Why SUPERMAN is AWESOME

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ส.ค. 2020
  • While most of my channel is concerned with Star Trek and science fiction a big part of my childhood and adulthood has been the world of Superheroes and the world of Superman. So here's me explaining Why Superman is Awesome, even for those who disagree :)
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ความคิดเห็น • 293

  • @RowanJColeman
    @RowanJColeman  3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    My other channels-
    Gaming Channel: th-cam.com/channels/4AQjWVhQBOoHlOrKn_SJqA.html
    Second Channel: th-cam.com/channels/uRTWD6C2lqy-y-0HMwRoNQ.html

    • @kazumajay
      @kazumajay 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for this essay. I'm glad to know there's hopeful people still there.

    • @dharkling
      @dharkling 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I’ve always liked “Man of Steel”, but found it *compressed* and not allowed to breathe. What if it had been a trilogy instead?
      The first film is set completely on Krypton.
      Batman’s audience may be tired of hearing about his backstory, but Superman’s audience is hungry for details about Krypton. I recall the Superman animated series delving into this, and i was like “more, please”. Zod may have been the “Biff Tanen” to Kal-El’s mother, Lara at some point (idk, it’s been awhile). Brainiac’s betrayal to Jor-El and other scientists about the planet (good stuff). The Phantom Zone, a blessing in disguise for our villain.
      The second movie is all about Clark’s growing pains into adulthood.
      Smallville stuff, fish out of water, sure; however, a teen Clark may be more susceptible to Zod’s offer to join his cause halfway through the movie, creating more tension. He agrees at first wanting to fit in, then changes his mind, realizing his selfishness would lead to untold casualties. Im ok with Zod dying at Superman’s hands, although, Zod gets to send a transmission to Brainiac as a “if i cant have it, no one can” moment.
      The third movie is Brainiac invading Earth. Lex Luther is here too. Better imagineers could run with this one, but these films could be great if given a chance to breathe (like an 80’s Star Trek film).

    • @klyanadkmorr
      @klyanadkmorr 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Smallville and Tom Welling got the blessing of nearly all recent Superman icons, Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, used movie Terrance Stamp as voice of his dad Kal El, movie Supergirl actress as his mom, TV superman Dean Cain played a villain, Terry Hatcher played show's Lois Lane's mom, Wonder Woman actress played a new created life friend character Chloe Sullivan's mom. We got to see the best Lex Luthor and never before his dad and upbringing. start of Justice League and ton of other DC.

  • @syahmieshahar1679
    @syahmieshahar1679 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    It's not the "SUPER" that makes a hero, it's the "MAN".

    • @geraldburke5147
      @geraldburke5147 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Bravo, his greatest power is his sense of right and wrong. My hero since I was little. And still is..

    • @friedfrog5447
      @friedfrog5447 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@geraldburke5147 Supermans sense of right and wrong is too simplistic and it's his own standard

  • @davidgranados1608
    @davidgranados1608 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    I choked up a little when Christopher Reeve appeared on screen.

    • @ShockyD
      @ShockyD 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      It was really good to see him, I miss him so much, also his words were so inspiring and comforting. dude was a legend.

    • @myusername3689
      @myusername3689 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Done dirty by life

  • @southwest2915
    @southwest2915 3 ปีที่แล้ว +76

    You’ve convinced me

    • @BlaQGhoste93
      @BlaQGhoste93 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Ladies and gentlemen.....
      WE GOT HIM.

  • @KingOfMadCows
    @KingOfMadCows 3 ปีที่แล้ว +210

    The main conflict with Superman is "how do you use power wisely." Superman can crush all his foes. He can be cynical. He can view all humans as inherently bad, and use his powers to spy on everyone, violate their privacy and personal freedoms in order to stop crime before they happen. He can create a perfectly safe society with no crime, poverty, hunger by using his power to make everyone afraid of doing anything bad. A perfect society without freedom or choice. But he chooses to give people the benefit of the doubt, he chooses to believe in people and give them the chance to learn from their mistakes and become better people. He chooses to use his powers to inspire and help rather than oppress and crush.

    • @jizl.penacho7889
      @jizl.penacho7889 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      In a JLA story the team ponders if they should police Humanity and intervene , in which Wonder Woman asks what happens when people fall, at which Superman answers: "To help them to pick themselves up"

    • @warlord8106
      @warlord8106 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@jizl.penacho7889 name of issue please

    • @justinbeaver8015
      @justinbeaver8015 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I would also be bored to spy on every person on the planet. Also i wouldnt want to be the Omega-creep for my own sake

    • @majin_supervegeta6248
      @majin_supervegeta6248 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      He did in injustice

    • @poisonousv3nom230
      @poisonousv3nom230 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      But thats the thing humans accepted him so he has no reason to look down upon humanity. Superman is a symbol of Hope

  • @lazyotakuandfangirl
    @lazyotakuandfangirl 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    Thank you for this. You clearly understand his character when so many don't. People often look at me weird when I say Superman is one of my favorites. The All-star Superman comic helped me through a tough time in my life and he's been in important to me ever. His goodness and optimism is so important and many people don't get that most of the time. Great video.

