Why Superman is More Important Now Than Ever...
Вставка
- Опубліковано 2 чер 2024
- Superheroes have defined popular culture and storytelling ever since Superman made his major debut in Action Comics only a year prior to the start of the second world war. Soldiers used Superman stories to live out fantasies of punching that damn supervillain in the face and foiling their evil scheme. Ever since Superman's creation, Superman has been defined as a figure that stood for the little guy, and stood up against injustices. For decades, Superman has been a incredibly powerful symbol of hope, until recently. Due to how popular media has represented Superman, people have developed a misunderstanding that Superman is a "boring" or "tired" character, that Superman is just a lifeless brooding god. In this personal video essay, I talk to the skeptics, explain to them how Superman has had a major impact on my life, and show them the reasons why even after almost a century, Superman will always remain a timeless character. Superman is a timeless symbol for hope in our society, and we need him more than ever to be represented properly in our media. This video was a long time in the making so I hope you enjoy it. For those wondering, my next video will be on Aggretsuko season 2.
Video Footage Sources:
City Stock Footage: • Epic Free Stock Timela...
Handshake Stock Footage: • handshake stock footage
Demon Reborn Clip: • Video
Obscure Music Tracks:
Cavetown - Juliet Instrumental: • Video
All Star Superman Credits Theme: • Soundtrack ALL STAR SU...
Superman Vs The Elite Theme: • Superman vs. The Elite...
e s c p - Downtown Walk: • | e s c p | Downtown Walk
(all music has been credited within the video as it appears)
Support me on my Patreon: / thegentlemushroom
0:00 Intro
4:17 Superman's Ideology and Character
15:02 Idealism of All Star Superman
24:59 Deconstruction of Superman Vs The Elite
47:27 Conclusion - Комедії
I didn't appreciate Superman until these last ten years. After seeing people endlessly idealize the antihero and brute force, I've realized how absolutely necessary idealism is. Not just as humans, but for a functioning society.
idealism is the worst thing to ever happen to humanity.
@@plasticweapon Oh, come now. Capitalism is _right there_ XD
Jokes aside, no. Idealism, like every other thing humans make, is only as bad as how horribly we use it. None of them is necessarily the worst thing ever, unless they're extreme by nature.
Cavill was anything but an Anti Hero- The worst superman fans are the ones who feel the need to make any other version of Kal a "Lesser" Superman when they're ALL Superman. Seriously give it rest.
@@NineToFiveGamerUC0079facts
I’m in a similar boat, I’m more of a Batman fan, but I’ve grown to appreciate Superman as I got older.
Superman isn't Superman because of his gifts, he is Superman because of how he chooses to use them.
Thats the perfect way to put it
I've come to the realization that The best way to see If a writer gets Superman is to see If The story treats him as superMAN or SUPERman
@@Keolas_multiverse😅😊😊😅😮😅😊😅😅😅😅🎉😅😢😅😂😅😢😂😂😂😊😮😊😊😅😊😊😂😊❤😊😊😊😊😊😂😊😊😂🎉😂😅😅😢❤😊😂😮😂😮😂😊😢😂😊😊🎉😊😂🎉😊😊😅😂😢😊😅😢😅😮😢😮😢😮😅😢😅😢😅😅😢😂😅🎉🎉😅😂😢😮😂😅😊😊😢
He superman because of his parents
@@migueldiaz7939Batman is Batman because of his parents. And rich too
Lex Luthor liking Clark but hating Superman will never not be funny.
It’s practically the point of his character. Well, one of the points.
“I want pictures of Superma-Whoops.”
You know Superman is a good guy when even a writer like Garth Ennis who idealises the anti-hero praises him.
I think the reason why he hates superheroes is just because other superheroes aren't as ideal as superman lol.
@@perun1113nah he hates them because he feels they turned the diverse medium of comics into just 1 genre - superheroes
@@sweetsweetalib4857I will always think about his cameo in _Powers_ when he goes on a ride along with Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim and goes on a rant about superheroes.
Even Alan Moore holds a lot of respect for him and has written some of his best stories... Alan Moore, the dude that made V for Vendetta and Watchmen, he understand what Superman stands for and respects him for it.
