Ultimately Off-Topic

Really? It's been on the Internet for months now. But, I only saw it like a month after it was leaked online. You could probably still find it online, if you haven't already.

Loved Avenger #34.1. Really reminded me how much I miss pre-New 52 Superman. Al Ewing could write a damn good Superman. That final page was a really good twist and great use of the character's history. Anybody else read this? Wolverine12 if you didn't you need to.

The issue was so good you need to experience it yourself.

I read it as well. I was talking to a friend about it and he said that it was much more satisfying see a story where Superman or in this case a superman look like actually act good which gives it more depth and characterization. In the past few years we have seen an influx of bad Superman that it's now much harder to write a good Superman but when someone does it makes the story much more satisfying. The only problem is that this wasn't Superman which just shows how bad things have gotten for DC. Sure Hyperion is good but we all want to root for Superman and the fact that pretty much all the executives heads have taken that away be it Man of Steel, New 52, Injustice, or Irredeemable is just infuriating. But don't get me wrong I still love Injustice and Irredeemable but I want stories where Superman is just Superman without all the bullshit melodrama. Just give me Superman Animated Cartoon again.

I agree. People seem to think that Superman has a lack of characterization but just going into his powers and morality like this issue did shows that he's actually a pretty damn complex character. How much he has to hold back, how he views humanity as equals even though he could kill everyone by just looking at them, and just how much he tries to put himself on equal terms through Clark Kent. And you're absolutely right, no one seems to know how to write Superman anymore and the people who do are being forced to write the New 52 Superman DC wants. Smallville Season 11, Morrison's black Superman, and Infinite Crisis are really the only books where that's not happening but those are also all alternate universes. We had Superman Adventures and that was great but it got canned. Tom Taylor wrote a great Superman in that one issue of Injustice that was showing how things were before. It's all really frustrating.
I'm really hoping that issue was Marvel seeing how interested people are in Hyperion to see if they can make a series.

I agree with what you guys are saying about Superman. I haven't read the comic you're discussing, but I full heartedly agree that a moral and altruistic saviour is exactly what Superman should be about. And it really shouldn't be that difficult to do either. I too would like to see a smarter, more moral version of Superman more often. And I also would like a more honest depiction of Superman with realistic ramifications. I have some ideas.. I want to see real ramifications and a more realistic depiction of Earth, it's inhabitants and the different countries who might fear or oppose Superman as well as the nations who fear and oppose each other. It would be wonderfully fitting to have Superman look at humanity's conflicts with an outsider's perspective. A story depicting an alien's perspective of our world; an outsiders perspective, an alien perspective, as well as an intimate perspective. This would provide a realistic and clear outlook on the Earth on a geopolitical scale, one where our nations bicker and dispute, and UN meetings on how to raise profits via military war economics and privatisation etc etc.'Imagine a Superman who had to deal with those problems. A story about a superior intellect from outer space looking upon humanity and seeing our struggles and conflicts and understanding why they exist.

A real world perspective would make so much sense, especially given some of the elements of Superman's more geopolitically driven books. Imagine a proper, back to basics, completely heroic Superman living within a world where he isn't allowed to fly over Russian airspace, or a Superman who is feared by the nations who are enemies to America's expanding empire. I just want to see some good, honest story telling about a Superman on our Earth, rather than the fake, plastic DC Earth we're so often adjured to.

Superman should be a moral hero first and foremost (I think we can all agree on that). We have a moral hero being raised within a culture of immoral ideologies. He instantly becomes very patriotic, to the point where he believes that America should have their flag on the moon and no anyone else, he fights wars too. That should definitely not be what Superman represents!! He's supposed to be smart. He should fight for the wellbeing of all nations. I think a certain sense of moral ambiguity mixed with an altruistic internal struggle to help human kind no matter what, would propel Superman into an unprecedented, unparalleled level of heroism. In most ways he would be classic Superman, the only difference being the environment he must contend with and how he approaches our problems. By the end of it, we'd have a more moral and more level-headed hero. I really think it's ridiculous that we can't have a Superman written with a more universal opinion of heroism. There's no need for it to be so imperial. A moral hero should be written with honesty. Think. This is someone who was raised in the 50's and 60's. He was still figuring out his powers around the time America invaded Vietnam. How would that make Superman feel, hearing JFK's speeches exposing the illegal war and it's bloodshed? How would he react to it and how would he question it? Would he even question it at all? That's what I want to know. Superman has always been written as someone trying to do the right thing. And I think we all want to read Superman as a symbol for morale. So what better way to do it than with moral ambiguity, providing keen logic to justifiable means. It would provide an intimate look at this morally grounded character as he tries to figure out how to solve humanity's problems. If I was writing Superman, I would write an intimate insight into his internal struggle upon his own moral ambiguity, and on top of this, I would take a very sympathetic approach to depicting humanity and humanity's nations, rather than the more politically tyrannical approach of writers like Millar, Morrison or Straczynski. I don't want that at all. Like I said, I'd write a book with absolutely no political bias. It's never been something I thought represented Superman's extreme altruism. He should just do what is best for all people, and that is all the story should be about (In my opinion anyway).

Superman is supposed to be a cerebrally superior, intellectual being. So why doesn't he solve problems at their route? For example, trying to solve criminal behaviour at the heart of the issues those people are faced with. Or facing social issues with compassion, questioning the environmental and social background of a criminal, how these ideas exist etc. Adhering to the problems more scientifically, relative to his superior mind. If criminal behaviour is an issue, how will he use his genius to try and solve it? What is Superman thinking about? How does he perceive humanity and how does he decide to help them? He is supposed to be sympathetic towards the human race. It's a prominent trait of his. It is sometimes looked into in the best and most insightful stories of Superman, however, although I usually highly enjoy those comics, I've never really read one that felt like those ideas were properly lawful to his vastly superior mind. I would definitely like to see Superman as a more pragmatic problem solver. I think it's a shame that his superior brain is ignored in most Superman comics.

