Superman: Difference between revisions

[[File:Superman_Posing.jpg|frame|"This looks like a job for..."]]

 

 

 

[[Older Than They Think|While not quite the first]] superhero, he is certainly the [[Trope Codifier]]. Has been published continuously by [[DC Comics]] [[Long Runner|for over 70 years]]. He first appeared in ''[[Action Comics]]'' #1 (June, 1938).

On the technologically advanced planet of Krypton, scientist [[Ignored Expert|Jor-El]] discovers that his planet will soon be destroyed by natural disasters. No one will believe him, however, and in a desperate attempt to save what can be saved, Jor-El builds a small rocket vessel to carry his infant son, Kal-El, to a different planet -- Earth. Because Kryptonians physically resemble humans in every way, the boy can blend in without being seen as alien.

 

 

 

 

Aside from fighting crime, much of Clark's personal life is explored in relation to his supporting cast from the ''Daily Planet'', his hometown of Smallville, Kansas, and his beloved home city of [[Where the Hell Is Springfield?|Metropolis]]. Possibly the most famous supporting cast of any superhero, it consists of a large number of changing characters, the fixtures of which are: his doting parents Jonathan and Martha (aka "Ma and Pa") Kent, who continue to support and advise him throughout his adulthood (or [[Pre Crisis]], throughout his childhood and teen years, before dying shortly after Clark's high school graduation); his [[Da Editor|gruff, hot-tempered, long-suffering boss]], Perry White, who gladly accepts Clark's constant disappearances and eccentricities as long as he comes back with a headline story; his best friend (in both identities) [[Jimmy Olsen]], a young cub reporter/photographer with a wildly fluctuating age, the highest [[Weirdness Magnet]] rating in the DC universe and the unique gift of a signal watch he can use to call Superman anytime he gets into trouble; and most importantly, his sharp-tongued, recklessly determined go-getter of a reporting partner (and longstanding object of his affections) [[Lois Lane]], who was [[Loves My Alter Ego|desperately in love with Superman but who always dismissed the mild Clark Kent.]] However, she would eventually fall for Clark, not Superman, before learning they were the same person and marrying him.

One prototype Superman comic was written by Siegel and Schuster in 1936. It depicts Superman rescuing innocent hostages from kidnappers. This pre-dates Action Comics #1 by nearly three years.

 

 

On the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]], he and the series he stars in almost universally tends toward the idealistic side, being the iconic [[The Cape|Cape]].

 

 

 

== Notable Superman Comic Book Series: ==

* ''[[Action Comics]]'': Anthology series for most of its run, starring Superman as the lead feature plus various backup characters.

* ''Superman/Batman'': The modern successor of ''World's Finest Comics''.

* ''[[Jimmy Olsen|Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen]]'': Probably the comic that truly shows the [[Silver Age]] in its purest, distilled form. In the [[Bronze Age|'70s]], [[Jack Kirby]] used the series to launch his [[New Gods|Fourth World]] metaseries.

* ''Adventure Comics'': Featured various Superboy or other Superman family member stories.

* ''DC Comics Presents'': Featured teamups with assorted DC characters

 

== Notable Superman Comic Book Stories: ==

* ''[[Main/The Living Legends Of Superman|The Living Legends Of Superman]]'': An anthology of stories based on the premise on how future history would view Superman when he is gone.

* ''[[For the Man Who Has Everything]]''

* ''[[Superman for All Seasons]]''

* ''[[The Death of Superman]]''

* ''[[Superman Red Son]]'': Baby Kal-El lands in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas.

* ''[[Superman Birthright]]'': The ''re''-revised origin, replacing ''The Man of Steel''.

* ''[[The Dark Knight Returns (Comic Book)|The Dark Knight Returns]]''

* ''[[Superman Secret Origin]]'': The ''re''-re-revised origin, replacing ''Birthright'' - until [[New 52|DC rebooted its whole continuity again.]]

