Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 12:07:01 GMT -5
Through the prism of different eras, and I know the eras can be arbitrary, who is your favourite Superman? And perhaps least favourite?
(I know there’s a good chance a topic like this has been done previously, but it sometimes seems counter-productive to resurrect old threads when you can start afresh)
Going purely by the Wikipedia definition, I’m familiar with the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age and Modern Age. I have seen other designations - I’m sure one publication mentioned the Platinum Age - but I’ll stick with those four for the sake of my own sanity.
I also realise that you can’t necessarily compare apples and oranges, but that shouldn’t stop us trying. In a way, comparing some Golden Age stories with wacky Silver Age tales might be like comparing, say, rugby and soccer. But perhaps you have a preference.
Thanks to DC Infinite (and some trades back in the day), I have enjoyed some Golden Age Superman, especially the stories featuring crusades against the likes of corrupt mine owners. I also like the quirkiness of the Silver Age. Anything could happen.
I know Superman shouldn’t be relatable, but in modern times, with the exception of Morrison’s All-Star Superman, I can’t say there’s been much modern Superman that I’ve enjoyed. Individual stories, yes, but it has felt at times like DC has been torn between presenting Superman as an alien, which he is, and a “human” which he isn’t in the truest sense of the word.
Which is why my vote is for Modern Age. I like what Byrne and others did with him. There was something semi-relatable about him. I also did enjoy how Clark had a personality. It’s worth mentioning that Superman, from the 1986 reboot until the early 90s, seemed to be a good and balanced mix of “god” and “American citizen”. I don’t want a Superman who has totally left Krypton’s heritage behind, but nor do I want a being raised on Earth to be shouting, “Great Rao!” I realise that people’s mileage varies, though, and that’s just my view.
And on that note, it’s why Bronze Age Superman may be my least favourite. There are good Bronze Age stories (Superman is my favourite superhero), but from a modern perspective, with perhaps a revisionist history mindset, those Bronze Age tales seem weak in comparison to what occurred before - and what came after. I don’t like certain aspects - such as Clark being a newsreader - and Clark seems to be lacking any kind of personality.
So if pushed, Modern Age Superman would probably be my favourite, but not necessarily the last couple of decades or so. For me, and nostalgia is only part of it, the Byrne years and beyond are the ones I revisit the most.
(I know there’s a good chance a topic like this has been done previously, but it sometimes seems counter-productive to resurrect old threads when you can start afresh)
Going purely by the Wikipedia definition, I’m familiar with the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age and Modern Age. I have seen other designations - I’m sure one publication mentioned the Platinum Age - but I’ll stick with those four for the sake of my own sanity.
I also realise that you can’t necessarily compare apples and oranges, but that shouldn’t stop us trying. In a way, comparing some Golden Age stories with wacky Silver Age tales might be like comparing, say, rugby and soccer. But perhaps you have a preference.
Thanks to DC Infinite (and some trades back in the day), I have enjoyed some Golden Age Superman, especially the stories featuring crusades against the likes of corrupt mine owners. I also like the quirkiness of the Silver Age. Anything could happen.
I know Superman shouldn’t be relatable, but in modern times, with the exception of Morrison’s All-Star Superman, I can’t say there’s been much modern Superman that I’ve enjoyed. Individual stories, yes, but it has felt at times like DC has been torn between presenting Superman as an alien, which he is, and a “human” which he isn’t in the truest sense of the word.
Which is why my vote is for Modern Age. I like what Byrne and others did with him. There was something semi-relatable about him. I also did enjoy how Clark had a personality. It’s worth mentioning that Superman, from the 1986 reboot until the early 90s, seemed to be a good and balanced mix of “god” and “American citizen”. I don’t want a Superman who has totally left Krypton’s heritage behind, but nor do I want a being raised on Earth to be shouting, “Great Rao!” I realise that people’s mileage varies, though, and that’s just my view.
And on that note, it’s why Bronze Age Superman may be my least favourite. There are good Bronze Age stories (Superman is my favourite superhero), but from a modern perspective, with perhaps a revisionist history mindset, those Bronze Age tales seem weak in comparison to what occurred before - and what came after. I don’t like certain aspects - such as Clark being a newsreader - and Clark seems to be lacking any kind of personality.
So if pushed, Modern Age Superman would probably be my favourite, but not necessarily the last couple of decades or so. For me, and nostalgia is only part of it, the Byrne years and beyond are the ones I revisit the most.
)
