Superman Returns Why didn't Singer read the SM DC Archives?

[supzfan]

The reason Singer didn't look to the comics for inspiration is that he didin't read them as a kid in the first place. And I don't buy that schtick about him being influenced by Geroge Reeves' Superman. The only things he took from that show for inspiration were Jack Larson and Noel Neill. If his take on Supes had been more Reeves-like you would have had a hero kicking butt big-time, not some angst-driven sissy. As I see it there were two problems with Singer's perspective that skewed his take on the film, much to its detriment. The first, and this is the biggie, is his ego. The second, his reliance on Donner's movie. I firmly belive Singer was only in this for the do-ray-ME. If he loves the character so much then why did he do everything in his power to tear Supes down? Seventy years of lore to draw from and THIS is what he comes up with? Ridiculous.

 

[Hiruu]

Of course they were given access to the comics. They also talked to the artists and people involved with the current comics.

Singer chose not to go on the comics, rather base it off the first two films with the "crazy scary sci-fi stuff" to come in the following films.

LOL...Superman is a alien demi-god, with nearly umlimited powers far beyond our comprehension..."crazy scary sci-fi stuff"...hmmm...does it get any more sci-fi than that?

 

[newwaveboy87]

Exactly, Superman is known all over the world. The X-men weren't. That is why the X-men needed to be/could be reinvented. Superman is a pop culture icon. He is world renowned, and loved throughout. He does not need a reinvention because he is already popular. Things like giving Lois a child and making Supes a peeping tom is why this movie didn't float with general audiences. They know who Superman is and they like who Superman is. He never needed changed.

that and the X-Men have had several lineup, costume, and timeline changes. Superman's storyline however is known all over the world. much like Batman and Spider-Man. you don't mess around with their origins too much, and you don't drastically alter their characterizations. there's a successful formula to their existence, and certain things just shouldn't be done.

having Superman leave the home he swore to protect for years on end, tell no one, impregnant a woman and abandon her, randomly return, ease drop on her conversations, follow her to her home, and pretty much leave his mother as a glorified cameo are all TERRIBLY out-of-character.

 

[X-Maniac]

that and the X-Men have had several lineup, costume, and timeline changes. Superman's storyline however is known all over the world. much like Batman and Spider-Man. you don't mess around with their origins too much, and you don't drastically alter their characterizations. there's a successful formula to their existence, and certain things just shouldn't be done.

having Superman leave the home he swore to protect for years on end, tell no one, impregnant a woman and abandon her, randomly return, ease drop on her conversations, follow her to her home, and pretty much leave his mother as a glorified cameo are all TERRIBLY out-of-character.

Yes, he was 'out-of-character'... Another instance was when he threw the ball a ridiculous distance for his dog to be able to fetch it easily. It was just in the film for effect, to be clever, but it was not what Superman would do. (Let's not even get into why young Clark wore glasses).

The idea of Superman returning after an absence is okay; the execution of the idea was very poor. A devastating disappointment.

And, absurdly, the $10 million footage of Superman exploring the remains of his home world will not be on the DVD. The one thing that would have made me buy it!

Does Bryan Singer have an allergy to 'sci-fi'? If so, why is he doing this type of movie. Shouldn't he be doing Dawson's Creek or The O.C or something...

 

[newwaveboy87]

Singer says he enjoys sci-fi like Star Trek...so, he doesn't have an allergy to sci-fi, he just doesn't know how to do it properly.

 

[Kabuki_Jo]

Singer says he enjoys sci-fi like Star Trek...so, he doesn't have an allergy to sci-fi, he just doesn't know how to do it properly.

which to me explains why Superman Returns sucks so much. That's a movie about an alien...hehehe.

 

[GreenCapt]

Just found this item at artist Neal Adams' website... I kind of doubt DC will be doing the same for any Superman writers or artists after seeing 'Superman Returns'. (Though they *did* hire Richard Donner to co-write some Superman tales so I suppose that counts)

http://nealadams.com/batmanbegins/batmanbegins.htm

D.C. Comics publisher hands check to Neal Adams for “recognition of the contributions you’ve made to the Batman mythos over the years, and in particular, for the inspiration it provided to our BATMAN BEGINS film and related projects.” This is unprecedented in the comic book industry, to have an award of money given freely (and without a contract) for work that clearly contributed to the excellence of the Batman movie.

Adams was not the only one to receive a check for their contribution and as a mark of recognition for work in the past that led directly to BATMAN BEGINS. The powerful new movie.

“In fact the writer of the movie script David Goyer called and was effusive in his compliments of our (Denny and my Batman) and when I saw the movie (my) influence will be quite clear.” Says Neal.

His enthusiasm was clear. In fact, he insisted on purchasing a Batman drawing from Neal (below) that he wished to present to the director (who was also a fan.)

As heartfelt as the compliments were, the incredible gesture from D.C. comics was even greater.

Is this a major shift for D.C. comics to look after its creators over and above contracts. Contracts which only came into the business of comics in the late 70’s.

Before this time there were not only no contracts, there were no rights to share, and no sharing.

“Marvel Comics is sadly lacking in this sort of humanity, and it’s a damn shame,” says Adams. Here’s a small list.

1. Marvel does not provide royalties past 5 years after an artist (or writer) dies. So, for example, Jack Kirby’s family no longer receives royalties for Jack’s massive work for Marvel Comics. In stark contrast, D.C. Comics has no such policy and though Jack did far less work for D.C. Comics, royalties are regularly paid to Jack Kirby’s family and will continue.
2. Marvel insists the terms of their contracts be kept secret from others. No such repressive tactics exist at D.C.
3. These checks, for Batman, not only to Neal, of course, stand out in sharp contrast to the case of Dave Cockrum at Marvel who clearly and admittedly created 5 X-Men characters but is only being paid royalties for one.

Neal reminds us that he created Havok and Sauron and has never seen a dime in royalties.

Even creators who have royalty agreements for characters they created being used for movies, are told… Yes, we used an X-Man you created in a movie but not as the only character. There are other characters in the X-Men, not just yours…. So you get nothing!

Not a share, or a portion…nothing. “Not very nice,” says Adams.

Again, to D.C. Comics, kudos.