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On Superman “Man of Steel”

by Daniel Larson on August 25, 2011 at 2:30 am
Posted In: News/Blog

A good friend of mine recently referred me to this article on Topless Robot where the author suggests that it may be time to start hating “Man of Steel.”

What’s “Man of Steel” you ask? It’s a movie that is currently in production about Superman. Why didn’t they call it Superman? Because the last time Warner Brothers made a movie with the word Superman in the title (“Superman Returns,” 2006), it was so terrible that they didn’t want anyone to think that this film has even superficial connections to that film. “Man of Steel” is a terrible title for a movie about Superman, for sure, but I we should be thankful they didn’t call it “Batman of Metropolis.”

“Man of Steel” is scheduled to be released in 2013. The only thing we’ve seen so far is one photo of Henry Cavill (Clark Kent/Kal-El/Man of Steel) in which you cannot see whether or not he is wearing his overunderpants (temporarily putting that discussion on hold) and a few shots where you could see the entire costume and sure enough… he is not WEARING any overunderpants! Consider my outrage leveled at thee!

There’s also a very basic description of the plot (allegedly) floating around the ‘nets. Is this enough to start hating it? The author (Rob Bricken) of the Topless Robot post suggests that it is, indeed, time to start hating.

If I know one thing about comic book fans (being one) and film-o-philes (I’m friends with a few) it’s that it is NEVER too early to start hating. A costume photo? A leaked page of a draft of a script? An out-of-context tweet? First impressions have never been more important in movie making, but none of the things addressed in the article have me ready to hate on “Man of Steel” a year in advance of it’s release.

Throughout the current Golden Age of Comics Movies we’re living in we’ve seen costumes start out with a low approval rating (X-Men, CaptainAmerica) turn around and become the standard even for the comics (however briefly). We’ve also seen costumes start out with a low approval rating and have their contempt justified upon finally viewing it in context (Green Lantern). This costume could go either way, so I can’t hate it just for the costume (yet). If it turns out that it works on screen, then it could be the new standard for Superman. I was on the fence about the Brandon Routh Superman Returns costume when they first released pictures, but I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Once I saw it on-screen I have to admit that I didn’t HATE it… but it still wasn’t right (overunderpants were too small, didn’t care for the raised “S” symbol).

Whether to hate “Man of Steel” or not isn’t about the costume. For me loving it or hating it will depend on the choices the creators make regarding the characterization of Superman (Man of Steel).

Writers tend to get hung up on the idea of Superman being an alien. It’s an angle that makes Superman more relatable. Of course we’ve all experienced the feeling of being different or not fitting in. It’s easy. It’s kindergarten easy. It’s moving to a new town, it’s a new job at a new company, it’s every day for some people. While Superman TECHNICALLY is an alien (born on Krypton), all he knew growing up was the same thing we all knew: Earth. Like the rest of us, Earth is his only reference point. Earth kids, Earth lunch, Earth cartoons, Earth skateboards, Earth candy… he was raised inKansasby Earth people, not on the moon by aliens. Yes, his powers are an alienating factor, but you do not make the choice to be a Superhero of the stature that Superman is if you have issues with being an alien.

Superman (like Santa Claus) is a FATHER figure. You should feel safe because he’s always going to be there to protect you. He is confident, altruistic, noble and good. ALWAYS (unless he’s drunk on synthesized Kryptonite and EVEN THEN… he will find his way back).

Perhaps father figure isn’t quite accurate. Superman is an IDEALIZATION of a parent figure. He’s what we wish our parents were, what we want to perceive them as and what we as parents hope to be: omni-present, forever protectors of our children, drawing super strength from deep with the core of our beliefs about what is right and what is wrong.

Superman is not a tragic figure. He is immune from death (Kryptonite notwithstanding) so you have to take death and any kind of physical suffering out of the equation. I realize from a writer’s standpoint it is very difficult to create dramatic tension when your protagonist cannot feel physical pain, but that presents the challenge of finding other ways to test his character in a dramatic way.

