Why do so many people hate Superman?
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Superman isn't nearly as bad as Aquaman. The only thing that makes me laugh is that no one is ever able to figure out his secret identity.
I mean, so he removes his glasses, changes his hair slightly, and puts on some tights. Obviously, he is a master of disguise.
I mean, so he removes his glasses, changes his hair slightly, and puts on some tights. Obviously, he is a master of disguise.
Because he only has one weakness. That makes everything predictable: either someone will use kryptonite to weaken him, or they will threaten someone close to him (usually Lois). If neither of these things happen, you just have an invincible person fighting people: with no risk involved, it's just boring. So either it's boring or predictable. There you have it.
The big blue boyscout.
I have no issue with him as a character. I have loved him in every single comic I've read where he appeared for a short while or as a cameo.
I have issue with him as a MAIN character. Like, protagonist.
Kryptonite as his one and only weakness... dull.
I have no issue with him as a character. I have loved him in every single comic I've read where he appeared for a short while or as a cameo.
I have issue with him as a MAIN character. Like, protagonist.
Kryptonite as his one and only weakness... dull.
I hate superman because hes one of the worst handled major superheroes around.
You just know that unless kryptonite is on the menu, theres nothing he cant do/get away with, so you just know that just about every story will contain kryptonite to level the playing field. But if this happens all the time, why not just do away with kryptonite and make him a normal guy with other abilities? At least spiderman could get shot in the face. And I hate spiderman.
Also, there hasn't been a good movie or anything featuring superman in... ever as far as I'm concerned.
You just know that unless kryptonite is on the menu, theres nothing he cant do/get away with, so you just know that just about every story will contain kryptonite to level the playing field. But if this happens all the time, why not just do away with kryptonite and make him a normal guy with other abilities? At least spiderman could get shot in the face. And I hate spiderman.
Also, there hasn't been a good movie or anything featuring superman in... ever as far as I'm concerned.
Most of the responses here prove why...nobody actually knows the character. The "power of the week thing" fair point...if we were still in the 60's/70's, that's all been retconned out of existence since the 80's...besides, just look at any comic from that time period, they sucked.
As for the weakness thing...this arguments always irks me. Go through a list of characters and nearly every one will have some type of durability/invulnerability power. This is just an excuse to have particularly graphic fight scenes and let the artists flex their muscles. When Superman fought Doomsday he lost to sheer brute strength, not kryptonite. When Superman lost to Wonderwoman again, same deal. There was a JL comic where Martian Manhunter went evil and he took out Superman just by thinking. He's also completely vulnerable to magic and given how many magic based items/heroes/villains there are in the comic universe its not exactly uncommon.
As for his villains...eh, I must admit I've never heard the argument about Lex Luthor being boring which just seems silly as he's generally considered to be one of the more awesome villains, generally appearing on various top villain lists and what not, even if it isn't comic related. His villains are also always designed to match his power with the likes of Zod, Darkseid, Doomsday, and Brainiac to name a few. As for the saving the world argument...really...because Superman is the only comic character that does that. If you dislike comic characters that save the world, that rules out pretty much every character...heck, even some of the villains have on occasion ended up saving the world so you couldn't even say you're reading for them.
Personality is one of the more valid arguments for disliking Superman, though again people saying he's bland/a dick likely have no actual knowledge of the character. His Superman personality is fine, my complaints come more from the Clark Kent side of things, namely because its a poor disguise, obviously in appearance but also personality...at least around others, he's fine when he's being himself. I don't know where the whole boyscout thing came from, but honestly I'd classify Batman as more of a boyscout then Superman...Supes has crossed the moral line more times then Bats, who is more or less completely unwavering in his stances.
Just to name a few heroes way more powerful then Supes...Flash, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Green Lantern (potentially depending on which lantern) and that's just in the JL, and that's just people more powerful. Listing everyone else who is on his power level/poses a threat would take way too long. Also...the American way thing, yeah I could understand that argument but I can't actually remember the last time he's said that in the comics and he's in no way limited to operating just in America...heck, he's barely even been on Earth the past few months ever since the World without/world against Superman arcs started and some of the better superman arcs actually take place outside of America and sometimes off the planet.
Even if you haven't read the comics...do you really think there have been literally thousands of issues of comics for over 50 years where Superman wins every fight/overcomes every conflict without a problem, unless that problem is kyrptonite? Who would want to buy that, let alone write it? There's a reason that Superman has lasted as long as he has...and while he might not be the rest and will likely always live in Batman's shadow popularity wise he'll always have a fanbase.
