Should Superman be dark?

I sincerely hope all this talk about the next Superman film being darker is dying out. A darker Superman film is not the answer. I have said this a few other times about a few other aspects about Superman - if you think Superman should be darker then, man, you just don't get it.

The very heart of the story of Superman is about HOPE. That is the kernel of what makes the Superman story so uplifting and heart breaking at the same time. Just like Batman, the underlying theme is - among many, many other things - about loss. Bruce and Clark are both orphans. Whereas Bruce chose to give in to his rage and anger, Clark chose to funnel that energy into giving humans an endless series of second chances. If you want a darker story, go read the Batman titles.

Clark shares just as much despair, anger, loathing and sadness as Bruce does. Clark goes through just as much depression and sadness as Bruce does. IT's only Clark's vision of humanity involves a hopeful utopianism. Bruce's vision of utopia is a police state. Because Bruce has no faith in humans any more. But Clark does. The other reason Jor-El sent Clark to Earth because even he realized Humans were capable of amazing compassion. So just like squeezing lemon juice out of lemons, hold out hope long enough and the world just might become a much better place to live in if we all just work towards a brighter future.

In my eyes, Clark sees himself as being able to hold out hope longer than anyone else. Not because he has more stamina that everyone else. Rather, if he, above all people on Earth, does not hold out hope - WHO WILL?

Hope HAS to start somewhere. Clark has chosen it will always begin with him.
 
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Hope means nothing as a theme if there's no despair to make it neccessary.
 
I think of it this way - whether it's Metropolis or Gotham, despair exitst in both places equally. What makes the difference in both places?
 
That's fine. But Superman being a hopeful figure means almost nothing if he just always IS that way. If he just is always naturally hopeful...the theme loses some of its potency.
 
I understand Superman thinks humans can do good and all but....COME ON!....Thigns will never get better.....If Jesus Christ could not make the world way better, Superman is not....I know Supes wants hope for humans but he needs a reality check....Not gonna happen.
 
well hopefully WB makes some smart decisions next time a film does get into production stage.
 
I understand Superman thinks humans can do good and all but....COME ON!....Thigns will never get better.....If Jesus Christ could not make the world way better, Superman is not....I know Supes wants hope for humans but he needs a reality check....Not gonna happen.
That's not the point. Trying is.
 
NeoRanger hit the nail on the head.

:bow:

I did not want to come out and say it. I wanted you all to come to that realization on your own.
 
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Superman shouldnt be dark. Being placed in a dark world and trying to make it better. Batman tries with Gotham and still continues and so should Superman with the world.
 
He can try all he want still not gonna happen.


I suppose we should all just give up then. Anyone who want to do anything good to help humanity, just forget it, they are screwed because they just are, why bother? :doh: The cup is half empty, we are doomed. :csad:

Superman is a possitive example of NOT giving up, even though humanity may never learn. He never gives up on humans because he has seen their capacity for good, and he sees that as the cup half full.

The world will always have good and bad people, and a million shades in between.

That is just how it is.

He was not sent to earth to bring about a perfect Utopia, and he is not even supposed to interfeer in the destiny of human kind.

He is just here to help in anyway he can, but not to impose his rule.

If he was to conquer the earth, to bring about a utopia by force, he would instead create a dystopia, and he would become a Despot, a Tyrant.

Instead of that, he helps out when he can, helps with disasters, he will fight off an Alien invasion, he will even save you if you fall from a building, but he is not a god.

Ultimately, he leads by showing himself as a possitive example of doing the right thing, helping others because its within his power, and not abusing his power.

That is why he is Superman, he is not dark in that way.

He can be a baddass to someone else if they attack humanity, he does have the capacity for anger and even rage, but he will not take it out on humans he has sworn to protect.
 
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I suppose we should all just give up then. Anyone who want to do anything good to help humanity, just forget it, they are screwed because they just are, why bother? :doh: The cup is half empty, we are doomed. :csad:

Superman is a possitive example of NOT giving up, even though humanity may never learn. He never gives up on humans because he has seen their capacity for good, and he sees that as the cup half full.

The world will always have good and bad people, and a million shades in between.

That is just how it is.

He was not sent to earth to bring about a perfect Utopia, and he is not even supposed to interfeer in the destiny of human kind.

He is just here to help in anyway he can, but not to impose his rule.

If he was to conquer the earth, to bring about a utopia by force, he would instead create a dystopia, and he would become a Despot, a Tyrant.

Instead of that, he helps out when he can, helps with disasters, he will fight off an Alien invasion, he will even save you if you fall from a building, but he is not a god.

Ultimately, he leads by showing himself as a possitive example of doing the right thing, helping others because its within his power, and not abusing his power.

That is why he is Superman, he is not dark in that way.

He can be a baddass to someone else if they attack humanity, he does have the capacity for anger and even rage, but he will not take it out on humans he has sworn to protect.

Well since you put it like that your right....him helping out when he needs too and trying to help is not a problem....its just that when people think they can 100% change the world is what gets me but he does not think that way so he is cool.
 
Actually, you could change the world for the better if you got rid of about 3/4ths of the human population.
 
Actually, you could change the world for the better if you got rid of about 3/4ths of the human population.

Not really....Thats Ras Al Ghoul stuff right their and thats not right.
 
with the way our world is presently we will likely never get a perfect world.
 
That's exactly what I was thinking.

I didn't mean that's what Superman should do, I'm just you know, saying. It would probably work.
 
Its wrong though and thats the bottom line.....besides you be known as a dictator or tyrant if you do stuff like that.

Well, many democracies have killed people that are opposite to the government. But thing is that if you're in the crimefighting career and you want results more than a good name, then the bottom line is effectiveness.
 
Well, many democracies have killed people that are opposite to the government. But thing is that if you're in the crimefighting career and you want results more than a good name, then the bottom line is effectiveness.

What do you mean more results then a good name?.....and crime fighters like Superman hate to kill people...I mean guys like Joker should of been killed a long time but they do not kill.
 

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