Frank miller and hack snyder dont
After Homelander and Omniman, I honestly think a golden hearted, compassionate, good morale superman is what we need tbh
Yes, I'm bored with the deconstructed versions of Superman as well. Let's have the proper hero shine.
It's funny how you brought up Omniman , when infact Invincible is the " superman" of the story. Omniman wasn't raised on earth. He didn't learn human morality or experience high-school bullies. Omniman was general zod.
Allegedly the james gun version is going to return to this type of super man so hey, fingers crossed
I've been calling for a reconstruction of Superman. Hell, I've been calling for a total reconstruction of comics for years. We haven't left Watchmen, not really and it's boring. It's boring and depressing as almost every comic treats this goofball corny stuff as things to mock rather than the heart of stories that taught us all as kids why it's important to do good and how to stare down the monsters in our lives, that no matter what we face we can persevere.
It's said you don't have to write Superman as relatable, you just have to write him as inspirational. We need some of that inspiration in these days, we don't have a world ending dictator like Simon and Schuster had in the 40s, but we all have personal dictators we have to fight daily. That's why we need reminded we can fight.
The whole thing about people finding Superman boring and lacking in personality is mainly a western phenomenon. In much of Africa, were i am from, and most of the world (many manga heros were inspired by him) he is still belived and adored as a great hero and personality mainly because our societies don't have the weird cultural obsession with relativism and we prefer heroic characters who stand for good, no matter how cliched it seems❤
It's more than that. Western culture is pretty amoral and they've embraced pretty evil values.
That is why a character like Batman, who is clearly an egotistical psycho and NO DIFFERENT from Lex Luthor, gets a pass. Because he's human, thinks he's better than everybody else, and treats everyone like they are scum. These behaviors are celebrated by modern Westerners.
In short, Batman appeals more to them, because he is as self righteous as they are. A good character like Supes though? He's weak and pathetic and should be done away with.
Which is funny, because being good and kind, is harder than being an evil douche. But again, westerners are all about ME. That is why their stories are filled with rationalized evil and self-inserts.
But as you said, here in Africa we know how important hope and goodness is. Maybe one day the West will figure it out.
Now that is awesome to hear. Gives me hope!
The most liked hero in the former Soviet Block for the little guy was Superman. Because if you are in a bad situation is balm for your heart to hope that maybe there is this guy who will always promote good. That maybe there is a bit of hope. You have 2 choices: go deeper or rise.
@@dancorneanu9144 well said
So, in other words, your cultures are brain dead?
If being an all around good natured person is a revolutionary idea, something has gone terribly wrong.
Everything is just cynical now, so not surprising
I think kindness and belief in the good within humanity will always be revolutionary, no one who wants to maintain control over people would ever promote such a an idea.
@@jpickens189 I was about to say the same kind of thing lol. It has always been hard to strive for good at every step
"In many ways, Clark is the most Human of us all....
...Then he shoots FIRE from the sky, and it is very difficult not to think of him as a God. And how lucky we all are that it never occurs to him." - Batman, 'Batman/Superman: Public Enemies'
"Clark Kent is who I AM. Superman is just what I can do." - Clark Kent
"'Kingdom Come' flew, so 'Injustice' could stumble along like a drunken amnesiac." - Me
So true about Kingdom Come. These companies must throw your resume in the trash if you have any familiarity or appreciation of their past work.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees injustice for what it is
That Clark Kent quote was awesome 👍
Screw Injustice. It's just a child's excuse to bash their superhero action figures together after coming up with an illogical made-up story to do so.
@@Gamfluent So is "Kingdom Come".
Spittin facts@@Slightly-Acceptable-Nerd
25:54 I always roll my eyes whenever someone brings up how "one bad day" can ruin someone and set them on a dark path, because they either don't know, or deliberately ignore that the reverse is just as, if not more powerful.
Just ONE good day, just ONE act of kindness and compassion can save a life, like the times when Superman encountered a depressed individual at the edge of a skyscraper. He never used his Kryptonian powers to resolve it. He just used a few kind words, and a hug, two of his greatest abilities.
