Comics Definitive Krypton?

[Lucid]

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[Angeloz]

There's different versions. But I'm not very knowledgeable on them. There's probably a Wikipedia page on it.

Angeloz

 

[dr collossus]

I think funnily enough the best version is from the 90s animated series. It is kind of based on a cross between a harmonious utopia, Byrne's version, and heavily borrowed from Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels. The idea is, that Krypton is a harmonious utopia, but they've all been living this life of luxury for so long that their culture has started to stagnate, and they are so dependent on their machines and eons old technology that they've forgotten how to do anything for themselves.

This way, they were still this incredibliy advanced society, socially, culturally and technologically, yet there is still a plausible explanation as to why only one man foresaw the destruction of the planet.

 

[CLARKY]

I consider the "definitive version" the Byrne's one. I think it is the best. Well, maybe one can bring few things here and there or add a few things but overall, it's the definitive Krypton for me.
Nevertheless my favorite is the cartoon one. It's like the Byrne's one or even like the movie krypton but it's a little more "alive". I have nothing against the cristals, but not everywhere. I consider Krypton like it is depicted in the cartoon, or more accurately I see it as a mix between the cartoon and the John Byrne's version.

 

[Angeloz]

I'll admit I like the animated series version. But I also like the film version too. I don't think I can choose between them.

Angeloz

 

[SuperDaniel]

I like the towers in the byrne one...and i also like the movie version.

 

[Andy C.]

The TAS version of Krypton was likely the best. I honestly hated the emotionless, xenophobic, dystopian Krypton from Byrne's version, but it had some elements of it that I'm glad were carried over into TAS.

In terms of looks, my favorite was the one from Birthright, but they never showed that much of it. The BR-era version of Zod was absolutely badass, though.

 

[Lucid]

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[matthooper]

If Krypton is so advanced, why can't they prevent their own destruction?

Depending on which version you like, you can't prevent your sun from going supernova or your planet's core from exploding no matter how advanced you are.

 

[SuperDaniel]

The TAS version of Krypton was likely the best. I honestly hated the emotionless, xenophobic, dystopian Krypton from Byrne's version, but it had some elements of it that I'm glad were carried over into TAS.

In terms of looks, my favorite was the one from Birthright, but they never showed that much of it. The BR-era version of Zod was absolutely badass, though.

It wasnt like that before....in the story WORLD OF KRYPTON it shows the whole thing...how Krypton was a utopian place and how many wars helped destroy the core of the planet, wich makes much more sense than because the RED SUN exploded...

 

[Lucid]

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[Lucid]

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[SuperDaniel]

Can you elaborate more on the "World of Krypton" version. I've never read that one. So centuries of war have made the core of the planet unstable? What does that have to do with the sun exploding?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krypton_(comics)#The_Man_of_Steel

RED SUN doesnt have anything to do with that. I just think Byrne explanation for Krypton exploding was MUCH more plausible and realistic than all the versions before, where the gravitational push would make the planet explode or exploded because of the red sun. Its just ridiculous to me.

I really liked the animated series version of Krypton with Brainiac too...

 

[dr collossus]

I really liked the animated series version of Krypton with Brainiac too...

Heh, yeah more harking back to Asimoov, kind of like the Zeroth Law.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Current continuity seems to stick to the STM Krypton, but my personal favorite is the one from Birthright. BR may have had some mistakes, but if there's one thing they got right for me, it was Krypton.

 

[cryptic name]

If Krypton is so advanced, why can't they prevent their own destruction?

arrogance

 

[Spike_x1]

It wasnt like that before....in the story WORLD OF KRYPTON it shows the whole thing...how Krypton was a utopian place and how many wars helped destroy the core of the planet, wich makes much more sense than because the RED SUN exploded...

I loved Byrne's Krypton. Its rich history is great for showing that not only did Jor-El want to save his son from an exploding planet, but also their dying civilization. It's also much more heartwarming to see that, in a world filled with emotionless robots, Jor-El stands apart and proclaims that he loves his wife right before their death. That shows the unique and strong stock that Superman comes from.

There's also the fact that Superman is supposed to be the most human of us all and the stark contrast between Krypton and Earth, the planet that raised him, also reinforces the final words at the end of Byrne's MOS; that Krypton gave him his powers, but Earth made him who he is. The emphasis on Earth was a welcome addition in MOS, rather than Superman's character being a 50/50 split between Earth and a dead planet that has no reason to affect his life anymore. He still respected his heritage and was saddened that all of them were dead, but he moved on.

IMO, there's nothing not to like with that version of Krypton. It took all of the elements that are expected from Superman's origin (rocket ship escaping exploding planet, noone believing Jor-El, etc) and made them resonate so much more than had ever been done in the past.

 

[DavidTyler]

Just re-reading Byrnes take on Krypton.. that alone would make for a great .. and I do mean GREAT science ficiton movie. Birthright is completely weak and pathetic comparitively.

Any of you who doubt it should go to the link that SuperDaniel posted. I'll post it again here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krypton...e_Man_of_Steel

 

[DavidTyler]

Here's an update...

DC just released a trade paperback called World Of Krypton.

If you don't already own the individual issues that this was culled from, I strongly suggest you go out an buy it.

The major part of the collection is built around Byrne's Krypton. It shows it's evolution from a wildly emotional, bare chested civilization to the clinically repressed society at it's end. You can see the golden towers that I spoke of earlier and what THEY evolved from.

It also has a story or two from the Curt Swan era (silver age) so you can make comparisons.

Again, I suggest that anyone who hasn't already seen these stories should go out and get it. It's only $14 and change and it's worth it.