    • @RowanJColeman
      @RowanJColeman  3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      All Star Superman is the best Superman story ever written as far as I'm concerned

    • @speeddemonji9547
      @speeddemonji9547 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Clearly you’re a lazy otaku & fangirl

  • @joebres3491
    @joebres3491 3 ปีที่แล้ว +72

    Hot take about the glasses - it's rumored Charlie Chaplin, one of the most handsome/famous men of his time, once entered a Chaplin lookalike contest and LOST. Henry Cavil stood below a BvS billboard in Times Square and NO ONE NOTICED. Ever taken an extra minute to recognize someone when you see them without makeup the first time? People are much worse at facial recognition and passive perception than they think. Couple that with huge differences in body language and character - when I was a kid I genuinely thought supes and CK were different actors in the 78 movie, and don't tell me an actor has never made you believe they're a different person.
    Imo CK is that riddle so insanely obvious once you know the answer, and you feel stupid because you somehow took forever to figure it out. And remember, it's an answer to a question no ones even asking - people know Batman has a secret identity, but most people assume Kal-El is just flying around saving people 24/7. Why would anyone suspect this godly heroic alien who lives in an ice fortress and shows his face spends half his time struggling to pay rent and getting shit on for being pathetic? Now I don't always buy the glasses how they're executed, but when done right I think it's the single MOST convincing superhero secret identity of all time, but I'd love to discuss with anyone who disagrees.
    Anyway, fantastic video man, couldnt agree more and especially loved the end. Stay hopeful.

    • @lanagievski1540
      @lanagievski1540 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      To jump off this, there was a video I saw recently where someone showed a recent photo of an actor with their fringe out of their face and since they’re exclusively seen with the same haircut and fringe no one recognised them and they were in disbelief when told who it was

    • @nicholashodges201
      @nicholashodges201 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      There's another actor or actress from Chaplin's era that happened to, they made a habit of entering contests just to lose.
      As further evidence, Cillian Murphy came into my work, a guy I've seen dozens of times in Back to the Future, and was in there for 30 minutes before somebody realized who he was.
      We really suck when it comes to recognizing something completely outside of it's normal context.

    • @Kb-xq2ry
      @Kb-xq2ry 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Could not agree more with everything you said

    • @user-uo8mx3cv5k
      @user-uo8mx3cv5k 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      That scene in Superman: The Movie where after Supes & Lois fly & he dresses up as Clark and show up a minute after Supes leaves, then he almost convinced himself confess to Lois that he is Supes and takes off the glasses, then backs off and puts it on again. That back & forth between Supes & Clark was godly acting by Reeves and proves his disguise is very possible, cause it's not just his glasses, it's everything about him, personality, mannerisms, posture etc. that fools people

  • @michaelfraser1073
    @michaelfraser1073 3 ปีที่แล้ว +142

    I think JLU did the best version of Superman’s power. That monologue he gives to Darkseid in the final episode illustrates how that Superman carefully regulates his power because he knows he could destroy an entire city if he looses control for even a second. It’s a really clever writing technique and a great moment. One of the moments that just summarises Superman (the other being the ‘maybe he’s just a guy trying to do the right thing’ from BvS).

    • @michaelfraser1073
      @michaelfraser1073 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Also dude that ending monologue. Purely incredible.

    • @michaelfraser1073
      @michaelfraser1073 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Also, shocked you didn’t touch on this: there’s actually a really simple reason why nobody guesses Clark is Supes. Superman is tall, proud. Clark Kent is a bumbling buffoon who sometimes actually is a bit hunched over (he is at times in All Star Superman). Chris Reeve illustrates it in the 1978 movie in one shot without ever uttering a word.

    • @Kujakuseki01
      @Kujakuseki01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ah, just commented the same above! One of the best Supes scenes!

    • @L-eye-t
      @L-eye-t 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@michaelfraser1073 Except, Reeves' version acts so outlandishly to the point of turning heads and attracting attention that it destroys the importance of maintaining a low profile. He acts nerdy in the least subtle ways possible. If people keep taking glances at Clark's silly behavior, it becomes all the easier to recognize him.
      When it isn't, it makes the characters around Superman (even reporters) look stupid and inattentive.

    • @galactic85
      @galactic85 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      That line of dialogue ISN'T from BvS. It's just another random observation about Superman that snyder appropriated from decades of comics. Same with the "MUST there be a superman?" line.

  • @myzimensi
    @myzimensi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    You're not wrong at all on many points, the humble farmboy trying to make a living and do good, is a good deal more relatable than the multi billionaire. I'm also a big fan of the idea that he is 'too good', some people like that do exist and I think it's something that should be acknowledged more in the world today, have more aspirational characters than gritty or 'realistic' ones.

    • @jizl.penacho7889
      @jizl.penacho7889 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      As Kal -El once said: "Clark Kent is who I am, Superman is what I can do"

  • @bemasaberwyn55
    @bemasaberwyn55 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    God I hate the secret identity argument. I hate it because I have actually tested this one out. Surprisingly, NO ONE recognized me with the glasses

    • @Syryu
      @Syryu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yeah the people who say they would instantly recognize Clark Kent as Superman are giving themselves way too much credit. Henry Cavill walked along Times Square with a Superman shirt with no mask or glasses and no one approached him. His face was even on a billboard not too far away.
      When he had his infamous mustache, he went to a comic-book store to sign a few comics and only two people knew who he was.
      It can totally work because people hardly pay attention or look at people twice.