As for the weakness thing...this arguments always irks me. Go through a list of characters and nearly every one will have some type of durability/invulnerability power. This is just an excuse to have particularly graphic fight scenes and let the artists flex their muscles. When Superman fought Doomsday he lost to sheer brute strength, not kryptonite. When Superman lost to Wonderwoman again, same deal. There was a JL comic where Martian Manhunter went evil and he took out Superman just by thinking. He's also completely vulnerable to magic and given how many magic based items/heroes/villains there are in the comic universe its not exactly uncommon.
As for his villains...eh, I must admit I've never heard the argument about Lex Luthor being boring which just seems silly as he's generally considered to be one of the more awesome villains, generally appearing on various top villain lists and what not, even if it isn't comic related. His villains are also always designed to match his power with the likes of Zod, Darkseid, Doomsday, and Brainiac to name a few. As for the saving the world argument...really...because Superman is the only comic character that does that. If you dislike comic characters that save the world, that rules out pretty much every character...heck, even some of the villains have on occasion ended up saving the world so you couldn't even say you're reading for them.
Personality is one of the more valid arguments for disliking Superman, though again people saying he's bland/a dick likely have no actual knowledge of the character. His Superman personality is fine, my complaints come more from the Clark Kent side of things, namely because its a poor disguise, obviously in appearance but also personality...at least around others, he's fine when he's being himself. I don't know where the whole boyscout thing came from, but honestly I'd classify Batman as more of a boyscout then Superman...Supes has crossed the moral line more times then Bats, who is more or less completely unwavering in his stances.
Just to name a few heroes way more powerful then Supes...Flash, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Green Lantern (potentially depending on which lantern) and that's just in the JL, and that's just people more powerful. Listing everyone else who is on his power level/poses a threat would take way too long. Also...the American way thing, yeah I could understand that argument but I can't actually remember the last time he's said that in the comics and he's in no way limited to operating just in America...heck, he's barely even been on Earth the past few months ever since the World without/world against Superman arcs started and some of the better superman arcs actually take place outside of America and sometimes off the planet.
Even if you haven't read the comics...do you really think there have been literally thousands of issues of comics for over 50 years where Superman wins every fight/overcomes every conflict without a problem, unless that problem is kyrptonite? Who would want to buy that, let alone write it? There's a reason that Superman has lasted as long as he has...and while he might not be the rest and will likely always live in Batman's shadow popularity wise he'll always have a fanbase.
Ignoring everything but the last bit should actually answer the OP's original question. Animated series...eh it wasn't horrible but it wasn't anything amazing. I can't actually remember the first movie except for the stupid time travel bit, the second one sucked...the directors cut of the second one was passable for okay but still nothing great, three and four sucked, and Returns while okay IMO was considered to be pretty terrible. Really, the only time he comes off decent was in JL/JLU...but since those were kid friendly shows and each episode was 20 something minutes and not exactly character driven you barely get a taste of his personality. Really, the problem is people just make assumptions without actually knowing the more "canon" material.Custard_Angel said:
Also going back to the invulnerability arguments...energy weapons have been shown to hurt Superman, and honestly energy weapons are waaay more common then guns in the comic universe.
I don't like the disrespect that is being given to Lex Luthor, MISS TESCHMACHER!!! If you can get Gene Hackman to play him you can't do too much wrong. Actually I only really like Hackman's Luthor. Actually I just really like Hackman, but still.
Why don't people like Superman? He is a Dick. [http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=28&Itemid=45]
Why don't people like Superman? He is a Dick. [http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=28&Itemid=45]
Lex Luthor is far from Superman's most dangerous enemy, that is Mr.Mytzelblic, the inter-dimensional elf who can warp reality. Since people keep bringing up Dr.Manhattan and what really gets on my nerves is people claiming that Batman is infinitely superior, Dr.Manhattan has memories of being human, and Batman has always been a human. Superman on the other hand, was never really human since he is an alien, so Superman is basically hiding what he is so he can fit in with everyone else. And everyone can relate to feeling out of place and hiding certain aspects of oneself for fear of the judgments ones piers would make about them.Daipire said:
The alien argument is pretty silly too given that there's quite a few aliens who conveniently resemble humans. The motivation thing...eh, the only argument seems to be "batman's parents died" which again, shows that its based simply on the movies. Honestly, I respect someone who wants to go out and do good just because its the right thing more then somebody who was forced to go out...whenever there's a "what if" with Batman's parents not dying, he's usually just a rich spoiled douche. There's also the fact the majority of the heroes motivations is along the lines of "great power, great responsibility"
What I wonder is how people can hate Superman but glorify Batman when at their core, they are both essentially two sides of one coin. Superman has nearly omnipotent power, but Batman literally has a gadget/weapon/technique to deal with any situation, INCLUDING Superman. Batman may act like a brooding dark avenger, but Superman also has his darker moments where he lays the smack down. Batman never kills, he won't cross that line, and contrary to what we saw in Batman Begins, he wouldn't exactly CHOOSE to 'not save anyone' if it meant that person's death, which while it was a pretty badass moment in the film, didn't really make sense... he'll let Ras al Ghul rocket to his death on a speeding train, but makes every effort to save the Joker from falling to his death after all he did? Inconsistent as hell.
