@li-limandragon9287
Many lazy DC writers and even Supes’s best fans always forget the “Man” part of “Superman”.
@StarlingChild4
For a compelling version of Superman that doesn't compromise who he is, I highly recommend the animated movie, Superman vs. The Elite. It truly highlights exactly WHY Superman has to be good all the time, and the burden his role puts on his shoulders, and also showcases the fact that he almost always holds back his punches against his foes because he's thinking about the innocents surrounding them (which is where the DCEU fails with his character; the real Superman would NEVER smash through populated buildings, or if he did, he'd use his super strength/speed to save everyone). The movie also goes into the "no killing" code, and WHY Superman doesn't kill: because he can EASILY kill literally ANYONE. His burden is that of a super-powered man who HAS to be good 100% of the time, or else the results would be catastrophic, and he proves it in the end without actually hurting anyone. It's a fantastic movie, and a great example of a compelling Superman that isn't too dark or deviates too far from his origins.
@samuelraji8343
Everyone should read All Star Superman. The best Superman related piece of media made. It will literally blow your mind and hopefully start your obsession with one of the greatest comic book writers of all time.
@AndrewJasonQuan
3:36 Writing perfect figures in a flawed time can still work, mostly because we still live in flawed times. Superman Versus the Elite does this and shows how important it is to have a morally strong character.
@henkman00
this video is a very good indication as to why people don't get the character, critics yes, but even writers are too focused on the super powered superhero that flies around in a cape and forgets or completely overlook what really makes him a character: Clark Kent.
@Sefoskiii
Staying faithful to the source material and humanizing Superman shouldn't be two seperate things. What I've always thought the writers should do, is focus more on how his life as Superman affects his life as Clark Kent. Both positively and negatively. Just like what Raimi did with Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2. Finding that balance between being Superman and Clark Kent should be difficult for him. At least in his early years as Superman. Why? Because of the guilt of not being able to save everyone. To hear people constantly cry for help, all across the world, and not being able to do anything, because he's stuck at the Daily Planet, or he's on a date with Lois, should all feed into his guilt. Is it even possible to have a normal relationship with Lois and still be Superman? Snyder brought up that issue in BvS but never actually explored it. The writers should focus more on these types of struggles. Instead of focusing on Jesus imagery, show us how difficult it is to live a normal life and be the protector of Earth, all at the same time. His character arc should be about learning to live with that guilt. Just like Cap said in Civil War (the Superman of the MCU, in many ways) "This job...we try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody. But if we can't learn to live with that, then maybe next time nobody gets saved" If Clark doesn't learn to live with the guilt, he might end up giving up. The weight of the world might be too much for his shoulders to bear. You see, Superman may be invulnerable physically, but mentally and emotionally, he's as vulnerable as any human. That's where Lois should come in. She could be the one that helps him cope with the guilt. She could give him another purpose in life. The inner struggles and the guilt would be faithful to his character (because he cares so much) and they would also humanize him, at the same time.
@DrShaym
"Who is the most iconic superhero of all time?" Booster Gold. "Superman." Who?
@FlackNCoke
Yeah I totally disagree with the sentiment that you need to change Superman to make him interesting. The best counter example I have is Captain America in the MCU, a character who personality wise is just as unflappable, just as straightforward, just as idealistic and perfect as Superman is... but he works. Why? Because his stories aren't about him needing to change; his stories are about the world around him needing to change to meet HIM. And as a result, Cap is the heart and soul of the MCU. Superman should similarly be a beacon of light in the middle of the DCEU. A guy who does what's right even when everyone else believes it's wrong. And if you want to explore his flaws you don't need to change his character to do so - make his flaws his own insecurity about living up to the ideals that he and the rest of the world holds him up to. Because he recognizes that as powerful as he is, he is still one man, he's still imperfect even in his strive for perfection, and it's always possible that he COULD make mistakes, which causes him unfathomable anguish. Make him FEEL every single life he fails to save. But, importantly, never let this anxiety prevent him from acting anyway. That's how you write Superman.