  • @bhuvaneshs.k638
    @bhuvaneshs.k638 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Superman is timeless character... He represents best of our humanity.

  • @RaymondConlon25
    @RaymondConlon25 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    "This man is not our enemy."
    "...Thank you, Colonel."

  • @r520jr8
    @r520jr8 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Superman is my favorite fictional character of all time. Superman comics have literally helped me get through crippling depression. He represents everything a “superhero” should represent. Even though he’s an alien with borderline godlike powers, he is still one of the most human DC characters. Even Batman said Superman was more human than he was.
    All-Star Superman has my go to example of what makes Superman great. When there was a teenage girl who was at her whits end and was about to jump off a building, Superman was there. He was there to talk to off the ledge, and let her know that there will always be someone there for her. And he ends with her in his embrace. That’s what Superman is

  • @robertoneill1979
    @robertoneill1979 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    OMG I've never seen that interview with Christopher Reeve before... tears popped into my eyes when he said "A friend".

  • @brendenmiles8564
    @brendenmiles8564 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    4:13 - 4:44 Never have I ever seen such a satisfying clap back.

  • @Kujakuseki01
    @Kujakuseki01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The Justice League final episode is what really, truly sold me. When Supes, while fighting Darkseid, talks about how his challenge is that he’s too powerful for the world and has to use all of his strength constantly to NOT just destroy everything or hurt anyone.
    It’s an incredibly good scene in an excellent series.

  • @mahatmarandy5977
    @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    I was a little surprised you didn't mention the famous Neil Gaiman comment: Some Warners suit was kvetching about how difficult it was to make Supes relevant to a modern audience, and Neil (Vaguely angry in some tellings) said, "You don't make him *relevant,* you make him *inspiring.*" (And it was at that moment I finally decided I like Gaiman, who's always been slightly offputting to me. For the last 20 years or so I've felt like I should like him, but never quite could. Then he said that, and it clicked.)

    • @KenLantern
      @KenLantern 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Gaiman understands its always bathling that Captain America is accepted but Supes gets heat they have the same core values and are the Superman of their respective clmic universes a beacon of Hope.

    • @mahatmarandy5977
      @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@KenLantern Yep. I would say Superman fills that role a little better than Captain America (Mostly because of the immigration/assimilation subtext inherent in Superman), but that's a quibble. You're right. It's interesting - and a bit sad to me - that a British guy gets that, whereas the entire American movie industry apparently does not.

    • @Razorgeist
      @Razorgeist 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well my respect for Gaimen just went up 10 fold.

  • @greggeverman5578
    @greggeverman5578 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    12:55 I never knew Cristopher Reeve was so deep, smart, and understanding.

  • @Zod.the.Merciless
    @Zod.the.Merciless 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    So well said. I honestly feel it's a poor reflection on our modern world that a character whose chief superpower is goodness is seen as uncool and childish. I love Superman when he's done right, and I hope one day Henry Cavill gets a chance to play him as the inspirational figure he should be than the angsty reluctant hero we've seen.

    • @GoblinLord
      @GoblinLord 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      what hurts is that Cavill has the charisma to pull it off, the writers just strip that away for their stoic and brooding vision of the Man of Steel

  • @micshork
    @micshork 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    4:13 - 4:42 Perfect transition. Zack Snyder never truly understood Superman.

  • @TevyaSmolka
    @TevyaSmolka 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    This is why I love Superman because he’s a great character and human especially with him raising his son Jonathan Samuel Kent superboy as his little 10 year old self was fantastic and a great story at least in my opinion.

  • @LazarusRemains
    @LazarusRemains 3 ปีที่แล้ว +94

    Many of the criticisms of Superman, or Captain America, are also what you hear about Star Trek, i.e. "Starfleet is too good", and the same counter-arguments you mentioned apply - there are other ways to generate interest in a character, and showing innocent high ideals is a powerful story tool in it's own right. Also if this approach was so bad for drama, why are they beloved?

    • @RowanJColeman
      @RowanJColeman  3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Exactly, how do people think the character has lasted this long? It's bizarre

    • @LazarusRemains
      @LazarusRemains 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@RowanJColeman I agree, it is bizarre. It seems this is the very source of their inspirational effect on people. So remove the inspiring ideals, as people always seem willing to argue for, and you remove the thing that caused their lasting devotion to begin with.

    • @KevinACarroll1996
      @KevinACarroll1996 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@LazarusRemains I have to admit, I am one of those people. I grew up watching Superman the Animated Series and he is my favorite superhero for all of the reasons listed in the video, but I have just had such a hard time getting into Star Trek. I got into Stargate a few years ago and absolutely loved it, but Star Trek has always been something I have tried, but just could not really get excited for.

    • @mahatmarandy5977
      @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I'd dicker about the inclusion of Starfleet in there, because Trek has always been super-didactic, bordering on preachy, whereas Supes and Cap haven't ever really been. It's also a bit apples-and-oranges to compare an organization with an individual, but that's a quibble and your point is still a good one. Good people bring forth goodness from what is inside them. If that's ever seen as a bad thing, the world has come to a sorry pass.

