what do you find in superman, as a character, that makes you like him?

[Sasquatch]

i'm really asking, because i don't understand.
i'm not here to be persuaded supes is a good character or anything, but just to understand what others like in him.
(erica durance to the side, i mean)

so, the question is: can anyome explain to me what, in his/her opinion, makes superman a good character, and a character to like?

[jonsnow]

He is the ying to Batmans yang. I love Batman, but he is too dark to truly inspire, whereas Superman is the exact opposite. A great hero, but maybe naive in his hope. He is a great inspiration, but maybe not a realistic one.

[demon]

He is the ying to Batmans yang. I love Batman, but he is too dark to truly inspire, whereas Superman is the exact opposite. A great hero, but maybe naive in his hope. He is a great inspiration, but maybe not a realistic one.
that, and Superman is a crazy powerhouse.
He is a classic character.
He represents all that is right and good, by doing those things.
Superman has saved Earth in the comics countless times, and can almost always be called upon to serve for the greater good.

there are still things I'm missing but I forgot what else I was going to say. I don't really like him more than most other characters, but I do enjoy him in Batman/Superman.

[CPT Space Bomb]

What's good about supes is that he's Captain America, only with more powers.

[Blake Petit]

I've written entire columns about it.

If you can't understand, there's nothing I can say to change that.

[ttp585]

I used to not like Superman. Infact, I hated him. A lot. I thought he was cheasy, over-powered, and a waste of ink. However, that was before I really looked at him. He's not from earth, he's an alien. He has more power in him than nearly every other being on our fair planet. He could rule us all. But he doesn't, he protects us lesser beings, and he would do so with his life. All he wants is to do good, and be more like us. In my opinion Superman doesn't only fight for Truth, Justice, and the American way. Superman IS Truth, Justice, and the (ideal) American way.

[Ammar Al Subahi]

Superman is a beacon of light, nuff said

[CPT Space Bomb]

I used to not like Superman. Infact, I hated him. A lot. I thought he was cheasy, over-powered, and a waste of ink. However, that was before I really looked at him. He's not from earth, he's an alien. He has more power in him than nearly every other being on our fair planet. He could rule us all. But he doesn't, he protects us lesser beings, and he would do so with his life. All he wants is to do good, and be more like us. In my opinion Superman doesn't only fight for Truth, Justice, and the American way. Superman IS Truth, Justice, and the (ideal) American way.
Well Said, for that, you get a Banana Rock Group!!
:radbanana: :bananaskitter: :bannanaguitar: :bananaglitter: :powerslide: :radbanana:

[Magneto X]

He is the ying to Batmans yang. I love Batman, but he is too dark to truly inspire, whereas Superman is the exact opposite.

Exact opposite? Hardly, if Superman is a 1 and some villains, lets say Joker or Thanos are 10s,
then Batman's a 2.5 at most, barely different. An opposite would not be on the same team.

Before you get to 5 (the darkest of the heroes) you'd have Wolverine 3, Punnisher 4, and Magneto 5.
Batman's maybe the "Yin" to Supermans "Ying." Little more realistic, but practically the same.

[Fanatix]

At the very end of the day, when all seems lost, when the world or universe is about to end, when friends, family or strangers are threatened he WILL be there and he WILL win.

It's corney. It can be lame and annoying. But most of all it can be UBER bad-***.

To gain an appreciation of superman and what he will do to uphold justice and do the right thing, read morrisons JLA run. I never really thought much of superman either until I saw him give the moon magnetic poles, dissarm the mageddon warhead, and wrestle angels.

His fight with doomsdays another great one.

[Magneto X]

At the very end of the day, when all seems lost, when the world or universe is about to end, when friends, family or strangers are threatened he WILL be there and he WILL win.

:eek: PRAISE JEBUS!

[Jiggaman Tiga]

I dont look at the personal character of supes as his defining point. it's the inspiration that the character instill in just about everyone in contact with him. sure its great to have supes in your corner versus anyone, but his presence alone really get people into believing they will win no matter how bad the situation is. :supermansymbol:

Post 800. Tiga Rising

[Jason Kanno]

Its not Superman I like. It's Clark Kent that interests me. He is the truth behind Superman. He really is the ying to Batman's yang, where Bruce Wayne is a mask Batman wears.

[Magneto X]

Its not Superman I like. It's Clark Kent that interests me. He is the truth behind Superman.

"An essential characteristic of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero, and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When he wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic that Superman stands alone. Superman did not become Superman, Superman was born Superman."

"When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is: Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears, the glasses, the business suit, that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us."

"Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

[Jiggaman Tiga]

"An essential characteristic of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero, and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When he wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic that Superman stands alone. Superman did not become Superman, Superman was born Superman."

"When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is: Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears, the glasses, the business suit, that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

holy crap...u just took a dump on clark kent...seriously, I don't what to say since this really makes a lot of sense....wow....

[Fanatix]

"An essential characteristic of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero, and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When he wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic that Superman stands alone. Superman did not become Superman, Superman was born Superman."

"When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is: Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears, the glasses, the business suit, that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us."

"Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

Tarantinos an awesome director and I loved that he included a little comic book dialogue in kill bill, but the actual sentiment of the comments I dissagree with. He's an orphan, If I found out I was adopted, and my real parents were somebody important or geniuses or something, it wouldn't make who I have been raised to be any less real.

[Magneto X]

He wasn't raised to be Clark Kent.
The Kents were not clumsy insecure cowards.

[Sasquatch]

as far as secret identities are concerned, i always thought, and still think (maybve i live in my own version of the dc universe and the marvel universe, a version that most of the time does not agree with what "writers" do :( ) that:

bruce wayne is batman's secret identity i.e. a disguise batman wears during the day. bruce wayne died when his parents were shot, when "all sense left my life", to quote alan moore. during the years of travelling, of learning, something was born, and it became the batman the moment the bat crashed trough his window, that night.

superman is the "working clothes" for clark kent, a good hearted man from the midwest, a man that was raised by the 2 individuals that did more good to this planet ever, and nobody even knows it :) . costume or no costume, the heart, the ideals, the goodness, the "i'm everybody's best frind" is always there. the costume is just something flashy to catch people's ateention and distract them , making it easier to get back to his everyday life when the deed is done.

spiderman is the "unburdening" of peter parker. albeit motivated by a huge sense of responsibility and duty, spiderman is the way parker can release some of the pressure of his past and present life. disguising as spiderman allows him to be funny, to joke in the face of life's difficulties, to take things with a sense of humor. spiderman is parker's funny side, his sense of humor in a mask, but there is not the "persona" thing supes:supermansymbol: and bats :batsymbol: have

