This is late. It is also half assed. Ah well. In any event, today I bring you Aviax; Quite possibly the lamest superhero ever. You see dear readers, Aviax had issues. He loved animals. Now, Im not talking about the love you feel for a cat or a dog, I mean he really loved animals. So much so that he was willing to go to abnormal lengths to save a species. The man decided, in all his brilliant wisdom, that he would transform into a prehistoric bird( cause that was his power) and travel back in time to find another of it's kind to....well, preserve the species. Just check out the below panels to view his proudest moment.
If I could just interject here, lets just take note of that costume. He looks more like a male prostitute than he does a superhero. How can anyone take him seriously wearing that? The other heroes probably talked to him out of pity. Oh lord.... Why would someone feel the need to write this? What compelled them to think this would be a good story?! Better yet, what editor in their right mind would approve of this?! As for recommended reading, just read the comic featured above. As sad as it is, this is the only noteworthy thing Aviax has ever done.
For this first article in a series that I plan on writing, I thought I would tackle the first superhero himself, Superman. Superman has been around since the thirties and even those who don’t read comics know who the character is. We all know his origin, his powers, and the ridiculous way he manages to somehow hide his identity by wearing glasses, so why is it that the character gets so much hate?
Maybe hate is too strong a word. It just seems like everyone I talk to dislikes him. When I ask why, they usually have no answer other than, I prefer Batman. Well that’s all well and good but it really isn’t an answer.
Others have told me he is just a silly concept which is just beyond absurd when talking in the context of comics. Let’s step back and examine just what Superman really is.
Superman came to earth after the destruction of his world and was raised by an ordinary couple on a farm, being taught the basic principles of right and wrong. After discovering he has godlike powers, he sets out to fight the injustices of the world. This is of course the simplified version but how is that really different than any other origin. People often complain that he has no tragedy in his life, thus no reason to fight crime. Well I think having your planet blown up on you is pretty horrific. Let’s not forget that in some stories, Superman’s adopted father died before he even donned the cape. This guy lost two fathers in his lifetime. Not to mention, he isn’t even an earthling. He is the ultimate outsider. That in itself is intriguing. Here is a character that could conquer the planet if he chose to and instead, he proves to be even more human than some of the threats he combats.
Speaking of his enemies, Superman has one of the best rogues gallery in comics; chief among them being Lex Luthor.Everyone knows who he is which is a testament to his character, considering that aside from being bald, he looks just like a normal person in a business suit. Lex is the Burger King to Superman’s McDonalds. They’re always at war with each other despite Superman’s attempts at trying to find Lex’s angelic side. Lex is considered his ultimate enemy and one of the few who really manage to get under his skin. Not everyone can claim to have made Superman’s life a living hell but Lex can and does so with pride. A normal human with no superpowers besides a genius level intellect, which few can match, manages to always find a way to piss off a demigod.
Other noteworthy enemies like Metallo, Parasite, and Brainiac have had varying degrees of success rubbing Superman the wrong way, but if there is one being that brings out the man of steel's ugly side, it’s Darkseid. While not really strictly a Superman foe, Darkseid is considered the God of evil, so it only makes sense that the living beacon of hope that is Superman would combat his otherworldly tyranny. Darkseid has conquered the earth, killed his friends, and enslaved his cousin, each on different occasions and just seems to relish putting Supes through the wringer. Never mind the fact that he is on par with Superman in terms of strength and his omega beams can reduce almost anything to ash, he has a whole planet full of slaves ready to fight on his behalf.
Enough about his enemies, let’s talk about his powers. One of the main complaints is that Superman is overpowered. True, I cant argue with that, but he has more than enough weaknesses to make up for it. Kryptonite proves to be his ultimate poison; radiated pieces of his home world that for whatever reason proves life threatening to him, reducing him to a shell of his former self. Get a chunk of it, though a sliver would suffice, and you have him at your mercy. Of course, that’s only the green kind. There’s several other colors, one for each color of the spectrum, and each with their own side effect. Also, while this really isn’t considered a weakness, it can be used against him: Superman refuses to kill. No matter what the threat, no matter if someone has a gun to a hostage’s head and all it would take is heat vision through the skull to save that person, Superman refuses to take a life. I find this interesting because every enemy Superman has had takes advantage of this and Superman still refuses to give them a dirt nap. Even when throwing a punch, he makes sure to hold back just enough so that the impact doesn’t knock someone’s skull off.