All it takes is one good day, to see the beauty in living, and to set someone on a better path.
Also, believing the "one bad day" is the equivalent of taking the Dark Knight Joker as your life coach
That literally never happens irl.
More killing Joke Joker
I legit had someone recently tell me that "Superman Vs The Elite isn't pessimism vs optimism, it's strawman made to cope with the fact The Authority outsold Joe Kelly's Superman run".
I just responded with "Who the fuck is The Authority?"
That was my question when I read this
That guy’s an idiot if he thinks that’s what the point of the story is. What it is depending on your interpretation of the story is what if The Superman had taken on the 1990’s-Early 2000’s anti-hero stance and the problem anti-heroes would present without actual heroes around to balance out the scales of justice. What if The Superman decided to take off the gloves and stop playing nice when you keep poking him with the stick despite him politely asking you to stop doing that several times before he’s had enough of your irritating bullshit.
After all; if everyone’s an anti-hero, then no one is.
It’s sad that Superman has been overlooked as just a ‘boyscout superhero with no problems’, even though Batman and Spider-Man are my two favourite superheroes, I can’t deny that Superman is the best hero, not because of his powers, but because of his kindness and compassion, one of my favourite animated movies ‘The Iron Giant’ perfectly encapsulates the vetoes and meaning of the Superman character, and it’s me I’ll always remember and hold close to my heart
'Iron Giant' got it exactly correct.
The entire point of Superman is not that he's "realistic" (really, guys?) but that he provides an example, an ideal to strive for.
Professor Geek has a bunch of great videos on the subject of Paragons and Aspirational Heroes, along with the other Heroic and Villainous Archetypes. Worth checking out if you're interested. 😎👍
"That Perfection is unobtainable is no excuse not to seek it. In Grand Endeavors, even failure is Glorious." - Marcus Aurelius
(I'm pretty sure, at least. Might have been Seneca.)
As a fan of Nightwing, I started to slowly appreciate the importance of Superman. Superman showed the importance of having a heart in hero work to the young Dick Grayson. Because of that, I started watching reading Superman in different medias.
Where Spider-Man is someone who has to keep reminding himself that "with great power must also come great responsibility" and is in a constant battle with his selfish impulses, Superman is someone who internalizes that responsibility at an early age and makes it part of his identity. Rather than having to remind himself, he reminds others through his actions and the choices he makes with the power that he refuses to be corrupted by, not against the temptation of corruption but out of a fundamental understanding of the very simple fact that corruption is bad and kindness is good.
yay flawlessness
@@alexoxo1 Having different flaws than another character is not the same as being flawless. Flaws are relative to context and goals. In some situations, playing by the rules can be a huge disadvantage. Living a double life also invites various messes. As does taking on *too much* responsibility. When you're as powerful as Superman and as kind as Superman, there's a risk of drowning in responsibility. How is he supposed to maintain a life if he's constantly interrupted by his super hearing and people in distress? He can't allow himself to tune it out. Caring about everyone also means it's really easy to threaten someone he cares about. Superman doesn't have Spider-Man's selfish impulse, but that actually puts him in a much more difficult situation in some ways. His greatest strength *is* his greatest weakness. He cares too much for his own good.
I'd like to go a step beyond and say it's not just the fundamental understanding that keeps him incorruptible.
I fully believe it's his love for humans. The love he received from his parents is his greatest gift. Him choosing kindness everytime comes from that place of love he received that he shares for all of humanity and life. Growing up as a farmer means tending to life. Growing up in a small town means understanding the value of community and being a good neighbor.
In Superman's case, those concepts are just magnified on cosmic scales. He is just a man who permanently lives with the overview effect.
@@farvezafridifaizurrahman6980 I'd call that a foundation. It's fundamental *because* of that love he received growing up and takes as given to return to humanity, and the care that he was taught. I'm not saying it's intrinsic or genetic. By fundamental, I mean it's the foundation of his personality, as opposed to (as in the case of Spider-Man) an ideal to strive toward. Although the moniker of "Superman" does become a lot to try to live up to, even for him.
