@Owen Likes Comics I have a question. Does Superman need to be represent like what his actual character is and also realistic so that it could be inspiring and relatable?
Eh, too me Superman is too fantasy. And not talking about his powers but his personality. Nobody is that fucking selfless and someone with that type of power growing up as a human would turn evil. 100% of the time. So to me, Superman is way too dumb to be taken as something to be good. Now as a villain he is great. And America is anything BUT offering a helping hand to a neighbor. We are a country of "I got mine, fuck you". If not, we would have universal health care paid by our taxes but we don't because we don't believe in helping the poor and downtrodden.
Majora This view is exactly the view Superman opposes. He isnt ment to be the most realistic depiction of what absolute power does to someone, to be honest, his powers arnt relevant in his overall position as a charachter in pop culture. He is the embodiment of humanity at its very best. Yes, their is greed, apathy and injustice in our world, and not everyone can be as optmistic or good as we’d like(look at Lex Luthor). Superman is the idea that despite that, there is always the potential for goodness and empathy in every person, and Superman leads the people of Metropolis and the world to that idea
Loved this! I’m a dumb young American and never drew the New Deal connection and it was fascinating to hear. Hopefully we get to see the kid from Kansas again soon, we all need him.
HiTop Films that’s so awesome that ur commenting on here!!! You guys should totally colab and make a video together that would be awesome 💪🏻💪🏻 (Plz plz plz don’t forget Doom Patrol pt 2 ❤️😁)
I´M WRITING A SCRIPT. I HELPED WRITE THE WONDER WOMAN SCRIPT. SUPERMAN DOESN´T NEED FIXING, HIS MYTHOLOGY NEEDS TO HELP FIX THE CURRENT TIMES. SCREW MAN OF STEEL. LOVE ZACK BUT YOU CAN´T DO THE FUN OF DECONSTRUCTING HEROES UNTIL YOU HAVE FIRST RECONSTRUCTED THEM FOR MODERN AUDIENCES.
To say that Superman is a boring character, or even worse, not relevant to today's society/world speaks volumes about the ignorance of whomever says that. And I say ignorance, because it means that those people have not read enough Superman comics (or watched other mediums) where fantastic interpretations of the classic portrayal of Superman have been shown. In writing, Superman embodies in most of his stories a flat character arc, as he does not change, but rather the world around him changes because of him. That is what too many people don't understand.
That's a great point, Superman is one of the best examples of a flat character arc done to perfection (I should've noted that when talking about For All Seasons). You don't see him change so much, but you really get a sense of how the world and the people he touches change because of him.
He's a timeless ideal, a paragon of values. There's something quite compelling about characters like him; beings with a lot of power that, if they had it taken away, would likely not care and live a simple, humble life.
Superman is everything we should aspire to be: strong yet gentle, willing to do everything you can to make the world a better place for everyone, even if that means making the ultimate sacrifice. He’s an alien born of another world, but in many ways he’s as human as any of us.
@@theragingben5393 the problem is WB didn't get the right directors they got Bryan Singer for Superman Returns and Zack edgy Snyder for Man of Steel and neither of them fit the vision style for Superman they need someone like Steven Spielberg Brad Bird and James Gunn oh and Sam Raimi
@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 Its not what's wrong with him. Its how he does his movies. I'm not a big fan of his work. Its not terrible But he is not the director i would want to direct a superman film. Based on how his past movies.
Excellent video. "This is a job for Superman". Clark would be perfectly happy living as "Clark". He could be anything. He could be a global dictator, a multibillionaire, or a hermit. He chooses to be a regular, rent paying guy with a day job in a bustling Metropolis. Because that's who he is. He WANTS to live a normal human life amongst normal humans - that's his true identity. That's the narrative most aligned with his inner self. He loves his life, the people around him, & the world. Unlike Batman, he doesn't need to be Superman - it's simply that the world sometimes needs him to be. And Clark accepts that responsibility - that duty - because he loves his adopted home. An orphan, it's the only true home he will ever know. He needs it as much as it needs him. Because he was born defined by & imbued with an awareness of life's fragility & impermanence in the universe. And uniquely worldly, he doesn't view nations or governments as the limit of human identity - he views humanity & the Earth as singularly beautiful & of immense potential. He sees in people the best of himself as a man - the world sees in him the best of everything they have the potential to be. There has always been a symbiosis between the character & mass culture - Superman is an idol of virtue upon which we project our own ideals to better inform, express, & reflect the values of our shared moral identity & it's hopes. Superman is the one superhero who acts completely out of love. And it's been 40 years since WB understood that.
That's what I LOVED about "The Adventures of Lois and Clark", the Superman was the resource, the alter-ego that allowed Clark to do things and still be himself, not the usual other way around people tend to see.
*"What a life! I've traveled across time and space. I've seen and done things beyond imagination. Blessed with friends like Pete and Lana and Jimmy and Batman... What incredible adventures we've shared. What amazing people I've known. But Lois, dear Lois... I loved you most of all. And no matter how dark it seems, there's always a way."* I get very emotional every time I read that monologue by Superman in "All-Star Superman". Even on the verge of death he never lost hope, he always believed. What a hero.
As a kid growing up in Nigeria in the 2000s, Superman was the first hero I was introduced to and he is also the most recognized superhero in my country. My dad bought me the Reeve movies and the Fleischer cartoons on VHS and I also discovered the Bruce Timm animated series (Superman and Justice League). I love his heroism, his uplifting worldview, kindness, humility and his good morals. That made me an instant superman fan and I remain one to this day. When I emigrated to north America and got into comic books, I was surprised at how different he was than I remembered ad then the awful Zack Snyder movies came out and I just checked out. Turning him into a cynic and glorified weapon of destruction is such an insult. These days I don't read American comics but I still watch the DVD of the Bruce Timm cartoons.
I'm so happy you gave a shout out to Superman: For All Seasons. It was the first comic ever read and it cemented Superman as my all-time favorite superhero.
I don't exactly have a favorite Superman story per se, but I do remember getting home from school every day in first grade and being super excited to watch reruns of Superman: The Animated Series, I'll never forget the three-part crossover with Batman, it blew my 6-year-old mind.
Only problem I have with Snyder trying to "deconstruct" Superman is...well...that's all people try to do with the character for years now. People have been doing it since the 1980's when Frank Miller gave us government stooge superman in "The Dark Knight Returns" and in the same year that "Man of Steel" came out we got a whole video game about an alternate reality Superman going bad and implementing a fascist regime. I think we have gotten to a point where it makes more sense to build Superman back up instead of coming up with another reason why the character "doesn't make sense" when your average nerdy, cynical angsty teenager on the school bus is doing that on a day to day basis. With that said, I like the idea of the general public being afraid of Superman when he first appears. Mark Waid explored the same idea in "Birthright" and that's my favorite superman comic. (Also, I think its kind of a bad idea to draw parallels between Superman and Jesus Christ if you are going to end your story with Superman committing murder. It's pretty counter intuitive to constantly compare your character to a religious figure who is supposed to be a moral saint and then have that same character commit murder.)
I think people also don't consider that this is a discredit to both Christ and Superman. It treats them as non-unique and their missions as something so common or wholesale, that you can take certain bulk traits from their stories and slap them on anything to cement that character, as noble and self sacrificing. Christ was the God of Abraham come to Earth to fulfill the Covenant forged with His creations and dying not just to be an example, but to bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth and overthrow the powers of evil for all eternity. His parents and humanity had nothing to teach him. Christ desired not to be amongst us, but for us to come and dwell with Him in the House of the Lord. Jesus came to Earth as a way to show his creations the bigger picture and how to succeed for not just a life, but for all of eternity. By comparison, with Superman, there is no such divine foresight or thought in his mission. Jor-El was not the Father bequeathing a divine protector on a fallen race that had failed to live up to a divine station. He was just a desperate man hoping against all hope that by launching his son away from a world he knew was doomed, that there might be some chance the boy could have a life. That some small part of the Kryptonian race would not be doomed to oblivion because of the willful ignorance of the Council in ignoring their oncoming demise. And once on Earth, Clark has the good fortune to be found by 2 wonderful people who raised him in a community that showed him the best that humanity could offer: togetherness, support, love and compassion. He took that all with him when he set out to be a reporter and it's what made him resonate with Perry White and Lois Lane. It's what convinced Batman to open up and let him become his best friend and strongest ally. It's the basis on which the Justice League's whole mission is founded. The human message that together, we can overcome darkness and that the path forward for our world is within us. But that we have to be willing to embrace Superman's point of view to get there.
I appreciate Snyder's take because I viewed MoS as trying to be realistic in how the world would react to such a thing, and not making all the correct choices as it is his first time fighting (in general) and it had to be such a monstrous task, continued by BvS:UE. I wouldn't even call him - the - "superman" just yet, another reason why I like they went with the title Man of Steel. While watching them, I always sensed that this was just the starting phase of his character and that at the end of his story he will become the icon, beacon, that he is to the world that we all know and love, but he's gonna have to earn it. Earn (most of) humanity's trust. I find that more realistic and intriguing than, I don't know... Going away for 10+ years with your space dad, come back and be a fully formed superman ready to save everyone, and in that time skip finding your identity and what you stand for. Watching interviews with Zack Snyder confirmed my suspicions, that was, in fact, his plan. Have him start a bit rough but by the end of the saga he will become - the - superman. I'm aware I'm in the minority (unless there's a silent majority who doesn't bother looking at internet criticisms), but Man of Steel (2013) is really what turned me into a Superman fan, which fit right into the media I like, which is mostly non-escapism and gives me stuff to think about and ponder. P. D. just as context, I had seen Superman (1978), Superman: The Animated Series and all DC animated movies up until this year before I watched MoS and BvS:UE, had no expectations other than supposedly both movies were bad, found out I quite liked them. (Though even the ultimate cut of BvS does have more legitimate problems than MoS but enjoyable enough for me to rewatch)
@@Guitarman5200 That's the issue. Snyder vision was all about "What if an alien came into our real world" instead" What if a nice guy from Kansas just happens to be an alien?
Doesn't help that Snyder thinks he's the first one to do Jesus symbolism with Superman even though it's been done for years. They even did it at the end of Smallville Season 9 where Zod stabs Clark with a blue kryptonite dagger and as Clark falls off a building his arms are spread out in a crucifix pose.