Then fans of Batman like to always cite "But BATMAN is a NORMAL guy who pushes himself through sheer will to win!" So does Superman and practically every superhero who pulls on tights.. Just because Batman could conceivably be more 'fragile' and thus provides an illusion that he can "die" like everyone else, he has shown over time to be as incredibly resilient as Superman, if not more so.. Superman at least has the excuse of his Alien physiology and invulnerability to take punishment to a high degree, but what is Batman's excuse? Batman gets his freaking BACK broken in half by Bane, but makes a miraculous full recovery? And of course, whenever things look their bleakest, there is always a saving grace for Bats too.. Lazarus pits anyone?
Then there are alter egos... Superman is a mild-mannered reporter... a working class joe... Batman is "conveniently" one of the richest men on Earth.
Batman apparently is also "conveniently" one of the greatest genius minds on Earth as well, excelling in everything from Forensic science to computer hacking to Astro-physics to Mechanical Engineering?! Oh and he was trained by "Ninjas"... When you really start examining Batman, you start to realize how utterly ridiculous and fantastic HE is as a believable character.
Then what burns me is when people start spouting off about depth.. Batman has no more Depth than Aquaman as a character. He's a Super rich guy/genius/ninja with a tool to magically fit every situation, who never loses, and spends his time skulking around in the shadows unless the entire world is in danger, then he happily galavants around with the Earth's mightiest powerhouses to help set things right in situations where he should have been as effective as any other normal human being. Now he apparently dies and is on HIS way back from resurrection.. oh wait, he didn't actually die, he was transported back through TIME and has been surviving on pure instinct tracking some villain through time.. Nice job D.C. for coming up with yet another ridiculous contrivance for the Dark Knight.
So if people want to rip on Superman, they'd best take a good hard look at their own favorite comic book characters first. Superman has the dubious honor of simply being a lasting product from a past era, when heroes required nothing more to earn our devotion than simply being the guy who stood up for truth, justice, and righteousness. These days, people prefer anti-heroes, if not out and out murderers and thugs, simply because "bad is cool". Look how many "Villains" are more popular than heroes.. to the point that THEY become the new heroes: Sabertooth, Riddler, Deadpool, Bane, Sylar. Take an axe-murderer, give him some twisted sense of righteousness and set him loose on "even badder guys" and thats what people love.
In closing, for me, My love of Superman stems from my faith and belief that there IS good in this world but people have to work for it. Doing the right thing is harder than doing than wrong thing and it takes heroic effort to stand up in the face of adversity. In Superman Returns, when Supes had to use his last ounces of strength, determination, and the sheer will to save humanity to lift a kryptonite CONTINENT away, knowing that it is killing him (it would be the equivalent of one of us giving everything we had to lift a car from a trapped child with a broken arm), I literally teared up at the enormity of that moment. THAT is what makes us love these heroes like Superman, Batman, Iron Man, Spider man.. not just their abilities or skills or how they fight.. but the fact that they DO fight, selflessly, sacrificing everything to win for good, to save a life, to stop a madman.. risking and sometimes GIVING fighting to their last breath for people who wouldn't notice or even care if they died trying.
To me THAT is what being a hero is all about and THAT is why Superman is indeed, the greatest of them all.
Then fans of Batman like to always cite "But BATMAN is a NORMAL guy who pushes himself through sheer will to win!" So does Superman and practically every superhero who pulls on tights.. Just because Batman could conceivably be more 'fragile' and thus provides an illusion that he can "die" like everyone else, he has shown over time to be as incredibly resilient as Superman, if not more so.. Superman at least has the excuse of his Alien physiology and invulnerability to take punishment to a high degree, but what is Batman's excuse? Batman gets his freaking BACK broken in half by Bane, but makes a miraculous full recovery? And of course, whenever things look their bleakest, there is always a saving grace for Bats too.. Lazarus pits anyone?
