Poll: Diet Superman

[Something Amyss]

So I'm here to ask a single question: would a Superman whose powers are significantly reduced actually start drawing in more people?

So basically, please don't tell me I'm missing the point of Superman. I like the Big Blue Boy Scout as he is (or I guess, ideally is). I'm mostly indulging a complaint I hear a lot, that his powers make him unrelatable. Personally, I don't think his powers do that at all. But hell, it makes me curious.

If the people saying this got what they wanted, would it make any difference? Would people flock to a weaker Superman who struggled more? Would he be more relatable by the virtue of not being "OP" anymore?

I honestly doubt it. I tend to think the "problem" people have relating to Superman comes more from his status as a representation of the noble ideals we are supposed to strive towards (and usually fall short of). I remember a story arc with Spider-Man where he opted to have his powers taken away and learned that while with great power comes great responsibility, the responsibility doesn't go away with the power. And I think that's what we'd see with Superman. Even if he was Normalman, he would still be the same boy scout, and I think that's what really is the issue of contention. Normalman wouldn't necessaroly be more relatable, but rather die faster than a redshirt. The power is only an issue because he as the ability to act on his virtues.

But I'm making a topic on it because I'm curious what other people think, and so I now open the floor to people to agree with me unilaterally. Or not, but the former is easier.

 

[Zhukov]

No.

Not to me anyway.

I'm just plain not into costumed super heroes. Sure, I'll watch them in a decent action movie, but I'm there for the decent action movie, not for the super heroes.

Fiddling with their precise powers isn't going to change that.

 

[Saelune]

Well, technically yes. And he does. Hes called Captain America. Honestly, the only reason Superman matters is because hes the first comic superhero. Hell, if not for that, "Superman" would be what parodies use for their fake heroes. Instead though, I feel it might be more interesting if he came to earth already grown up and it was more about him wanting to do good, but having trouble understanding earth and humanity.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

It wouldn't help for me.

If he has uber amazing "I can bench lift the entire world" powers, then you just have a hard time believing he has any trouble with his villains.

If he just has "okay" powers, then he's just an ordinary superhero. His appeal would have to come to what writers can offer, and as of late, they can't offer much.

I haven't bothered to really get into Superman, so that could be it. I just can't get into him. I started with Batman because I found him cool, I stayed because of the Bat-family. I find some of them more interesting than Batman himself. Superman just doesn't have anyone like that.

 

[Lieju]

I think the issue forme is less that he is overpowered and more that his powers aren't well-defined enough for me to know what his limits are lot of the time. It's difficult to get invested when you don't have good grasp on what actually is a threat and what a character can do.

This is an issue for lot of US superhero comics, granted, but with heroes that are more human I do generally have a better grasp of what they can do.

I mean, if you established a character can turn back time the audience will then wonder why he won't do it again.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Eh, always found him to be boring, about as bad as Batman. The sidekicks are much more interesting.

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

They're doing that RIGHT NOW in Action Comics. You tell me.

 

[Remus]

They created a new ability to depower Superman, a kind of big bang, last resort power. The question isn't whether it humanizes him or not - it doesn't. The real question is why would he ever use that ability only to be faced with the inevitable opponent that it would not phase. This is comics we're talking about. Cap's unbreakable shield? Broken. Wolverine's unbreakable bones? If Hulk mad enough or a crazy matter-realigning space gun is fired at him, bones broken. Wolverine knew this sentient virus once. When a similar organism took over his body, he did not go to Sublime for help even though Sublime sought out the X-Men when his sister showed up. So the immortal man died largely out of his own pride.
But anyway, it's not just the powers that make Superman unrelatable. It's the unbearably flawless boy scout veniere that puts the polish on the invulnerable red, gold, and blue turd. No matter how many alternate verse bad Clarks show up, with their evil mustache, it will always be this one that wins the fight against Superman_World 43 Electric Boogaloo.

 

[Mikeybb]

So I'm here to ask a single question: would a Superman whose powers are significantly reduced actually start drawing in more people?

So basically, please don't tell me I'm missing the point of Superman. I like the Big Blue Boy Scout as he is (or I guess, ideally is). I'm mostly indulging a complaint I hear a lot, that his powers make him unrelatable. Personally, I don't think his powers do that at all. But hell, it makes me curious.

If the people saying this got what they wanted, would it make any difference? Would people flock to a weaker Superman who struggled more? Would he be more relatable by the virtue of not being "OP" anymore?

I honestly doubt it. I tend to think the "problem" people have relating to Superman comes more from his status as a representation of the noble ideals we are supposed to strive towards (and usually fall short of). I remember a story arc with Spider-Man where he opted to have his powers taken away and learned that while with great power comes great responsibility, the responsibility doesn't go away with the power. And I think that's what we'd see with Superman. Even if he was Normalman, he would still be the same boy scout, and I think that's what really is the issue of contention. Normalman wouldn't necessaroly be more relatable, but rather die faster than a redshirt. The power is only an issue because he as the ability to act on his virtues.

But I'm making a topic on it because I'm curious what other people think, and so I now open the floor to people to agree with me unilaterally. Or not, but the former is easier.