I feel like alot of people (especially people who talk about Superman) confuse overpowered with being a Gary Stu/Mary Sue. Superman is indeed overpowered, and that can sometimes be a problem. But he's far from being a Gary Stu. There are many villains in his rogues gallery that are able to put up a good fight *despite* Superman's power (Lex, Bizzaro, Zod, Metallo, Brainiac, etc). But not only that, there are more struggles that Superman faces than just *physical.* People claim he's too "perfect" when in reality he's far from it, he constantly makes mistakes, he constantly goes through emotional struggles, he constantly gets his core values tested, etc. Superman is a much more layered character than people actually think. And I hope if they make a new movie they can finally show that, Superman doesn't need to be changed to be made interesting.
You forgot about Manchester black since he's telekinetic and Livewire since she could physically hurt him shocking him wit electricity or ultrasound or even my control could actually mess with Superman. Other than that I give you this👏👏👏👏👏
Depends on what a "Mary Sue" really is. If it's just "overpowered", out of context... well, yeah, he is one. (Although I'm not sure how you can even reconcile what "overpowered" is, if it's out of context.) There's a reason it's so hard to tell a good Superman story, there's a reason it's challenging to tell a good Superman story; it's hard to feel like there are any stakes, because he's so powerful. That doesn't mean it's impossible. There's a reason the All-Star Superman story is so beloved; the story where Jon has a heart-attack and none of Superman's prodigious powers are worth anything works really well too. I also *really* loved when Kyle Rayner, previously Green Lantern, became Ion... became, essentially, a God. And he thought Superman was resentful of him, because he put Superman out of work. But he realized that Superman was right to ask him to check his power. Superman works powerfully as a mentor figure, as an ideal we strive to live up to. Nothing wrong with aspirational heroes. My *favorite* tend to be more flawed and relatable (Superboy, Robin/Tim Drake, Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern or Ion or White Lantern), but the boy scouts, like Superman and Captain America are timeless. And I don't trust people who don't like those characters. They tend to be pieces of shit.
@@SchulzEricT It doesn't matter how powerful you make superman so long as you remember these simple facts 1. As powerful as he is, he still has weaknesses and vulnerabilities that can be exploited and used against him ( kryptonite, red sunlight, promethium, nth metal, powerful telepaths and magic) 2. As powerful as superman may be there are hero's and villians alike in the dc universe that are just as powerful as him (flash is faster, green lantern has far more diverse powers, captain atom, orion, despero, martian manhunter, starbreaker, magog, brainiac, doomsday, amazo and black adam) 3. As powerful as he is there are far more powerful entities in the dc multiverse than supes (dr fate, the phantom stranger, the spectre, myxplt, trigon, the endless, lucifer morningstar, the antimonitor and the presence) The problem i notice with people is they tend to overthink superman's powers and abilities and consider it a difficulty to work with a character with so much power while at the same time not making an effort to try and find out what adversaries superman has faced and what are their powers and abilities are so they can gage just what to pit him against to create tension in a story. Basically, anyone who says superman is too difficult to work with because he is so powerful, clearly did not make efforts to research the dc franchise and clearly is lacking in imaginative skill.
They're also missing the point of Superman. Superman isn't the best superhero because he's got the most or best powers. He's the best superhero because he will always help people, always. No matter who you are, no matter what you need, he will do his best to accomplish that. People focus too much on the SUPER, less on the MAN.
@@SkollMX superman, batman and wonder woman were all once transported to a magical realm where supes lost his powers, diana was blinded and batman lost all his gadgets . They were then descended upon by a horde of dinosaur men and they still managed to hold their own against them. Superman included, batman even said while watching "even without is power, clark is still worthy of the title of Superman". During the infinite crisis storyline when superman was fighting superboy prime and they were powerless. CLark said to him "it's not the powers that make you Superman, its action, about what you do with them that defines you".
To me, Superman embodies the idea that hope and altruism can always prevail over cynicism and negativity. That no matter how difficult things get, there is always a way out and a light at the end of the tunnel. My favorite Superman iterations (outside of All-Star and For All Seasons) are the Peter J. Tomasi run in the comics and the animated series. The animated series gave me a greater appreciation for Superman because they portrayed him as somebody who was powerful, but vulnerable and capable of being knocked down. I loved how they had him outwit his foes rather than just overpowering them and the the 3-part episode "World's Finest" remains a major highlight of my childhood.
@@justinriley because the world around Superman doesn't have that. He does, hence why the movies suck and why super man is just a bad character now. He's a propaganda character for an America that never existed. Hope isn't what is needed by the will to keep standing when the world beats you down. Hence why Batman and the Green Lantern comics and cartoons do much much better. To have the will to stand against darkness no matter how fucked the world is. Not some bs hope message of the American boy for an America that doesn't exist If Superman was real, America would do everything to capture him and experiment on him. Not deal with him.
@@Needler13 "He's a propaganda character for an America that never existed." Yes. Duh. He's what we want to be as a country, not what we currently are. He's aspirational. Literally everyone else understands that and has no need to view it cynically. "If Superman were real, they'd experiment on him" Which is exactly why Jonathan and Martha Kent adopt him as their own instead of giving him to an orphanage. And then they instill in Clark the values that America *should* be about, and in turn Clark shows that to everyone else. Edgelord antiheroes have just as much capability to suck as boy scouts do.
_In this day and time where everything is going to shit, we need the Classic Superman now more than ever and not the ones that people who don't understand the character thinks is "relevant"._
I've always seen Superman as a reflection of the best parts of humanity. Selfless, compassionate, and inspirational. As a teenager I often said Superman was not that great of a character or that he is limited with storytelling. Now, as an adult I realize the value of Superman. I wouldn't call myself a fan but I have a ton of respect for him.
one of my favourite quotes when describing Superman between Superman and Clark was from the series Lois and Clark: "Superman is what I can do, Clark is who I am".
People say supes is OP and not relatable. Yeah he is sometimes. The dude can hear everyone on earth, fly close to lightspeed, strength to break planets, but through it all he still can't save everyone. Imagine hearing, seeing, feeling death everyday to the point where it is all so in his face but still can't stop it. How do you think how that feels? I can't imagine how he sees it all and still keep sane and still have hope. The dude is made of hope. He is the living embodiment of it in our time. We are not suppose to understand his godlike powers and capabilities but we are suppose to imbue kindness and hope in others like he does to everyone. Kinda like a modern day jesus but more faulty.
we really need a good superman movie, now more than ever, so much hate and cynacism in the world, we need someone who actually understands the character to remind people to believe in good again.
@@hectordoblado4987 its more the mentality that leads to a superman movie that we need to return, the idea of hopefulness, the same reason we need old style star trek back, its all rooted in the same ideas imo.
Perfect title, perfect video. Superman is important to me because he's reassuring. He reassures us that even if things seem bleak and hopeless, everything will be okay in the end, and that you're never really alone. He reassures us that people are still inherently good, and is a shining example of how good a person can be. Richard Donner captured this perfectly in his adaptation, while I think Zack Snyder missed the mark, not for lack of trying. For me it lacks the humanity of the character, and does a poor job of conveying who he is as a person, thus failing to give me much reason to care about him. I also think Snyder's cynical outlook on the world got in the way of conveying those messages about hope and optimism, which to me are so integral to the character.
“I think the core aspects of Superman, as he was created to be in the 1930’s, still ring true. Maybe more so than ever. If you genuinely believe that a refugee from a dying world sent to earth for a better life... raised by two small town farmers with a strong sense of compassion, benevolence, and a love of humanity... trying to be a hero and inspire people as he fights the greedy and corrupt is no longer relevant for modern audiences... then I don’t think it’s Superman that’s out of touch. “ This... this is what I have been waiting to hear from another Superman fan for so long. Thank you.
Whenever we have a discussion of Superman, the same thing always comes up. "Superman is too difficult to write for," people say, "He's too powerful, nothing can threaten him." That, to me, is _the whole point._ Nothing can threaten him, so all the various frailties and fears that force us to compromise our morals don't apply. He doesn't _need_ to use lethal force in self-defence, because he can't be killed. He doesn't need to eat, he doesn't need shelter or medicine or warmth. Since he can't be hurt, he can _always_ do the right thing. I think that, rather ironically, it was a Batman film that best described Superman. From Batman Begins: "As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed. But as a symbol...as a symbol I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting." That's Superman; only for Superman, it's his very nature, while Batman has to create the symbol on purpose.
An excellent analysis of Superman. Clark is a compassionate and kind hearted man, who always fights for what is right and wants to make the world a better place.
Most people when asked which superpower they would desire choose flight or invisibility. I would choose the strength and invulnerability because you could help so many in need. I’ve admired the Superman character more than any of the heroic figures because of his civility, morality and above all, kindness. The original Superman movie exudes all of these qualities. Man of Steel focused on how the character would deal with a world that valued these qualities less than ambition, success and wealth. I also think that MOS did an exceptional job of showing the constant inner battle of managing the temptations inherent of overwhelming power. The battle of staying true to one’s moral compass when you had the ability to do whatever you desired without suffering any consequences from you actions.
The character is a tale of a refugee who came to America from a destroyed home, who was adopted by a loving family who didn't give a damn he didn't have papers or whether or not was there "legally", grew up into a great man, and spends so much of his time fighting an egotistical, narcissistic billionaire turned politician with no hair. Created by two Jewish people to boot. But yeah...some people in the industry now saying he's just "not relevant"...pffffffft.
To me, Superman is hope When something wrong is happening and I don't know what to do I think what would Superman do he did not just give me fun, action, adventure stories to read and watch he gave me my morals about what makes a good man
People like Snyder and whoever was in charge of new 52 reboot think that Superman is too naive for modern public, so they took away key elements of his character like idealism, charm and hope. They don't understand that Superman returns failed not because character was too idealistic, but because villain was pathetic and story was boring. No one would criticize Man of Steel or BvS for dark tone , if Superman was a real symbol of Hope in cruel world.
My opinion is that Donner's Superman is an ideal vision of comic book inspired hope, regality and dignity, while Snyder's version puts Superman into a Watchman like scenario, which would be ironic considering I feel Alan Moore has written him much better.
Wonderful video! I fell in love in 1978 with Superman when I was a little girl and I never looked back. I’ve watched every Superman movie, tv show and animated tv show. Reeve will always be my number 1. If I had to choose a number 2(a portrayal that showcases his compassion and humanity) I think I’d have to go with Smallville. No, the writing wasn’t the best but Clark was a kind and compassionate typical American teen/young adult with the same issues we’ve all had and he just happened to have powers. Superman means Hope, Selflessness and Compassion to me. I will always be a fan.
