Your thoughts on Superman?

[Daikun]

I'm curious to know: What do you guys think of Superman?

He's the prototype of the modern-day superhero. He has a heart of gold and stands for everything good in the world. Mentioning his name evokes a sense of pride and triumph.

Yet he's criticized for being maybe a bit too much of a goody two-shoes, he's overpowered and near-invincible, exceedingly simplistic in character.

What do you guys think of the Last Son of Krypton?

[Dr. Insomniac]

*expects GregX to write a venomous screed*

Well, I think he's portrayed well when the writer realizes that Superman is not a human. The reason most adaptations or depictions fail is because of how they try to bring him down to our level by giving him stuff like illegitimate children, high school angst, and other turmoils. You have to think outside the box and try to make inhuman in order to get things to work. When a guy like Mark Waid realizes this, they create gold. When a man like Joe Straczynski doesn't understand, you get an atrocity that has no reason to be in print. Really, I take Bill's speech from Kill Bill to heart when understanding who Supes should be.

Still, it has become rather sad on DC's part that the best incarnations of Superman have been outside of the company's actual grasps like Irredeemable's The Plutonian and Supreme.

[Foggle]

I agree with the doctor.

[Silverstar]

My current sig sums up my view on Supes.

"Superman is someone you're supposed to look up to ... not someone you're supposed to relate to ... that's what Spider-Man is there for."

The problem with trying to humanize Supey is just that: he's not human to start with. He's supposed to be a larger-than-life, incredible being and a heroic ideal.

The best way to write him (IMO) is to start from that point and go forward from there.

[Spark Of Spirit]

^Your sig kind of reminds me of the difference between Marvel and DC in general.

All in all, I agree with everyone else on this.

[gunswordfist]

*expects GregX to write a venomous screed*

Well, I think he's portrayed well when the writer realizes that Superman is not a human. The reason most adaptations or depictions fail is because of how they try to bring him down to our level by giving him stuff like illegitimate children, high school angst, and other turmoils. You have to think outside the box and try to make inhuman in order to get things to work. When a guy like Mark Waid realizes this, they create gold. When a man like Joe Straczynski doesn't understand, you get an atrocity that has no reason to be in print. Really, I take Bill's speech from Kill Bill to heart when understanding who Supes should be.

Still, it has become rather sad on DC's part that the best incarnations of Superman have been outside of the company's actual grasps like Irredeemable's The Plutonian and Supreme.

I love that Kill Bill scene.

^Your sig kind of reminds me of the difference between Marvel and DC in general.

All in all, I agree with everyone else on this.

What's the difference?

[Silverstar]

I think Spark is saying that overall DC's heroes are more larger-than-life and ideal while Marvel's are more human and relatable.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Yep. 

[GregX]

*expects GregX to write a venomous screed*

A venomous screed.

[Avaitor]

All right, I win the pool!

[Peanutbutter]

Superman himself is not the problem, the problem is half the people who write for him didn't know how to handle him. To me, Superman: The Animated Series is a great example of how good a character Superman can be if he has the right people on the other side of the pencil. Alan Burnett and Bruce Timm did a fantastic job with him. There, Superman had flaws, both external and internal.


I really hope Man of Steel manages to do something at least similar. If nothing else, I hope the movie means we can have another genuinely good Superman cartoon.

[Goldstar]

Superman himself is not the problem, the problem is half the people who write for him didn't know how to handle him. To me, Superman: The Animated Series is a great example of how good a character Superman can be if he has the right people on the other side of the pencil. Alan Burnett and Bruce Timm did a fantastic job with him. There, Superman had flaws, both external and internal.


I really hope Man of Steel manages to do something at least similar. If nothing else, I hope the movie means we can have another genuinely good Superman cartoon.

Seconded. I hope that Man of Steel doesn't tank so that the viewing public will develop a new found interest in Big Blue. I'd like for MoS to do for Superman what the 2008 Iron Man movie did for that character.