The powers are important to big blue only in the juxtaposition to the character and his desire to do right.
He could (and has done in so many elseworld what if like stories) just use that power to bend the world to his will as a benevolent if terrifying dictator.
Nothing could stop a Superman unleashed, but that leash is held by hands firmer than any challenge can break (as close as it may come sometimes).
By Clark, raised to see everyone in the world as important, to help where he could and to love the world for what is, what it has the potential to be but never for what shape he could force it to take.
By Kal'el, child of a race that despite such power still fell.

Superman is the hero with all the power in the world who knows the important truth.
Power alone is never a good enough answer.

That's why I'd agree, in that powering down superman would rob him of an important aspect of his character.

I do believe that some of the challenges he faces should be, on a scale of power, comparable to him or perhaps even surpass him.
Threats that take more than his kryptonian heritage to defeat, which would make him dig deep into that part of himself that truly makes him super.

 

[Souplex]

?bermensch's lose scenario isn't dying, it's innocents getting hurt, or his foes succeeding with their plans.
Just keep his foes competent/threatening enough that those are possibilities, and we're find.
Keep Lex Luthor as DCAU levels of competence.

 

[mduncan50]

Superman isn't supposed to be relatable. He is an alien god with the power to snuff us all out, but chooses to try to keep us from harm. He is a symbol of hope, and an ideal to embrace. You can never be Superman, but you can still stand for what Superman stands for: Truth, Justice, and the American Way. (And American Way isn't trying to say that the US is superior, but an embracing of the ideals of freedom upon which its constitution was created.)

 

[Something Amyss]

Hes called Captain America.

One of the most iconic and recognisable superheroes in the world vs a a C-Lister who became popular again because movies do more bank than comics.

Not sure that's an even comparison.

I mean, if you established a character can turn back time the audience will then wonder why he won't do it again.

And Superman gets into especially high levels of weirdness, even by comic standards.

If Superman's powers were more clearly defined, but still basically "god tier," do you think that would be acceptable?

?bermensch's lose scenario isn't dying, it's innocents getting hurt, or his foes succeeding with their plans.
Just keep his foes competent/threatening enough that those are possibilities, and we're find.
Keep Lex Luthor as DCAU levels of competence.

I really like the asymmetrical warfare that DCAU (and to some extent, other modern versions) Lex has with Supes. However, I feel these themes could be explored with Aquaman, Batman, or even Ant-Man. Hell, they were touched upon in Age of Ultron, albeit not the focus of the movie.

 

[Something Amyss]

Superman isn't supposed to be relatable.

Despite his powers, he's ultimately someone trying to do good for goodness' sake. I would hope on some level, most or all of us cold relate to that.

 

[Jux]

As someone that finds superman incredibly boring, but is wildly entertained by one punch man, I gotta agree that it's his personality, not his power set, that makes him not relatable for me.

 

[DefunctTheory]

No. What 'depowering' Superman does is allow him to exist beside other heroes, and fight other villains, without having to constantly question why Superman doesn't just solve every problem in a half a second with super speed, super flight, and x-ray vision.

A lower tier Superman plays nicer without other characters, which is great, because other characters are usually better and more interesting then Superman.

 

[Saelune]

Hes called Captain America.

One of the most iconic and recognisable superheroes in the world vs a a C-Lister who became popular again because movies do more bank than comics.

Not sure that's an even comparison.

You don't pay attention to Marvel comics do you? If Captain America is a C-Lister, then Marvel just has a far better list than DC. (I do think that, but it sounds snippier this way)

No one likes Superman. Even people who like DC more don't do so cause of Superman.

 

[mduncan50]

Superman isn't supposed to be relatable.

Despite his powers, he's ultimately someone trying to do good for goodness' sake. I would hope on some level, most or all of us cold relate to that.

Well, I also said

You can never be Superman, but you can still stand for what Superman stands for: Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

 

[Orga777]

Superman is infinitely more relatable than Batman on the most basic level. Superman is a guy that was raised in Kansas and who has a grounded view and morals implanted in him by the Kents that raised him. Batman is a rich kid with dead parents, who is good at everything, and has all the best gadgets in the world. You tell me which one best fits you as a person?

Superman is one of the best heroes ever and "nerfing" him means nothing.

Also, if anyone else says that no one cares about Superman, then they automatically lose all credibility. If nobody cares about Superman, then nobody would of got pissed off with the way Snyder handled him in his stupid movies. People got pissed because Superman IS important and well-loved. :/

 

[DefunctTheory]

Superman is infinitely more relatable than Batman on the most basic level. Superman is a guy that was raised in Kansas and who has a grounded view and morals implanted in him by the Kents that raised him. Batman is a rich kid that had his parents shot, is good at everything, and has all the best gadgets in the world. You tell me which one best fits you as a person?

Superman is one of the best heroes ever and "nerfing" him means nothing.

On a superficial level, yes. But not when you really look at it. Superman is smarter then any real person will ever be. He thinks faster then a normal person, he has absolute movement, gravity is a pointless concept as far as he is concerned, he hears everything, sees everything, can experience/sense things on a molecular level, feels no pain, doesn't get tired, doesn't feel threatened, doesn't get weak. Basically, everything that makes up being a human, things we can't ignore, Superman gets the choice to opt into - He's as human as he wishes to be because he wishes it, not because he has to.

On the other side, we have Batman, and while his upbringing is very different then 99% of us, he's still human. He experiences the world exactly like we do, he's just crazy and has a ton of money.

Neither one is exactly relatable (My spell check says that's not a word, weird), but at least Batman is subject to roughly the same physical laws that I am.