[RadioCleve]

I disagree with several of the contentions Tarantino makes regarding the nature of the secret identity. The first, that Superman was born and not made, is patently false. Superman is a constructed identity, like the Batman persona, that is designed to elicit feelings of safety and security from the general populace of Metropolis along with acting as a deterrent to crime. The second point where I clash with Tarantino evolves from his perception that Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker are themselves the true character and that the heroes are merely a costume that is donned in order to fight the elusive concepts of “crime” and “evil.” The public personas and the costumed heroes are inextricably linked with neither represents a complete persona. In Batman Begins, Wayne’s butler and life-long friend Alfred Pennyworth the separation of identities is necessary:
Alfred Pennyworth: I assume that as you're taking on the underworld, this symbol is a persona to protect those you care about from reprisals.
Bruce Wayne: You thinking about Rachel?
Alfred Pennyworth: Actually, sir, I was thinking about myself.
In Spider-Man 2, Parker recognizes that he must wear a mask to protect those he loves from retribution from his enemies. In both cases the vast majority of the people that the superheroes interact with do not get a complete view of the person because segments are hidden. The same argument can be made about anyone; my work persona is different than my social. But in most cases the mixing of the two does not put anyone’s life in immediate danger. The question that must then be asked is, “Which persona is the true one.” In actuality, neither. The two personas are different sides of the same coin, exaggerated nearly to the point of caricature in order to achieve the desired separation from the alter-ego and to inspire the desired reaction from the public (fear and respect of Batman, carefree billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne) but to look at one is to see only a partial portrait. Only in quiet moments of reflection on the nature of the duality does the complete persona emerge.

From the book I'm working on.

[Mark Blicharz]

"An essential characteristic of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero, and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When he wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic that Superman stands alone. Superman did not become Superman, Superman was born Superman."

"When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is: Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears, the glasses, the business suit, that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us."

"Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

Tarantino has no idea who Superman is or what he's about. Clark Kent isn't a coward. I'd suggest you read Up, Up, and Away part 2 for proof of that. Kal-El was raised first and foremost as Clark Kent. That's who he is. Superman is the mask he puts on for the world when he goes out. Kal-El wasn't born Superman, he was born Kal-El. He was raised as Clark Kent. He didn't even manifest his powers really until he was a teenager. So how was he born Superman?

[Ryan Broussard]

Here is my beef with superman....

1)he has too much power, although in recent years that have been giving him more weaknesses and seems everyone has access to kryp.

2)What if krypton had not been destroyed, he would be just another joe blow up there, no special powers nothing, furthermore couldn't any of the kryptonians come down and do what superman is doing....

I just almost feel these arent HIS POWERS, its powers that the earths son gives him....I still dont get how he has his powers when he leaves our universe, galaxy, or dimension

[Mark Blicharz]

Here is my beef with superman....

1)he has too much power, although in recent years that have been giving him more weaknesses and seems everyone has access to kryp.

He has no more power then quite a few people in comics. I can name at least ten that are equal or greater then he is on Earth in power.

2)What if krypton had not been destroyed, he would be just another joe blow up there, no special powers nothing, furthermore couldn't any of the kryptonians come down and do what superman is doing....

No, they couldn't. Superman is genetically engineered to be the perfect Kryptonian physically. The others weren't.

I just almost feel these arent HIS POWERS, its powers that the earths son gives him....I still dont get how he has his powers when he leaves our universe, galaxy, or dimension

His body is a battery. The sun charges him and his body can store the energy until he uses it. His body is basically the perfect battery.

[jonsnow]

Tarantino has no idea who Superman is or what he's about. Clark Kent isn't a coward. I'd suggest you read Up, Up, and Away part 2 for proof of that. Kal-El was raised first and foremost as Clark Kent. That's who he is. Superman is the mask he puts on for the world when he goes out. Kal-El wasn't born Superman, he was born Kal-El. He was raised as Clark Kent. He didn't even manifest his powers really until he was a teenager. So how was he born Superman?
co-signed!

[Logan]

I guess I'm old school because to me, Superman is the end all be all of comic heros. As a kid reading Silver Age Superman comics, I looked to Superman as the ideal. He was the hero who would make everything all right. There was a real sense of security reading his stories because regardless of the threat Superman would prevail for the common good.

As I grew older, I found myself reading Superman less and gravitating to books that were darker and grittier. As a teenager, I began to view Superman as the big boy scout who wasn't in touch with the times. What was cool about him anyway? He didn't produce blades out of his hands and go beserk, he wasn't the antihero who fought because of anger and pain. He was Superman/Clark Kent, some podunk from Kansas. I wanted hardcore not candycorn.

Now I'm well on my way to being old. I've got kids of my own, and strangely enough they always respond to Superman. When they tie a towell around their neck and run around the house, they're playing Superman plain and simple. They don't understand terrorism, the Middle East or the ozone layer, but they're exposed to it. So maybe they're getting the same comfort from a comicbook hero that I did years ago. Superman prevails and I have rediscovered a real respect for that.

[Magneto X]

Tarantino has no idea who Superman is or what he's about. Clark Kent isn't a coward.

Tarantino has read as many comics as any of us have. And he didn't say "Clark is a coward." He said Clark PORTRAYS himself (or at least he often has in the past) as a weak unconfident coward when he tries to pretend to be human. And he's got a good point there. That's not how the Kent's raised him. So we must have seemed as weak insecure and unconfident to Superman when he was putting on his human disguise.

[Ryan Broussard]

He has no more power then quite a few people in comics. I can name at least ten that are equal or greater then he is on Earth in power.



No, they couldn't. Superman is genetically engineered to be the perfect Kryptonian physically. The others weren't.



His body is a battery. The sun charges him and his body can store the energy until he uses it. His body is basically the perfect battery.

I just feel that when he is in a fight i really am not drawn in the story because its superman and he will punch the bad guy and they will be destroyed....

Also when was this stated...that he is geneticallt altered....i mean so what we would have been superman on krypton?

I have heard the battery thing before and I dont really like it....I mean if that was true he would be like green lantern and always having to recharge, I can remember when GL would state he couldnt do this or that because he would run out of power...but I have never seen it to where clark says I cant punch this guy with all my might because it will drain me

I dunno....I really like all star superman right now and myabe thats because he is dying and it makes the character more than 2D for me

[Mark Blicharz]

Tarantino has read as many comics as any of us have. And he didn't say "Clark is a coward." He said Clark PORTRAYS himself (or at least he often has in the past) as a weak unconfident coward when he tries to pretend to be human. And he's got a good point there. That's not how the Kent's raised him. So we must have seemed as weak insecure and unconfident to Superman when he was putting on his human disguise.