    • @LazarusRemains
      @LazarusRemains 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@KevinACarroll1996 Yeah, I find some shows hard to see the appeal of too. I'll try to offer my perspective on Trek, as it's a broad franchise and some episodes are less than ideal introductions:
      When looking back on the original series, one thing that's worth remembering is how they tried to create 'realism' on par with a serious police/war drama, and included realistic science (plausible FTL engines, antimatter, correct SI units, real astronomical objects) at a time when many others treated sci-fi as magic, i.e. like Lost in Space. So part of the appeal was it had world building far in advance of other shows (most of which up until the 90s didn't even acknowledge the need for FTL, let alone predict a realistic theory). This is more common now thanks to Babylon 5, Stargate, The Expanse, etc, but it was in a league of it's own for 20 years. The politics was also realistic with an implied Cold War between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
      They created a plausible 23rd century multi-planetary civilization. One that was unexpectedly visionary, predicting broad technological changes, and suggesting that it was possible an ancient Greek type reliance on reason could unite Earth as a species. It made science fiction novel readers take notice. All of this world-building was then expanded on by reference materials, novels, video games, etc, which was unheard of at the time, it was basically the first shared universe.
      Then another aspect was that each episode was a hidden philosophical tale, restating important arguments from the history of civilization, like individual rights vs. collective responsibilities, or whether certain virtues made for a better leader, or what happened to a society that rejected fact in favor of delusion, with Kirk, Spock and McCoy being a representation of logic, emotion, and their synthesis. In later Trek an emerging trend was the exploration of human nature by disarmingly honest and likeable characters like Data and Seven of Nine, each of who were in some way trying to become human. Data ironically ended up being a paragon of humanity due to his capacity for consideration and honesty.
      It's not just liked for deep intellectual reasons or anything however, but also just because pouring over starship charts like a military nerd, or imagining wars and battles, also has always made good entertainment too. :-)

  • @EndoScorpion
    @EndoScorpion 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Often times, the people making claims that Superman is too powerful and too good, tend to be the same people saying Batman is more relatable because he is human, and is a better superhero because he can literally beat anyone with enough planning, and that he is incorruptable.

  • @absdyna
    @absdyna 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    People not recognizing Clark as Supes is probably the most realistic aspect lol Henry Cavill actually went around times square in a Superman t shirt and no one recognized him. Plus, I think it's always a given or at least implied that in Supes' universe, everyone thinks he is JUST Superman. He's always flying around saving people everywhere. After all, it's not as if there's a shortage of people who need saving.

  • @chibicelina
    @chibicelina 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    This was beautiful and you made me cry. Thank you.

  • @rkirk
    @rkirk 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Finally! Some love for the Big Blue Boyscout! A little bit of idealism/optimism is not a terrible thing, especially in today's jaded and cynical world.
    13:46 "We all need Superman because we all need hope." The wisest and most honest thing I've heard in quite a while!

  • @bambubambubambu1194
    @bambubambubambu1194 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    10:39 YEEEEESSS!!!!!!! Finally someone agrees with me! Krypto is awesome!

    • @galactic85
      @galactic85 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm no the first person to point this out, but if you want to make Superman 'relatable' then letting him have a dog in a movie seems like it should be a pretty obvious choice.

  • @DCMarvelMultiverse
    @DCMarvelMultiverse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    DC has failed the branding of this character. Owen Likes Comics has no idea how his powers work. The average person thinks he is a god. He's an alien, people! And too powerful? Uh, no one thinks that about Silver Surfer or Dr. Strange or Hulk or Firestorm or Captain Atom or Flash. But no one thinks of such an obvious thing. Also, people say Superman is too good? No one says that about Spider-Man and he's practically a labrador retriever. Thank you Rowan for pointing out his many weaknesses, too.

    • @rippspeck
      @rippspeck 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm not a comic book guy, but hasn't Superman always been "too powerful" while the other characters you mentioned have gained their power via decades of stories? Flash didn't start out being able to turn back time but Supes has always been invincible. I hope you can follow me.

    • @DCMarvelMultiverse
      @DCMarvelMultiverse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      @@rippspeck No. Supes began with two powers: Super Strength and Slight Invulnerabilty. In the original 20 years of stories, Superman could be easily hurt by a bursting shell. Says so in Action Comics #1. His strength enabled him to only jump and run. Jump at 1/8 of a mile and run about 60 mph (like the $6M Man would later on). Meanwhile, other heroes would fly and have X-Ray vision, Heat Vision, etc before him. When the John Carter "inverse gravity" explanation could not account for these new powers, it was officially dropped and replaced with yellow sunlight as the power source and cause for the whole entire power set which has been set in stone for decades. Occasionally, he would get mutated or altered temporarily with additional powers but they never became official and were just plot gimmicks. Other times he has used his set powers creatively. The temporary gimmicks and creative uses of actual set powers is the core of confusion regarding what little people know about his abilities.

    • @cpaliulis
      @cpaliulis 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@DCMarvelMultiverse Well said.