"and is in a constant battle with his selfish impulses," total bullshit.
what? tell us you never read spiderman without telling us. The character you are describing is ironman.
That was literally just one time. and He was Only fifteen, and the most selfish he acted was trying to have a wrestling career and letting it briefly go to his head.
Peter is more likely to break bad becuase he feels responsible for everything. ( made a deal with the devil ) .
Clark has screwed up far more times than Peter. But Peter is neurotic and tortures himself over every error for decades.
its just the Opposite., Peter has outrageous toxic responsibility. Peter is so toxicly responsible that he blames himself for his uncles death. But the breakin wouldhave happened no matter what he did.
He habitually puts himself last. Clark has a much better work-home-life balance and has worked much better with teams his whole life. Peter and Clark would be best friends, with Clark teaching him teamwork, fanily balance.
There are SOOO many versions of Clark that have been currupted.
If Peter had Clarks powers he would never know when to take a break, stop saving people!
He would never ever have relationships, quit his dayjobs, until it harmed him. Clark isnt overburnded with guilt, shame, and worry like Peter is.
Superman has ALWAYS had friendly Press, ( his own ) and good PR. Where Peter gots demonized for everything good he does but did it anyway, Peter has earned the heroworship
"corruption is bad and kindness is good." Goodness= good thats a tautology. I dont think you understand superman either. Hes a refugee. Hes motivated by decency. Hes not incurruptable ( red kryptonite, magic, harming lois ) . Hes Trying to make himself, which is easy when you you cant be burned crushed and are bulletproof.
Peter risks everything everytime he swings. he can be shot, run out of fluid. Hes not faster than the soundbarrier.
When he lost his spydersense he didnt retreat. Peter is still a symbol of everyday goodness To NewYorkers, and he proved it during "SpiderIsland". Everyone in manhattan got spiderpowers and Peter went to the street unmasked urging everyone to be like spiderman, use their powers to keep to worktogether and keep public order.
Superman is the epitome of a good person doing what they can to help. The idea of a friend who will always come through for you is so beautiful. Superman is such an inspiration.
Characters like Superman, Optimus Prime, Ultraman (The Japanese one), and Gamera are some of my favorites in all of fiction. Those characters that, while they will acknowledge that there is malice in the world, they will always see the good that coexists with said malice, and will always fight to protect it. And it’s always inspiring.
I'm gonna go ahead and just assume you mean Japanese Ultraman not DC Ultraman who is a very bad dude 🤣
@@cptsteele91 Yes Japanese Ultraman
Gamera? The flying turtle
I would take Optimus Prime over Superman any day of the year, dead or alive. I'm not even a transformers fan.
@goldman77700 and that's cool too, both characters are great in their own right, 👍
"no one can ever be as good or kind as superman" maybe but we'll never know unless we try
My Adventures with Superman has been reigniting the public’s love for Superman and i love that so much
It saved superman after how much snyder ruined him
I like Superman before this show, but I never saw all the comics or cartoons or movies, but I like Superman before it and I love that show and I just think that's a good show and I would like to see season 2 of the show. Sorry if my English is bad, I am not a native English speaker and writer.
superman & lois >>>>>
I was also on those category who used to think Superman is pretty boring. But after I read several comics. I realized I was wrong. Superman is someone we should look up to.❤
what I love most about Superman is when you peel back his powers, and more importantly, his identities, you find his truest self
beyond the hero, Superman; beyond the last son of Krypton, Kal-El; beyond the mild mannered farm boy Clark Kent, you learn who he is, deep down: a good person, plain and simple. he doesn't do what he does out of some burden of glorious purpose, or for glory and fame. he does it because it's the right thing to do, because helping people is the good thing to do
Superman is the iconic....the most iconic and amazing superhero....I have always gotten inspired by this character and love him a lot. ❤
And Goku is more icon 💯💯💯💯
@@SasukeUchiha-lq4tc
? Goku isn't a superhero. And also, you really don't have to compare them negatively like that. If Goku and Superman met, they would basically be besties.