@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 Mine as well! I guess to be fair though, Smallville had over 200 episodes to play with, more than any other live medium I think?
Great video! At least some people still know that Superman is the world's greatest superhero and how he's always been a great leader and inspiration to others. Also how intelligent he's been too and how much more human he's always been too despite coming from another planet. Problem is these alternate world stories about him being evil and corrupt has been making some people just hate him and they need to know that was not the real Superman.
When I was a child in the 1960’s, my father would buy comic books and bring them home to read to me. He would sit me on his lap, turn the pages and teach me how to read. Those were innocent times. That would be frowned on today. But then, it meant a lot to my dad and me. His favorite was Superman. I liked Green Lantern best. But it all meant a lot to me, at the time. What does Superman mean to me? My father, at his best. Oh, he was far from perfect. He drank heavily and was prone to violent outbursts. But when he was at his best, he was the Superman. My friend.:)
Well said. If you aren't inspired then it wasn't Superman. Not all anime works but, my favorite Superman line was against Lobo who told Clark he was the last Kyptonian, Clark replies "I'm from Kansas" . Perfect
It’s crazy how in real life, the idea of Superman, a fictional character, can inspire reality. He’s grown from being just a comic book character like his counterparts. He’s an ideal of what humanity can be. Not the flight, heat vision, or super strength, but the morality of being a good,kind, human being. He truly sees himself as a human that was blessed/cursed with superior genes. And he still chooses to help us lowly humans. My dad told me “always strive to make the right choice. Superman does that regardless if it means he has to die. Superman will live on for centuries I know this
God I love Superman. He was a male role model for me when I needed it most. Loved Snyder's Superman..I'd argue in Man of Steel he does embody that humanity/Kryptonian backgrounds, using both as his strength.
Superman is all about love, compassion and selflessness... He won't stand in the middle of the road to flex his muscles and whistle at the women walking by, despite having incredible strength he would still remain humble among other Superheroes... Always helping out but never ever showing his Superhero team mates that he was better than them... He's the guy who would go a million miles to save a kid with an incurable brain tumor, refuse to play the NFL because he had an unfair advantage over other players, argue with his dad over a stray dog abandoned on the street, ask Barry to 'Please Call Me Clark' when he referred to him as Kara's Super Cousin... 'That' is the true essence of Superman... It is compassion and humility... That is what defines him as a Superhero... Not arrogance and beating up others to prove a point... Not being dark and harsh in his attitude... this is why Snyder never managed to do justice to Superman with Cavill despite the fact that the Snyder Cut was a pretty decent movie at the end of the day....it's like Jonathan Kent said to Clark back in the Smallville tv show 'Son your powers are a part of you but they don't define you'
Superman to me is someone to look up to. Someone who inspires you to be the best person you can be. You don't "relate" to Superman. Just like you can't relate to Michael Jordan, you are astonished by what he can do on a basketball court. He can do things 99% of us can't do. Superman is like any amazing athlete; we are astonished by him. We also look up to him because he is a really good person. He's just a farm boy from Kansas who had really good parents. I think Christopher Reeve was right: "He's a friend." You can't deconstruct hope. You either have it or you don't. Superman gives us hope.
Have you ever read Irredeemable? As a deconstruction of Superman, it actually made me appreciate him as a hero and character more. Honestly, I think it should be a series than a movie.
Yeah irredeemable is in my opinion the only real good "evil superman" story maybe other than injustice I guess some might say the boys but homelander in the comics is more a representation of garth ennis' hate for superheroes the show just basically takes everything it does well with homelander from plutonian. It just sucks that it hasn't already been adapted because at this point I'm kind of sick of the whole "evil superman" trope. It's been done to death.
It's really weird. I've always liked Superman and loved the old TAS cartoon, but for a period I started to buy in to the whole "he's too overpowered and boring" mindset because that's what everyone else said. But the truth is, he's not. Batman is a rich billionaire who somehow has the resources to design and build gadgets straight out of science fiction (including a freaking BATCAVE ON THE MOON), and single-handedly takes down god like threats in JLA comics through sheer wits alone. But apparently despite all that Batman is more "relatable" than a nerdy reporter who grew up on a farm and feels like an outsider? It's a ridiculous argument.
That's because they use Batman as a way to both point out why he's better and what Superman lacks when he should be compared to the likes of Spider-Man
@@suarezguy I think the criticism was more in HOW the outsider nature was handled. Snyder portrays it more as superman being "above humanity" and extremely detached from them to the point that he frowns all the time when saving people. In contrast the recent graphic novel "superman smashes the klan" also incorporates the idea that he feels alienated but the writer portrays that feeling as being no different than the feeling of someone who immigrated to the United states from another country and now tries to "assimilate" by concealing elements of who they are from other people.
I sincerely hope that in the future we get a movie titled Clark Kent, and have it be a true live action rendition to the superman in Superman vs The Elite. To me, that whole movie is one of the best examples of what superman means and what he's meant to represent.
The way most people feel about Superman was revealed in Superman II, when a crowd in Metropolis thought Zod and his crew had killed Superman. The crowd grabbed anything at hand and rushed Zod and the other Kryptonians, heedless of the fact that they were hopelessly outmatched. These three had killed their great hero, and that was worth fighting and dying for. Superman inspires people in a way other superheroes never have and never will. Superman has the power to do anything, and he chooses to serve humanity selflessly. Superman inspires not because of his power, but because of his goodness. Superman proved when he fought Doomsday that he was willing to lay down his life if need be to protect the weak and helpless. Superman's humanity came from his loving foster parents, who taught him the virtues of goodness and humility. When a young Clark in the first Superman film complains that he has to hide his powers from the world, Jonathan responds: "Now, you listen to me. When you first came to us, we thought people would come and take you away because, when they found out, you know, the things you could do... and that worried us a lot. But then a man gets older, and he starts thinking differently and things get very clear. And one thing I do know, son, and that is you are here for a *reason*."
Superman grows more and more relevant and needed the more time we spend arguing with each other on the internet and closing ourselves off from the real world, the more we divide ourselves into us vs them, the more we compare ourselves to other people, the more vulnerable we feel to external threats, the less light we see at the end of the tunnel, the more we need him to hold our hands and guide us to it.
He is not my favorite superhero but I have to admit that he is truly the greatest superhero of all time. He is not a superhero, he is The Superhero. He was the first, can fly(most popular superpower), represent hope and optimism; he always see good in people. I started watching Superman the animated series and I can say it's on of the nicest things I've ever seen. Seeing Superman and his optimism is really beautiful and relaxing.
Superman himself evens says " I'm just a farm boy from a Kansas" Hes not arrogant or thinks hes better then everyone. He just always wants to do the right thing. His DNA might be Kryptonian but his heart is human.
"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."
My favorite comic character, more cynical people become the less they can see their selves in him, he was a character that we would like to like to be like in character, most people now days seem more like a villain in character that he would stand against, just my opinion
It’s not a quote that was ever specifically said about the character, but whenever I think about Superman and what it would mean to be him, I think about what Peter Cullen’s brother told him about what being a hero means the day he went to audition for the voice of Optimus Prime. “If you’re going to be a hero, be a real hero. Don’t be one of those Hollywood action heroes pretending to be tough. Just be strong and real. Tell the truth. Be strong enough to be gentle.” To me, that’s what perfectly sums up what it would be to be Superman. Strong Enough To Be Gentle.
Finally, a Superman video that criticizes Zack Snyder's Superman respectfully. I'm a big fan of that interpretation, but that bit about missing hope, I still firmly believe the story was headed there before Warner Bros pulled the plug on it.
Man of steel went agents everything that Christopher Reeves thinks about Superman. Christopher Reeves knows what’s so important about the character of Superman. Zack Snyder makes Superman seem like a terrifying god who doesn’t care about who’s safe or who’s in danger.
Superman is so important, the quintessential American icon (who appropriately is an illegal immigrant.) I used to hate Superman. I grew up on a steady diet of anime and edge and to my perspective, from childhood to teenager, Superman was a boring Mary Sue who said corny things and whose powers were unrealistic... but then right after highschool my life took a really bad turn. I won't go to far into it but depression hit me hard and I basically did nothing but lay in bed for a year and a half. During that time I watched two films, the animated adaptation of All Star Superman and Superman vs The Elite. And no they didn't cure my depression, but, they helped me, they showed me who Superman is, what he represents, and how to appreciate him. Eventually I did come out the other side and get back on my feet, but, now I love Superman, more than ever. Superman was there for me when I needed him. That's why Superman is important, that's why Superheroes are important. No, they're not real but the morals and ideals they represent and fight for are, and they can help real people like me. Thank you, Superman.
Some people think that creating a 'Cristopher Reeve' Superman these days wouldn't work because it would bore people. This is wrong. At first, people will object, yes. But this is the character we need most in our lives. We need to be reminded of what it is to be a friend, what it is to be someone's symbol of hope. Because honestly... we forgot.
I just discovered this video. Superman is so much more than a superhero. For me he made being adopted ok. When I I was told I am, I recognized that Superman is adopted too. And that made it ok.
I loved that you started with Chris Reeve the man. The beart and soul he put into the role came from his natural being. He was superman. I used to see the George Reeves superman series and read the comics but superman came to life for me on the screen in 70 MM at the Loews Astor Plaza in 78. They can reimagine superman anyway they want but it's important to keep his core. Put it through the ringer if you want but his core is what should come out at the end. This is a great video essay compared to most videos which are toxic at times. I shared it. It's worth a share a like and a subscribe.
I always saw Cavil’s Superman as him feeling like he’s just a kid from Kansas being forced onto the world stage and trying to make the most of it. Meanwhile the entire world sees him as someone sent from the heavens who is stronger and faster than anyone else while also being a great person, making him a god. This Superman is being forced to shoulder a godly status that he doesn’t want. He just wants to be a good person.
Superman is the ultimate Prince Charming, and the Walt Disney Co, has shown that people to this day love fairy tales. That in itself should tell us that Superman still has a place in our society, even as a fairy tale. Because as Gainman pointed out, they may not be relevant, but they are inspiring.