I doubt he has. If he had, when he said that he would have known he was wrong. Clark Kent isn't a bumbling coward and hasn't been since the early-mid Silver Age. Post Crisis Clark Kent has always been self confident. He's never once showed an ounce of cowardice post crisis. Not once.

[Mark Blicharz]

I just feel that when he is in a fight i really am not drawn in the story because its superman and he will punch the bad guy and they will be destroyed....

That's not really true. Superman has only killed three times. All three were out of necessity. Outside of those, he's never even began to try and destroy someone. He set himself out to beat them but has never again killed. The vast majority of his stories are about his internal struggles rather then his physical powers.

Also when was this stated...that he is geneticallt altered....i mean so what we would have been superman on krypton?

One of his origins has it in it. Don't remember which issue. He wouldn't have been Superman on Krypton because a red sun doesn't give him power. It doesn't give any Kryptonian powers. On Earth they'd all have powers but none to the extent of Superman's due to the way his body was designed.

I have heard the battery thing before and I dont really like it....I mean if that was true he would be like green lantern and always having to recharge, I can remember when GL would state he couldnt do this or that because he would run out of power...but I have never seen it to where clark says I cant punch this guy with all my might because it will drain me

He does get drained using his powers. His body just recharges faster then he uses the energy. He charges just by being outside during the day and at night, to a much lesser extent, from the stars that he sees that aren't red. His body is the perfect battery. It charges continually and has no upper limit on power that it can absorb that we've seen as of yet. Power rings aren't perfect, Superman's cells are perfect solar receptors.

I dunno....I really like all star superman right now and myabe thats because he is dying and it makes the character more than 2D for me

I'd suggest you read other stories on Superman then. Superman is one of the more complex characters in comics. If you pick up titles where he has a fight then no he won't seem like it. There are books that show who he is and everything he has to struggle with daily. Just a few are Superman: Strength, (can't believe I'm actually saying to read this)Pain of the Gods, World Without Superman, Action Comics #775. He's far from 2D.

[Justin Byrd]

Tarantino has read as many comics as any of us have. And he didn't say "Clark is a coward." He said Clark PORTRAYS himself (or at least he often has in the past) as a weak unconfident coward when he tries to pretend to be human. And he's got a good point there. That's not how the Kent's raised him. So we must have seemed as weak insecure and unconfident to Superman when he was putting on his human disguise.
Then he's only read Silver Age Superman comics.

1. Clark is a confident reporter. He operates on his ideals. The only difference between him and Superman is that he wears glasses, slicks his hair back, slouches a little, and talks in a higher voice. Tarantino's thinking of the Reeve Kent.

2. Clark, AT THE BEGINNING, decided to win Lois over AS Clark, which he did. She loves Clark, not Superman. That's what drives me nuts about some writers who get that wrong, she found out he was Superman AFTER they were engaged.

3. He was not born Superman. He was born Kal-El, and raised Clark Kent. Go read the Man of Steel mini. After learning all of his planet's history and language, he decided it meant nothing. He was Clark Kent, he was an Earthling. That was my favorite part about the revamp. Ma and Pa are his parents, Jor-El and Lara only share genetics with him.

4. Another point, Tarantino obviously has no clue about comics if he says Batman is really Bruce Wayne. It's the other way around, talk about someone who puts on the facade. Bruce Wayne died with his parents, the one the public sees is a playboy and a rich billionaire. The Batman is his true identity.

What draws me to Superman? It's been said

1. He's the one you call when the s*** hits the fan. If Thanos is coming with his armada, guess who'll be the first guy out there on the front lines?

2. People complain about his multitude of powers. They don't understand, his truly greatest assets aren't his strength, invulnerability or heat vision...it's his heart, soul, and will. He may be corny, but as Fanatix said, it can also be bada** too.

3. He's the shining light, he's the hope, he represents the ideal in all of us. What we want. He's a man who defies logic on more than one count...he can fly, he can do all these wonderful things......but he chooses to help, and put HIS life on the line for US. Every last one of us.

Frankly I think our world would be better off with someone like him around....:supermansymbol:

[JX141]

1. He's the one you call when the s*** hits the fan. If Thanos is coming with his armada, guess who'll be the first guy out there on the front lines?

2. People complain about his multitude of powers. They don't understand, his truly greatest assets aren't his strength, invulnerability or heat vision...it's his heart, soul, and will. He may be corny, but as Fanatix said, it can also be bada** too.

3. He's the shining light, he's the hope, he represents the ideal in all of us. What we want. He's a man who defies logic on more than one count...he can fly, he can do all these wonderful things......but he chooses to help, and put HIS life on the line for US. Every last one of us.

Frankly I think our world would be better off with someone like him around....:supermansymbol:
1. Actually I'd call Adam Warlock :)
2. I've got some incredible heart, soul and will myself but I'll never pickup anything that cant support its own weight or beat 10 guys at once without a really good weapon.
3. He does defy logic so for me that cant possibly represent the ideal in all of "us".

Still he is the first and his powers are the most easily recognizable, who wouldnt want to be him or at least ahve him on thier team. :supermansymbol:
I do have a lot more respect for him since coming here. :)
But if we actually had him around what would he bring with him

[Justin Byrd]

1. Actually I'd call Adam Warlock :)
Meh, says you!

2. I've got some incredible heart, soul and will myself but I'll never pickup anything that cant support its own weight or beat 10 guys at once without a really good weapon.
...what does this have to do with anything? He's proven himself with or without powers. He's alien and he acts more human than a lot of humanity.

3. He does defy logic so for me that cant possibly represent the ideal in all of "us".
You wouldn't want to be able to fly unaided? You don't want to represent the good in all of us? He defies logic in powers to many, but he defies logic in his goodness to all those who don't get why he doesn't rule us with an iron fist.

Still he is the first and his powers are the most easily recognizable, who wouldnt want to be him or at least ahve him on thier team. :supermansymbol:
I do have a lot more respect for him since coming here. :)
But if we actually had him around what would he bring with him
I think he'd bring hope, if we saw a guy who was willing to help when he could do just about anything, wouldn't you be inspired? I'm not saying we should worship the guy, but I think we could use more people with his personality around.

[Mathew Smith]

2)What if krypton had not been destroyed, he would be just another joe blow up there, no special powers nothing, furthermore couldn't any of the kryptonians come down and do what superman is doing....