@@twaggytheatricks4960that’s what weebs do. His username is named after one of the edgiest and most boring naruto characters. As someone who enjoys dragonball, we don’t claim him
Goku is a superhero@@twaggytheatricks4960
Goku is a superhero@@jdealz9983
The part where Wonder Woman rages at the Toyman and the Flash says "I'm trying to speak for superman" goes so freakin' hard. Nothing better could have been said.
I'm one of those who criticises the Man of Steel portrayal of Jonathan Kent - 'should I just have let them die?' 'Maybe'
There is no way he could ever have said 'maybe' in any previous portrayal. It's like Churchill saying 'maybe we should consider a surrender'.
JK wouldn't have hesitated to say 'no, of course not, but don't let them see it was you'.
On the other hand, looking at the climax of the movie, Zod had to die at the end. He was actively trying to fry an innocent family.
There were only three ways I can think of in which Zod could have been removed as a risk.
1)Return to the Phantom Zone. That would involve returning to the ship and hacking into it somehow (Luthor stole Zod's fingerprint)
2)Imprisoning him in a Kryptonite cage. Lethal over time, even if Kryptonite were easily available, and no one knew of it then.
3)The death of Zod. Kal-El had a stark choice - kill Zod, or watch an innocent couple and their children die horribly, followed by countless more.
Zod was a rabid dog, who had to be put down for the protection of others.
Superman's cry at the end was for what Zod had forced him to do. It's the pain my grandfathers felt in WW1, having to kill enemy soldiers to save their own families from a ruthless dictatorship
like many things from that movie, that scene (and zod's crying over the death of his kind), was one of these parts of the movie that mades me sick of it everytime. Because they were genuinely good ideas for a superman movie, and specially for what snyder wanted for a superman story, to question the morality of him and put clark in a difficult spot that only him can act on the choice that was made for him earlier. Too bad zack didn't read allstar, superman vs the elite and whatever happened to the man of tommorow, fantastic stories that basically do the same with different story beats.
Of all the Superman-praising videos I've watched, this one is my favorite. It's so in-depth, well edited, and long without being too long. Great stuff. You've really captured why Superman is more than just a fictional character, but a worldwide symbol of hope, goodness, strength, and heroism. In short, Superman is everything we should and can strive to be.
I didn't realize how much I loved Superman until I got teary eyed explaining to a friend why Superman is a Super.... man.
Totally feel you. Seeing Superman's best moments always brings a tear in my eye even though I'm a Batman fan for life.
I used to think he was boring a long time ago, but then I began to realize why he really does matter. Great video!
Superman: The Greatest Superhero Of All Time
6:03
A brief moment that really stands out to me. It’s something I love about Superman. He knows he’s essentially living in a world of paper. He could kill anybody with the flick of his finger, but he never will, because he’s a good man through and through. So instead of going into conflicts guns blazing, he relies on his brain, and his ability to reason with his adversaries. That’s what makes him stand out from all the others.
Superman (and Spider-Man) is the only superhero that feel genuine. No hero Can ever top him. Because he represents what we need for years to come:
A symbol of optimism and a better future.
You put it to words better than I ever could. I'm actually a jaded, cynical, nihilistic pessimist, but Superman has always been my favorite DC superhero because the exact opposite. He represents what humanity could be. He may be an alien, but he's arguably the most human hero DC has to offer.
Well said
@@concept5631 Thanks.
@@aaronfraire9073 Welcome
Most cynics are really spurned idealist: as their cynicism is a shell that encloses their understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within themselves trys to heal their sick selfes by protecting this tiny, dear part in 'em that's still alive from a world that takes whatever it wants.
I say this as a fellow jaded, cynical, nihilistic pessimist, who also likes comic superheroes.
Superman is the only reason I am still alive, being born in a middle-class family we faced many hardships in our life but one day a tragedy happened in our family and it broke me, I fell into depression , i couldn't study, i failed in my semester back to back and almost went to kill myself but Superman stopped me, he saved me from killing myself, he taught me to endure, he taught me to overcome my depression, he gave me hope, reading his comics changed my life forever, I will always be in debted to Superman and DC for this, every DC character has taught me some valuable life lessons.