 

== TV series starring the character: ==

* ''[[Superboy]]''

 

== TV series where he's part of an ensemble cast: ==

 

== Movies starring the character: ==

* The ''Superman'' and ''Superman vs. Atom Man'' [[Film Serial|serials]], starring Kirk Alyn.

* ''Superman and the Mole Men'', staring George Reeves and leading into ''[[The Adventures of Superman]]''.

* The franchise starring Christopher Reeve, consisting of:

 

== Animated movies starring the character: ==

 

== Videogames Starring the Character: ==

 

== Other versions of the character: ==

* The [[Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe|Just Imagine]] version of Superman

* The [[Tangent Comics]] version of Superman

* Super-Squirrel, Superman's [[Funny Animal]] counterpart on [[The DCU|Earth-C-Minus]]. The "Squirrel of Steel" is shown to be a member of his world's "JLA" (the "[[Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew (Comic Book)|Just'a Lotta Animals]]").

 

 

Also worth mentioning: ''It's a Bird...,'' which is a meditation on the Superman mythology through the eyes of someone who's been tasked with writing new installments of the series, and isn't sure he can do it because he doesn't feel anything in common with Superman. Then he really begins to think about the whole thing...

*** The "lead radiation" aspect seems to have been retconned out (or at least not mentioned out loud). Daxamites' weakness now more resembles an exceptionally severe allergy to lead.

* [[Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex]]

* [[Up, Up, and Away]]

* [[World of Cardboard Speech]]

* [[All Just a Dream]]: The first issue after the [[The Death of Superman|Death and Return]] storyline had Lois waking up to find Clark getting out the shower, causally commenting that she must have had a bad dream. Based on her reaction, the TV show [[Dallas]] was indeed broadcast in the DCU.

* [[Alternate Continuity]]: Between the various media adaptations and the "[[Elseworld|Imaginary Stories]]", arguably more than any other fictional character.

* [[Anti-Hero Substitute]]: During ''[[The Death of Superman]]'' arc, Eradicator was essentially Superman if he were a [[Nineties Anti-Hero]].

* [[Arch Enemy]]: Lex Luthor, always. Depending on the continuity, [[Brainiac]], General Zod, and [[Darkseid]] may be up there as well.

** It's generally a good idea to keep this trope in mind when dealing with The Man of Steel. He may be the quintessential nice-guy, but he's also generally considred to be ''the most powerful being on the planet''. The rare occasions that his (rather immense) self-control slips are pretty damn terrifying.

* [[Big Good]]: Leader of the Justice League, on top of being the [[Captain Obvious|most powerful superhero of all time]].

{{quote| He knows he cannot save them all. ''And he still tries.''}}

** This idea led to one of the most iconic Superman [[World of Cardboard Speech|speeches]], in the series finale of the [[Justice League Unlimited]] cartoon, where Superman is fighting Darkseid and declares:

{{quote| ''I feel like I live in a world made of... cardboard, always taking constant care not to break something, to break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control even for a moment, or someone could die. But you can take it, can't you, big man? What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose and show you just how powerful I really am.'' }}

* [[Brainwashed and Crazy]]: Given how long running his series has been it's inevitable that this trope has come up a few times. Perhaps the most famous recent event to feature this is during the [[Justice League of America|OMAC Project]] storyline, where Max Lord is controlling him to demonstrate why superheroes can't be trusted (since they can be turned against Earth by [[Mind Control]], and the next guy might not be him and have more sinister plans in mind) and tells [[Wonder Woman]] that the only way to stop him is to kill him- and to the horror of Supes and the rest of the League, [[Thou Shall Not Kill|she does just that.]]

* [[Bus Full of Innocents]]

* [[Canon Immigrant]]

** Professor Pepperwinkle from the first TV show

** His flight power comes from the Fleischer cartoons where it was introduced because the animators found it easier to depict than his original jumping power -- and far less silly-looking.

