Scripps Howard News Service considers the challenges writers face when tackling the 68-year-old Man of Steel:
In recent years, DC Comics has tried everything under the sun to draw attention to the character. He’s changed costumes. He grew a mullet. He married longtime sweetheart Lois Lane.
Superman even died, but he eventually came back.
The bright-and-shiny Superman is now facing something deadlier to him than kryptonite — competition. Darker characters such as the X-Men’s Wolverine and even Gotham City’s Batman appeal to younger readers seeking accessible characters.
Spider-Man’s everyday travails — his loneliness and tendency to be misunderstood — make him more lifelike to readers than Superman, whose big muscles and positivism can be alienating.
For some insight, the wire service talks briefly with writers Geoff Johns and Brad Meltzer.
“I love the optimism that the character embodies,” Johns says.
June 21st, 2006 at 9:01 am
Wow, that really was a brief talk. Oh wait, we need to follow the link… got it!
June 21st, 2006 at 2:06 pm
What else is there to know about Superman’s motivation? He’s come from another planet that blew up, got adopted into this new world and grew up. He got incredible powers because of the sun and because he had a decent upbringing and is terrifyingly strong he feels he’s needed to do good for this world (and its people) he happened to crash at.
The fact that this seems boring to us, or that it’s not very life-like says a whole lot about us humans and the society we live in. Because no more motivation is needed really.