He would have been a Green lantern!

[Justin Byrd]

He would have been a Green lantern!
Looks like someone read "Superman: Last Son of Earth" :)

[CPT Space Bomb]

You wouldn't want to be able to fly unaided? You don't want to represent the good in all of us? He defies logic in powers to many, but he defies logic in his goodness to all those who don't get why he doesn't rule us with an iron fist.

Hey Supes, wouldn't it be a "STEEL" fist??

[JX141]

Meh, says you!
Ha not much arguement to that one :)

...what does this have to do with anything? He's proven himself with or without powers. He's alien and he acts more human than a lot of humanity.
I has everything to do with it. Clearly great power without a good heart and soul, and great will is prob a bad thing, but those things alone will only take you so far.

You wouldn't want to be able to fly unaided? You don't want to represent the good in all of us? He defies logic in powers to many, but he defies logic in his goodness to all those who don't get why he doesn't rule us with an iron fist.
Of course I'd want to fly unaided, and I just dont think he represents the best in all humans. Its an opinion based argument

I think he'd bring hope, if we saw a guy who was willing to help when he could do just about anything, wouldn't you be inspired? I'm not saying we should worship the guy, but I think we could use more people with his personality around.
I didnt mean it as if we couldnt use someone like his good personality, heart and soul and all, of course we could but I meant was if we had a superman lord knows what else we'd have to worry about.

[Sasquatch]

I've written entire columns about it.

If you can't understand, there's nothing I can say to change that.

haven't read them, where are they?

[Fanatix]

haven't read them, where are they?

http://www.comixtreme.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24892

Great analysis of the man of steel.

As for this conversation, if you look at the first page, my opinions on big blue are pretty much summed up. Yes he's corney, yeah he can be pretty lame and when he has a PIS moment, it can trump even wolverine level of rediculosuness.
But he's still superman, a good guy, great powers, the templet for what every hero should be. His character and moral compass has earned my respect even if I'm not buying his comic, because his rouge gallery (besides luthor and darkside) does suck.

But JX141 said "3. He does defy logic so for me that cant possibly represent the ideal in all of "us".
It's been my experience that ther are VERY few people who act logical even 70% of the time. Even the most level-headed and analytical people are still rulled by their emotions at some level and 99.999% of the time emotions are telling you the illogical thing to do or way to feel. Not everybody listens to their emotions, but even by shutting out gut instincts and feelings doesn't seem logical.

[erichssf]

First let me state, Batman is my fav.

Superman I like because he stands for good and truth in a world where evil seems to be everywhere.
The Superman symbols means "doing what's right all the time" and it inspires hope to those who don't have any.

[JSaint25]

Saw this guy's post (http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/1748588.html?#cutid1) on an LJ community that I read.

Thought I'd share it in this thread. It's some scans from Action Comics #775.

[jonsnow]

That was absolute bad***! Thanks! If that doesn't make you respect and like Superman ain't nothing will.

[Justin Byrd]

Singularly one of the greatest Superman stories EVER WRITTEN. Superman stands up to The Authority and The Punisher and doesn't cross the line, shows why his way can work and why being a boy scout is actually a noble thing, not a corny thing.

Superman #775. Beautiful work, I bow to you Joe Kelly.

[jonsnow]

Singularly one of the greatest Superman stories EVER WRITTEN. Superman stands up to The Authority and The Punisher and doesn't cross the line, shows why his way can work and why being a boy scout is actually a noble thing, not a corny thing.

Superman #775. Beautiful work, I bow to you Joe Kelly.
This is a great reaosn for why I like Superman more thn The Authority or Punisher. He does not cross-over the line. He holds the line.

[erichssf]

This is a great reaosn for why I like Superman more thn The Authority or Punisher. He does not cross-over the line. He holds the line.

The "Endgame" story (I think that is what it was called). Where Manchester Black was engineering attacks on Clark Kent's family and friends, and then finally made it look like he killed Lois and Superman still did not cross the line.
I can't say I won't, if somebody killed my wife, I would want blood...and lots of it.

[Justin Byrd]

The "Endgame" story (I think that is what it was called). Where Manchester Black was engineering attacks on Clark Kent's family and friends, and then finally made it look like he killed Lois and Superman still did not cross the line.
I can't say I won't, if somebody killed my wife, I would want blood...and lots of it.
I think you're talking about Ending Battle...when Manchester blew himself up at the end.

[erichssf]

I think you're talking about Ending Battle...when Manchester blew himself up at the end.

That's the one!

[Rosebb]

"When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is: Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears, the glasses, the business suit, that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us."

"Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race."

It's an interesting take (albeit engineered for the purposes of a film), and while I wouldn't immediately dismiss it as completely wrong, I do disagree. I think Clark Kent is Superman's link to us rather than his critique. Because of his alter-ego, Superman is able to forge relationships, hold a job, keep a home, etc. etc.-- all those normal "human" things the rest of us do. If he were just Superman rather than alternating with Clark Kent, there would be no way for him to sympathize with us from an internal pov. There would be only a larger, more supreme being looking down upon lesser beings, perhaps shaking his head and becoming frustrated :)

[Normalman]

I like Superman because if he existed in the real world he'd be just as useful as in the comic book world, stopping planes from hitting buildings, turning hurricanes away, rescuing tsunami victims, taking nukes away from nutjobs, the list is endless.

Lets face it, how often does Batman (not Batgod) solve a crime any good, non-corrupt police department couldn't solve? How often would Spiderman bump into an a group of armed gunmen in the real New York City? How many intergalatic menaces pop up for the FF to fight. The vast bulk of heroes are only of value because they have villains who "only" they can defeat. In a way, J. Jonah Jameson is right, if it wasn't for a conveniently large array of supervillians, most superheroes would be totally unecessary.

Superman though isn't about battling bad guys, he's about helping people and who can't get behind that.

[Sasquatch]

Singularly one of the greatest Superman stories EVER WRITTEN. Superman stands up to The Authority and The Punisher and doesn't cross the line, shows why his way can work and why being a boy scout is actually a noble thing, not a corny thing.

Superman #775. Beautiful work, I bow to you Joe Kelly.

loved it
i sided with the elite, though

[Justin Byrd]

loved it
i sided with the elite, though
No kidding. :no:

[jonsnow]

Wanna know why I love Supes? Read the issue that came out this Wednesday. It says it all.

[Blake Petit]

Wanna know why I love Supes? Read the issue that came out this Wednesday. It says it all.

Yer darn right.

[Wolverinesson]

I don't know if it's too many things Ilike. However, I will tell you what I don't like.