This is why I love My Adventures With Superman. It's the first visual media in years to have gotten Superman right. To get what he stands for. To get not only what he is, but WHO he is. It also makes it abundantly clear that Clark Kent and Superman are the same, and that he just wants to help. And it also touches on the discussion of "No one can be that good without ulterior motives" and the immigrant narrative surrounding him. It shows him as an ideal yes, but it also shows him as a person. An ideal PERSON with the power and the will to help.
Thank you for this
In a way the corruption of Superman’s character is largely a reflection of the corruption of the human soul. And as a society the soul of humanity is under attack. A crisis of faith. A return to traditional heroism is needed now more than ever. Idealism isn’t naïveté but a dream that we must always strive for. Just as Superman says when he faces the Elite he writes a note to Lois, he asks her and asks us to BELIEVE
Nicely put into words, I love Superman and Star Trek for smilar reasons with all the dystopian predictions of the future it's nice to have some god damn optimism once in a while.
I did get a good laugh from you saying MANCHESTER black wearing a union jack is Australian though.
Ahahahahaha As an Aussie I was left spluttering 😂
As a Brit that was such a "BRUH" moment. I know some Americans can’t tell our accents apart, but the context clues??
I mean, what's an Australian if not a criminalized Brit? Lol
Even at his worst, tyrannical Superman still tries to do the best for the society he rules over. He's misguided but still, he's always trying to do the best for everyone else.
And that's a very specific feeling we all should strive for, to try to make the world better for others.
I feel like Super mans flaws is the complete opposite of other heroes. Super man always puts others needs in front of himself. Alan Moore showed this perfectly in For the Man Who Has Everything. That story showed that Superman was truly never really happy as a person because he never got to be selfish. Also in Justice League Unlimited, Bruce Timm perfectly shows what makes Superman flawed as a hero. While Batman has to constantly remind themselves to control their rage and not be vengeful, Superman on the other hand has to remind himself that sometimes its okay to let loose. This is when he’s fighting Doomsday and proceeds to beat the living hell out of him. Bruce Timm clearly showed in one line of a fight scene that Supermans flaw is his lack of practicality (because he is so optimistic and is kind 3000) but its his growth in learning that that makes him more likeable. That’s incredibly human
Batman is really Batman and Bruce Wayne is the mask. But Superman IS Clark. He's a nice normal guy with his own interests and plans who has a huge responsibility thrust upon him. And not by some outside force, but by his own empathy and morality his parents taught him, his kindness that prevents him from abandoning people in need. I'm pretty sure that when he first dons the suitm to rescue a cat or something, he still treats it as a fun cool secret, still thinking that maybe he can do some good on the side and otherwise focus on a career, a girlfriend, and a regular American dream life. But it quickly becomes evident that he can do TOO much, that any time he spends on himself is time not spent on things he could do for others. Can you put all that pressure on one man? That's the core of Superman's conflict.
You could view the Justice League of finally giving Superman a break, so that he can spend Christmas with his parents without worrying that it comes at the cost of some people on the other side of the globe losing their lives.
Zod says: "I've discovered his weakness. He actually cares for these Earth people." That empathy, which others mock as sentimental, is the core of Superman's humanity.
For me its the simple things just Superman interacting with the kids and people...All Star Superman depict the best of him
me too! but Snyder fans think that its boring and stupid.
@@Keolas_multiverse Thats because they lack empathy and cant image a person with as much empathy as Superman
There will always be writers who want to destroy what they don't understand, and there are story arcs that show us how small the writer's imagination really is when Superman is forced to behave in an antithetical way to his actual character. Thankfully, there are those story tellers who do understand a good character when they exist. It's up to the real fans to keep the real characters alive, and videos like this are an example of that
Superman is the Godfather of all things superhero related. You think of anyone with a cape who can fly, even kids today would say its Superman. He's DC's mascot boy and will continue to be for all things superheroes. Hope, peace and justice. Thats what being a superhero is all about and Superman is the embodiment of all that. He deserves a lot more respect.