The real dramatic tests of Superman’s character are found in those situations that force him to make decisions or push him to the kinds of emotional, spiritual or intellectual limits that we the readers or viewers have to face during the most difficult moments of our lives. What he does with those situations, the decisions he makes are what inspire us and want to root for him. How he handles those difficult moments are the other side of the power fantasy. Not only do we want to be able to punch a giant robot to the moon and stop bullets with our eyeballs, but we also want to be able to make the right decisions at the right times because they ARE right. This is Superman’s real power.

We already KNOW Superman is going to win whatever battles happen to find him. We WANT him to win. We want to root for him. Superman is the materialization of our most basic power fantasies, a window to the possibilities not a mirror to expose the faults we already know about. He is what we want to be, not what we are. Or rather, he is what believe we can be.

Is it time to start hating the “Man of Steel”? Surely not. But a word of caution to those making the film would be to recognize what it is about Superman that has allowed him to stand the test of time. Superman at it’s core is not a concept that needs to be reinvented, updated, sexified or made into a hip marketing standard of what’s cool. He’s not cool. He’s not hip. He shouldn’t be. Hip and cool are trends that will fluctuate from generation to generation, but a belief in what is good and right should never change.

If “Man of Steel” makes the same mistake that “Superman Returns” made, then my hate will be delivered posthaste to my blog upon my exit from the theater (it’s my only outlet). “Superman Returns” made the mistake of bringing Superman down to our level. It attempted to humanize him. Superman should never come down to our level, he should always inspire us to come up to his.

2 Comments

Venom and Whatever You Need

by Daniel Larson on August 15, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Posted In: News/Blog

For some reason I got the urge to draw Venom. I have only drawn Venom one other time in my life (to the best of my recollection). Anyway… there’s that.

Beyond that… hey! Do you need art? You should really think about it. Even if you think you might not need it right now, there is a strong likelihood that you will need it in the future. That said, I’m available for commissions. If you need to see some work that I have done, obviously just look around this site, but you can also head over to my Deviant Art  page. Rates are incredibly reasonable and potentially negotiable based on your needs and my needs.

Shoot me an email at dan@circlecomics.com and let’s talk about your project.

1 Comment

Strange Ink Picture Show & Stage 12 and 13

by Daniel Larson on July 20, 2011 at 4:59 am
Posted In: News/Blog

Today we recorded Episode 24 of the Strange Ink Picture Show and it’s already posted for you to listen. Our producer and the lead host of SIPS, Greg Petrin, has a pretty good system set up to where he can have the show posted before I make it back home most nights. I don’t know how he does it, but I’m certain that Mephistopheles is involved somehow.

Please note that yesterday I posted Stage 12 of my character evolution project. Sometimes I hit and sometimes I miss. I really felt like Stage 12 was a hit. Stage 13 which I posted today on the other hand…

  Comment

Eat Sleep Comics & Stage 11

by Daniel Larson on July 14, 2011 at 6:24 am
Posted In: News/Blog

It’s Wednesday and that means Eat Sleep Comics podcast day. Today Carlton Greene and I recorded our 21st episode. Check out all the details and listen here: strangeink.net. Don’t forge to subscribe via the itunes as well (even if you don’t listen, just make sure you’re downloading it all the time). Take particular note of the fact that you can now bid to sponsor our Footnotes section on the podcast. Use it promote whatever you want to promote (keep it clean, though, we’re a family show).

Also, look to your right to find Stage 11.

  Comment

Strange Ink Picture Show & Stage 10

by Daniel Larson on July 13, 2011 at 7:07 am
Posted In: News/Blog

Episode 23 of the Strange Ink Picture Show went up this evening. We talk about this past weekend’s box office numbers, a new marketing company that digitally inserts product placement into syndicated television shows and lastly we discuss our first impressions of Google+.

We also introduce a new auction-style sponsorship opportunity that I think you should be interested in. It starts at $.99 so it’s very likely that you could sponsor a segment of our program for exactly $.99. Head over to the auctions to bid on them now.

Lastly, Stage 10 is up, so check ‘er out.

  Comment
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