Today's Under the Influence post...

[seawasp]

... discusses the archetype and symbol of superheroes, Superman, the Man of Tomorrow!

Comments

[kjn]

Just a minor nit: Zeitgeist refers to the "spirit of the times". One can talk about the Zeitgeist that formed Superman, but hardly that Superman as a character has it.

[bunny-m.livejournal.com]

Zeitgeist definitely wasn't the word Our Gracious Host was reaching for, though I'm not sure exactly what word should be in it's place.

Gestalt perhaps? It's closer, but still not quite right, I think.

[kjn]

Yeah. I'm thinking of "shared mindspace" or something: how we all together imagine the character.

[seawasp]

I was hoping you guys would have another word for it. Gestalt is also close, but not right.

[dsrtao]

Slightly surprised you didn't link to or quote the eight word origin story at the beginning of All Star Superman:

http://comicsalliance.com/ask-chris-36-what-is-the-best-superman-origin-story/

[bunny-m.livejournal.com]

It's well done, I'll give Morrison that, but it could only be done because Superman is such a successful, culturally pervasive icon.

As for the artwork... Ugh. Why do people keep giving Quitely money for the stuff he produces?

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

That version works well, but it works because it isn't telling the story, it's reminding the reader of the story.

[q99.livejournal.com]

I had some issues with MoS.

I don't have a problem with Superman killing Zod- IMO his schtick is he'll do whatever possible to prevent people from dying, but he doesn't have an iron-clad straightjacket of a rule like Batman, he's just able to, 99% of the time, prevent it. The rare exceptions being extremely powerful entities. Killing Zod is even right from the comics. Doing it to save civilians, if he can't think of how else to? Yes, he will do so. So, not a minus, but being better at showing him try other things first wouldn't have hurt.

I do think the visual storytelling of the fights could've used improvement- Early on, he brings a fight *to* a town rather than away, and it lacks the touches of Marvel's movies of little pauses in the fight to show concern for civilians.

Also I did feel they tried to push the Jesus allegory too much... as did the previous film. And it's like, he's Superman, he doesn't need to be Jesus. He's already a symbol of hope.

Pa Kent... now him they didn't do so well.

[xander-opal.livejournal.com]

I have a Superman/Batman crossover series where Batman was seriously angry at Superman for killing Zod. The _Night and Day_ series, I think.

Superman seen as a religious figure does happen, as there's a cult in the comic canon that worships him as a god.

[q99.livejournal.com]

-Superman seen as a religious figure does happen, as there's a cult in the comic canon that worships him as a god. -

Oh yea, but people following him as *Superman* is interesting, while I find trying to pile on the Jesus allegory just lazy.

[seawasp]

I agree about Pa Kent. The whole darker aesthetic didn't help.

[q99.livejournal.com]

I think DC basically knows how to get Batman right, and thus when in doubt, try and lean in that direction.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

Somewhere - probably on youtube but I'm not able to go looking now - is a collection of Man of Steel footage rebalanced to bring out bright Christopher Reeve style colors. It looks good once Superman is bright and inspiring again.