One of the panels in today's DC FanDome, in the Watchverse section, was Superman: An Enduring Symbol of Hope. This featured comic book writers starting with host Brian Michael Bendis. He was well known for his Marvel Comics work, with the Ultimate Spider-Man, creating Alias, and also defining the Avengers first with Avengers: Disassembled. Bendis moved to DC with Action Comics #1000 (2018), and begun his run on The Man of Steel limited series. The post-Crisis universe was re-ignited with John Byrne’s Man of Steel series. Interestingly, there were several panels from Byrne’s run on Superman so he should have been a guest. There is also Dan Jurgens who is well known for his Superman work. Relatively new is Gene Luen Yang, he is one of the best graphic novelists with his American Born Chinese (2006) and writing Superman starting with issue #41 (2015) with the “Before the Truth” storyline.
The subject of the panel is understanding the character and appeal of Superman. He is of course one of the first superheroes with Action Comics #1 (1938). There is a radio show, films, animated series, and television series that cover the character. Superman’s long lasting publishing history is sometimes confused as the “Big blue boy scout” mentioned by Jurgens. My understanding of the character is that he is really ordinary Clark Kent who just happens to be Superman. We can see the overpowered Superman in the DCEU is misunderstood by the filmmakers, but it really needs to be from the very human character that centers Superman. Every character is reflective of their times. The term “hero” is really someone reflective of who we want to be, possessing admirable qualities, and the best hero is fictional. Real life heroes are capable of very human flaws and thus disappointment. Yang noted that Superman is about hope and added “We need what Superman represents more than ever.”
Dan Jurgens mentioned one of the inspirational Superman stories was written by Elliot S. Maggin. This story is “Must There Be A Superman?” in Superman #247 (1972). Jurgens says about Superman in the comic book, “he lets man make his own decisions and he serves as an inspirational character by doing that so he’s sort of a guiding light without controlling things.” This gets to the heart of the character. Superman is inspirational, he doesn’t defeat every supervillain or stop every crime and disaster, he shows the way so others like first responders and you can help in whatever way you are capable. I find this in stark contrast to Batman who is the one man vigilante working on his own apart from the police. The appeal there is the loss of hope in authorities and fighting for your own justice. This is of course a dangerous path for ordinary people.
Bendis asked Jurgens about his Death of Superman work. Jurgens said about the creative team, “What we really wanted to do was address Superman’s importance by removing him from the books.” He found that the long queues at the comic stores, fan reaction, and media attention were all shocked by the loss in the real world. This was a phenomenon even though “deaths” of even main title superheroes is relative. Superman #75 (1993) had a black cover with the bloody Superman symbol, it was polybagged with a black memorial armband, a Daily Planet obituary, postage stamps, and poster. This was the time of variant covers and promotions, but this one issue was very special. It made everyone reflective of the loss of a hero in real life. The story was adapted in the Superman: Doomsday (2007) animated movie.
The shocking part was the four persons who replaced Superman after his funeral. The one hero most symbolic of Superman was Steel, John Henry Irons, an ordinary man who fashions armor, jet boots, and wields a kinetic hammer to take inspiration from his fallen hero. Let’s not mention the 1997 Shaquille O’Neal movie which made Steel into a hero defending the streets (I kinda like it). Yang worked on the story that gave Superman a “solar flare” power that rendered him human. He said about the story, “There is a core of Superman that will never change.” This is why Superman doesn’t become dated. There are always new avenues to explore with the character even eighty-two years old. His roots are Kal-El, Kryptonian, unique in the universe even though there is Supergirl and other Kryptonians.
It is the sci fi background of a dying planet and being sent from there by his scientist parents that gives him the powers. The Superman powers went from leaping far distances like John Carter of Mars to flying and then a catalog of other abilities. I recommend the book, The Science of Superman (2002) by Mark Wolverton who shows how a being with all of the comic book powers (using the John Byrne-era Superman) can be scientifically possible! One of my favorite issues of Superman is Adventures of Superman #505 (1993) when he returns. Superman detects people who have survived the destruction, rushes to save them, and the mother wearily says “Knew you’d save us, wouldn’t let us die.” Superman replies, “I’d rather die myself.” The statement wraps up everything about Superman, his selflessness, and sacrifice. When you help any one even in the smallest ways, by helping with a flat tire or saying just the right words to cheer someone up, you are Superman! You don’t even need a cape.
#SupermanAnEnduringSymbolofHope, #DCFanDome, #BrianMichaelBendis, #DanJurgens, #GeneLuenYang
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