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Post by crazyoldhermit on May 2, 2014 3:39:05 GMT -5
As far as Superman goes, I'm pretty particular. Not a fan of the uber-domesticated Superdad or the cosmic Supergod or really any version of the character with two exceptions: The amazing kinetic silent action hero of the Fleischer films and the working class roughneck he started as way back in 1938, with minimal science fiction and a much more grounded (literally) approach.
As far as the comics go, I own the first Chronicles trade and love it but thats the extent of my Golden Age Superman reading. The omnibus is tempting and contains the contents of the first four Chronicles (Action Comics #1-31, Superman #1-7, World's Fair Comics #1) but I don't really want to buy a book that expensive and have it turn into something I don't like partway through. So whats the scoop on Superman? Is he like Batman, who turns from sinister detective to paternal superhero after a year? Or did his evolution take longer?
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on May 2, 2014 4:51:12 GMT -5
I think a lot of it had to do with the 1940 radio serial. It was very liberal with its adaptation of the character, and the comic book worked to keep up with those revisions to the property, whether Superman being able to fly, Clark working for Perry White, nor the addition of Jimmy Olsen. I THINK all of that came from the radio show and, to the best of my knowledge, it's the first time Superman acted less as a mischievous vigilante acting outside of the law and more like an upholder of Truth, Justice, and the American way (even if they didn't say it like that yet).
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 2, 2014 8:16:18 GMT -5
I have most of the 'Chronicles', and it's not too much of a change throughout. The radio serial starts to have some impact, 'up, up and away starts popping up, but really it's pretty similar in style and tone for the first 6 or 7 anyway.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on May 2, 2014 8:30:33 GMT -5
I have most of the 'Chronicles', and it's not too much of a change throughout. The radio serial starts to have some impact, 'up, up and away starts popping up, but really it's pretty similar in style and tone for the first 6 or 7 anyway. Interesting. I would have figured the character would have been toned down around the same time as Batman. It's so interesting to read the first year of stories for both characters and see that Superman was the harsher of the pair. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 2, 2014 8:45:50 GMT -5
He does start saving bad guys instead of letting them die early on,but mostly low level ones that aren't THAT bad. He also still reverts sometimes, so that it's still not at all shocking up through the 9 or 10 chronicles I've read.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on May 2, 2014 8:54:29 GMT -5
I think Supes changed into the friendly big brother type slowly after World War 2. Look at the covers of those post war years and see how domesticated Superman is.Helping Lois defrost the refrigerator.Sitting in an easy chair. No more nazis to bother with.Other superhero comics were getting cancelled left and right so to survive Supes spent his time protecting his secret ID and saving cats stuck in trees. By the late 40s Jerry Siegel was fired
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Post by coke & comics on May 2, 2014 18:48:26 GMT -5
I started a Superman review thread, but didn't get far in it because I got distracted by traveling the world. And that was a question I was hoping to slowly answer.
I plan to continue the thread here once I get back to America and something like stability.
From what I've read, the story where Lois finds out his identity was the first time editorial rejected outright a Siegel idea, because they wanted to keep the brand and not change things. I think it was all downhill from there.
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Post by Hoosier X on May 2, 2014 19:00:30 GMT -5
I'm currently reading Superman Chronicles, Volume 2, and yeah, I can see why this was such a sensation in 1938 and 1939. These stories are actually very compelling and fun and out-of-control. I love Shuster's art, and Siegel just seemed to write from a "Who am I mad at today? - Gamblers!" mind-set. (And the villain (when it's not a drunken driver) is always Ultra. (I think I'm almost up to the story where Ultra transfers his mind into the body of a Hollywood actress.))
It's too bad that Grant Morrison didn't really go back to basics when he was allegedly going back to basics in his Action Comics run. I would much rather read the Siegel/Shuster Superman than the Morrison Superman, where he's merely pretending to write the Siegel/Shuster Superman. (I liked Morrison's Action run. It was OK. But it wasn't anywhere near as good as the real thing.)
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Post by Icctrombone on May 2, 2014 19:47:59 GMT -5
The Silver Age Superman was the best. The Golden age version didn't have any personality.
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Post by superecwfan1 on May 2, 2014 20:07:27 GMT -5
I always loved those Jimmy Olsen covers where he's doing some kinda dickish thing to Superman. Like taking his tears or selling his secret ID. I also love the comical covers like the Superman's Girlfriend , Lois Lane #106 .
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avon
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Post by avon on May 2, 2014 20:20:02 GMT -5
I love GA Superman right up until Siegel stopped being the writer of all the stories. I think it was around sometime in 1943. The fill in writers were terrible.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on May 2, 2014 20:28:00 GMT -5
The Silver Age Superman was the best. The Golden age version didn't have any personality. Golden Age version didn't need a personality. His actions spoke louder than words ever could. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 2, 2014 20:34:54 GMT -5
I despise Superman after the early Golden Age. Silver and Bronze Age Superman are among my least favorite comics. Not even Alan Moore could make him interesting.
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Post by Phil Maurice on May 2, 2014 20:34:55 GMT -5
Golden Age version didn't need a personality. His actions spoke louder than words ever could. Word.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on May 2, 2014 21:53:49 GMT -5
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