The Story.

[Rust]

I can't stand Superman For All Seasons. I like Loeb okay, but Tim Sales art and his Jethro Bodine/Lil Abner/Lenny Clark Kent makes me sick. Superman is not an ignorant hayseed. The whole farmboy thing came from STM and the Byrne comics, as the original comics quickly got the Kents off the farm and into small town America. Jonathan Kent was less Uncle Jed and more like Howard Cunningham. Superman is NOT a farmboy from the sticks. I hate that interpretation and I think it's a big part of why people find Superman so lame and corny. And it's essential that the Kents die because when the Kents die, Superman learns there are limits to what he can do. It a much better lesson for him to learn than the wrongheaded idea someone presented earlier of him accidentally killing someone. Plus, when the Kents die so does the real Clark Kent, leaving only the Clark Kent that is an act. It makes Superman more alone and Superman needs to be somewhat lonely so as to counterbalance against how powerful he is.

I am not expecting them to get it right, however. He'll be Jethro Clark on the farm, and I'm sure they didn't hire Costner and Lane to bump them off.

I agree, the art is somewhat off at times, but also quite good other times.

But true or not to the core-character, what you describe sounds too tragic (and typical) in my book and also somewhat oldfashioned and limited, and a modern-day Superman should be neither IMO. I want him to be pretty much the opposite of Batman. Besides, there are otherways Clark can discover his limitations, like the assasination in Africa should they go that route.
I like simple farmboy-Clark, but yes, that version can definitely be updated, no doubt.

 

[Sabaoth]

Batman Begins was a new a take for Batman on film, but it was faithful to the source.

How exactly would you change Superman's personality into somthing it's never been before? He was a hard nosed character at first, and a hipster with emo tendencies in Earth One, so what would you do to his character that hasn't been done?

I don't care for Earth One BTW.

I've been a Superman fan since before most of you were born.
I've been collecting Superman comics since the late 70s, during the Julie Schwartz era. I've read nearly all issues of Action and Superman.
I saw all the Christopher Reeve movies on the big screen, when they first came out.
I was there when John Byrne revitalized Superman with Man of Steel #1, as well as when Superman died.
I've enjoyed the many origins and incarnations of the Man of Steel over the years. While I've never seen a single episode of TAS, I sat through all of Lois & Clark and Smallville. I loved Superman Returns.
The point is that I've been a long time fan and I want to see them do something different.
I don't want to see another "faithful adaptation."
I loved Earth One. Hopefully that is the source that is inspiring and informing MOS.
I'm not afraid of change. I embrace it.
I'm confident Snyder & Co. will not disappoint me.

 

[The Sage]

So far, the only source or inspiration suggested is Superman: Secret Origins, as David Goyer mentioned in an interview when discussing Man of Steel.

I agree, the art is somewhat off at times, but also quite good other times.

But true or not to the core-character, what you describe sounds too tragic (and typical) in my book and also somewhat oldfashioned and limited, and a modern-day Superman should be neither IMO. I want him to be pretty much the opposite of Batman. Besides, there are otherways Clark can discover his limitations, like the assasination in Africa should they go that route.
I like simple farmboy-Clark, but yes, that version can definitely be updated, no doubt.

I like the first two chapters of For All Seasons. The POV of Clark from Jonathan Kent was well done. If there's enough time, I'd like to see him from Lois' POV as well in the movie.

There's plenty of material to pull from out of the various origins, be it Byrne's Man of Steel, Waid's Birthright, Loeb's For All Seasons, and even some of JMS' Earth One.

 

[Rust]

There's plenty of material to pull from out of the various origins, be it Byrne's Man of Steel, Waid's Birthright, Loeb's For All Seasons, and even some of JMS' Earth One.

Isnt that what they did with Batman Begins, took elements from everywhere?

 

[The Sage]

Isnt that what they did with Batman Begins, took elements from everywhere?

Yep.

It's the approach every adaptation should take.

Also, on the comments earlier about referencing or winking to previous incarnations...there's nothing wrong with it, depending on how it's done. For example, Superman Returns had a art deco-esque Daily Planet which reminded me of the Fleischer cartoons. I wouldn't mind seeing a broom closet change. And hopefully they'll find a subtle way to include "It's a bird, it's a plane..."

 

[Rodrigo90]

Yep.

It's the approach every adaptation should take.

Also, on the comments earlier about referencing or winking to previous incarnations...there's nothing wrong with it, depending on how it's done. For example, Superman Returns had a art deco-esque Daily Planet which reminded me of the Fleischer cartoons. I wouldn't mind seeing a broom closet change. And hopefully they'll find a subtle way to include "It's a bird, it's a plane..."

Well surely anyone could see the Batman 89 comparisons in TDK?

The Joker sitting at the head of the table. Doing something particularly gruesome to some guy.

Batman and Joker squaring up to each other in the street. Batman ends up crashing his vehicle.

Joker falling of tall building.

Nobody particularly cared about the similarities though.

 

[Wheels]

I loved Earth One. Hopefully that is the source that is inspiring and informing MOS.
I'm not afraid of change. I embrace it.
I'm confident Snyder & Co. will not disappoint me.

I don't HATE Earth One, but it's not my favorite Superman origin. Mainly because it takes Clark so long to finally become Superman, but I would be fine with them incorporating Earth One's Clark wardrobe as it would give reporter Clark a fresh look.