@Sacremas
You will probably never see this comment this long after the original video was posted and with no one to upvote my comment into visibility, but one Superman story I highly recommend is Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman comic, this was separate from the main continuity like the Injustice series is, and also thankfully separate from any version of All-Star Batman. It's a self-contained story that sorta maybe serves as the prequel to Morrison's own DC 1.000.000 JLA story, but that's about it. There's also an animated movie that is good, but it skips over a lot and makes a few notable changes, and overall the comic is just better. It deals with challenges presented to a Superman that is stronger than ever due to having attained a solar radiation poisoning thanks to Lex, but also happens to be dying from just that, the last days of Superman so to say. An alternative story that is also brilliant is Alan Moore's run on the Image character Supreme. Supreme was originally a Rob Liefileld (Cable, Deadpool, Shatterstar, etc) character that was just an ultra-powerful and super-violent version of Superman, who Alan Moore turned into basically the perfect Superman story, with super pets, a Superboy period, Kryptonite-standins and a Lex Luthor standin and all of the rest, then cranked it up to 11, a hopeful and joyous silver age Superman story through the eyes of the guy who wrote Watchmen, resulting in the best Superman story never written basically.
@limesage6335
> Heat vision moves slowly > Family sticks in one place Me : 😑
@user-ir1xo9jp8w
"If you make God bleed, people would cease to believe in him." -Ivan Vanko
@jmiles86
Superman can be written well if you confront him with a problem his powers can't fix, make him confront a problem with no powers, tempt him into abusing his powers and the fear that he will become a tyrant, or find a way to stick to his morals with the odds stacked against him. Problem is most of those stories have been done.
@07derka
Superman: "Oh man, i can't let Zod laser that family of four, now i unfortunately have to break my moral code of not killing people to save them!" - Literally just destroyed the city in his fight with Zod, killing thousands of people
@petermj1098
Superman: A "god-like" being who sees himself like a human Lex Luthor: A human who sees himself like a "god-like" being
@guzhamufaro07
@The Closer Look I can't agree with your assessment on Man of Steel being rejected by fans because of the change in continuity. The reason I believe for the backlash against Superman killing, is because there wasn't any set up for this change in character. If the movie focused on setting up Superman's moral codes and not have Superman plunge through populated buildings, that scene I guarantee would have been better received.
@brandonontama2415
Interesting video. I agree that superman being perfect is an huge disadvantage to the writers. However he can be written well and Justice League Unlimited is a good example of it.
@harley69
I think one of the larger difficulties for Superman is that he has a difficult time allowing people to help him. Or even be close to him at times. The only people we see him get close to are his parents, Lois, and Jimmy Olsen. In most comics, Lois and Jimmy have no idea that Clark is Superman. Lois is close to Superman, but not really Clark, and Jimmy is close to Clark but not Superman. The only person who really knows both identities as himself is his parents. Where Batman has Alfred, Lucious Fox, all of the Robins, and other foster children. Superman doesn’t have those things because he refuses to let people help him. This is partially because he’s so powerful and can handle a lot of problems, so he’s developed the idea that he SHOULDN’T need help. Making some of his major characters flaws to be pride, self enforced loneliness, and an inability to accept defeat. While that last one can be a good trait, it can also be used to create a compelling character arc.
@the_narthex
If a "Christopher Reeve" version of Superman were in Batman v Superman, the audience would not have cheered as he got his ass kicked. They'd be more likely to hate Batman for hurting him. Furthermore, the Reeve style of Superman, in this age of the nerd, would probably be a massive hit with audiences. I don't get why WB and DC are so afraid to make Superman appear "square" and tend to make him come off like a brooding jock. It's not what the fans want. Furthermore, if you're a writer looking for a way to give Superman "weaknesses," try giving him better villains. The best Superman writers did this. It's why people loved Superman II back in 1981. He had to take on 3 super-powered villains and we felt for the guy! We rooted for him. In the end, he had to outwit them because he couldn't physically defeat them. That's good writing. Only a LAZY writer feels the need to change the character in order to create a story.
@raybox2926
Superman did NOT have to murder Zod in that scene. He chose to. He could've easily flown up or thrown him across the room like he's been doing through the film
@alchemicpunk1509