I also want to piggyback on my statement on Synder's Superman, he is portrayed as someone who wants to do the right thing and be that friend that the world needs in a world where people don't trust each as much let alone someone who stands out not doing the norm such as saving people and being that helping hand. Waid's Superman Birthright mentions that "You can't just show up nowadays and be a super-friend, we are skeptical. Government, Advertising , the media...these things manipulate us 24/7 and we know it. We claim to fight it but most of us don't have the energy to struggle every moment of every day. Wear us down enough and the eventual lesson we take to heart is that it is easier and safer to be cynical than it is to trust someone" That is pretty much us. Superman never changed in Mos and BvS, we did.
Hi Owen! Glad to see you are back with another video! Do you have any advice for a newbie creator, that may do critique/discussion style videos? Or a way to get traction on here. When your content isn't the most "clickbaity" type content, like prank videos. Thank you again for the high quality content!
Hey Ryan, thanks for reaching out! If you want to chat about that, you're more than welcome to DM me on Twitter (@owenlikescomics), and I'd be happy to help however I can. Hope you enjoyed the new video!
The problem with the Snyderverse is that it's a story about Superman written by Lex Luthor. Snyder hates that Superman _is_ a good person. He hates the concept of a man with that much power doesn't use it for selfish reasons. Maybe he's jealous, maybe he thinks Clark is just a moron; point being, Snyder doesn't want a symbol of hope, he wants to see a big strong man kick ass and take what he wants. So he tried to turn Superman into that, and failed.
To me Superman means truth, justice, and the American way. That’s what he was made to stand for, and that’s what he always be. I feel like if you put Superman in our cynical world where people are often pessimistic and devoid of hope, he can be a symbol to people that even in the dark times we are in now, we should always have hope because Superman IS hope. If you want to make a modern Superman movie, don’t make him change to be like everyone else, make him convince everyone else to be more like him.
Though Spider-Man is my favorite now, Superman was who I dressed up as first and was the watermark of the human being I should strive to be, It was mostly Reeve’s depiction, strong yet vulnerable. The Death of Superman series was able to nail how to depict him in the jaded world we live In now. There was a moment in that series that stood out to me. The young man that sees Superman as too much of a boy scout and dorky while he’s more into Guy Gardener who’s edgier. Doomsday takes Guy Gardener and all of the Justice League out and leaving his family’s house burning from the battle. None of the Justice League can help him, he has to cry out for Superman. Superman is on Doomsday’s tail and still goes back to help him showing the cynical young man why he sets the standard. That’s how to make a modern Superman story. “While the execution is far from perfect“ is the biggest understatement. Snyder failed at showing the heart of the character. I saw no reason for anyone to mourn him nor was he a even made out to be a hero. He seemed to be burdened by what he is rather than accept it as a gift he happily uses to protect his new planet/home. The movies should still make him whimsical and altruistic, unwavering in his faith in us. We don’t deserve Superman, but he would disagree. “They’re a good people, Kal-El, they mean to be. They only lack the light. That’s why I sent them... you” That should be the mission statement for every Superman movie.
bruh how do I get you more subs, you deserve them!! The people who think Superman is boring, have never read Superman stories and don't understand the character.
I thought superman was a dumb boring character that was outdated until I read all star superman and even in that story the moment that got me was when superman was talking with lois and was like I have to go, and instantly goes to a girl about to kill herself by jumping off a roof and has a conversation to her like he is her friend and she hugs him, and I was like holy shit i get it now superman is that guy who everyone knows and loves who literally cares for everyone and is their friend, now i literally love this character. A good superman story really should be like 70% talking and him helping people being clark and the 30% percent should be like fighting it really shouldnt be the focus his relationships are and his struggle to help people.
Beautiful video, man. You managed to emcopass exactly why this a top 3 hero of mine and icon in the world. That's why reports about WB updating Superman to make him relevant are baffling when he is one of the most timeless heroes in existence and yes, even more relatable than Batman imo.
For myself I liked Superman.... Until 1978. Then I loved him. I was 5, and my aunt me took my 8 year old cousin to see the Donner film and since we were visiting she took me with. Christopher Reeve has been my favorite Superman ever since. Though Henry Cavill is a close 2nd. To me the biggest thing that truly makes Clark a hero is what he WON'T do.
I love the Donner Superman movies but in the end, no movie can fully do Clark Kent justice. He'll always need a episodic and/or serialized format of storytelling. That what helps Superman and Lois have the most optimal storytelling around. It allows for character arcs to unfold naturally (most of the time). It's also why I really, really love Superman: The Animated series.
I always felt like spiderman and superman are closely linked. Theyre both symbols of keep on keeping on. Neither are always loved and adored by the world but the guys on the street let them know they dont need to be
16:17 i'd say.. thats what snyder thinks about Superman too, After the senate explosion, when Clark is left alone, with no superman around, the thing that stays, is the kid from kansas that was adopted by two human parents. as we see.. when he goes up the mountain to find solitude. he doesnt remember Jor El, but .. his Human father.
5 things that make Superman relevant in the modern era. 1 he's the ultimate immigrant. 2. He's a symbol for hope. 3 truth justice and all that stuff 4. He's the first archetype and superhero. 5. He has a family. These are problems that makes men not relevant. 1.The costume except his new 52 suit. 2. His secret identity (to be fair Birthright kind of solve this problem) but even with that realistically that wouldn't fool anyone unless they brought back the Silver age concept of his glasses. 3. Smallville to be more specific the idea of a quintessential small town where everyone knows everyone the quiet sleeping areas where nothing very bad happens everyone thinks the same talk the same mostly looks the same is it realistic anymore since those ideas when away with Mayberry RFD and black and white TV. The world is connected to the internet now and they are culturally diverse and dealing with new challenges like never before and American Farms are in serious danger so having this type of ideal city is not realistic anymore. 4. His day job at the Daily Planet. The problem is nobody reads newspapers anymore and the reading ship that does is slowly going away date of modernized this by making it accessible through the internet and possibly news channels. 5. He has no Stakes. It's hard to make interesting stories with him if he can't physically be hurt without using Kryptonite magic or red sun energy. I guess you could scale back his power or you can not see get creative and actually use villain that could physically hurt him the general audience doesn't know that there is other weaknesses he has other than Kryptonite
Great video, my friend! Your video make true justice to Superman! Thanks to understand and show to us all what Superman always represent to the world. Greetings from Brazil
As someone who said that superman wasnt an appealing character.thus video was a huge slap in the face for me.superman or at least characters Who are similar to superman(characters who are heroes to inspire hope.say spiderman wonder woman etc.) As i grew older and more anxious about dealing woth life.having somekne that i can look up to,both as a role model or an person who i want to be a friend to. Superman ideals came to Calm me down and to aspire me to not give up. So thank you Clark for being an great inspiration. (Also thanks for making these kinda of videos man)
The ultimate fact about Snyder's Superman is not that he hates superman (which he probably does), but that he doesn't understand the character. To him, Superman is a supermachine, it's almost impossible to see (as Owen pointed out) hope, or even pure kindness in Snyder's Superman.
Great choices with For All Seasons and All Star Superman, I would personally add The Luthor Nobody Knew, the first half of Birthright, Must There Be a Superman?, What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way? and the novel Miracle Monday. My favourite Superman stories are ones written by Bronze Age writer Elliott S Maggin particularly his two novels Last Son of Krypton and Miracle Monday, he's able to write nuanced stories with the "OP" Silver Age Superman. The best example of Superman encountering a cynical viewpoint done right is Superman Vs The Elite
▶ If you enjoyed this video, consider supporting Owen Likes Comics on Patreon: www.patreon.com/owenlikescomics
This video got you a subscriber.
U need to check All Might character from my hero academia
He's literally the pillar of hope in the anime
@Owen Likes Comics I have a question. Does Superman need to be represent like what his actual character is and also realistic so that it could be inspiring and relatable?
Love Superman and I’m currently watching the super girl from CW
Superman isn't "still relevant." He's timeless.
Eh, too me Superman is too fantasy. And not talking about his powers but his personality. Nobody is that fucking selfless and someone with that type of power growing up as a human would turn evil. 100% of the time.
So to me, Superman is way too dumb to be taken as something to be good. Now as a villain he is great. And America is anything BUT offering a helping hand to a neighbor. We are a country of "I got mine, fuck you".
If not, we would have universal health care paid by our taxes but we don't because we don't believe in helping the poor and downtrodden.
Majora This view is exactly the view Superman opposes. He isnt ment to be the most realistic depiction of what absolute power does to someone, to be honest, his powers arnt relevant in his overall position as a charachter in pop culture. He is the embodiment of humanity at its very best. Yes, their is greed, apathy and injustice in our world, and not everyone can be as optmistic or good as we’d like(look at Lex Luthor). Superman is the idea that despite that, there is always the potential for goodness and empathy in every person, and Superman leads the people of Metropolis and the world to that idea
Majora I’d suggest you read DCeased it has one of the best depictions of Superman
@@Needler13 Only a person with weak morals would turn evil with Superman powers
@@Needler13 in superman returns movie he is shown to be a christ like figure
Loved this! I’m a dumb young American and never drew the New Deal connection and it was fascinating to hear. Hopefully we get to see the kid from Kansas again soon, we all need him.
HiTop Films that’s so awesome that ur commenting on here!!! You guys should totally colab and make a video together that would be awesome 💪🏻💪🏻 (Plz plz plz don’t forget Doom Patrol pt 2 ❤️😁)
I´M WRITING A SCRIPT. I HELPED WRITE THE WONDER WOMAN SCRIPT. SUPERMAN DOESN´T NEED FIXING, HIS MYTHOLOGY NEEDS TO HELP FIX THE CURRENT TIMES. SCREW MAN OF STEEL. LOVE ZACK BUT YOU CAN´T DO THE FUN OF DECONSTRUCTING HEROES UNTIL YOU HAVE FIRST RECONSTRUCTED THEM FOR MODERN AUDIENCES.
@Inconceivable Disputes hell no, conservatives would hate him when they find out batman is anti guns and uses his wealth to give back to the people.
Please make a video on Superman
@Xeino
Do we really need to bring up politics?
The Donner/Reeve Superman was so good, that even 42 years later, he's still appearing in media, granted with another actor.
Let's hope Warner get Donner back to do another Superman.
So true!! We saw his superman again in Crisis on infinite earths! I really hope we see him again.
@@geraldstephens6612 Isnt he dead ?