 

[KRIM]

So far, the only source or inspiration suggested is Superman: Secret Origins, as David Goyer mentioned in an interview when discussing Man of Steel.

Link?

 

[Dark Knight]

Ahh...the Superman boards.

Gotta feel for them. You guys and gals are all over the place with your takes on how Superman should or should not be perceived on film.

We have our pre crisis loyalists and then we have our post crisis backers, Golden and Silver Age fans and then we have the Fleischer peeps, Byrne fans, Loeb fans along with the Waid people. Then of course we have the fans of the Johns version as well.

Should Superman be a boy scout, should he be more aggressive, should be portrayed as a "christ figure" should he be the good ol farmboy, should Clark be or not be the the bumbling type etc...etc.....it's headache inducing it really is.

My advice. Try to trust Nolan and Goyer with this story and script folks.
They successfully rebooted the Batman Dark Knight film franchise and I see no reason why Nolan would put his name behind something that would literally suck.

Oy vey!

 

[The Sage]

Link?

http://screenrant.com/superman-man-of-steel-script-secret-origin-schrad-93433/

 

[KRIM]

So it's heavily implied this take will switch the real/fake personas between Superman and Clark. I like it.

 

[The Sage]

So it's heavily implied this take will switch the real/fake personas between Superman and Clark. I like it.

How did you come to that conclusion?

 

[KRIM]

How did you come to that conclusion?

Goyer's "Eureka!" moment when Geoff showed Clark desperately wanting to just be Clark, Jonathan's son. Didn't matter he was from another planet or that he has superhuman abilities. All he cared about was being human.

Straying away from that is ignoring his own desire to fit in with the rest of the folk. Goyer notes that when he's Superman, he's sacrificing a bit of himself for the greater good. I think that indicates a bit of role-playing when he dons that suit, as he does not see himself as necessarily being above everyone else.

 

[The Sage]

Goyer's "Eureka!" moment when Geoff showed Clark desperately wanting to just be Clark, Jonathan's son. Didn't matter he was from another planet or that he has superhuman abilities. All he cared about was being human.

Straying away from that is ignoring his own desire to fit in with the rest of the folk. Goyer notes that when he's Superman, he's sacrificing a bit of himself for the greater good. I think that indicates a bit of role-playing when he dons that suit, as he does not see himself as necessarily being above everyone else.

Ah.

That moment takes place during Clark's childhood, but the mild-mannered Clark Kent persona is showcased in the story as well. We could be getting the three persona approach, same way Bruce Wayne is interpreted.

 

[KRIM]

That moment takes place during Clark's childhood. The mild-mannered Clark Kent persona is showcased in the story as well.

Goyer focused solely on that moment, so I wouldn't look at the entire arc as an influence. It seemed his thoughts on Superman would be traced back to the moment that Clark was adamant on remaining a human. He specifically mentioned how much of a sacrifice it would be. I don't think that was addressed in Secret Origins.

We could be getting the three persona approach, same way Bruce Wayne is interpreted.

Perhaps, but I always figured it might be overdoing it a bit because his personas aren't nearly as complex or distinct as Bruce's. The duality interplay is more than suitable imo.

 

[Wheels]

Ah.

That moment takes place during Clark's childhood, but the mild-mannered Clark Kent persona is showcased in the story as well. We could be getting the three persona approach, same way Bruce Wayne is interpreted.

The three persona approach would make me one happy Superman fan.

 

[IamtheBatman]

Do, you think we'll know by Comic-Con what the plot will be and storyline?

 

[The Sage]

Goyer focused solely on that moment, so I wouldn't look at the entire arc as an influence. It seemed his thoughts on Superman would be traced back to the moment that Clark was adamant on remaining a human. He specifically mentioned how much of a sacrifice it would be. I don't think that was addressed in Secret Origins.

It wasn't addressed, but I can see it as a starting point. Clark at the beginning just wanting to be a normal human being before gradually over time accepting his alien heritage and his greater calling. It doesn't necessarily signify we'll see a switch up in the duality.

 

[The Batman]

I will be sorely disappointed if we get a Superman that says "Eff Krypton."

I agree with Grant's take on Superman, which is that hes a normal dude....until he finds out he has powers.

 

[IamtheBatman]

I tell you this I am anticipating this movie more than TDKR no matter what the storyline is.

 

[The Batman]

I wanna be more excited for this than TDKR....but if we're just getting a big screen version of Byrne's MOS, I dunno.

 

[The Sage]

I will be sorely disappointed if we get a Superman that says "Eff Krypton."

I agree with Grant's take on Superman, which is that hes a normal dude....until he finds out he has powers.

It's always better to portray him as a man of two worlds, with reverence for both.

 

[The Batman]

Its also more..."human", something a lot of people want with this new movie. Any adopted kid is gonna want to know about where they came from.

 

[IamtheBatman]

I wanna be more excited for this than TDKR....but if we're just getting a big screen version of Byrne's MOS, I dunno.

I am rallying behind Cavill more than I would have Welling if he was casted!

 

[Rodrigo90]

I think a good thing to do, if rumours are true that a tornado will hit Smallville, is to show Clark just before without his powers.

Say the tornado strikes, and people are trapped, Clark risks his life, without knowing he has powers. This shows that he was always heroic and its not the powers that make him do anything. THEN he finds out from the Kent's that he is an Alien? Cut to some time later in Africa maybe, where he has had the time to gain new abilities and adjust to them.