Superman Trying to Bring Peace Without Interfering.

[superfangirl1]

Action Comics #900.

Comments

[baxter2814]

How do I hate this run? Let me count the ways....

Okay, I can't. There's just so much wrong I can't even articulate it all. So let my icon speak for me while I just rant instead:

Please, please, please for the love of God stop this bullshit. Remember when Superman just ran around stopping floods and fighting supervillains? Remember when he hung around Metropolis unless he was really needed elsewhere? Remember when he really, really, really didn't like to ever do or say anything political ever? When he wouldn't even comment on Luthor's election? And what's this citizenship bullshit? Of course he's an American. His home is Metropolis. REMEMBER???? Metropolis, as in, America. He's not some figurehead for the world, floating impersonal and objectively over the atmosphere. He's just a superhero. People in the DC universe don't have the same idiotically hyperbolic notions about Superman being some generic "ideal" or some lazy philosophical notion of Costumed Space Jesus that we have in real life. This is just crap.

I really, really hate that people are trying to use Superman as anything other than "random superhero who just so happens to be more popular than everyone else". Just STOP. It makes him into a generic pool of free floating ideas instead of a character, which is the excuse stupid people use for not liking Superman. If I didn't know that he's usually not like this, I'd say they were totally justified. I'm sorry, but this obsession with making Superman into everything good and holy is irritating beyond belief and is really unsustainable. I'm going to bury my head in Byrne's and Jurgen's runs until DC stops taking themselves so fucking seriously and starts tellings stories about people instead of ideas.

On the other hand, it IS kind of a cool gesture. But it's just not Superman. Why couldn't they have someone like Wonder Woman do this kind of thing? Oh right, retconning out everything that makes a character unique. For the 167th time I'm again reduced to wondering what was wrong with a superheroine ambassador who could actually handle this kind of political material without looking like an idiot.

Okay got that out of my system...it's been building slowly since Infinite Crisis.

[starwolf_oakley]

I really, really hate that people are trying to use Superman as anything other than "random superhero who just so happens to be more popular than everyone else". Just STOP.

Indeed. In the current DCU, his popularity is a result of being the "first of a new era" since the Justice Society. (In my private fanon, there were other superheroes and teams around after the JSA, they just kept a low profile.) And they've done stories where Superman is popular enough that whole cults worship him.

Some elements can work, like Superman represents something "loftier" to people which is different from how he really is. There are lots of great Batman stories that involve how "regular people" view Batman. A story were various citizens *see* Superman as "everything good and holy" would work better than a story where Superman *is* "everything good and holy."

[fifthie]

People in the DC universe don't have the same idiotically hyperbolic notions about Superman being some generic "ideal" or some lazy philosophical notion of Costumed Space Jesus that we have in real life

In fairness this is actually not the case, the comics have portrayed Superman cults and other people with, well, certainly an elevated view of him.

Supes is generally like "lol ok" and then tells them to maybe try doing some charity work or something.

[baxter2814]

Yeah, but that's not the general view of him. Those are people who idolize Superman as some sort of God, not large swathes of people who turn to Supes every time something happens and ask him to give them his opinion or to tell them what to think, like he's the frickin' President or something. Difference between general population considering him a political/moral figure and groups of fans going "omg Superman is the best thing eva!!11"

[jlbarnett]

they have done the cults BUT according supposedly most heroes get cults around them.

[turtlefu]

Well, I would say "Never say never" because there is at least one really good Superman-as-Jesus metaphor. (All-Star Superman) I think it was well written and I think it can be done.
But yeah, it's sort of a lofty idea that shouldn't be handled this shoddily.

[baxter2814]

Oh there's nothing really wrong with the metaphor true (it also worked well in the canon Death of Superman story) — it's when it gets hammered in over and over and over again and treated like he can't have any traits that don't fit into that metaphor that it really gets really annoying.

[recognitions]

I don't agree. Superman's generally been portrayed to be a very admirable figure and even an inspiration to the general public in the comics. And he has tried to play a hand in political affairs before, usually with disastrous results. Clark even admits that the move was a mistake. I think it's perfectly legitimate to see Superman questioning his role in world society as far as politics goes and making mistakes there. It certainly makes him a more admirable character than having him constantly cop out by saying "Nope, not my problem, work it out yourselves."

[baxter2814]

I agree that that it's an idea that sounds good.

I don't agree that it's an idea that can work with a long-running character in a shared universe that people tell hundreds of sequential stories about and has a personal life.

And anyway, I prefer for superheroes to let people work stuff out themselves. They're busy enough fighting villains to bother with a bunch of political junk. Apolitical, like law enforcement, is best.

[recognitions]

Eh, I give comics a bit more credit than that. If the Superman line can withstand Beppo the Super-Monkey and a Pat Boone cameo appearance, it can handle a little political mucking about.

That's probably the best way for it to work in theory. Of course, stories are more interesting when things don't always work out the best way, and more true to life as well.

[baxter2814]

Yeah I'm sure it can handle it — superheroes are nothing if not resilient. If Batman can leave Adam West in the dust, anything's possible. But unfortunately that doesn't stop it from being annoying in the interim.