@@saifurrahman3420 yes he has passed
To quote the end of _Man of Steel_ #1: “It was Krypton that made me Superman, but it’s the Earth that makes me human.”
Pl other on
To say that Superman is a boring character, or even worse, not relevant to today's society/world speaks volumes about the ignorance of whomever says that. And I say ignorance, because it means that those people have not read enough Superman comics (or watched other mediums) where fantastic interpretations of the classic portrayal of Superman have been shown.
In writing, Superman embodies in most of his stories a flat character arc, as he does not change, but rather the world around him changes because of him. That is what too many people don't understand.
That's a great point, Superman is one of the best examples of a flat character arc done to perfection (I should've noted that when talking about For All Seasons). You don't see him change so much, but you really get a sense of how the world and the people he touches change because of him.
He's the Paragon. That effect is intentional.
People who say that are batman fans.
@@INFERNO95 nah not really,more like so called joker fans
@@OwenLikesComics Doomsday clock ruined Watchmen and it made me hate superheroes
Superman isn't the hero we deserve, he's the one we need most right now.
He's a timeless ideal, a paragon of values. There's something quite compelling about characters like him; beings with a lot of power that, if they had it taken away, would likely not care and live a simple, humble life.
Superman is everything we should aspire to be: strong yet gentle, willing to do everything you can to make the world a better place for everyone, even if that means making the ultimate sacrifice. He’s an alien born of another world, but in many ways he’s as human as any of us.
Wish there were as many Superman movies as there are Batman’s.
I wish there were at least as many good Superman movies as there are good Batman's.
@@theragingben5393 the problem is WB didn't get the right directors they got Bryan Singer for Superman Returns and Zack edgy Snyder for Man of Steel and neither of them fit the vision style for Superman they need someone like Steven Spielberg Brad Bird and James Gunn oh and Sam Raimi
@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 James Gunn hell no. The rest u mentioned i would like to see what they do.
@@MKL3165 what's wrong with James Gunn?
@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 Its not what's wrong with him. Its how he does his movies. I'm not a big fan of his work. Its not terrible But he is not the director i would want to direct a superman film. Based on how his past movies.
Excellent video.
"This is a job for Superman". Clark would be perfectly happy living as "Clark". He could be anything. He could be a global dictator, a multibillionaire, or a hermit. He chooses to be a regular, rent paying guy with a day job in a bustling Metropolis. Because that's who he is. He WANTS to live a normal human life amongst normal humans - that's his true identity. That's the narrative most aligned with his inner self. He loves his life, the people around him, & the world. Unlike Batman, he doesn't need to be Superman - it's simply that the world sometimes needs him to be. And Clark accepts that responsibility - that duty - because he loves his adopted home. An orphan, it's the only true home he will ever know. He needs it as much as it needs him. Because he was born defined by & imbued with an awareness of life's fragility & impermanence in the universe. And uniquely worldly, he doesn't view nations or governments as the limit of human identity - he views humanity & the Earth as singularly beautiful & of immense potential. He sees in people the best of himself as a man - the world sees in him the best of everything they have the potential to be. There has always been a symbiosis between the character & mass culture - Superman is an idol of virtue upon which we project our own ideals to better inform, express, & reflect the values of our shared moral identity & it's hopes. Superman is the one superhero who acts completely out of love. And it's been 40 years since WB understood that.
That's what I LOVED about "The Adventures of Lois and Clark", the Superman was the resource, the alter-ego that allowed Clark to do things and still be himself, not the usual other way around people tend to see.
this was all well said
Wow. I nominate you for next writer of any Superman related anything
@@duanekogut757 Second!
*"What a life! I've traveled across time and space. I've seen and done things beyond imagination. Blessed with friends like Pete and Lana and Jimmy and Batman... What incredible adventures we've shared. What amazing people I've known. But Lois, dear Lois... I loved you most of all. And no matter how dark it seems, there's always a way."*
I get very emotional every time I read that monologue by Superman in "All-Star Superman". Even on the verge of death he never lost hope, he always believed. What a hero.
I love All-Star Superman so damn much, that speech gets me every time.
As a kid growing up in Nigeria in the 2000s, Superman was the first hero I was introduced to and he is also the most recognized superhero in my country. My dad bought me the Reeve movies and the Fleischer cartoons on VHS and I also discovered the Bruce Timm animated series (Superman and Justice League). I love his heroism, his uplifting worldview, kindness, humility and his good morals. That made me an instant superman fan and I remain one to this day. When I emigrated to north America and got into comic books, I was surprised at how different he was than I remembered ad then the awful Zack Snyder movies came out and I just checked out. Turning him into a cynic and glorified weapon of destruction is such an insult. These days I don't read American comics but I still watch the DVD of the Bruce Timm cartoons.
I'm so happy you gave a shout out to Superman: For All Seasons. It was the first comic ever read and it cemented Superman as my all-time favorite superhero.
It's a wonderful story, and I'm glad I could spotlight it in this video!
I don't exactly have a favorite Superman story per se, but I do remember getting home from school every day in first grade and being super excited to watch reruns of Superman: The Animated Series, I'll never forget the three-part crossover with Batman, it blew my 6-year-old mind.
Only problem I have with Snyder trying to "deconstruct" Superman is...well...that's all people try to do with the character for years now. People have been doing it since the 1980's when Frank Miller gave us government stooge superman in "The Dark Knight Returns" and in the same year that "Man of Steel" came out we got a whole video game about an alternate reality Superman going bad and implementing a fascist regime. I think we have gotten to a point where it makes more sense to build Superman back up instead of coming up with another reason why the character "doesn't make sense" when your average nerdy, cynical angsty teenager on the school bus is doing that on a day to day basis. With that said, I like the idea of the general public being afraid of Superman when he first appears. Mark Waid explored the same idea in "Birthright" and that's my favorite superman comic.
(Also, I think its kind of a bad idea to draw parallels between Superman and Jesus Christ if you are going to end your story with Superman committing murder. It's pretty counter intuitive to constantly compare your character to a religious figure who is supposed to be a moral saint and then have that same character commit murder.)
Exactly. thank you for saying this
I think people also don't consider that this is a discredit to both Christ and Superman. It treats them as non-unique and their missions as something so common or wholesale, that you can take certain bulk traits from their stories and slap them on anything to cement that character, as noble and self sacrificing. Christ was the God of Abraham come to Earth to fulfill the Covenant forged with His creations and dying not just to be an example, but to bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth and overthrow the powers of evil for all eternity. His parents and humanity had nothing to teach him. Christ desired not to be amongst us, but for us to come and dwell with Him in the House of the Lord. Jesus came to Earth as a way to show his creations the bigger picture and how to succeed for not just a life, but for all of eternity.
By comparison, with Superman, there is no such divine foresight or thought in his mission. Jor-El was not the Father bequeathing a divine protector on a fallen race that had failed to live up to a divine station. He was just a desperate man hoping against all hope that by launching his son away from a world he knew was doomed, that there might be some chance the boy could have a life. That some small part of the Kryptonian race would not be doomed to oblivion because of the willful ignorance of the Council in ignoring their oncoming demise. And once on Earth, Clark has the good fortune to be found by 2 wonderful people who raised him in a community that showed him the best that humanity could offer: togetherness, support, love and compassion. He took that all with him when he set out to be a reporter and it's what made him resonate with Perry White and Lois Lane. It's what convinced Batman to open up and let him become his best friend and strongest ally. It's the basis on which the Justice League's whole mission is founded. The human message that together, we can overcome darkness and that the path forward for our world is within us. But that we have to be willing to embrace Superman's point of view to get there.
I appreciate Snyder's take because I viewed MoS as trying to be realistic in how the world would react to such a thing, and not making all the correct choices as it is his first time fighting (in general) and it had to be such a monstrous task, continued by BvS:UE. I wouldn't even call him - the - "superman" just yet, another reason why I like they went with the title Man of Steel.
While watching them, I always sensed that this was just the starting phase of his character and that at the end of his story he will become the icon, beacon, that he is to the world that we all know and love, but he's gonna have to earn it. Earn (most of) humanity's trust. I find that more realistic and intriguing than, I don't know... Going away for 10+ years with your space dad, come back and be a fully formed superman ready to save everyone, and in that time skip finding your identity and what you stand for. Watching interviews with Zack Snyder confirmed my suspicions, that was, in fact, his plan. Have him start a bit rough but by the end of the saga he will become - the - superman.
I'm aware I'm in the minority (unless there's a silent majority who doesn't bother looking at internet criticisms), but Man of Steel (2013) is really what turned me into a Superman fan, which fit right into the media I like, which is mostly non-escapism and gives me stuff to think about and ponder.
P. D. just as context, I had seen Superman (1978), Superman: The Animated Series and all DC animated movies up until this year before I watched MoS and BvS:UE, had no expectations other than supposedly both movies were bad, found out I quite liked them. (Though even the ultimate cut of BvS does have more legitimate problems than MoS but enjoyable enough for me to rewatch)
@@Guitarman5200 That's the issue.
Snyder vision was all about "What if an alien came into our real world" instead" What if a nice guy from Kansas just happens to be an alien?
Doesn't help that Snyder thinks he's the first one to do Jesus symbolism with Superman even though it's been done for years. They even did it at the end of Smallville Season 9 where Zod stabs Clark with a blue kryptonite dagger and as Clark falls off a building his arms are spread out in a crucifix pose.
I feel like alot of people (especially people who talk about Superman) confuse overpowered with being a Gary Stu/Mary Sue.
Superman is indeed overpowered, and that can sometimes be a problem. But he's far from being a Gary Stu. There are many villains in his rogues gallery that are able to put up a good fight *despite* Superman's power (Lex, Bizzaro, Zod, Metallo, Brainiac, etc). But not only that, there are more struggles that Superman faces than just *physical.* People claim he's too "perfect" when in reality he's far from it, he constantly makes mistakes, he constantly goes through emotional struggles, he constantly gets his core values tested, etc. Superman is a much more layered character than people actually think. And I hope if they make a new movie they can finally show that, Superman doesn't need to be changed to be made interesting.
You forgot about Manchester black since he's telekinetic and Livewire since she could physically hurt him shocking him wit electricity or ultrasound or even my control could actually mess with Superman. Other than that I give you this👏👏👏👏👏
Depends on what a "Mary Sue" really is. If it's just "overpowered", out of context... well, yeah, he is one. (Although I'm not sure how you can even reconcile what "overpowered" is, if it's out of context.)
