GwenStacyFanBoy

18th July 2011

Post with 97 notes

Superman. Then, now and Tomorrow.

Superman is without a doubt the most well known superhero. The first and by many, the most beloved. He is a symbol for truth, and justice (and depending on what generation you are: The American way.) Here is a guy that can never tell a lie. A man that saves cats from trees. A hero that will always be there in the nick of time to catch a falling enigmatic gal reporter. For a hero that has been around for 70 plus years, has been in over 900 comics, has stared in five theatrical films, had a musical (without Bono) and has had multiple TV shows (live action and cartoons) I think I can safely say that most people know the basics of Superman: his origins and his cast of friends. Well that’s about to change in a major way.

DC comics is relaunching every comic book within in its superhero line. Action Comics (which first debuted in 1938, starring Superman) will start at #1 (it’s currently at issue #902) come September. With the new #1 issue, written by famed comic writer Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, Batman Incorporated)  and art by Rags Morales (Identity Crisis, Nightwing).

Yes, the entire DC Universe is getting slight face lift. Batgirl is now Barbra Gordon (the Silver age Batgirl, made famous by the 60’s TV series and the 90’s animated cartoon), a few Wildstorm and Milestone (Various companies that were bought out by DC) characters will be integrated into the DC universe as well. Aside from these minor changes (I will discuss Batgirl in my next post) no one character is truly being altered and tooled with as much as the Man of Steel and his friends.

In the 1980’s DC comics pulled a similar stunt with its heroes and stories. By relaunching Superman and Batman with updated origins as well as countless other heroes. I now see how many readers and fans in the past might have been upset with the then radical changes.

From the 1930’s to the 1980’s Superman was a very different character than the one my generation had grown up with. For starters, Krypton was  a very different planet than the one from the 1980’s (the 80’s version saw a very cold and soulless planet without any emotion) and saw a very modern need for the Kents. There was an added emphasis on Superman’s adopted Ma and Pa that would shape him into the man he would eventually become. Teaching him the importance of being human and how to value his emotions and thoughts above any of his powers. Other changes would be radical as well. Lex Luthor would go from crazy super scientist villain (who wore a lot of purple and green) and was transformed to something so incredibly evil in the 80’s, a business man. Lois Lane was slightly changed to be more of Clark’s rival at first. Yes, she would fall head over heals for Superman, but sadly for Clark, another reporter on the scene just meant more competition for Pulitzer winning Lane.

Eventually Clark won Lois over and showed her his secret identity and the two got engaged. But before their wedding bells would ring, devastation hit the modern man of steel hard.

Superman was killed during battle with the monster Doomsday. A huge story that many still remember fondly to this day. It truly is one of the best modern day Superman stories.  Superman eventually came back from the dead (really just a deep deep sleep/coma) and he brought back with him a few friends. Specifically Superboy, a partial teenage clone of Superman, and Steel, a construction worker and brilliant scientist, who was inspired by Superman’s actions.

This story and these characters revitalized Superman and his books for years to come. Superboy went on and joined Young Justice, and later the latest incarnation of Teen Titans. Steel became a very reliable ally and a constant friend to Superman and friends.

Eventually Lois and Clark did get married in 1996.

And have been happily married ever since. Well up until recently.

Come September, Superman will go through radical changes, much like he did in the 1980’s.

Superman will no longer be married to Lois. They will no longer be in a relationship. In fact, Lois Lane will already be in a relationship with an un yet named colleague at the Daily Planet. Lois will apparently also have a brand new role at the Daily Planet (Editor in chief maybe?).

Ma and Pa Kent will both pass away. There is no telling yet when they will have their untimely demise, but it seems to be happening very early in Superman’s life, maybe before he even puts on his costume for the first time.

The new Superman is described more alien than ever before. Less human and far more in connection with his Kryptonian heritage than with his human.

It will be interesting to see how these stories will play out and how this Superman will interact with other characters such as his JLA companions.

Apparently not well.

So it seems if you have read a Superman Comic from 1985 till recently, it never happened. These stories will be of a Superman that will no longer exist. Growing up in the 90’s I never considered how those that grew up reading Superman in the 60’s or 70’s felt about the 80’s incarnation of Superman. 

I will be sad to see my Superman go. I really will be. I have loved and read my Superman books over and over again. But for a character that has been around for over 70 years, I guess its natural to see him change and adapt over and over again to change with the times.

It will be interesting to see how successful this new Superman will be. Will he gain the same following that past Superman’s had?  This is Superman for the 21’st century. Being a devoted Superman fan I will of course give this new character a shot.

Grant Morrison, who will be writing the series, has all ready had past experience writing the last son of Krypton. His majestic story of All Star Superman encompasses all the classic elements of the Silver age Superman, told in a contemporary setting. Truly one of the greatest Superman books ever written, and drawn (by the great Frank Quietly). If you have never read this book, please do yourself a favor and please read it!

Seeing how Morrison has given one of the most definitive Superman stories ever, i do believe that he could be the one to give a new spin on a character he already knows very well.

What are your thoughts on the new Superman? How do you feel about a reboot? and for those of you that don’t read comics, do you think you would give the new Superman a shot?

Action Comics will be published this September by DC comics.

Tagged: SupermanGrant MorrisonDCNUAction Comics

8th March 2011

Post reblogged from iamdonald with 1,936 notes

Listen to some General Dopeness.

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Source: iamdonald