Superman's Sad Decline in Horror Comics and Fantasy Art Forum

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Superman's Sad Decline

Author	Comment
Dr Acula	Superman's Sad Decline	Lead	[-]
Apr 13 12 12:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I thought this was an interesting take on the current Man of Steel: http://ifanboy.com/articles/reflections-on-supermans-sad-decline/ Is Superman destined to be a character who creators just throw BIG PROBLEMS at? Is that what Superman is now, just a collection of powers beyond mortal men? Do modern creators look at Superman and consider it a fool’s errand to try to do something different? I mean, I’m a fan of Grant Morrison, but his recent issues of Action Comics have been confounding, with random, gibberish-ridden word balloons, convoluted action sequences and lackluster, saccharin resolutions. If the writer behind All Star Superman can’t tell a compelling Superman story for modern audiences, where does that leave us? Also, this part in the discussion under the main problem was interesting: I sometimes wonder if Superman’s problem isn’t him, it’s us. I feel like, for decades now, there are more cynics than optimists. I just mentioned to my wife that I sometimes think my generation mistakes cynicism for intelligence and sarcasm for humor (obviously, a cynic can be smart and a sarcasm can be funny, but one does not equal the other all times and in every situation). I consider myself an optimist and I run into people all the time who look at me like an oddity. How can Superman seem relevant to a pessimist? Most people don’t think that he could possibly exist. I don’t mean this in the “alien that rocketed to Earth and has super powers” sense, I mean it in the “anyone with that much power couldn’t possibly be that good and if they were they would become corrupted” sense. Of course, I could be wrong, maybe there are as many optimists as cynics and all the optimists are just quieter.
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Wich2		#1	[-]
Apr 13 12 12:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>I sometimes wonder if Superman’s problem isn’t him, it’s us. I feel like, for decades now, there are more cynics than optimists.< That's basically it. People who have chosen to think small, don't know how to process characters who think big.
The Batman of Gotham		#2	[-]
Apr 14 12 2:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wich2 wrote: >I sometimes wonder if Superman’s problem isn’t him, it’s us. I feel like, for decades now, there are more cynics than optimists.< That's basically it. People who have chosen to think small, don't know how to process characters who think big. Well said Craig. - GJS
Carl Eyesnheart		#3	[-]
Apr 19 12 5:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've heard nothing but raves about Morrison's current run on ACTION. Due to my budgetary cuts on comics, I have not been able to read it. My money goes to the other big company, when I have it. But a friend of mine is reading, and he agrees with all of the positive he has heard. My fanzine all about Rock N Roll: www.sonicruin.com
cosmicjim		#4	[-]
Apr 22 12 10:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Anyone may look back at 1950s Superman stories and wonder exactly what was going on, The buffoonery, the slapstick was often sort of an embarrassment, though time has softened that into charm. No one took the character seriously then, and I assert that no one should now. Characters of fantasy are designed to be malleable, and the creators have to work to make a long-lived trademark character appeal to each of several generations, and how they do that (or do not) is up to them. Obviously the character was 'mismanaged' at various points in time only to survive easily, as you'd expect a Superman to do, so a temporary change in approach won't damage his moneymaking appeal.

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