*** In fact, most of his powers beyond the core strength/indestructibility have been immigrants -- for instance, his heat vision grew out of the early Silver Age conception of his X-ray vision actually projecting X-rays -- which the writers then decided he could focus and use to burn things.

** Kryptonite comes from the 1940s-vintage radio program.

** To be fair, Icon and Superman had already met in ''Worlds Collide''.

* [[Catch Phrase]]: There have been many:

** Superman: "This looks like a job for Superman!" and "Up, up, and away!"

** Perry White: ''"Don't call me Chief!!!!'' and "Great Caesar's ghost!"

* [[Characterization Marches On]]: Way, way back when Supes was first created, he was far more rough and aggressive than his modern counterpart. While he was never as cold-blooded as the early Batman, the Superman of the 1930s had no problem using his strength to the fullest and never seemed to care that fatalities would presumably occur, although these were seldom shown explicitly on the page. This came to an end late in 1940, and ever since then, Supes has been the [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]] boy scout we all know and love.

* [[Chest Insignia]]: The big S in a diamond shield, at first just standing for Superman, later explained as being the symbol of the house of El -- and that even later as the Kryptonian symbol/glyph for "Hope".

** Also Morgan Edge, since the Crisis. (Before the Crisis, he was just a passably obnoxious executive.)

* [[Corrupt Politician]]: Not the norm, but [[Lex Luthor]] occasionally counts.

** And Pink Kryptonite. Lookin' pretty hot there, Jimmy.

* [[Curse Cut Short]]: One exchange between Superman and Brainiac in the Justice League cartoon:

* [[Da Editor]]: Perry White

* [[Death By Origin Story]]: Ma and Pa Kent before the [[Continuity Reboot]], most of Krypton's population in all versions.

** Jimmy Olsen who, due to [[Comic Book Time]] and [[Ret Cons]], repeatedly goes back and forth between being a journalist in his early twenties and a tag-along photographer in his mid teens fetching coffee.

** The possibility of Superman having children with Lois Lane, or any other female human for that matter, some writters goes with the basic: DNA extruture being completely different from each other, imposible to make children; others goes with the [[Power of Love]] full stop, different species can't stop true love so children can be made, no problems. Or [[Take a Third Option]]: It ''becomes'' possible with the help of [[Sufficiently Advanced Science]].

** Really though, if you can't expect mercy from [[The Cape|Superman]], who can you expect it from?

* [[Enemy Civil War]]: Several. Often Bizarro World.

* [[Evil Counterpart]]: Ultraman ([[Ultraman|No, not THAT one]]), Cyborg-Superman, and Superboy-Prime.

* [[Evil Knockoff]]: Bizarro

* [[Flanderization]]: Originally, Superman was something of a tough guy tackling (literally) wife beaters, war profiteers and abusive orphanages. By the end of the forties, however, he was the leading citizen of Metropolis, battling larger-than-life villains.

* [[Fleeting Demographic Rule]]

* [[Flying Brick]]: The original, and one of the few who can be excused.

* [[For Great Justice]]: Truth, Justice, and the American way.

* [[Fourth Wall Observer]]: Mr. Mxyzptlk

* [[Friend to All Living Things]]

* [[From a Single Cell]]: Several. Often Brainiac.

* [[Galactic Conqueror]]: Mongul

* [[The Glasses Come Off]]: Just when Clark does it, it's a different reason than the trope usually has.

* [[Good Is Not Dumb]]: Sometimes invoked, according to the writer.

* [[Good Is Old-Fashioned]]: A favorite jeer of [[Anti-Hero|antiheroes]] against him.

* [[Great Gazoo]]: Mr. Mxyzptlk.

* [[Happily Adopted]]: Clark is from outer space, but he and his folks are closer than blood.

* [[Heavyworlder]]: Superman's powers were, in many older stories including the entire [[The Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]] run, due in part to Krypton's heavier gravity.