A great Superman video that does a great job explaining how and why Superman is so important to the world. Nice use of Superman vs the elite and its comic book counterpart to show why Superman is the hero he is and why he doesn't and can't cross the line. Also, nice use of the DCAU Superman in this video. I also like the inclusion of All Star Superman, especially when Superman saves Reagan from committing suicide. To me, Superman is, was, and will always be the greatest superhero of all time and my favorite superhero.
I’ve always said that with Superman it’s not the Super that’s important, but the Man. We don’t love him for his powers, we love him for the man he chooses to be. I feel like people who say he’s boring just because of his powers miss the point completely.
Just want to say thank you for making this. Superman’s always been my favourite for the exact reasons I’m seeing you point out. I’m grateful for you ❤👌💫
Honestly, superman is the best ideal of a hero. He is a man with god like power but uses them for good. When lex luthor says that superman hasnt worked for his powers, he is completely wrong as superman has to constantly maintain himself so he doesnt destroy the world
I also love that even though superman has god like power, he is still a man, he's as fallible as the rest of us, and we have seen that, but superman strives for making the best action in every situation due to his values that his very human parents instilled in him
This is my first time watching your channel. I'm a 44yr old guy who's been a Superman fan ever since I was kid. When I was 5, my dad took me to the movies to see Superman 3. Most people view 3 as a flop, but I absolutely love it. It's the 1st movie I ever went too, and sparked a love for the Man of Steel that has endured throughout my entire life. My parents adopted me when I was 3 days old. As a kid I would brag about being adopted because Superman was adopted. I have been trying to explain Supermans awesomeness for years. Your video nails it! The world most definitely needs Superman now more than ever. I can not express how much I love Superman into words. He is everything that I wish I could be and so much more. Every movie, comic, animated feature... I lovem all. Even Superman 4. I really, really, really like Superman Returns! Henry Cavils Superman is almost as good as Reeves. Honestly... Reeves and Cavil are tied. Of course thats my opinion. Cavils departure from Superman breaks my heart. Thank you for this video. I subscribed to your channel and I'm looking forward to watching more of your content. I know people who like Superman, but there's only a few who love him. He is the perfect superhero. Or as perfect as a superhero can be. It's nice to see that someone else loves him for all the same reasons that I do... Not just because he's OP. Your video rocks. I sincerely mean that. I actually like Supermans last orgin movie. As I said, I am adopted. I know what it feels like to be different. Not to fit in. In Man of Steel, Superman has a really hard time figuring out who he is. It's something I can really relate too, and why I like the movie. Of course Superman is my favorite superhero, so I am bias. When Superman breaks Zods neck... Watching the hurt on his face as he comes to terms with that decision gives me cold chills every time. It's why I really like Cavil in the role. I can understand why people don't agree with the movie. I do wish more people liked it. At least Angry Joe likes it. I'll say it one more time. Thank you so much for putting into a video what I've been trying to express for years. I appreciate it more than you could imagine.
"Humans need stories to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape." - DEATH, Hogfather by Terry Prachet.
Superman is a damn good story.
0:00 - 3:58 Intro 💆
4:17 Ideology and impact 🧗
15:02 - 24:57 How heroes win 🌠
24:59 - 47:23 Real symbolism in media ⚖️
47:27 *SUPER outro* 🦸
The thing about superman is, if he had no powers, he'd still do everything he could to help those in need. Superman isn't "realistic" he's an ideal. That which we should strive to be.
I think Superman himself said it best:
Clark Kent is who I am, Superman is what I can do
You and Implicitly Pretentious should team up.
If Superman was such a boring character, how come he survived both the 1950’s and the 1990’s longer than other characters of his kind plus launch the comic book genre as a cinematic goldmine plus have a TV series that lasted nearly a decade and a cartoon that truly gave birth to the beloved DCAU as we know it?
Batman nearly got the boot in the Silver Age before they gave him the yellow bat emblem and anything goes with Wonder Woman as far as what is she supposed to be according to the writer of the day. Superman for the most part never faced much danger of cancellation, any missteps taken with him stand out a mile since they’re trying to reinvent the wheel instead of giving it a new set of tires, the bad runs don’t last too long and he attracts great imaginative talents when they put their minds to it.
