Reply #6: Superman !!!...:) [View All]

Superman all the effing way...:) Batman is sweet though, he is my second favorite. Also, the superman chest on BR there, has been photo shopped, the logo isn't that big...:) But, i prefer the biggest emblem...:) As for my reasons of like Superman, compared to say, Batman or Spiderman, flaws and differences, here is my take...:)


I think, in my case, superman being godlike, was one of the things, that made him a cut above the rest. He didnt' have to suffer any of the ailments, or other pains that normal people have(sometimes he does aka kryptonite and his other weaknesses, but by and large, he doesn't). He doesn't have to stand up for hours on end, doing a crap job, he is out there flying around, saving people, doing good. While us humans, are in physical pain, broken bones, twisted ankles, what have you's, superman never goes through that(if ever?). Thats one of the reasons, why I like Superman.

I played football/track and field through highschool/junior college, and I don't know how many times, I told myself "I wish i were superman, so i can win this game, or out throw that steroid freak from a rival school." In that regard, supermans prowess, was something for me to strive for. Trying my hardest, trying not to show pain, or any other ailment.

So, the godlike status, doesnt' bother me, it is something I admire. I also admire, that he faces foes whose power levels are greater than his, and slightly less than his, he goes through his rough days also, but his power, and his godlike nature, is one of the main things I admire.

As far as him being flawed...he is flawed. He wants to save everyone, and that is IMPOSSIBLE. That in itself is a huge flaw. Another flaw he has, is that he is in love with Lois Lane. A woman, whom, by all means, is a great person, and whom loves superman back, but what about the more, prominent issues, concerning a future with Lois/Superman. Superman, knows, he will probably out live Lois(highlander angle here), and that they will probably never have kids, because of the "unknowns" about kryptonian/human breeding. That I believe is a flaw, loving a woman, whom you know, in all likely hood, is going to die, and you will not be able to have children. I consider this a flaw, because the relationship will end, yet he strives to grasp onto the "now" aspect of it...yet knowing, in the end, she will die. I dont' know about you, but i consider that a flaw...

Another flaw, that he shows constantly, is his approach to enemies, he approaches them, as if "they" can't do him any harm. I don't know how many comics i have read, where he comes on some new superpowered villian, and he usually says "Hey, whats the problem" and in response he gets blown away, or embarrassed(punched into next week usually). Then he comes back, and fights the guy. I don't know, anyone who does this in real life, i dont' go up to some guy, who just started some guff, tap him on his shoulder, and ask, hey bud, whats the problem? No one does that, superman is usually a ask a question, than get served, than react superhero, he has to get served, in order to act in most cases, when it involves other super powered villians. In real life, if someone starts guff, people react immediately towards it, they usually dont' ask, hey, man, whats the prob? Superman, does that all the time...Batman, Spiderman, and a good handful of other heroes dont' fall into that pattern hardly, if ever.

Superman has his flaws, as does everyone, and Superman has faced his own share of misery, and loss. Superman, lost not only his parents, but his whole planet. Not to many people have lost a culture/race as aboslute as Superman has. I'm an American Indian, and through assimilation, and confrontation with the US, in the past, many things/aspects of American Indian culture have been lost due to assimiliation, and colonization, but not to the same level as superman(there are still some half million plus, American Indians around). He was adopted(as was I), and had to struggle, in terms of fitting in, with the human race.

He also has to hide his secrets, from most of the people that he cares about(or did/had to). Its rough, hiding secrets from the people you love(another flaw, maybe?), and when he has problems, he hits that secret wall, because he can't fully divulge what is "really" eating at him(which is constantly shown in Smallville, over and over and over and over and over and over again). He has a lot of things, that he has to cover, to maintain his facade of Clark Kent, in which he does master better than Peter Parker does...

Peter Parker, especially in the movies, is constantly getting fired, because of his Spiderman duties, but do you see clark kent getting fired? No, cause he finds that medium, which eluded PP(in spiderman movies predominately). In the case of Bruce Wayne, he is the friggin owner of Wayne Enterprises, he is the top cheese...Just like the Walton family owns walmart, and yet they have Lee Scott running the whole show, the Waltons dont' do nothing, but collect $, and do publicity. Bruce Wayne, in my opinion, is like the Waltons, a billionaire, who owns a global business. Wayne, doesnt' have to put that much emphasis into his playboy persona, well, not to the same degree that Superman has to put in to his role as Clark Kent, reporter.

I just see different degree's of turmoil, and struggle, than others I suppose. Granted, Batman, doesnt' have the extreme invulnerability, or power that superman has, but I do believe that each faces about the same amount of turmoil/chaos. One of my main beefs with Batman is, he always has an answer/gadget for everything, and that in itself, is impossible in its own right. People say, superman has to many powers, god like, i say, Batman has the same problem, he overcomes everything with some gadget, or by strategic planning. Its almost akin to the Anti-Shark Reppelent spray bit in Batman The Movie, but they fancy it up in comics, with some grand invention, or serum, or armor, or something like that, but its end, achieves the same thing, yet one has a cheesy name, the other has a cool, hip name.

I have read a lot of batman/superman comics, its almost impossible to read just one of them, without the other hero coming onto the scene. I see the inner struggles in both, I just happen to like superman more. I think Superman's creation story, is very deep, and has grown more so through the years...

I can also relate to superman because

1. I'm adopted
2. I know what it means, to lose ones culture through disaster
3. Being different(him with his power, me, with many flaws!)
4. I'm big/strong/tall, not like superman though...:) Most people, put a lot of physical burden on me, and responsibility, because of my size, and also how i socially interact with people. Also, because of my size, in the fights that I have been in(football stories, oh god) I am the first target of attack, much like Superman is, in most cases.
5. I have held back secrets, from the people I love, care about...
6. I stick up for people, and protect those who are in need, and superman is saturated with that.
7. I see the good in everyone, much like superman does...

The list goes on...but, what do i have in common with Batman?

1.Did i lose my parents? Nope, not yet, and thank god.
2.Am i a rich, billionaire? Nope.
3.Do I have a cool car, gadgets? Nope
4.Do I know any martial arts, fighting styles? Judo, wrestling...thats it...
5.Am I a master strategist? I'm a decent chess player does, that count?

So, far i'm not batting very good, but don't get me wrong, I like batman, he is my number 2. Batman, to me, is like a Clint Eastwood character in his old spaghetti westerns, a bad ass, who takes care of business quick, and who knows exactly what to do in every circumstance...in most cases, superman doesn't know, in most cases, Batman knows exactly what to do...but, that is just my two cents, flame away if you must...I am a superman fan, and I hope/believe/have faith that SR will be a fantastic movie...:)