Thinking about Superman’s powers, what is there not to like? He has every power someone could want; super strength, speed, flight, eye lasers, frosty breath, and extended youth. Why is having so many powers an issue when he takes care never to abuse them? Half the time he cant even use them to their full potential because his foes are one step ahead of him. The fact that he is going to outlive just about everyone of his friends and family adds a whole new layer of depth to the character that most people tend to ignore.
Most writers claim that its too difficult to write the character, prompting them to look for ways to weaken him. Others simply try to ignore his current group of foes and come up with someone new and physically imposing to challenge him. Then there is the group that decide to drown him in emotional instability, turning him from a mythic hero to a teary eyed idiot.
Why? Why is it so hard to write a good Superman story? Look at what Geoff Johns has done in the last year. Don’t look for ways around what you perceive to be the character’s short comings; embrace them. Johns has taken everything about him and simply gone back to find what worked in the first place.
Superman is the ultimate hero, the ideal that all others aspire to be. He may be too heroic and honest for his own good, and it may be a bit much considering how dark the real world, is but if you’re like me, you may come to appreciate that never fading beacon of light that the character represents. There is a reason he is the yard stick that all other comic heroes are measured against. With war and economic struggle taking place in our world, is there really a need for a darker character even if it is more realistic? With most comics beginning to reflect the current situation of the world, Superman is a welcome relief, representing what a true Superhero and the world he inhabits should be.
Recommended Reading:
Action Comics 855-857 & 858-873
Superman: Birthright
Superman For all Seasons
Superman/ Batman: Public Enemies
Superman: Secret Origins
Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
Perhaps a better title for this feature would have been “Superman Batman : Nonstop action.” The latest comic based animated adaption born from Warner Home Video combines arguably the two most popular icons of the comic book genre to face off against a veritable who’s who of Heroes and Villains on their quest to put a stop to Lex Luthor once and for all. Based off the first six issues of the bestselling Superman Batman graphic novel by Jeph Loeb, this film is as faithful to the source material as one could hope given its limited run time.
It opens with a quick succession of images displaying poverty and economic turmoil followed by Luthor’s ascension to the presidency. Soon, the stock market balances itself and wars cease, calling into question what type of man Lex Luthor is. Should all his past crimes be forgiven? Can he really be trusted to continue running the country? This creates conflicts within the caped community with Superman and Batman on one side, and everyone else on the other.
The movie does an admirable job of explaining both sides of the argument even if it was done in less than five minutes. The film’s run time has to be taken into account as it barely exceeds an hour. As a result, much of the plot feels rushed and some things are easily lost in the process; one of which is the examination of Superman’s and Batman’s duality through inner monologue which is absent here. In the graphic novel, the reader was allowed the pleasure of reading the two character’s thoughts giving them insight into what makes them such close friend despite having almost nothing in common. For those who have the extra cash, there is an extra feature on the special edition that attempts to add more focus to it.
This movie should be a fanboy’s dream as several characters face off in an all out brawl that spans the majority of the film. Seeing Superman square off with notable foes such as Metallo, Mongul, and Lex Luthor all in one movie, should be a delight for anyone who recognizes those names.
Considering the nature of the movie, none of it feels over the top but rather, it has a mature feel to it. It never talks down to the audience, considering it’s targets are those above the age of sixteen.
Though it’s animation quality is not the best to come out of DC, (that honor is held by the exceptionally well done Green Lantern movie) it is easily on par with their recent efforts. Character designs may seem bulky, but that is more to do with the source material than the animators. Character’s movements are decent, but not overly impressive; however something has to be said about the animation used for Superman’s cape. The way it blows in the wind is smooth and well done and whoever worked on it should be commended.
As has come to be expected from DC, the voice work is top notch. The trio of Clancy Brown, Tim Daly, and Kevin Conroy have been voicing these characters for years to the point that they are now associated with them. This is especially true of Kevin Conroy, whom many fans consider the definitive voice of Batman, having voiced him for seventeen years. These three easily give the film extra credibility among the fans thanks to their countless performances.