Then there are alter egos... Superman is a mild-mannered reporter... a working class joe... Batman is "conveniently" one of the richest men on Earth.
Batman apparently is also "conveniently" one of the greatest genius minds on Earth as well, excelling in everything from Forensic science to computer hacking to Astro-physics to Mechanical Engineering?! Oh and he was trained by "Ninjas"... When you really start examining Batman, you start to realize how utterly ridiculous and fantastic HE is as a believable character.
Then what burns me is when people start spouting off about depth.. Batman has no more Depth than Aquaman as a character. He's a Super rich guy/genius/ninja with a tool to magically fit every situation, who never loses, and spends his time skulking around in the shadows unless the entire world is in danger, then he happily galavants around with the Earth's mightiest powerhouses to help set things right in situations where he should have been as effective as any other normal human being. Now he apparently dies and is on HIS way back from resurrection.. oh wait, he didn't actually die, he was transported back through TIME and has been surviving on pure instinct tracking some villain through time.. Nice job D.C. for coming up with yet another ridiculous contrivance for the Dark Knight.
So if people want to rip on Superman, they'd best take a good hard look at their own favorite comic book characters first. Superman has the dubious honor of simply being a lasting product from a past era, when heroes required nothing more to earn our devotion than simply being the guy who stood up for truth, justice, and righteousness. These days, people prefer anti-heroes, if not out and out murderers and thugs, simply because "bad is cool". Look how many "Villains" are more popular than heroes.. to the point that THEY become the new heroes: Sabertooth, Riddler, Deadpool, Bane, Sylar. Take an axe-murderer, give him some twisted sense of righteousness and set him loose on "even badder guys" and thats what people love.
In closing, for me, My love of Superman stems from my faith and belief that there IS good in this world but people have to work for it. Doing the right thing is harder than doing than wrong thing and it takes heroic effort to stand up in the face of adversity. In Superman Returns, when Supes had to use his last ounces of strength, determination, and the sheer will to save humanity to lift a kryptonite CONTINENT away, knowing that it is killing him (it would be the equivalent of one of us giving everything we had to lift a car from a trapped child with a broken arm), I literally teared up at the enormity of that moment. THAT is what makes us love these heroes like Superman, Batman, Iron Man, Spider man.. not just their abilities or skills or how they fight.. but the fact that they DO fight, selflessly, sacrificing everything to win for good, to save a life, to stop a madman.. risking and sometimes GIVING fighting to their last breath for people who wouldn't notice or even care if they died trying.
To me THAT is what being a hero is all about and THAT is why Superman is indeed, the greatest of them all.
The most interesting thing I have ever seen him go through was being corrupted by his own power. This was featured in the Justice League cartoon in the mid-2000s and was excellently weaved into the plot of several episodes. As a by-product this made Batman seem more badass by his wisdom to be "prepared" when Superman goes rogue again.
- This meant that the world needed a way to counter Superman if he goes off the edge.
- Batman took precautions to neutralize him when needed.
- Exploiting his ego was a new way of (trolling) manipulating him to your advantage - for villains (or enthusiasts).
Other than that I wholeheartedly agree that Superman is hard to make into a variably interesting character which necessarily, excellent writers should find ways of producing out of him which the team behind the 90s superman series and (as mentioned before hand the) justice league essentially did through this development.
- This meant that the world needed a way to counter Superman if he goes off the edge.
- Batman took precautions to neutralize him when needed.
- Exploiting his ego was a new way of (trolling) manipulating him to your advantage - for villains (or enthusiasts).
Other than that I wholeheartedly agree that Superman is hard to make into a variably interesting character which necessarily, excellent writers should find ways of producing out of him which the team behind the 90s superman series and (as mentioned before hand the) justice league essentially did through this development.
Pretty much this. I think Super man is just boring. I watched the old ones as a kid so he could be nostalgia material but I just like the Batman or X-men universes better. Batman has way better theme songs too.Sneaklemming said:
Have they made a good new version of Superman like they didn't with Batman TAS? I would be interested in watching that. Give him and his stupid hair another shot.
Because no one likes orphans!
Nah, I kid, I don't hate Supes. I just don't think he alone is really interesting to read when I can have Hal Jordan for the same price.
Nah, I kid, I don't hate Supes. I just don't think he alone is really interesting to read when I can have Hal Jordan for the same price.
Since when doesn't the Flash have to eat? He's a human who gained the ability to move faster, in what way is that supposed to influence his nutrition?Jiraiya72 said: