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Superman

Moving the conversation to something prevalent and not discussed often.

How do you all feel about Lois Lane being Superman's moral anchor in a lot of Superman media?

Brave New Metropolis: Superman The Animated Series 1996
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Justice Lord Superman: Justice League TAS 2003
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Superman Red Son comic and animated - 2003/2020
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Injustice Superman game/comic/animation - 2013/2021
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DCEU Knightmare Superman - 2021
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The audience sure does love Evil Superman, don't they?

General Zod - DC
Ultraman - DC
Superboy Prime - DC
Cyborg Superman - DC
Bizarro - DC
Hyperion - Marvel
Gladiator - Marvel
Sentry - Marvel
Count Nefario - Marvel
Omni-Man - Invincible/Image Comics
Homelander - The Boys
Brightburn - Movie


DC and others love the morality play of an evil Superman type character. However, in most DC media. Superman becoming a tyrant is either stymied by Lois' protests or with Lois functioning as his conscience. Keeping him on the side of justice and freedom.
 
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M.A.C.O. said:
How do you all feel about Lois Lane being Superman's moral anchor in a lot of Superman media?
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I've always thought it was a mistake to have Lois know Clark's secret and them married. Moore got it right that once they get married the story is over. But that's an argument I've been (metaphorically) losing with DC for nearly forty years at this point.
 
Guy Gardener said:
I liked John Byrne's take on Luthor. An Incredibly vain man who had worked his entire life to be valued as the greatest man ever. Then Superman shows up, and takes that. Everything after that is about taking back his reputation by smashing Superman's reputation. It's a personal grudge, not a crusade to dominate land and collect taxes.
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My personal favorite version of Lex was in Elliot S! Maggin's "Last Son of Krypton" novel. Lex's problems stemmed, not from losing his hair, but from being so brilliant that he never really fit in with "normal" society and, as a result, he kind of liked (or at least accepted) being an outlaw (in fact, IIRC, there was a bit in the book where Lex actually ghost-wrote songs for Bob Dylan and he was the one who came up with the "to live outside the law you must be honest, darlin'" line in "Absolutely Sweet Marie"). He was also sort of the progenitor of "business Lex" in that he owned and operated very successfully tech companies under various assumed entities, many of which were so he could channel his more altruistic goals without drawing the attention of the authorities. He was a very complex antagonist.
 
M.A.C.O. said:
Moving the conversation to something prevalent and not discussed often.

How do you all feel about Lois Lane being Superman's moral anchor in a lot of Superman media?
Click to expand...

It can be a valid story, but it's not my preferred interpretation. I much prefer the idea that Lois is a disillusioned cynic who is inspired to believe in decency and morality again as a result of meeting Superman. I don't like the idea that Superman is a megalomaniac waiting to happen and only the affection of one person keeps him from being an asshole. I don't want to say that a story about Superman losing his way as a result of grief can NEVER be valid, but the fundamental idea is anathema to the version of Superman I think works best.
 
M.A.C.O. said:
DC and others love the morality play of an evil Superman type character. However, in most DC media. Superman becoming a tyrant is either stymied by Lois' protests or with Lois functioning as his conscience. Keeping him on the side of justice and freedom.
Click to expand...
As much as I love the classic Superman style, Injustice is such a powerful insight in to what makes Superman himself, including the death of Lois, that I cannot help but appreciate the story. Unfortunately, as you note, it is a very common audience interest of a superpower hero gone bad. Things like "The Boys" or the like can go suck an egg.
 
I admit I would have loved to see what Chris Reeve could have done with Ultraman... :evil:

Skipper said:
[trolling mode on]
Reeves Superman killed Zod too, but in that case wasn't even in self defense, just an act of sheer pettiness.
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Self-defense.

The one time (in the comics) I remember Superman killing people out of pettiness was when he used Gold K to rob Quex-Ul, Faora and [person I can't remember] of their powers, THEN killed them

Reeve didn't do that. He did take away the powers of Zod and his ilk, but then faced off against them in a fair fight.
 
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