There's a reason it's so hard to tell a good Superman story, there's a reason it's challenging to tell a good Superman story; it's hard to feel like there are any stakes, because he's so powerful.
That doesn't mean it's impossible. There's a reason the All-Star Superman story is so beloved; the story where Jon has a heart-attack and none of Superman's prodigious powers are worth anything works really well too.
I also *really* loved when Kyle Rayner, previously Green Lantern, became Ion... became, essentially, a God. And he thought Superman was resentful of him, because he put Superman out of work. But he realized that Superman was right to ask him to check his power. Superman works powerfully as a mentor figure, as an ideal we strive to live up to.
Nothing wrong with aspirational heroes. My *favorite* tend to be more flawed and relatable (Superboy, Robin/Tim Drake, Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern or Ion or White Lantern), but the boy scouts, like Superman and Captain America are timeless.
And I don't trust people who don't like those characters. They tend to be pieces of shit.
@@SchulzEricT It doesn't matter how powerful you make superman so long as you remember these simple facts
1. As powerful as he is, he still has weaknesses and vulnerabilities that can be exploited and used against him ( kryptonite, red sunlight, promethium, nth metal, powerful telepaths and magic)
2. As powerful as superman may be there are hero's and villians alike in the dc universe that are just as powerful as him (flash is faster, green lantern has far more diverse powers, captain atom, orion, despero, martian manhunter, starbreaker, magog, brainiac, doomsday, amazo and black adam)
3. As powerful as he is there are far more powerful entities in the dc multiverse than supes (dr fate, the phantom stranger, the spectre, myxplt, trigon, the endless, lucifer morningstar, the antimonitor and the presence)
The problem i notice with people is they tend to overthink superman's powers and abilities and consider it a difficulty to work with a character with so much power while at the same time not making an effort to try and find out what adversaries superman has faced and what are their powers and abilities are so they can gage just what to pit him against to create tension in a story.
Basically, anyone who says superman is too difficult to work with because he is so powerful, clearly did not make efforts to research the dc franchise and clearly is lacking in imaginative skill.
They're also missing the point of Superman. Superman isn't the best superhero because he's got the most or best powers. He's the best superhero because he will always help people, always. No matter who you are, no matter what you need, he will do his best to accomplish that. People focus too much on the SUPER, less on the MAN.
@@SkollMX superman, batman and wonder woman were all once transported to a magical realm where supes lost his powers, diana was blinded and batman lost all his gadgets
. They were then descended upon by a horde of dinosaur men and they still managed to hold their own against them. Superman included, batman even said while watching "even without is power, clark is still worthy of the title of Superman".
During the infinite crisis storyline when superman was fighting superboy prime and they were powerless. CLark said to him "it's not the powers that make you Superman, its action, about what you do with them that defines you".
To me, Superman embodies the idea that hope and altruism can always prevail over cynicism and negativity. That no matter how difficult things get, there is always a way out and a light at the end of the tunnel.
My favorite Superman iterations (outside of All-Star and For All Seasons) are the Peter J. Tomasi run in the comics and the animated series.
The animated series gave me a greater appreciation for Superman because they portrayed him as somebody who was powerful, but vulnerable and capable of being knocked down.
I loved how they had him outwit his foes rather than just overpowering them and the the 3-part episode "World's Finest" remains a major highlight of my childhood.
What you said in the 1st paragraph is what Snyder gave us ...hope and altruism ..
@@dignerds I felt the opposite, to be honest.
@@justinriley because the world around Superman doesn't have that. He does, hence why the movies suck and why super man is just a bad character now.
He's a propaganda character for an America that never existed. Hope isn't what is needed by the will to keep standing when the world beats you down.
Hence why Batman and the Green Lantern comics and cartoons do much much better. To have the will to stand against darkness no matter how fucked the world is. Not some bs hope message of the American boy for an America that doesn't exist
If Superman was real, America would do everything to capture him and experiment on him. Not deal with him.
@@Needler13 "He's a propaganda character for an America that never existed." Yes. Duh. He's what we want to be as a country, not what we currently are. He's aspirational. Literally everyone else understands that and has no need to view it cynically.
"If Superman were real, they'd experiment on him" Which is exactly why Jonathan and Martha Kent adopt him as their own instead of giving him to an orphanage. And then they instill in Clark the values that America *should* be about, and in turn Clark shows that to everyone else. Edgelord antiheroes have just as much capability to suck as boy scouts do.
John wonder Snyder gave us a shit depiction of superman
People say that Superman’s not relatable, but he’s more relatable than most characters in fiction, in my opinion.
For me I prefer to be mentored by Superman than Goku because Supes tries to do his best while Kakarott just wants the thrill of the fight.
Spiderman is the most relatable
maybe not that far, SM is decently relatable
Hes also more down to earth than 99% of politicians.
@@semperfi-1918 I agree, especially Lex Luthor when he became President of the United States (yes that’s real).
_In this day and time where everything is going to shit, we need the Classic Superman now more than ever and not the ones that people who don't understand the character thinks is "relevant"._
I've always seen Superman as a reflection of the best parts of humanity. Selfless, compassionate, and inspirational. As a teenager I often said Superman was not that great of a character or that he is limited with storytelling. Now, as an adult I realize the value of Superman. I wouldn't call myself a fan but I have a ton of respect for him.
one of my favourite quotes when describing Superman between Superman and Clark was from the series Lois and Clark: "Superman is what I can do, Clark is who I am".
People say supes is OP and not relatable. Yeah he is sometimes. The dude can hear everyone on earth, fly close to lightspeed, strength to break planets, but through it all he still can't save everyone. Imagine hearing, seeing, feeling death everyday to the point where it is all so in his face but still can't stop it. How do you think how that feels? I can't imagine how he sees it all and still keep sane and still have hope. The dude is made of hope. He is the living embodiment of it in our time. We are not suppose to understand his godlike powers and capabilities but we are suppose to imbue kindness and hope in others like he does to everyone. Kinda like a modern day jesus but more faulty.
Christopher Reeve was perfection.
He is still to this day the definitive on screen portrayal of Superman in my mind.
Absolutely agree
So happy to see someone understand what the core aspects of Superman should be. He isn’t just a good Superman, but he’s a good MAN.
we really need a good superman movie, now more than ever, so much hate and cynacism in the world, we need someone who actually understands the character to remind people to believe in good again.
We also need a Superman game.
Nick Young That might take more work than a really good Superman film.
@@hectordoblado4987 its more the mentality that leads to a superman movie that we need to return, the idea of hopefulness, the same reason we need old style star trek back, its all rooted in the same ideas imo.
Rhys, your comment made me realize we *already* have a really good Superman movie,
the original with Christopher Reeve.
It may come in the form of Justice League.
Perfect title, perfect video.
Superman is important to me because he's reassuring. He reassures us that even if things seem bleak and hopeless, everything will be okay in the end, and that you're never really alone. He reassures us that people are still inherently good, and is a shining example of how good a person can be.
Richard Donner captured this perfectly in his adaptation, while I think Zack Snyder missed the mark, not for lack of trying. For me it lacks the humanity of the character, and does a poor job of conveying who he is as a person, thus failing to give me much reason to care about him. I also think Snyder's cynical outlook on the world got in the way of conveying those messages about hope and optimism, which to me are so integral to the character.
0:16 Christopher Reeve is speaking major facts, especially nowadays
Max Alain's Meme Stash Thought that was Routh.
“I think the core aspects of Superman, as he was created to be in the 1930’s, still ring true. Maybe more so than ever. If you genuinely believe that a refugee from a dying world sent to earth for a better life... raised by two small town farmers with a strong sense of compassion, benevolence, and a love of humanity... trying to be a hero and inspire people as he fights the greedy and corrupt is no longer relevant for modern audiences... then I don’t think it’s Superman that’s out of touch. “
This... this is what I have been waiting to hear from another Superman fan for so long. Thank you.
Whenever we have a discussion of Superman, the same thing always comes up. "Superman is too difficult to write for," people say, "He's too powerful, nothing can threaten him." That, to me, is _the whole point._ Nothing can threaten him, so all the various frailties and fears that force us to compromise our morals don't apply. He doesn't _need_ to use lethal force in self-defence, because he can't be killed. He doesn't need to eat, he doesn't need shelter or medicine or warmth. Since he can't be hurt, he can _always_ do the right thing.
I think that, rather ironically, it was a Batman film that best described Superman. From Batman Begins: "As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed. But as a symbol...as a symbol I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting." That's Superman; only for Superman, it's his very nature, while Batman has to create the symbol on purpose.
An excellent analysis of Superman. Clark is a compassionate and kind hearted man, who always fights for what is right and wants to make the world a better place.
For an alien who can fly, he’s arguably more down to earth than most of humanity. I LOVE THE IRONY! ❤
Most people when asked which superpower they would desire choose flight or invisibility. I would choose the strength and invulnerability because you could help so many in need. I’ve admired the Superman character more than any of the heroic figures because of his civility, morality and above all, kindness. The original Superman movie exudes all of these qualities. Man of Steel focused on how the character would deal with a world that valued these qualities less than ambition, success and wealth. I also think that MOS did an exceptional job of showing the constant inner battle of managing the temptations inherent of overwhelming power. The battle of staying true to one’s moral compass when you had the ability to do whatever you desired without suffering any consequences from you actions.
The character is a tale of a refugee who came to America from a destroyed home, who was adopted by a loving family who didn't give a damn he didn't have papers or whether or not was there "legally", grew up into a great man, and spends so much of his time fighting an egotistical, narcissistic billionaire turned politician with no hair. Created by two Jewish people to boot. But yeah...some people in the industry now saying he's just "not relevant"...pffffffft.
Definitely. No. Relevance. To. The. Modern. World.
@@OwenLikesComics yes he is not relevant he is far above are time
@@yajat5477 Superman never made a billion dollar movie
@@khalinhalmon961 ok
@@yajat5477 I Superman suck
All might is a better character than Superman
To me, Superman is hope When something wrong is happening and I don't know what to do I think what would Superman do he did not just give me fun, action, adventure stories to read and watch he gave me my morals about what makes a good man
People like Snyder and whoever was in charge of new 52 reboot think that Superman is too naive for modern public, so they took away key elements of his character like idealism, charm and hope. They don't understand that Superman returns failed not because character was too idealistic, but because villain was pathetic and story was boring.