1. Secret Identity

I mean what the hell is up with that?? Glasses on: Oh look it's Clark Glasses off: Oh hey, it's Superman, where did Clark go?

2. The red underwears over the blue tights

Come on guys let's modernize this classic superhero with at least some regular tights instead of the red superlooms huggin his superjunk. The new movie makes that guy look very um, how can I say this, um Gay!


I'll get back to you on the others. I can't think of them right now but once I do I'll post em.

[SINALOA]

I like the whole farmboy aspect of superman. Such a powerful character yet his ties to his family are great.

There was an issue with flash and superman and superman says he hears 'ma telling him there is apple pie, he invites flash over and they have some good american pie together. THATS AWESOME.

I do think something needs to be done about the red underwear though.

[jonsnow]

2. The red underwears over the blue tights

Come on guys let's modernize this classic superhero with at least some regular tights instead of the red superlooms huggin his superjunk. The new movie makes that guy look very um, how can I say this, um Gay!
Ok, why does everyone get bent out of shape about Supes and the red briefs? Many comic characters do, Marvel and DC. As for it looking "Gay" I disagree, corny yes, gay no. Gay people have a much better sense of fashion than to wear underwear outside their pants (ok so I am stereotying, but it is meant to be funny)

[Justin Byrd]

I don't know if it's too many things Ilike. However, I will tell you what I don't like.

1. Secret Identity

I mean what the hell is up with that?? Glasses on: Oh look it's Clark Glasses off: Oh hey, it's Superman, where did Clark go?
Because not many in the public think that Superman has a secret identity, that he's actually just Superman 24/7. They don't think he's got a secret ID, read Superman v2 #2 for that, even Luthor, when confronted with the truth, still couldn't make it past that Superman would pretend to be a regular person like Clark Kent.

2. The red underwears over the blue tights

Come on guys let's modernize this classic superhero with at least some regular tights instead of the red superlooms huggin his superjunk. The new movie makes that guy look very um, how can I say this, um Gay!
I take it you like Wolverine? He wears yellow and blue spandex...that's not a little strange?

His costume is iconic, it's legendary. It's not changing...it's bright, corny...but that's what it's supposed to represent. It's got primary colors, it almost resembles the American flag in respects...and that's about it.

He's the big blue boy scout. That's who he is, that's what his costume represents.

[Mark Blicharz]

I don't know if it's too many things Ilike. However, I will tell you what I don't like.

1. Secret Identity

I mean what the hell is up with that?? Glasses on: Oh look it's Clark Glasses off: Oh hey, it's Superman, where did Clark go?

Superman blurs his face so no one ever gets a clear look at him.

2. The red underwears over the blue tights

Come on guys let's modernize this classic superhero with at least some regular tights instead of the red superlooms. The new movie makes that guy look very um, how can I say this, um Gay!

And yellow and blue spandex is any better?

[Cardiac]

It's A Bird... by Steve Seagle

Read it. It says everything that needs to be said.

[Jim Wright]

I'm like my littlest daughter. We're both big Superman fans but can't say why. We were in Wal-Mart yesterday and decided to let the kids get one clothes-like thing. Meaghan got a pink shirt, Evie got a pink skirt, we got a shirt for Jamie and Mae Mae originally wanted some Nemo pajamas. Then she saw them...Superman pajamas. It's been 3 days and I figuratively have had to chisel them off of her so I can wash them so she can wear them the next night.
I asked her this morning why she liked Superman so much and she couldn't tell me really. And I thought to myself that I can't figure it out either. We just do.

[Wolverinesson]

Gay people have a much better sense of fashion than to wear underwear outside their pants

This is true.

[Wolverinesson]

Because not many in the public think that Superman has a secret identity, that he's actually just Superman 24/7. They don't think he's got a secret ID, read Superman v2 #2 for that, even Luthor, when confronted with the truth, still couldn't make it past that Superman would pretend to be a regular person like Clark Kent.


I take it you like Wolverine? He wears yellow and blue spandex...that's not a little strange?

His costume is iconic, it's legendary. It's not changing...it's bright, corny...but that's what it's supposed to represent. It's got primary colors, it almost resembles the American flag in respects...and that's about it.

He's the big blue boy scout. That's who he is, that's what his costume represents.

I can hardly believe that Clark Kent being a reporter for a newspaper has fooled other reporters and photogs all these years. I mean how unperceptive are these people. For example. Let's take Brad Pitt for example. His face is pretty well known all over the world, wouldn't you say that? Well, what if Brad takes a job as a part time shoe salesman in your local mall. The only thing is he puts on glasses to cover his ID. You mean to tell me that he wont get spotted immediately afterwards? People will say "holy crap Brad Pitt is selling me shoes"! It's very unbelievable and his secret identity is a joke.

And to say that Lex Luthor a friggen genius couldn't tell? I say to you then my friend that the geniuses of the DC U are borderline retardos.

Wolverine along with every other hero in the Marvel U where tights. Not briefs over there tights. It's a difference. :p

[Wolverinesson]

Superman blurs his face so no one ever gets a clear look at him.
And yellow and blue spandex is any better?

I'm not to familiar with the whole Superman mythos but, where does it say that he blurs his face when he's around people? Cause from all the movies and cartoons that I've seen he never does this. Show me the money! :rant:

If you notice in the Astonishing X Men Wolvies "tights" are more like tight fitting leather pants. Like in the movies. ;)

[Mark Blicharz]

I can hardly believe that Clark Kent being a reporter for a newspaper has fooled other reporters and photogs all these years. I mean how unperceptive are these people. For example. Let's take Brad Pitt for example. His face is pretty well known all over the world, wouldn't you say that? Well, what if Brad takes a job as a part time shoe salesman in your local mall. The only thing is he puts on glasses to cover his ID. You mean to tell me that he wont get spotted immediately afterwards? People will say "holy crap Brad Pitt is selling me shoes"! It's very unbelievable and his secret identity is a joke.

I suggest you read what I said Wolverinesson. He blurs his face in public so you can't get a clear view of his face nor can a photographer.

And to say that Lex Luthor a friggen genius couldn't tell? I say to you then my friend that the geniuses of the DC U are borderline retardos.

Luthor had who he was and refused to believe it was him. He refuses to believe someone so powerful would do what he does. I can say the same thing about the X-men. How can none of the geniuses of the MU figure out where the X-men are based out of? You can trace the emissions of the jet.

Wolverine along with every other hero in the Marvel U where tights. Not briefs over there tights. It's a difference. :p

Really eh? http://img184.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wolb1iu.jpg I believe that's Logan with his briefs on the outside.