* [[Interspecies Friendship]]: Most of Superman's friendships qualify, though not necessarily Clark Kent's.

* [[Intrepid Reporter]]: Clark Kent and Lois Lane, later Jimmy Olsen.

* [[Involuntary Shapeshifting]]: This was the most common effect of Red Kryptonite in [[The Silver Age of Comic Books]], with [[Re-Power]] being a close second. Jimmy Olsen was also put through [[Running Gag|many, many]] [[Twenty Four Hour Superpower|transformations]] both in the ''Superman'' titles and his own.

* [[It Amused Me]]: The Prankster

* [[Jerkass]]: All the supporting cast at the Daily Planet (Lois, Perry, even Jimmy during the 90's) has been this at one time or another.

* [[Jerk Jock]]: Steve Lombard, the resident sportswriter at the Daily Planet.

* [[Just a Machine]]: Often his attitude towards AI.

* [[Just Whistle]]: Jimmy's wristwatch can summon Supes.

* [[Lantern Jaw of Justice]]: the [[Trope Codifier]].

* [[Last of His Kind]]: One of the classic examples, although the degree to which it actually applies varies over time.

* [[Lex Luthor]]

* [[Lilliputians]]: People from the Bottle City of Kandor.

* [[Loves My Alter Ego]]: Lois Lane (used to be the [[Trope Namer]]. While Lois is known for more than just that, she is the iconic example.) At least, until the Post-Crisis era when she finally learned the truth.

* [[Mad Scientist]]: [[Lex Luthor]], back in the day. And back in [[The Golden Age of Comic Books]], there was the Ultra-Humanite.

* [[Mix-and-Match Man]]: The Conner Kent version of Superboy.

* [[Modesty Bedsheet|Modesty Cape]]: [[Real Life]] example: This has become a staple for the actresses who play Lois. Margot Kidder originated the pose, followed by Teri Hatcher and Erica Durance.

* [[Muggle Foster Parents]]: The Kents.

* [[My Dear Idiot]]: Lois Lane's use of "Smallville" for [[Superman|Clark Kent]] in some continuities goes from insulting to affectionate over the course of time.

* [[Never Be a Hero]]: Nine times out of ten, when someone gets superpowers it's not a good thing.

* [[New Old Flame]]: Both Lana Lang and Lori Lemaris were introduced this way.

* [[Nice Guy]]

* [[Nice Hat]]: Nice Headband; A headband was the equivalent of a nice men's hat on [[Pre-Crisis]] Krypton, but also a symbol of citizenship; convicts like the Phantom Zoners were forbidden to wear them in public. They were traditionally an article of ''men's'' clothing, so Superman did a bit of a double take when [[Supergirl|Kara]] started wearing one when they became fashionable in the 80's.

{{quote| '''Superman''': That man [Batman] won't quit so long as he can draw breath. ''None'' of my teammates will. Me? I've got a ''different'' problem. I feel like I live in [[World of Cardboard Speech|a world made of ''cardboard'']]. ''Always'' taking care not to ''break'' something, to break some''one''. ''Never'' allowing myself to ''lose control'', even for a moment. Someone could die. But ''you'' can take it, can't you, big man? What we have here is a ''rare opportunity'' for me to ''cut loose'', and ''show'' you '''''just how powerful I really am'''''. [Lets loose with a punch that distorts the air with a sonic boom and sends Darkseid flying... ''real far''.]}}

* [[No Man Should Have This Power]]: In "The Day the Cheering Stopped", Superman gets a magical sword which was apparently created at the dawn of time. It gives him incredible power (even for pre-Crisis Superman) and helps him defeat the villian. In the end he realizes the incredible power the sword will give him and feels that it will make him an all powerful protector. He decides he doesn't want this power and throws it into space.

* [[Official Couple]]: Superman and Lois Lane.