No one would criticize Man of Steel or BvS for dark tone , if Superman was a real symbol of Hope in cruel world.
He's strong enough to move entire planets, but compassionate enough to tell a girl who's lost all hope that she has strength.
My opinion is that Donner's Superman is an ideal vision of comic book inspired hope, regality and dignity, while Snyder's version puts Superman into a Watchman like scenario, which would be ironic considering I feel Alan Moore has written him much better.
Really? Except in the comic books Superman is WAY more serious than Donner's version.
“You don’t make it relevant, you make it inspiring.”
I love it ❤️
Loved loved his video! I like Henry as Superman but did not like Zach's vision at all.
Wonderful video! I fell in love in 1978 with Superman when I was a little girl and I never looked back. I’ve watched every Superman movie, tv show and animated tv show. Reeve will always be my number 1. If I had to choose a number 2(a portrayal that showcases his compassion and humanity) I think I’d have to go with Smallville. No, the writing wasn’t the best but Clark was a kind and compassionate typical American teen/young adult with the same issues we’ve all had and he just happened to have powers. Superman means Hope, Selflessness and Compassion to me. I will always be a fan.
Smallville is my favorite depiction of Superman
@@dcmarvelcomicfans9458 Mine as well! I guess to be fair though, Smallville had over 200 episodes to play with, more than any other live medium I think?
Great video! At least some people still know that Superman is the world's greatest superhero and how he's always been a great leader and inspiration to others. Also how intelligent he's been too and how much more human he's always been too despite coming from another planet. Problem is these alternate world stories about him being evil and corrupt has been making some people just hate him and they need to know that was not the real Superman.
When I was a child in the 1960’s, my father would buy comic books and bring them home to read to me. He would sit me on his lap, turn the pages and teach me how to read.
Those were innocent times. That would be frowned on today. But then, it meant a lot to my dad and me.
His favorite was Superman. I liked Green Lantern best. But it all meant a lot to me, at the time.
What does Superman mean to me? My father, at his best. Oh, he was far from perfect. He drank heavily and was prone to violent outbursts. But when he was at his best, he was the Superman. My friend.:)
Neil Gaiman is an absolute genius, I'd love to see what his version of a Superman movie would be! Also this video was amazing as per 💪
We'll always have his Superman/Green Lantern book.
Well said. If you aren't inspired then it wasn't Superman. Not all anime works but, my favorite Superman line was against Lobo who told Clark he was the last Kyptonian, Clark replies "I'm from Kansas" . Perfect
It’s crazy how in real life, the idea of Superman, a fictional character, can inspire reality. He’s grown from being just a comic book character like his counterparts. He’s an ideal of what humanity can be. Not the flight, heat vision, or super strength, but the morality of being a good,kind, human being. He truly sees himself as a human that was blessed/cursed with superior genes. And he still chooses to help us lowly humans. My dad told me “always strive to make the right choice. Superman does that regardless if it means he has to die. Superman will live on for centuries I know this
God I love Superman. He was a male role model for me when I needed it most.
Loved Snyder's Superman..I'd argue in Man of Steel he does embody that humanity/Kryptonian backgrounds, using both as his strength.
Superman is more relevant than ever. A optimistic, heroic, confident, selfless Superman movie released now would be a 300 billion dollar catharsis.
Superman is all about love, compassion and selflessness... He won't stand in the middle of the road to flex his muscles and whistle at the women walking by, despite having incredible strength he would still remain humble among other Superheroes... Always helping out but never ever showing his Superhero team mates that he was better than them... He's the guy who would go a million miles to save a kid with an incurable brain tumor, refuse to play the NFL because he had an unfair advantage over other players, argue with his dad over a stray dog abandoned on the street, ask Barry to 'Please Call Me Clark' when he referred to him as Kara's Super Cousin... 'That' is the true essence of Superman... It is compassion and humility... That is what defines him as a Superhero... Not arrogance and beating up others to prove a point... Not being dark and harsh in his attitude... this is why Snyder never managed to do justice to Superman with Cavill despite the fact that the Snyder Cut was a pretty decent movie at the end of the day....it's like Jonathan Kent said to Clark back in the Smallville tv show 'Son your powers are a part of you but they don't define you'
Superman to me is someone to look up to. Someone who inspires you to be the best person you can be. You don't "relate" to Superman. Just like you can't relate to Michael Jordan, you are astonished by what he can do on a basketball court. He can do things 99% of us can't do. Superman is like any amazing athlete; we are astonished by him. We also look up to him because he is a really good person. He's just a farm boy from Kansas who had really good parents. I think Christopher Reeve was right: "He's a friend." You can't deconstruct hope. You either have it or you don't. Superman gives us hope.
Have you ever read Irredeemable? As a deconstruction of Superman, it actually made me appreciate him as a hero and character more. Honestly, I think it should be a series than a movie.
Yeah irredeemable is in my opinion the only real good "evil superman" story maybe other than injustice I guess some might say the boys but homelander in the comics is more a representation of garth ennis' hate for superheroes the show just basically takes everything it does well with homelander from plutonian. It just sucks that it hasn't already been adapted because at this point I'm kind of sick of the whole "evil superman" trope. It's been done to death.
"Superman isn’t better than us-he’s the best of us."
*Brilliant.*
It's really weird. I've always liked Superman and loved the old TAS cartoon, but for a period I started to buy in to the whole "he's too overpowered and boring" mindset because that's what everyone else said. But the truth is, he's not. Batman is a rich billionaire who somehow has the resources to design and build gadgets straight out of science fiction (including a freaking BATCAVE ON THE MOON), and single-handedly takes down god like threats in JLA comics through sheer wits alone. But apparently despite all that Batman is more "relatable" than a nerdy reporter who grew up on a farm and feels like an outsider? It's a ridiculous argument.
That's because they use Batman as a way to both point out why he's better and what Superman lacks when he should be compared to the likes of Spider-Man
Wasn't a big criticism against Snyder's version, from comics purists, that the character should not feel like an outsider?
@@suarezguy I think the criticism was more in HOW the outsider nature was handled. Snyder portrays it more as superman being "above humanity" and extremely detached from them to the point that he frowns all the time when saving people. In contrast the recent graphic novel "superman smashes the klan" also incorporates the idea that he feels alienated but the writer portrays that feeling as being no different than the feeling of someone who immigrated to the United states from another country and now tries to "assimilate" by concealing elements of who they are from other people.
I sincerely hope that in the future we get a movie titled Clark Kent, and have it be a true live action rendition to the superman in Superman vs The Elite. To me, that whole movie is one of the best examples of what superman means and what he's meant to represent.
The way most people feel about Superman was revealed in Superman II, when a crowd in Metropolis thought Zod and his crew had killed Superman. The crowd grabbed anything at hand and rushed Zod and the other Kryptonians, heedless of the fact that they were hopelessly outmatched. These three had killed their great hero, and that was worth fighting and dying for. Superman inspires people in a way other superheroes never have and never will. Superman has the power to do anything, and he chooses to serve humanity selflessly. Superman inspires not because of his power, but because of his goodness. Superman proved when he fought Doomsday that he was willing to lay down his life if need be to protect the weak and helpless.
Superman's humanity came from his loving foster parents, who taught him the virtues of goodness and humility. When a young Clark in the first Superman film complains that he has to hide his powers from the world, Jonathan responds: "Now, you listen to me. When you first came to us, we thought people would come and take you away because, when they found out, you know, the things you could do... and that worried us a lot. But then a man gets older, and he starts thinking differently and things get very clear. And one thing I do know, son, and that is you are here for a *reason*."
Superman grows more and more relevant and needed the more time we spend arguing with each other on the internet and closing ourselves off from the real world, the more we divide ourselves into us vs them, the more we compare ourselves to other people, the more vulnerable we feel to external threats, the less light we see at the end of the tunnel, the more we need him to hold our hands and guide us to it.
He is not my favorite superhero but I have to admit that he is truly the greatest superhero of all time. He is not a superhero, he is The Superhero. He was the first, can fly(most popular superpower), represent hope and optimism; he always see good in people.
I started watching Superman the animated series and I can say it's on of the nicest things I've ever seen. Seeing Superman and his optimism is really beautiful and relaxing.
Every day i strive towards, to make Superman real with my actions and the way i treat people around me.
Superman himself evens says " I'm just a farm boy from a Kansas" Hes not arrogant or thinks hes better then everyone. He just always wants to do the right thing. His DNA might be Kryptonian but his heart is human.
The worst part is we haven't got a good superman movie in over 40 years
"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."
My favorite comic character, more cynical people become the less they can see their selves in him, he was a character that we would like to like to be like in character, most people now days seem more like a villain in character that he would stand against, just my opinion
It’s not a quote that was ever specifically said about the character, but whenever I think about Superman and what it would mean to be him, I think about what Peter Cullen’s brother told him about what being a hero means the day he went to audition for the voice of Optimus Prime. “If you’re going to be a hero, be a real hero. Don’t be one of those Hollywood action heroes pretending to be tough. Just be strong and real. Tell the truth. Be strong enough to be gentle.” To me, that’s what perfectly sums up what it would be to be Superman. Strong Enough To Be Gentle.
Finally, a Superman video that criticizes Zack Snyder's Superman respectfully. I'm a big fan of that interpretation, but that bit about missing hope, I still firmly believe the story was headed there before Warner Bros pulled the plug on it.
Man of steel went agents everything that Christopher Reeves thinks about Superman. Christopher Reeves knows what’s so important about the character of Superman. Zack Snyder makes Superman seem like a terrifying god who doesn’t care about who’s safe or who’s in danger.
Superman is so important, the quintessential American icon (who appropriately is an illegal immigrant.)
I used to hate Superman. I grew up on a steady diet of anime and edge and to my perspective, from childhood to teenager, Superman was a boring Mary Sue who said corny things and whose powers were unrealistic... but then right after highschool my life took a really bad turn. I won't go to far into it but depression hit me hard and I basically did nothing but lay in bed for a year and a half. During that time I watched two films, the animated adaptation of All Star Superman and Superman vs The Elite. And no they didn't cure my depression, but, they helped me, they showed me who Superman is, what he represents, and how to appreciate him. Eventually I did come out the other side and get back on my feet, but, now I love Superman, more than ever. Superman was there for me when I needed him. That's why Superman is important, that's why Superheroes are important. No, they're not real but the morals and ideals they represent and fight for are, and they can help real people like me. Thank you, Superman.