[Justin Byrd]

Wolverinesson, go read a Superman book. Mark is right.

1. He blurs his face in public.

2. HE'S BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED WITH CLARK KENT for Pete's sake! Several times. Heck, Superman saved "Clark" from the wreckage of Metropolis following Doomsday's attack. Your analogy is flawed as well. If Brad Pitt shows up working at a shoe store in thick glasses, slicked back hair, stooped posture and a higher voice, you'd say "yeah, you look like him" but if he says "it's just a resemblance" you wouldn't buy it? Especially if said shoe clerk was photographed with Brad Pitt?

3. Why would someone so powerful pretend to be someone so weak? That's what Luthor said. It's not stupidity, it's hubris. Also, Kent uses Meisner acting techniques to make sure he's not noticed as the same person.

The fact is, the general public don't believe that Superman has a secret identity, and they can't photograph him.

It's easy to make all these criticisms and statements about how silly it is, but think about it. Why don't more people know that Batman is Bruce Wayne? How can he afford so many gadgets? It's gotta be someone with money.

Mark, great point about the X-Men and their location.

There has to be a little suspension of disbelief. It's a freaking comic book. But even in the case of the secret identity of Superman, it's not that unbelievable.

[Blake Petit]

There's also the fact that Superman's eyes are an unearthly shade of blue and Clark's glasses diffuse the color to make them look normal, the fact that he's taken acting lessons to create a totally different persona, and the fact that since he and Lois got engaged and she learned the truth, he's had her covering his back as well. Yeah, the basic disguise was kinda silly when first presented back in the Golden age, and got even sillier (like everything else) in the Silver Age, but it's a classic part of the mythos and they've gone out of their way to explain it since then.

[JX141]

Wolverinesson, go read a Superman book. Mark is right.

1. He blurs his face in public.

2. HE'S BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED WITH CLARK KENT for Pete's sake! Several times. Heck, Superman saved "Clark" from the wreckage of Metropolis following Doomsday's attack. Your analogy is flawed as well. If Brad Pitt shows up working at a shoe store in thick glasses, slicked back hair, stooped posture and a higher voice, you'd say "yeah, you look like him" but if he says "it's just a resemblance" you wouldn't buy it? Especially if said shoe clerk was photographed with Brad Pitt?

3. Why would someone so powerful pretend to be someone so weak? That's what Luthor said. It's not stupidity, it's hubris. Also, Kent uses Meisner acting techniques to make sure he's not noticed as the same person.

The fact is, the general public don't believe that Superman has a secret identity, and they can't photograph him.

It's easy to make all these criticisms and statements about how silly it is, but think about it. Why don't more people know that Batman is Bruce Wayne? How can he afford so many gadgets? It's gotta be someone with money.

Mark, great point about the X-Men and their location.

There has to be a little suspension of disbelief. It's a freaking comic book. But even in the case of the secret identity of Superman, it's not that unbelievable.

it's a classic part of the mythos and they've gone out of their way to explain it since then.
Seriously I really do try to give Superman a chance as a character, but then one of you guys informs me of some new crap about him. I understand that writers have tried to explain away some of the glaring inconsistencies about him and his powers but how much FRICKIN disbelief is one to suspend.
Yeah great one of you pointed out that with any character or set of characters you gotta suspend some disbelief or it just wouldnt work. The problem is you have to do this about every other second with superman. I actually feel really bad for the writers who have to try and explain the sins of the past and believe me some of the stuff that has been written is sinful. They at least could have written in that it is a by product of the biofield and not a conscious thing he does. You cant tell me he has never once lost concentration,...umm, err not even when he was dead???????

It gets old real fast when someone points out the flaws in this character, and he is extremely flawed, and one of you guys says "its a comic you gotta suspend some disbelief" or " comic physics arent the same as real world physics". It comes across as extremely whiny and really fanboyish, you cant claim to not be a fanboy and then spout that stuff. You come across like those sports fans that are on the bandwagon of the number 1 team because they are the number 1 team.

I honestly couldnt sleep til I wrote this, what a freak

[Justin Byrd]

JX, how many Superman books have you read? Look, it's got nothing to do with fanboyism, and you made no point as to why you think it's silly. Obviously the face blurring thing isn't full proof, but the fact remains: the world at large doesn't think Superman has a civilian identity.

So it's ridiculous to suspend disbelief that this guy can do all this, but it's okay to not suspend disbelief that an octogenarian can create wormholes over in Marvel?

Look, his mind works faster than ours. He is able to use the Meisner technique to pull it off. Just by subtle changes, he can appear to be a different person. Pictures have been taken of Clark and Superman, by Jimmy Olsen...who would be one of the few who could be suspicious. Luthor not accepting the truth was meant to show how much hubris and arrogance he had.

I don't understand how all this is that ridiculous, or that unbelieveable. Only someone who knew both Clark and Superman could really begin to get suspicious, but fact is, no one ever got that close to one or the other.

It's not like Pre-Crisis when he used "super-hypnotism" to fool people. This all is plausible.

[JX141]

JX, how many Superman books have you read? Look, it's got nothing to do with fanboyism, and you made no point as to why you think it's silly. Obviously the face blurring thing isn't full proof, but the fact remains: the world at large doesn't think Superman has a civilian identity.

So it's ridiculous to suspend disbelief that this guy can do all this, but it's okay to not suspend disbelief that an octogenarian can create wormholes over in Marvel?

Look, his mind works faster than ours. He is able to use the Meisner technique to pull it off. Just by subtle changes, he can appear to be a different person. Pictures have been taken of Clark and Superman, by Jimmy Olsen...who would be one of the few who could be suspicious. Luthor not accepting the truth was meant to show how much hubris and arrogance he had.

I don't understand how all this is that ridiculous, or that unbelieveable. Only someone who knew both Clark and Superman could really begin to get suspicious, but fact is, no one ever got that close to one or the other.

It's not like Pre-Crisis when he used "super-hypnotism" to fool people. This all is plausible.
Hey I didnt mean to be flaming anyone for liking him, for me its not about the face blurring thing, I dont care about any 1 or even a few things that u have to suspend disbelief on. My issue is how many things you have to suspend disbelief on for this one character and that's not even going into the PreCrisis stuff. Of course part of the problem is how high profile a character he is and how many writers have written things that are so over the top and I keep being informed of new things even post crisis.
I can handle the whole meisner techniques and his superfast brain and muscles blurring things when he is "Clark" in an ordinary situation but whoever thought of that explanation should have thought twice. To assume that he has never been distracted enough for the "cover" to break is ludicrous especially considering th whole DoS arch. It would have been smarter to have tied it into whole bio-field thing which seems to be sub-conscious. The bio-field also requires a whole lot of suspension of disbelief, not for the fact that it exists only for the fact that he has no real control over it but supposedly has control over himself to a molecular level and one explanation for the heat vision might be him telekinetically exciting molecule. It seems to contradict in my eyes.