    • @Revkor
      @Revkor 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      the issue is some comic writers jsut went crazy with his powers. Hence my issue with the Goku vs Superman death battle fights. they combined every version of Sueprman vs a guy that has had only two.

    • @National7575
      @National7575 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Owen likes comics is fine

  • @quatreraberbawinner2628
    @quatreraberbawinner2628 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I can't believe we live in an age where you have to argue why super man is awesome

  • @Medraut00
    @Medraut00 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    LOVE this. superman is my fav super hero!!

  • @jba2048
    @jba2048 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    My favorite Superman villain is Brainiac. They did a really good job with him in Injustice 2. I’d love to see him in a movie.
    Oh and yeah Superman IS cool, but he’s not as cool as Booster Gold who definitely needs a movie.

    • @vernonhampton5863
      @vernonhampton5863 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I actually agree with you. Booster Gold could be the Ant-Man of the DCEU. I honestly wish that DC would stop overexposing Batman, Superman and the Joker. Cheesecake is good, but a steady diet of it would kill you or kill it for you.

    • @Br-kc2jy
      @Br-kc2jy 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Never gonna happen, WB and DC only care about exploiting Batman. We barely got a Superman movie, we ain't gonna get a Booster one

  • @JackKirbyFan
    @JackKirbyFan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    That was so wonderful. It's how I always felt about Superman and I'm so glad you did this. It gave me some hope because if someone out there writes about hope, it means it's not lost.

  • @irishdc9523
    @irishdc9523 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "It is a remarkable dichotomy. In many ways, Clark is the most human of us all. Then... he shoots fire from the skies and it is difficult not to think of him as a god. And how fortunate we all are that it does not occur to him." :- Batman

  • @Outlawstar79
    @Outlawstar79 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I'm just happy somebody addressed how they only make Superman movies dealing with Zod or Luthor. He's got a wonderful rouges gallery to pull from. I agree we always need hope, I'll say without a doubt.

  • @charlesgorman4919
    @charlesgorman4919 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Superman is an excellent character. He is meant to embody the best of humanity. That's what makes Superman the legend that he is. As far as I am concerned, he is the greatest superhero of all time.

  • @theju1603
    @theju1603 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think that the best interpretaion of superman is from superman and lois. When i saw this show, i got a feeling that i havent got in a long time. I felt the care, the warmth, and the amazing goodness i saw in the comics and dcau. This is what superman is. Superman is only boring if u think being good is easy.

  • @starclone4
    @starclone4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    He's always been my personal favorite !!!!

  • @JairBPena
    @JairBPena 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    4:17 ICONIC

  • @user-cg6uc8sy3g
    @user-cg6uc8sy3g 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That was a great vid. People need to understand Superman is and will always be limitless. He is always around, and will be as strong as he needs to be. Big superhero fan Dc/Marvel. You did a really great video. Grew up Marvel, but grew to relate to Superman more as I became an adult. Named my kids after "The Superman Family". Keep up the great work, please stay healthy and safe. Thank You.

  • @tylerbrown5526
    @tylerbrown5526 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You mentioning Krypto reminds me of the wild-ass scene in Titans where he catches an RPG and throws it back at a guy lol

  • @Noone-vz6ye
    @Noone-vz6ye 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I hate it when people say Batman is more relatable than superman.. so a billionaire who is trained in every skill imaginable and dresses up a bat to fight crime is more relatable than a farm boy from Kansas who likes helping people?

  • @letosgoldenpath1993
    @letosgoldenpath1993 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You must love the new Superman and Lois show! It captures all the qualities you mention here.

  • @worlds_greatest_detective5198
    @worlds_greatest_detective5198 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love it so much that Snyder's quote of "You're livin' in a fucking dream world!" matches perfectly with that comic.

  • @rachagainstthemachine.
    @rachagainstthemachine. 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I've always loved superman and u hit the nail on the head in ways even I hadn't thought of. An amazing and insightful video. Well done x

  • @KennethKralyJr
    @KennethKralyJr ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video !!! Superman is my favorite Superhero of all-time. He will always be my favorite DC Comics Character and comic book character overall. He always stands for Hope for Truth Justice and The America Way and stands up for what is right !!! Love Clark Kent and Superman he's awesome !!!

  • @CharlesRengel
    @CharlesRengel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    13:46 Words that we all need to remember.

  • @leslauner5062
    @leslauner5062 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi Rowan. I grew up watching reruns of the George Reeves tv series and was 10 when "Superman The Movie" premiered. To say I'm a fan of Superman is an understatement. Every argument I've ever had with anyone over why Superman is my favorite superhero had points you addressed so brilliantly. Thanks for the video, my friend. Peace.

  • @michaellewis1545
    @michaellewis1545 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Excellent video. My favorite stories of Superman are when we get to see his humanity for all the good and bad that means.

  • @jizl.penacho7889
    @jizl.penacho7889 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Loved it!!!!
    Not only Kal-El was the first superhero in the comic book genre, he was MY first superhero; my Dad (a member of the Greatest Generation) took me to see Superman: The Movie when I was 5 years old, and from there I became one of his biggest fans. I have watched ALL the cartoons and movies, and read most of the comics and graphic novels.
    He became my role model, and my moral compass that has guided me to this day (just as Star Trek has; yes, also I am a Trekkie)
    I agree that we ALL need Superman, because as Batman often states, he is the best of us. He embodies everything we aspire to be: a better friend, a better neighbor, always continue to be a better Human Being, to leave a better world for future generations.
    Truth and Justice is something that should NEVER be mocked or ridiculed. We must always do the right thing, and try to make our world a more humane, just and inclusive place.
    I congratulate you on this video, and I hope you will make more Superman related themes in the future.

