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DEC 01, 2005 09:15 AM
Liante said:
Can somebody explain to me the appeal of the Superman mythos? I apologize if this is a clueless question, but Superman is the one major comic book figure that I know nothing about and, frankly, have never been particularly interested in. He's super. Woo. That seems more like an end point than a beginning to me. Where's the challenge? How does this character develop?
If anybody can point me to a good basic rundown, or maybe provide one here, I'd be grateful. Thanks. 
the best use of Superman is in Batman comics specifically Dark Knight Returns and it's sequel in which he's basically a stand in representing American self-righteous hubris. At least that's how I seem the cartoon was pretty cool too both the solo one and the Justice League adventure.
DEC 01, 2005 12:40 PM
bleh i still wanna see a green latnern movie. I mean the green lantern knocked out superman.so why does superman get to return. That why superman return is gonna suck ass because there is already a oversaturation of superman. Green lantern rules. 
DEC 01, 2005 12:52 PM
Liante said:
Can somebody explain to me the appeal of the Superman mythos? I apologize if this is a clueless question, but Superman is the one major comic book figure that I know nothing about and, frankly, have never been particularly interested in. He's super. Woo. That seems more like an end point than a beginning to me. Where's the challenge? How does this character develop?
If anybody can point me to a good basic rundown, or maybe provide one here, I'd be grateful. Thanks.
BILL: As you know, I'm quite keen of comic books, especially the ones about superheroes. I find the whole mythology surrounding superheroes fascinating. Take my favorite superhero, Superman. Not a great comic book, not particularly well-drawn. But the mythology... the mythology is not only great, it's unique.
Now, the staple of the superhero mythology is there is the superhero and there is the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spiderman is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spiderman and it is in that characteristic, Superman stands alone.
Superman didn't become Superman, Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. Hhis 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; thats the costume that Superman wears to blend in with us.
Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? Hes weak, hes unsure of himself, hes a coward. Clark Kent is Supermans critique on the whole human race...
As others have said before, Superman used to be this infallable, god-like being. It wasn't until he was revamped by John Byrne in the post-Crisis DC Universe (a big-ass event that attempted to merge all the DC "Multiverses into one single, streamlined universe) into a more fallable character did he really become interesting. Now Supes isn't as god-like or as powerful as he was in the late 70's and early 80's. He can be hurt. He can be defeated. And he can even be killed (though everyone knew that he wouldn't really stay dead in the "Death of Superman" storyline). But, ultimately, he's still Superman - one of the most powerful beings in all of comicdom. Despite his lessened abilities, he's still almost overly-powerful, and as such can make for a boring, repititious read.
Superman, like any other comic book character, is only as good as the person penning his stories.
RedBstrd
Riverside, CA
April 2004
DEC 01, 2005 03:20 AM