Can DC regain box-office superstrength?

AS THE LATEST on-screen incarnation of America's most iconic superhero, Superman, hits cineplexes this weekend, it's clear there is more at stake than the success of the movie, which seems guaranteed to be a hit on some level the same year "The Big Red S" turns 75.

Indeed, "Man of Steel" will play a large part in shaping what we see - or don't see - in theaters for some time to come. DC Entertainment/Warner Brothers (hereafter referred to as DC/WB) has a lot at stake here and, with its rivals, will be waiting anxiously to see just how super "Man of Steel" is.

First, there is the obvious. DC has been getting trashed at the box office by movies based on rival Marvel's characters for 15 years. Starting with "Blade" in 1998, Marvel has churned out hit ("X-Men") after hit ("Spider-Man") after hit ("Iron Man"). The only true cinematic success DC/WB enjoyed in that time was the rejuvenation of the Batman franchise with the "Dark Knight" trilogy from Christopher Nolan. These were the first DC/WB films to hit it big, since . . . Jack Nicholson played the joker in Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman."

That franchise, however, crashed under the weight of increasing silliness with 1997's putrid "Batman and Robin."

What does this have to do with Superman? The last Superman film that was a genuine hit was 1981's "Superman II." So for the past 32 years, the only DC/WB- superhero movies that fans have been willing to line up to see have all involved Batman. The rest of the DC/WB library of characters, known throughout the world, have either inexplicably failed to have their movies made ("Wonder Woman") or failed to connect with audiences ("Green Lantern").

And so we return to the Man of Steel, who ushered in the age of comic-book heroes on the big screen in 1978, with "Superman: The Movie," which raked in a then-supercool $134 million.

"Superman II" barely broke $100 million, despite most fans considering it the most exciting of them all and the reason why General Zod, introduced in that film, is Superman's main antagonist in "Man of Steel."

So the first thing DC/WB is hoping to accomplish with "Man of Steel" is to re-establish the icon's pre-eminence among the cinematic costumed set. Because although it is fashionable to say that Superman is outdated and has been eclipsed by newer, more-relatable Marvel heroes - and definitely by his Dark Knight-ed friend - it's worth noting that as maligned as 2006's "Superman Returns" was, it still grossed more than $200 million domestically - more than "Thor" ($181 million); "Captain America: The First Avenger" ($176 million); "The Incredible Hulk" ($134 million); "Hulk" ($132 million); "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" ($179 million); "X-Men" ($157 million); "X-Men: First Class" ($136 million); "Fantastic Four" ($154 million); "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" ($134 million); "Ghost Rider" ($115 million); and "Daredevil" ($102 million).

So DC/WB execs are clearly asking (and hoping), "What if we make a Superman film that audiences really want to see?"

It seems the answer has already come: Although this could be as much a marketing ploy as a giant billboard, word came this week that a "Man of Steel" sequel has already been green-lighted. Fans, it seems, have flooded online movie-ticket sites. With a $100 million-plus opening weekend projected, DC/WB hopes "Man of Steel" has a shot at doing "Iron Man 3"-level business ($400 million domestically, $1 billion worldwide).

Those kinds of numbers would give DC/WB a new summer tentpole from which they could build to a "Justice League" movie, the way Marvel did with "The Avengers." It would spur long-delayed Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman and Flash movies, both for their individual attractiveness and to market "Justice League."

But there is some thought that DC/WB will take the opposite tack and unveil a "Justice League" movie in what is shaping up as a brutal and glorious 2015 that will also see "Avengers 2," "Avatar 2" and "Star Wars VII."

That strategy would have Henry Cavill's Superman and Christian Bale's Batman anchor the team flick, and spin off the new would-be franchises from there.

Of course, if "Man of Steel" disappoints, then DC/WB will have to deal with the "Avengers" and "Star Wars" juggernauts, a rejuvenated James Bond series ("Skyfall" became the first Bond film to gross $1 billion worldwide), a reimagined "Star Trek" and even "The Fast and the Furious," which has surpassed $200 million with its last two installments and shows no signs of slowing down.

Of course, comic-book fans who can't get enough big-screen battles hope box-office grosses from "Man of Steel" pile up taller than a skyscraper and take in tickets faster than a speeding bullet.