Gunn's new "Superman" film brings the hero back into theaters.