As previously mentioned, the film’s meager running time has to be considered a drawback which keeps it from achieving it’s true potential. Its just too short, jumping from one scene to the next without any lasting impact. If this were part of a larger series, it would be easy to over look but because each DC animated movie is self contained, it unfortunately is not.
Though it accomplishes everything it wished to with it’s allotted time, one cant help but wonder what could have been if given an extra thirty minutes. Fans of the characters and the genre however will find more than enough to whet their appetite until the next animated installment.
Smallville season 8 was everything a comic book fan could want; With guest appearances from the Justice League, Legion of Super Heroes, and the introduction of DC comics mainstays like Zatanna, Toyman, and Doomsday. To those who have kept up with the show, season 8 was the payoff they were waiting for. Too bad there is going to be a season 9.
Season 8 was the perfect ending to the series with Clark having finally dealt with long time foe Lex Luthor. Braniac was defeated and imprisoned in the future, and General Zod was still trapped in the Phantom Zone. Lana had left Smallville and Clark finally began moving closer to Lois. All that stood in his way was the behemoth known as Doomsday, recognized by most comic fans as the monster that killed Superman. Indeed, all the ingredients for a spectacular series finale were in place.
Smallville’s writers had quite the task ahead of themselves with season 8. The previous season saw the introduction Super-girl as well as Bizarro, Brainiac once again rising to give Clark grief, and Lex finally embracing the dark side and confronting Clark about his powers. It also saw the departure of series mainstays Michael Rosenbaum, John Glover, and Kristen Kreuk. Many doubted the series would survive after that. With little other choice, the writers decided to move closer to the Superman mythos and bring in even more DC characters. The way Doomsday was written and portrayed is in itself a credit to the series. No one, myself included, thought they could do the character justice. In fact, it’s interesting to note that the character is even more interesting on the show than he is in the comics.
Of course, as has become a tradition of Smallville, the special effects were of cinema quality and continue to out do anything in its genre. Once again going back to Doomsday, the suit is remarkably close to what could be seen in the comic.
Fans of the comics were rewarded with nice little nods. The anti-life equation could be heard in a specific scene featuring Brainiac, Maxima was kept the same as her comic counterpart, Green Arrow continued to grow more antagonistic toward Clark which ultimately leads to his death in the comics.
If there was a negative opinion of the season, it would have to be regarding the final battle between Clark and Doomsday. It was a fight that was built up the entire season, and even previewed during a scene in which Clark’s super strength did little to halt a punch from Doomsday that sent him crashing through a farm house. Surely during the finale these two would finally have it out in grand fashion. If there is one weakness that Smallville has continued to suffer from, it would be its unimpressive action sequences. The Clark Doomsday battle lasted around a minute and twenty seconds. Had this been another episode, it would be a small gripe but considering this was supposed to be the foe that was built up throughout the entire season as being Clark’s own personal doomsday, one could not help but be disappointed by the result.
Everything aside, season 8 ultimately is not the end for Smallville. The CW needs a ratings boost and Smallville is seemingly all they have left. Knowing this, they extended its life past what really should have been its end. Can the show continue its upward trend? A new battle with Zod may prove interesting and the introduction of the JSA may provide some fanboys pleasure if done right but, with Clark finally donning a costume and moving to Metropolis, one has to wonder why the show is even called Smallville. Still, regardless of whether season 9 outperforms it or not, season 8 was one of the best examples of what makes Superman entertaining outside of the pages of a comic.
This is late. It is also half assed. Ah well. In any event, today I bring you Aviax; Quite possibly the lamest superhero ever. You see dear readers, Aviax had issues. He loved animals. Now, Im not talking about the love you feel for a cat or a dog, I mean he really loved animals. So much so that he was willing to go to abnormal lengths to save a species. The man decided, in all his brilliant wisdom, that he would transform into a prehistoric bird( cause that was his power) and travel back in time to find another of it's kind to....well, preserve the species. Just check out the below panels to view his proudest moment.
If I could just interject here, lets just take note of that costume. He looks more like a male prostitute than he does a superhero. How can anyone take him seriously wearing that? The other heroes probably talked to him out of pity.