  • @Kusanagikaiser999
    @Kusanagikaiser999 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Superman to me is not just the best, he is THE SUPER HERO, the one above all, just because he is the most human, Clark the the best of all us, and have all the same troubles we have, he is Spiderman, he is Captain America, he is BATMAN, he is Iron Man, he is ALL OF THEM COMBINE.....better say, all of them are part of SUPERMAN, they all took one element Superman did first and expand on that idea. One of the tropes people say is lame about Superman is why he is the most down to earth guy in any super hero roster......he taking down a cat for an old lady or a child from a tree.....that is freaking AWESOME, superman is literally a god in the eyes of many, how many gods have come to the help of a normal person in comics when they need a helping hand to do something that trouble them which probably is the most mundane thing ever, but Superman no matter how busy he is, if he see someone in need he will lend a hand, no matter of what, he will, and that is not lame, that is inspired and amazing, I never understood people who claim that Superman is only good when he is an evil dictator or a monster killing machine, quite honestly, those are all the lamest stories around SUPERMAN, I rather take stories like the Man who had everything, over any lame ass Injustice comic ever written.

  • @HeresWhyItsCool
    @HeresWhyItsCool 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I cannot like, or even love, this video enough. Especially those Christopher Reeve interviews.... Thank you for this.

  • @ThegreatHera420
    @ThegreatHera420 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I want to say more on the too powerful part, I have no idea why most writers don't think about how difficult it would be to fight someone of matched power anywhere. You have to make sure of a lot of things. Like have you ever been in a hurry while you had something delicate in your hands. That's what he has to go through, if the villain hits there, he has to stop it. If the villain fires there, he has to stop that too. He can't move too fast in the city as he will harm a lot of people. He can't punch villains anywhere as he has to take care of where they will fall. Seriously I can go on forever

  • @mahatmarandy5977
    @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amen, brother! Preach on! I am *completely* with you in this. Superman is awesome.

  • @ShockyD
    @ShockyD 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video! I've got nothing to add, you hit it out of the park and nailed every point. Your closing was great dude. Superman is hope and truly awesome. Cheers!

  • @priscillamontoya
    @priscillamontoya 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this video! I love Superman so much and love hearing when others do too.

  • @richardcoulson6027
    @richardcoulson6027 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    If you haven’t already, check out Adam Hughes’s Superman/Gen13 crossover.

  • @caaltaes732
    @caaltaes732 ปีที่แล้ว

    All I can say is what a great video and I hope to find more content like this in your channel.

  • @scifieric
    @scifieric 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well done, Sir. I've watched a lot of your videos, and while I have done so because of some similar interests (Science Fiction, Star Trek, Superman, etc.) you did a spectacular job of focusing on why Superman is worth watching, reading, and experiencing. Well done.

  • @hamletprimeiro
    @hamletprimeiro 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    What a wonderful video. Thank you!!!

  • @nick5661
    @nick5661 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think the problem move wise is that they haven’t treated the character as such, in man of steel we have his father telling him to let people die over revealing his identity and his dad dying in a tornado something that did not need to happen at all it was clearly done to give him that moment that Spider-Man and batman have, and look at how much of Clark we see in that and bats v sups very little and his dialogue is much less than those around him, hell there are moments in the justice league film which actually do have him more human and if those are missing from the Snyder cut that people have been banging on to see then it shows that wb just don’t get him anymore.

  • @joonaspenttila201
    @joonaspenttila201 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I discovered your chanel because im getting into star trek and superman already is my fav superhero so im looking foward to watching this video😎

  • @JimPlaysGames
    @JimPlaysGames 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Damn it man you nailed it. Excellent stuff.

  • @michaeljw3602
    @michaeljw3602 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video .. totally agree with the ending

  • @stile8686
    @stile8686 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This video is AWESOME! Thanks for so carefully and clearly explaining why Superman is a great character.

  • @WhoIsCalli
    @WhoIsCalli 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice vid. Great breakdown. Felt happier after watching this

  • @aaronp6476
    @aaronp6476 ปีที่แล้ว

    After subbing to your channel for a while, I can't believe I've only just watched this.
    As a lifelong Superman fan I couldn't agree more. You've got this spot on. For me, Superman is a very complex character and to describe him as too "perfect" is missing the point. Considering he's an alien, he is the most human character in DC comics.

  • @solomongibsoniii4865
    @solomongibsoniii4865 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Have to disagree with Reeves about the 'Truth, Justice, and American Way' line; in the movie, his delivery was so straightforward and sincere, my response was "Yeah.".
    And his breaking the fourth wall to smile at the end leaves you with a positive, warm feeling. Superman is a representation of idealism.