Some people think that creating a 'Cristopher Reeve' Superman these days wouldn't work because it would bore people. This is wrong. At first, people will object, yes. But this is the character we need most in our lives. We need to be reminded of what it is to be a friend, what it is to be someone's symbol of hope. Because honestly... we forgot.
Superman never made a billion dollar movie
I just discovered this video. Superman is so much more than a superhero. For me he made being adopted ok. When I I was told I am, I recognized that Superman is adopted too. And that made it ok.
I loved that you started with Chris Reeve the man. The beart and soul he put into the role came from his natural being. He was superman. I used to see the George Reeves superman series and read the comics but superman came to life for me on the screen in 70 MM at the Loews Astor Plaza in 78. They can reimagine superman anyway they want but it's important to keep his core. Put it through the ringer if you want but his core is what should come out at the end. This is a great video essay compared to most videos which are toxic at times. I shared it. It's worth a share a like and a subscribe.
I think my favorite version of Superman will always be the original rebirth run by Peter Tomasi. Movie wise, it is Brandon Routh.
You like Superman Returns now that's surprising
Routh was perfect. Still is. He exudes Superman's humanistic warmth & soulfulness. Cavill is a cold fish.
I always saw Cavil’s Superman as him feeling like he’s just a kid from Kansas being forced onto the world stage and trying to make the most of it. Meanwhile the entire world sees him as someone sent from the heavens who is stronger and faster than anyone else while also being a great person, making him a god. This Superman is being forced to shoulder a godly status that he doesn’t want. He just wants to be a good person.
People don't understand superman. Most writers don't do him justice.
Superman is the ultimate Prince Charming, and the Walt Disney Co, has shown that people to this day love fairy tales. That in itself should tell us that Superman still has a place in our society, even as a fairy tale. Because as Gainman pointed out, they may not be relevant, but they are inspiring.
Hope will never be outdated
I also want to piggyback on my statement on Synder's Superman, he is portrayed as someone who wants to do the right thing and be that friend that the world needs in a world where people don't trust each as much let alone someone who stands out not doing the norm such as saving people and being that helping hand. Waid's Superman Birthright mentions that "You can't just show up nowadays and be a super-friend, we are skeptical. Government, Advertising , the media...these things manipulate us 24/7 and we know it. We claim to fight it but most of us don't have the energy to struggle every moment of every day. Wear us down enough and the eventual lesson we take to heart is that it is easier and safer to be cynical than it is to trust someone" That is pretty much us. Superman never changed in Mos and BvS, we did.
Hi Owen! Glad to see you are back with another video! Do you have any advice for a newbie creator, that may do critique/discussion style videos? Or a way to get traction on here. When your content isn't the most "clickbaity" type content, like prank videos. Thank you again for the high quality content!
Hey Ryan, thanks for reaching out! If you want to chat about that, you're more than welcome to DM me on Twitter (@owenlikescomics), and I'd be happy to help however I can. Hope you enjoyed the new video!
Superman is sincerity and faith in each other
The problem with the Snyderverse is that it's a story about Superman written by Lex Luthor. Snyder hates that Superman _is_ a good person. He hates the concept of a man with that much power doesn't use it for selfish reasons. Maybe he's jealous, maybe he thinks Clark is just a moron; point being, Snyder doesn't want a symbol of hope, he wants to see a big strong man kick ass and take what he wants. So he tried to turn Superman into that, and failed.
To me Superman means truth, justice, and the American way. That’s what he was made to stand for, and that’s what he always be. I feel like if you put Superman in our cynical world where people are often pessimistic and devoid of hope, he can be a symbol to people that even in the dark times we are in now, we should always have hope because Superman IS hope. If you want to make a modern Superman movie, don’t make him change to be like everyone else, make him convince everyone else to be more like him.
Though Spider-Man is my favorite now, Superman was who I dressed up as first and was the watermark of the human being I should strive to be, It was mostly Reeve’s depiction, strong yet vulnerable. The Death of Superman series was able to nail how to depict him in the jaded world we live In now. There was a moment in that series that stood out to me. The young man that sees Superman as too much of a boy scout and dorky while he’s more into Guy Gardener who’s edgier. Doomsday takes Guy Gardener and all of the Justice League out and leaving his family’s house burning from the battle. None of the Justice League can help him, he has to cry out for Superman. Superman is on Doomsday’s tail and still goes back to help him showing the cynical young man why he sets the standard. That’s how to make a modern Superman story.
“While the execution is far from perfect“ is the biggest understatement. Snyder failed at showing the heart of the character. I saw no reason for anyone to mourn him nor was he a even made out to be a hero. He seemed to be burdened by what he is rather than accept it as a gift he happily uses to protect his new planet/home. The movies should still make him whimsical and altruistic, unwavering in his faith in us. We don’t deserve Superman, but he would disagree. “They’re a good people, Kal-El, they mean to be. They only lack the light. That’s why I sent them... you” That should be the mission statement for every Superman movie.
He was finally getting to the point we all wanted him at the end of Justice League, and now it looks likely they're going to dump Cavill.
bruh how do I get you more subs, you deserve them!!
The people who think Superman is boring, have never read Superman stories and don't understand the character.
I thought superman was a dumb boring character that was outdated until I read all star superman and even in that story the moment that got me was when superman was talking with lois and was like I have to go, and instantly goes to a girl about to kill herself by jumping off a roof and has a conversation to her like he is her friend and she hugs him, and I was like holy shit i get it now superman is that guy who everyone knows and loves who literally cares for everyone and is their friend, now i literally love this character. A good superman story really should be like 70% talking and him helping people being clark and the 30% percent should be like fighting it really shouldnt be the focus his relationships are and his struggle to help people.
Beautiful video, man. You managed to emcopass exactly why this a top 3 hero of mine and icon in the world. That's why reports about WB updating Superman to make him relevant are baffling when he is one of the most timeless heroes in existence and yes, even more relatable than Batman imo.
For myself I liked Superman.... Until 1978. Then I loved him. I was 5, and my aunt me took my 8 year old cousin to see the Donner film and since we were visiting she took me with. Christopher Reeve has been my favorite Superman ever since. Though Henry Cavill is a close 2nd. To me the biggest thing that truly makes Clark a hero is what he WON'T do.
It's almost like WB is interested in *looks at left palm* "Money" and a good superman story might be to interesting to *looks at right palm* "Poors"
Superman means to me he's a symbol of hope
I still feel like the perfect movie/villain for a Superman live action movie would be Manchester Black and The Elite.
Superman isn’t the “Man of Steel” because of his body, but because of his spirit.
I love the Donner Superman movies but in the end, no movie can fully do Clark Kent justice. He'll always need a episodic and/or serialized format of storytelling. That what helps Superman and Lois have the most optimal storytelling around. It allows for character arcs to unfold naturally (most of the time). It's also why I really, really love Superman: The Animated series.
I always felt like spiderman and superman are closely linked. Theyre both symbols of keep on keeping on. Neither are always loved and adored by the world but the guys on the street let them know they dont need to be
16:17 i'd say.. thats what snyder thinks about Superman too, After the senate explosion, when Clark is left alone, with no superman around, the thing that stays, is the kid from kansas that was adopted by two human parents. as we see.. when he goes up the mountain to find solitude. he doesnt remember Jor El, but .. his Human father.
5 things that make Superman relevant in the modern era. 1 he's the ultimate immigrant. 2. He's a symbol for hope. 3 truth justice and all that stuff 4. He's the first archetype and superhero. 5. He has a family. These are problems that makes men not relevant. 1.The costume except his new 52 suit. 2. His secret identity (to be fair Birthright kind of solve this problem) but even with that realistically that wouldn't fool anyone unless they brought back the Silver age concept of his glasses. 3. Smallville to be more specific the idea of a quintessential small town where everyone knows everyone the quiet sleeping areas where nothing very bad happens everyone thinks the same talk the same mostly looks the same is it realistic anymore since those ideas when away with Mayberry RFD and black and white TV. The world is connected to the internet now and they are culturally diverse and dealing with new challenges like never before and American Farms are in serious danger so having this type of ideal city is not realistic anymore. 4. His day job at the Daily Planet. The problem is nobody reads newspapers anymore and the reading ship that does is slowly going away date of modernized this by making it accessible through the internet and possibly news channels. 5. He has no Stakes. It's hard to make interesting stories with him if he can't physically be hurt without using Kryptonite magic or red sun energy. I guess you could scale back his power or you can not see get creative and actually use villain that could physically hurt him the general audience doesn't know that there is other weaknesses he has other than Kryptonite
Great video, my friend! Your video make true justice to Superman! Thanks to understand and show to us all what Superman always represent to the world. Greetings from Brazil
As someone who said that superman wasnt an appealing character.thus video was a huge slap in the face for me.superman or at least characters Who are similar to superman(characters who
are heroes to inspire hope.say spiderman wonder woman etc.)
As i grew older and more anxious about dealing woth life.having somekne that i can look up to,both as a role model or an person who i want to be a friend to.
Superman ideals came to
Calm me down and to aspire me to not give up.
So thank you Clark for being an great inspiration.
(Also thanks for making these kinda of videos man)
Thank you, Tetsudi. I really appreciate the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video!
The ultimate fact about Snyder's Superman is not that he hates superman (which he probably does), but that he doesn't understand the character. To him, Superman is a supermachine, it's almost impossible to see (as Owen pointed out) hope, or even pure kindness in Snyder's Superman.
Superman 1978 might not be _the_ perfect Superman story, but it’s _a_ perfect Superman story.
Superman is the epitome of inspiration, virtues and values unlike most of the superheroes of today.
Great choices with For All Seasons and All Star Superman, I would personally add The Luthor Nobody Knew, the first half of Birthright, Must There Be a Superman?, What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way? and the novel Miracle Monday.
My favourite Superman stories are ones written by Bronze Age writer Elliott S Maggin particularly his two novels Last Son of Krypton and Miracle Monday, he's able to write nuanced stories with the "OP" Silver Age Superman.
The best example of Superman encountering a cynical viewpoint done right is Superman Vs The Elite
The people who are saying Superman is borring, unrelatable or outdated all overlook the heart of the Man : Clark Kent.
Amazing video, Owen! RIP Christopher Reeve