A lot seems to contradict in my eyes and that is my problem with him as a character. He is given so many awesome powers and is written to be seemingly invincible/omnipotent/indestructible at times then other times he can be hurt, can make a mistake that he shouldnt make given how some writers have written him. I really feel bad for writers that have to write him interacting with or having trouble with any other characters he faces because the next writer will prob write it so that he shouldnt possibly have had any issues with the previous situation.
Telling someone to suspend their disbelief is like saying I like the Carolina Hurricanes because they win.

[Justin Byrd]

He's been written inconsistently, but who hasn't? At first Magneto was a guy who could control metal, now he can create wormholes (well not NOW) and do all sorts of crazy stuff.

The thing is with Superman, Byrne needed something to explain some things without changing the essential character of Superman.

1. Secret ID. Pre-Crisis, it was explained that he was able to keep it secret by super hypnosis, which made people think he was a shorter, hefty guy instead of a big brawny guy. He was mild-mannered and geeky. Post-crisis, we still wanted Clark there, and Byrne wanted Clark to be more proactive and confident (which I really enjoyed). So, now instead of another ridiculous superpower, he changes his appearance slightly, has practiced acting, and blurred his face in public. The latter got thrown by the wayside later, but at that point, most people in the world think that Superman is Superman 24/7, no secret identity. So it fits. It's not PERFECT, but what is? I mean, how in the hell did Batman build up his cave without contractors and workers? He and Alfred did it all?

2. Biofield. Pre-Crisis, he had a suit that was invulnerable to harm. How did Ma Kent sew it in the first place, if it's invulnerable? But there's still got to be a reason why his suit doesn't rip up when someone shoots him, so he's got a biofield aura that surrounds his body and objects within like a millimeter off his skin are protected. It's that suspension of disbelief, sure, and it's a lot...but logically it makes more sense than the suit of old.

I understand why some people don't like Superman, based on his powers. But he's Superman, not Mediocreman. He's pretty much the most powerful superhero on Earth in DC. Making him weak is like making Batman a lesser detective, or saying that Xavier's telepathy is "so-so". :)

[Mark Blicharz]

People believing Clark Kent is Superman can easily be shown a photo of Clark Kent being pulled out from under a building by Superman and having his picture taken by a Daily Planet photographer when Superman returned.

Joe Schmoe: "Hmm, I think that Clark Kent is Superman. He's never around when Superman is."

Joe Schmoe's friend: "He can't be, lookie here at this picture of them together in the most reliable paper in the world. How could they be the same person?"

Joe Schmoe: "I guess yer right..."

[JX141]

Ehh my beef isnt that the explanation couldnt work but that there has never been a time when it failed due to lack of concentration or something. IMO it just would have been more believable had it been an unconscious effort on his part.

[Justin Byrd]

Ehh my beef isnt that the explanation couldnt work but that there has never been a time when it failed due to lack of concentration or something. IMO it just would have been more believable had it been an unconscious effort on his part.
Well he wasn't doing it ALL the time, but most of the time he made sure that his photograph would be unrecognizable.

It's only one of the explanations too.

[Jim Wright]

From what I remember wasn't it Jay Garrick that did the face blur thing? I don't remember Superman ever saying he did that. As far as the invulnerable suit, Ma Kent sewed it using a sliver of metal from the spaceship.

[Blake Petit]

From what I remember wasn't it Jay Garrick that did the face blur thing? I don't remember Superman ever saying he did that. As far as the invulnerable suit, Ma Kent sewed it using a sliver of metal from the spaceship.

Clark said somewhere during the Byrne run that he did the face blur trick.

He probably picked it up from Jay. ;)

[Sasquatch]

ok, clark looks identical to superman, everybody knows that, but clark and supes have been seen together, photographed together, filmed together tons of times, so who ever is ever going to think they are the same person?
it's just an oddity, a journalist that looks like a super hero, good for him, but the general public of the dcu has seen them both together!
looking like someone does not mean you are that someone.

[Janitor]

I've made it known that I don't like Superman. Whenever I got the chance to, I've made it known that I can't stand him.

But that aint really the truth. I got no beef with Supes himself. It's just the fact that creators often dumb others down around him. We know Superman is the greatest. We know it already. Yet writers still have to let it be known that Supes is numero uno, even when dealing with others who are far and above him in power.

But I digress. As a character, I like Superman. Sure, he can be stubborn and pig-headed in his beliefs. But that applies to nearly every major hero or villian. It's his beliefs that make me like him. How can you not? Sure, they're corny, but in this day and age, they're definitely not outdated.

That's about it when it comes to what I like about Big Blue. A dozen other people have his powers, so those don't really hold my interest. It's the fact that he never gives up. He can be as grim and gritty as Wolverine or Punisher, but he does it all and still never crosses a line. He always holds true to his beliefs. I may not agree with his ideals from time to time. But the fact that he always holds true to himself and ALWAYS tries to do good is what sells it for me. As a character, I got no problems with him.


My biggest beef with him, however, has to be his origin. Not because its convoluted or anything, but the mere fact that he's an alien. As a hero based on earth, it's been said that he represents what is good and just and everything that a human being should be. It's the fact that he isn't human is what bugs me. It would be so much cooler if Supes was human and got his powers some other way. The fact that he is not from this earth always makes it seem, to me at least, that we can never be like him. Not physically, but in terms of his heart and will. It seems like we can never attain that, as humans.

And another thing. He's supposed to be an inspiration to us all, right? Well, too often it seems that humans aren't inspired by him, but depend on him far too much. Earth hasn't seemed to be gotten any better since he arrived. Sure, he's saved it from destruction lots of times, but humans never seem to learn from his example. As a whole, they never seem to be inspired to be like him. They just call out for his help time and time again, never trying to better themselves. If anything, retiring like he did in KC was the correct choice (minus the super-powered amoral offspring, of course). It seems like there should be a time when Superman should let Earth take care of itself.

I'll get off my soapbox now. In conclusion, I'd like to apologize to Superman for all those times I said I hated him. I just now realized that I never meant what I said. Though I may dislike how he is written, I cannot dislike the man himself. And no matter what I say, the "S" shield will always be there to save the day.