* [[Old Retainer]]: In the Post-Crisis reboot, Superman eventually inherits his father's faithful robot servant Kelex.

* [[Power Creep, Power Seep]]: Especially during [[The Silver Age of Comic Books]], when he could fly many times faster than light, move planets by pushing on them, and survive the interior of a supernova.

** In his first comic book appearances, Superman ''couldn't fly''. That helps to illustrate just how far the power creep has gotten...

* [[President Evil]]: Lex Luthor, from 2000 till roughly 2004. Arguably, one of the most iconic and interesting character developments that Lex Luthor has gone through over the years.

* [[Pretty in Mink]]: Lois, at least in some of the silver age covers.

* [[Psychopathic Manchild]]: Toyman

* [[Psychic Powers]]: In the past "Psionic Superman" was one common explanation for Superman's [[Required Secondary Powers]]. He doesn't have super strength, he just lifts things with his mind and needs to touch them to use it (hence why he doesn't just rip his "handle" off whenever he carries something), "x-ray" vision is clairvoyance, "superhearing" is clairaudience, "heat vision" is pyrokinesis, and so on. This is the only ability of his clone in ''[[The Death of Superman]]''.

* [[Reality Warper]]: Mr. Mxyzptlk

* [[The Reveal Prompts Romance]]: With Lois Lane.

* [[Space Pirate]]: Amalak. Also Terra-Man.

* [[Space Western]]: As well as being a [[Space Pirate]], Terra-Man is also a literal, time-displaced [[Space Western|Space Cowboy.]] Complete with an alien flying horse. (The [[Post-Crisis]] version of Terra-Man [[In Name Only|never left Earth and is an eco-terrorist)]]

* [[Spinoff Babies]]: Superboy, "Superbaby"

* [[Starfish Character]]: Comic fans had almost forgotten it, too.

* [[Story-Breaker Team-Up]]: Superman / Madman. Averted with ''Superman / Batman''.

* [[Superboy]]

* [[Super Family Team]]: With Supergirl (his cousin), Superboy (his clone) and Steel (a friend).

* [[Superhero]]

* [[Stock Superhero Day Jobs]]: "Mild Mannered Reporter for a great Metropolitan newspaper..."

* [[Superheroes Wear Capes]]

* [[Super-Hero Origin]]: There was this planet, see, and it exploded...

{{quote| Doomed planet. Desperate scientists. Last hope. Kindly couple.}}

* [[Batman Can Breathe in Space|Superman Can Breathe In Space]]: In some continuities, like the DCAU, he requires an oxygen supply; in most, he just ''awesomes'' away the need to breathe.

* [[Super Senses]]

* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: Beef bourguignon with ketchup. Lois introduced Clark to beef bourguignon. The ketchup was his addition.

* [[Tranquil Fury]]: Very rare but used in some of his more memorable stories. Used against an Authority-Expy group in "What's Wrong with Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" with disturbing effect.

* [[True Companions]]: The Daily Planet staff.

* [[Tsundere]]: Lois Lane is a type B towards Clark.

* [[Villainesses Want Heroes]]: [[Hot Amazon]] Maxima thinks Superman would make a good baby daddy.

* [[Voodoo Shark]]: Superman needs to change into his costume, so he has to duck away for a second...into a phone booth?

* [[Where the Hell Is Springfield?]]: Both Smallville (see above) and Metropolis -- though the "Big Apricot" is almost universally on the East Coast somewhere, and 90% of writers make it a [[Captain Ersatz]] of New York City. In the Fleischer cartoons, in fact, it was specifically stated that Clark & co. lived in ''Manhattan''; it was a plot point in the "Electric Earthquake" short.

** Eventually, it was settled that Smallville's location would be in rural Kansas. As for Metropolis, it's often hinted that it's at the bottom of upstate New York, somewhere on the state's small coastline. Alternately, several sources have placed it in Delaware.