    • @solomongibsoniii4865
      @solomongibsoniii4865 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Tanner Hutchings Not sure what you're disagreeing with. There was no speech; his line was "Lois, I'm here to fight for truth, justice, and the American way.", and his delivery of it was excellent. My opening sentence might be confusing, so apologies for that.

  • @squashmallow2006
    @squashmallow2006 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The thing is, even when Superman does face some kinda tragedy his backstory, almost 90% of the time, it's caused by something completely out of his control. Case in point, Jonathan Kent, in some specific adaptations, where he dies, not from being gunned down, or in some brutal act of inhumane cruelty... or a stupid tornado, but because of a heart attack. Alternatively, another good one is Sam's Story, where Clark's school friend Sam succumbs in his battle with cancer. Despite all his abilities, he can't save everyone.
    It's not some horribly dark moment. It's.... just life. Losing a loved one by natural causes. It's a common thing that each and every one of us face at some point. And that moment taught him the fragility and priceless value of human life. It humbles him to appreciate the people around him, to show kindness, to help people, to spread hope, while he still lives.

  • @michaelmitchell4989
    @michaelmitchell4989 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I LOVE this SO much!

  • @henrylazarus19143
    @henrylazarus19143 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hollywood doesn't want hope any more

  • @montithered4741
    @montithered4741 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son
    Superman is meant to inspiring, to lift us up from where we are, to where we could be, to where he is.

  • @EndoScorpion
    @EndoScorpion 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Regarding kryptonite, the way I see it is that kryptonians absorb excessive amounts of radiation (from the weaker sun of their home world) in order to gain enough energy to live.
    This, as we know, is why strong suns empower them more. However, when there is toxic radiation involved, it poisons them faster than humans.
    This is why I always liked that one time when Lex lost his hand because he wore a kryptonite ring too often. He was poisoned by the radiation.... it just poisoned him slower because humans absorb much less radiation compared to kryptonians.

  • @BooshmanLee
    @BooshmanLee 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video!

  • @chrisstevens2
    @chrisstevens2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I would totally love to see Krypto in a movie!

    • @michaelgustafsson5920
      @michaelgustafsson5920 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      if I remember correctly, did not crypto appear in the last season of Titans.

    • @JaelinBezel
      @JaelinBezel 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      We already have that movie except they misspelled Krypto and ended up calling it Underdog instead.

  • @DCMarvelMultiverse
    @DCMarvelMultiverse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Rowan! You should write Superman! You even called Supergirl his sidekick. Should have been like that for years! I also think his inciting incident was invented by Smallville where he says to a villain, "I would stop people like you!" Perfect.

    • @RowanJColeman
      @RowanJColeman  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Oh if I was ever given the chance I'd jump at it haha

  • @homoousias
    @homoousias 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wonderful! Thank you🤓

  • @JackWard66
    @JackWard66 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    YES. YES. YES. AND MORE YES!

  • @pudlordtynan919
    @pudlordtynan919 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Superman is the First Superhero, and among the pantheon of the best. He's hard to write because no matter who the wordsmith is. But from the that toughness one can bring out hope, honesty, sincerity and justice. Superman is a hero that is needed, as an example of being optimistic and kind despite the world being decidedly the opposite.
    He's a hero who embodies the idea that "everything is fine, I'm here", by smiling.
    To the Boy Scout.

    • @mahatmarandy5977
      @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ever seen/read "My Hero Academia?" The World's Greatest Hero in that one, Almight, is very clearly a pre-flight 1930s superman analogue, and his whole shtick is that he's *ALWAYS* smiling, specifically for that reason: So people won't be scared, and they'll know everything will be ok.

  • @RadeFoxxy
    @RadeFoxxy 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hope....indeed. 🙏🏽

  • @nachovichoZX
    @nachovichoZX 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    4:13 That scene almost fucking killed me XD

  • @bryanwirthlin4444
    @bryanwirthlin4444 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm only 4 minutes in, and it's clear that you understand the Superman is about. This video is so underrated I don't know why it doesn't have more views.

  • @scififantasyfanatic6536
    @scififantasyfanatic6536 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I absolutely agree with you sir! 👍🏻👍🏻

  • @tnspnk3
    @tnspnk3 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Well done!

  • @Noone-vz6ye
    @Noone-vz6ye 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Christopher Reeves really understood Superman.. I really miss him

  • @blueclube30000
    @blueclube30000 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This video deserves more likes

  • @ineptgamer3814
    @ineptgamer3814 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Completely agree with you in everything you've said in this video. Superman has always been my favourite character, but it seems like his biggest detractors really misunderstand the intricacies and miss the nuances of his essence and what he represents.
    Thank you very much for the video and hopefully what you've said here can help to open his critics eyes.

  • @randomusernameCallin
    @randomusernameCallin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Sadly too many are taught that what they think as stereotypical batman type stories are the only good ones. Saddly Batman suffer from this.

    • @mahatmarandy5977
      @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The problem is that superheroes are no longer for comics readers, they're for movie and tv audiences. The guy in the back of the bus is driving it at this point. Most people who know Superman have never read a comic book in their lives.

    • @randomusernameCallin
      @randomusernameCallin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mahatmarandy5977 That is true.
      I think the real problem is many are tough to think about dark character stories have value. You know the worse Batman stories.

    • @mahatmarandy5977
      @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@randomusernameCallin Well, there's a saying that "Movies and tv are always about 15 years behind literature," which is generally true (Star Trek is doing stories that would have been appropriate in the wee 2000s, and edgy in the '90s, but are practically retro now) so I have to assume that the "dark is the only good tone" thing is a holdover from the dark, broody era of comics that ended quite a while ago.

    • @randomusernameCallin
      @randomusernameCallin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mahatmarandy5977 I seen this happen for a long time. People are taught only to look at the personal struggle as a good story.

    • @mahatmarandy5977
      @mahatmarandy5977 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      randomusernameCallin yes, exactly. It's very limiting

  • @iheartsupes
    @iheartsupes 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was already digging the Star Trek stuff, then I saw the "Why Superman is Awesome" video and hit the subscribe button so hard I think I broke my screen. Well done, sir!

  • @franl155
    @franl155 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I used to read Superman comics decades ago - it was hard cos there was no regular supply in the UK, so I'd get parts 1+2 of a story, but not part 3, or parts 1+3 but not part 2.
    I remember the furore when Kryptonite was removed - rather, its half-life had expired so it was no longer a threat. Apparently it had become too much of a plot device.

  • @jacobclark6002
    @jacobclark6002 ปีที่แล้ว

    For all the powers these characters have, the only possible way for them to have any effect on the real world is through how they inspire people. Superman makes me want to be a better person. That matters more than anything else.

  • @andreamiller3578
    @andreamiller3578 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you so much. Superman has always been my favorite, and it's annoying when the Batman fans act like he's so much more of a shallow character than their favorite.

  • @lanagievski1540
    @lanagievski1540 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Between Covid, medical problems, money issues, and moving places, diving into everything Superman when I wasn’t a fan in the past was the best choice I made. There’s something about Superman and his story’s that speak to me and make me feel something good

  • @JaelinBezel
    @JaelinBezel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    People shouldn’t be critical of heroes like Superman and Batman for never killing people like the Joker or Lex Luthor, they shouldn’t be wondering why the state never executes them.

    • @JaelinBezel
      @JaelinBezel 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      *they should be wondering

    • @Syryu
      @Syryu 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's pretty much what I always say. Neither Luthor nor Joker are bulletproof or immune to capital punishment. If society really wanted them gone, Joker's insanity plea should have been thrown out ages ago (because he in no way fits "unaware of actions" portion of the plea) and thrown in Federal prison and executed alongside Luthor whose assets should have been seized upon his first arrest.
      Superman and Batman do their jobs properly. It's the state that keeps dropping the ball.

  • @gojira851
    @gojira851 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well said.

  • @biguy617
    @biguy617 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nicholas Hoult will be awesome as Luthor and I hope we get to see him in the Luthor armor.

  • @donaldpaluga
    @donaldpaluga 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Superman is the superhero we wish we could be
    Batman is the superhero we WOULD be
    Spider-Man is the superhero we ARE

  • @geraldburke5147
    @geraldburke5147 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well said. And if that isn't enough to convince then a reading of Grant Morrisons All Star Superman or Alan Moore For the Man who has Everrything are excellent examples of Supermans importance. Reeve understood the essence of Superman that is why his iteration is a powerful example and the benchmark of the last son of Krypton.
    And for batman its Keaton, but I digress..
    Superman is hope..
    And the world is more hopeful by his example.
    Superman isnt just necessary, he is essential.
    Thank you for your time.

  • @sfkeepay
    @sfkeepay 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    And an awesome video.
    Of course Christopher Reece was simply an actor playing a role,, but he really seemed to embody the best of Superman. Even after his accident forced him to live in circumstances I personally can't really imagine, he somehow demanded of himself a fidelity to survival, hope, and optimism. The sheer level of cruel irony he experienced would have utterly broken me a hundred times over, but at least outwardly, he never succumbed. It’s a shame, though, that a similar perspective espoused by Henry Cavil was essentially betrayed through the zero-sum, muddled and dark thinking on display from Zack Snyder. Cavill stated and, I think, clearly felt a calling to hold himself to the best of his predecessors. But Snyder more or less mocked the spirit of that ideal. Fortunately, Superman is beyond the ability of one misguided movie director.

    • @sfkeepay
      @sfkeepay 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Tanner Hutchings,
      I perfectly respect your right to hold that opinion. I admire much of why Snyder has made, and I understand why you hold him in high regard. It’s just a difference of opinion on parts of his approach.

  • @randyrhoades8751
    @randyrhoades8751 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    A well done and well said video, I myself am a huge fan of Superman, he was one of the first Superheroes I was introduced to and I am sad that as of late we haven’t been getting great depictions or stories for Superman lately.
    That said, I only want to make one minor correction. When you talked about Superboy and talked about him being a clone of Superman who goes off his own path to become a sort of anti-hero, you used Superboy-Prime, not Connor Kent. Not trying to be the “Uhm Aktchuahlly” nerd here, but just pointing that out.

  • @biguy617
    @biguy617 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Superman’s earth father, Jonathan Kent, does eventually die by a heart attack or some natural cause that Superman can’t stop. This teaches him he can’t save everyone. Sometimes death wins.