:superhero: for the win.

[Justin Byrd]

Well said Phil, but a few things:

1. About Superman being an alien. Don't you find it fascinating that a being from a distant planet can be considered more human and caring than most humans? I mean, the guy is more human than Bruce Wayne...who IS human! :) Anyway, I think that's what makes him fascinating...when he found out his origin in the MoS mini, he realized it didn't make a difference.

Krypton made him super.
Earth made him a man.

Anyway, that's my thought on that.

2. The inspiration thing, this has actually been touched on by Elliot Maggin in the classic pre-crisis story "Does the World need Superman?" The Guardians of the Universe pose to Supes that he might be interfering with human evolution and development by coddling them and being hero all the time. He went back, concerned he was doing so, but realized that he just had to use good judgment and rely on instinct. He couldn't be running around curing cancer and stuff, but he could save people from burning buildings and stop criminals like Luthor.

Also, he inspires a lot of people. Many heroes are heroes because of Superman. Look at what happened in the Elseworld JLA: The Nail. While it's an Elseworld and not in continuity, it certainly painted a grim picture of what the world would be like without that continuing source of inspiration that is Superman.

He inspired Steel to get off his butt and become a hero. Bibbo even helped out after he died in honor of his fav'rit. There are a lot more people who are inspired by Superman than you'd think. Seriously, go read Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale...one of the best characterizations and portraits of why Big Blue is great.


That all said, thanks for the retraction on hating Superman. And yeah, there are writers who botch him up (Joe Casey I'm looking at you) but every character gets poor writings now and again. And many times Supes is dumbed down in books like JLA to make everyone else look good.

But the reason that many times he's the last guy standing is because he IS the most powerful, he IS the most inspirational, and his will isn't second to many.

Though you summed up a lot of reasons why he's great. Not his powers (how many heroes have invulnerability, strength and flight anymore...TONS), but his heart and his devotion. His never crossing the line. Well said, Phil.

[Janitor]

Well said Phil, but a few things:

1. About Superman being an alien. Don't you find it fascinating that a being from a distant planet can be considered more human and caring than most humans? I mean, the guy is more human than Bruce Wayne...who IS human! :) Anyway, I think that's what makes him fascinating...when he found out his origin in the MoS mini, he realized it didn't make a difference.

Krypton made him super.
Earth made him a man.

Anyway, that's my thought on that.

That's exactly what I don't like about it! :LOL: I don't dislike Superman for that, I LAUD him for it. It's the fact that an alien can be more human than actual humans. It makes me weep for the species that we need an alien to show us how to act human. :)



2. The inspiration thing, this has actually been touched on by Elliot Maggin in the classic pre-crisis story "Does the World need Superman?" The Guardians of the Universe pose to Supes that he might be interfering with human evolution and development by coddling them and being hero all the time. He went back, concerned he was doing so, but realized that he just had to use good judgment and rely on instinct. He couldn't be running around curing cancer and stuff, but he could save people from burning buildings and stop criminals like Luthor.

Also, he inspires a lot of people. Many heroes are heroes because of Superman. Look at what happened in the Elseworld JLA: The Nail. While it's an Elseworld and not in continuity, it certainly painted a grim picture of what the world would be like without that continuing source of inspiration that is Superman.

He inspired Steel to get off his butt and become a hero. Bibbo even helped out after he died in honor of his fav'rit. There are a lot more people who are inspired by Superman than you'd think. Seriously, go read Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale...one of the best characterizations and portraits of why Big Blue is great.

I'll definitely try and find those. It's no secret that I only have casual knowledge of Superman, and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thought about that. I just wish that DC would show ordinary people being inspired without knowing Superman directly (like Steel, who IIRC never met him before becoming a hero).


That all said, thanks for the retraction on hating Superman.

No problem. To quote The Kingdom, "For all he'd done, he deserved Heaven, not prison."

I know he definitely doesn't deserve my hate! :LOL:

[Justin Byrd]

That's exactly what I don't like about it! :LOL: I don't dislike Superman for that, I LAUD him for it. It's the fact that an alien can be more human than actual humans. It makes me weep for the species that we need an alien to show us how to act human. :)
VERY true, however, look at it this way: if a guy can come here and become so human and caring...if an alien can learn to be so human that he values all sentient life...doesn't that mean that there's hope for us yet? :)

I'll definitely try and find those. It's no secret that I only have casual knowledge of Superman, and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thought about that. I just wish that DC would show ordinary people being inspired without knowing Superman directly (like Steel, who IIRC never met him before becoming a hero).
Definitely get the Loeb/Sale collaboration. One of my personal all time favorites...

And Steel did meet Superman prior to him becoming Steel, Superman saved John Henry Irons' life once, and to make it up to him he made the armor. Sure you could say that Steel did it out of homage, but I think he did it because he was truly inspired to follow Superman's ideals and path. Of the four Supermen, he was the one who really seemed to have Superman's soul.

No problem. To quote The Kingdom, "For all he'd done, he deserved Heaven, not prison."

I know he definitely doesn't deserve my hate! :LOL:
Poor, poor Kal-L. Finally got out only to see his wife die and then get killed by an impudent brat. I really liked that character too, after reading Crisis on Infinite Earths he was my favorite incarnation of Superman (after our modern version).

[Star1592]

Tarantino has no idea who Superman is or what he's about. Clark Kent isn't a coward. I'd suggest you read Up, Up, and Away part 2 for proof of that. Kal-El was raised first and foremost as Clark Kent. That's who he is. Superman is the mask he puts on for the world when he goes out. Kal-El wasn't born Superman, he was born Kal-El. He was raised as Clark Kent. He didn't even manifest his powers really until he was a teenager. So how was he born Superman?

Well said, Mark.

[Mighty Kal]

Is the being you want to be.Powerful as hell, noble, bravier than anyone, always ready to sacrifice himself for his olved ones and earth sakeness. he is simply awesome, a guy like that could choose to being a conqueror, but he decided to be a saviour. SUPERMAN RULES:superhero: :supermansymbol:
And as Justin says, he is more human than most humans, Krypton make hims Super, and Earth make him a Man....
ALso watch superman returns or superman one, and listen the lies of Jor-El, then you will know the greatness fo Superman

[Amok]

From what I remember wasn't it Jay Garrick that did the face blur thing? I don't remember Superman ever saying he did that. As far as the invulnerable suit, Ma Kent sewed it using a sliver of metal from the spaceship.

No. Kal-L used heat vision to make his suit out of the kryptonian space ship and blanket. No bio field crap thanks for us Pc'ers.