At times it could be quite tragic. He could be hearing what people like JFK and John Lennon have to say and feel the similar altruistic strength as they did, to follow his heart and do what he feels is right, make a stand and try to stop the bad things from happening. I'm sure we can all agree that is (or should be) Superman first and foremost. During the 60's, how did he feel about JFK and John Lennon and what they fought for and believed in, and how did he feel about their coincidental assassinations? I would expect someone like Superman to be filled with the altruistic sense of duty as JFK and John Lennon did. And to be smart thinker. Not just a fighting superhero. Of course, Superman must always do what he feels is right.

Some nations might hate and fear him in the real world, but if I was to write Superman, I would make it more relatable, with a sympathetic look at humanity who are misguided, competitive, badly educated and desperate for his help. I want it to be purely about helping humanity and working with them to create a better world.

My Superman would bring ecological harmony to the human race through new and inventive ideas... rather than support an empire out of patriotic bias. We all deserve an honest, moral depiction of the world's most beloved superhero. We deserve to have Superman stories for the entire world. People forget, that Superman isn't a book just written for Americans. We all deserve to read about a more moral and more global saviour, solving humanity's real, actual problems. It would be great to have Superman see the war mongering efforts which plunge us all into economic imbalance and try to put a stop to it, rather than someone who continually ignores them, waves the American flag and turns a blind eye in favour of the US. Nor do I like the fact that we have a Superman who is constantly arrogant and a totally intolerant bully, sometimes beating up his little cousin, Supergirl if she disagrees with him. Suffice to say, trying to wrap your head around Superman's frame of mind can be quite frustrating at times.

We all deserve to read about this hero, a Superman for all nations and all comic book readers. Not American patriotic idealism all the time. I really don't see the point in that. It taints the hero he's supposed to be. I just want pure, good, honest ethics upon a realistic global landscape of Earth. An Earth of continuous national competition and how he chooses to solve it with his advanced academic mind. He could provide technical solutions to real world problems, such as human sustenance and production. I'm tired of reading about a Superman who takes such a blithe approach to sustaining human needs all the time, when it's such a huge part of our conflicts, and obviously someone like him would understand that. Heck, he could find us all a new renewable energy or teach us how to harness Fission as a power source. In fact, with his vast knowledge he could teach all of us to be better, more educated and more moral human beings. I want to see a story about him trying to save the world with his fists AND his mind. Just as he should be. Not see him turn a blind eye to our production and development out of bias, patriotic idealism. If writers are struggling to write Superman morally, it really isn't difficult, just don't be politically bias in the approach, because that will then in turn make Superman himself politically bias. Just write a Superman story that's not just for American compatriots. Because comic book superheroes are read and enjoyed world wide. I would bring Superman back to basics and start writing him as a hero for all nations, in which everyone can admire. It would simply be a case of cutting out all the bias crap and turning him into a more universal interpretation of a hero. A Superman in which all nations can appreciate and admire.

That's a lot of rudeness. Dude took his time to write that and all you respond with is that it's long. TriM, I'm at work but will read that when I get off.

So was mine...or was it?

This trailer has sparked my curiosity. Anyone else?






There's been stories like this. Off the top of my head Greg Rucka's run involved the war in the Middle East IIRC and Superman: Earth One did something with this I think. I'm not too sure to be honest, that book was REALLY awful for me so I don't remember it very well. Grant Morrison's All Star Superman was very focused on how Superman views us. I really wish Morrison's Superman run was as long as his Batman one. That would have been something magical. I don't remember if I posted this but Morrison, Mark Millar, Mark Waid, and Tom Peyer had a Superman relaunch idea that might interest you. DC opted to go with but some of that stuff ended up in Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright and Morrison's Action Comics/All Star Superman.



Thing is, that stuff was IN the comics already. They just ignore it or never bring it up. Superman always worked inside the law.



That's not what Superman represents at all. Yes, he is patriotic, but he's also loves the rest of the world just as much. Read Superman: Peace On Earth by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. You'll love it.



He's actually smarter than Batman. I don't think DC agrees though.

Seriously, go read Superman: Peace on Earth. I'll wait.

See current volume Fantastic Four for more!

Nothing good and shocking surprises! Counter Earth ties into it.

So, the girl I have a crush on accepted my friend request on FaceBook! One small step for me, one giant leap...no, no giant leap to be found here. Still, all the problems of my day seem to have disappeared with this one action. I have Homecoming tomorrow, just going with my friends and she is going by herself too. Don't really know all that much about here except that she loves Harry Potter even more than I do. So, that's a good start.

(Though she has never seen, nor does she plan to see, Star Wars. Which sucks.)

I just don't want to come off too strong. It's a pretty big problem I have and I feel like it'd make things weird to just start talking to her through FaceBook. But I have a class with her in my college level course. She wants to get the new iPhone when it comes out and I, being an employee at Target, have a 10% discount that I could give her on the purchase. So, I figured that could act as my gateway and then, hopefully, we could talk more.

Oh, I was planning on using the second option. I don't want to just use that and become boyfriend and girlfriend. My idea was to talk more after that and be friends and try to see where things go from there. I definitely don't want to jump the gun, so to speak.

Plus, the conversation already came up today and I mentioned that I could get 10% off if I got it at Target. She jokingly asked if I'd let her use it. I said "sure" but I don't think that she took me seriously. Ah well.