I’m a huge Batman and spider man fan. I didn’t like Superman when I was younger but l did the research to understand why people shows fan’s love him. I’ve grown so much respect for the character. I’m excited to see what Gunn does with Superman legacy.
To add to what I previously wrote, a very solid second thing that Hollywood needs to stop doing is making Superman's entire life revolve around. Lois. Yes, Lois is his love interest. Yes, Lois is an important character in his life, but it doesn't completely define him. Lois is there to enrich his character, not the sole reason he exists. It's so goddamn frustrating. Both the Donner and the Schneider versions of Superman fell into this goddamn problem and I think that's the reason why people think he's like a boy scout or a lap dog as opposed to Batman starts out working alone but works with other people later on. But Batman is still his own character outside of Robin and Batgirl and commissioner Gordon. They need to do that with this new Superman. In fact, I would love to see a story where Clark thinks Lois is dead, but her death actually pushes him to do. The more good thing that he thought would be impossible for himself to do and that's the type of thing I want to see from Lois. Not that she should die, but as an example of her enriching Clark's character not his only purpose to live.
Thank you. Writers making Superman simp over Lois Lane like she is the only reason he is a good person. He cares for Lois but he is still Superman regardless of being with her or not. Writers in 2010s tarnished Superman’s reputation and perception to people.
Whenever I imagine batman, Its always Kevin's voice that comes to my head. R.I.P legend, and thanks for making my childhood so awesome!
My Aunt is just like Clark Kent. She had all the resources to live a good life but still never gives up on us. My mom is divorced and ill, My uncle is mentally unstable and I am still studying. I love Superman because despite all the powers to live like a God, He chooses to to good and being good is extremely hard. It takes godlike heartly strength to see and continuously doing good.
I became a Superman fan in 1978, watching Christopher Reeve soar. I read the comics for years and from time to time, still do. He is very badly understood, what really makes him super is that he uses his powers selflessly to help others - because no human with those powers would do so.
Superman isnt about might making right, he's about right making might - he's powerful because he does the right thing.
I loved the JL animated series, own it on DVD and rewatch it often. "Hereafter" is a great episode.
You coveted the misconceptions about Superman really well:
What people don't understand is that Superman often faces many challenges that his powers cannot overpower and adversaries more powerful than himself, and he faces them anyway.
That's why Superman has always been my favourite hero.
(ps Manchester Black is English, the t shirt is a give away, and his Manchester accent)
These videos honoring what Superman is always make me tear up and feel inspired!
That part in all-star Superman when he helped the girl was too good. Wished it was in the movie.
this a paradox people say he is boring but yet he is without doubt the most well know character
As a child I stayed with batman and as I got older superman made more sense. Superman is an outsider who longs to be in a better safer world. Batman longs for it too. Granted they are clearly products of their environment.
My adventures with Superman is finally doing the character justice, the show is such a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed every episode so far and im looking forward to season 2
Seriously, for the last decade depictions of "Evil Superman" (whether DC's Superman or just expys of him) have probably been more common than the actual, good-guy Superman.
you cut out the part where lex goes to supermans funeral i always loved that line as he admits he's going to miss him too
Real nice video!👍🏿
Superman was always number one in my book ever since my early 90's childhood watching him on my old classic cartoon VHS tape. He was always known as the world's greatest superhero for all the reasons you explained and that's why he's also really the true natural leader of the Justice League.
The problem is cynical people these days just don't know Superman as well as they think and some DC writers these days are not really writing him the right way appeasing Superman haters making him look bad for their money.
I grew up watching the animated Superman series, I loved him as a kid but as I grew up I began to like Superman less for some reason. I’m guessing because I sorta just hopped on the “he’s boring/basic” bandwagon. But only in the last year did I realize just how wrong I was thinking about him like that, there’s a reason I think Superman is the greatest superhero of all time now. Because it’s easy to be pessimistic, and often it can be hard to believe in people and or the world. Nevertheless Superman does, that’s the type of person I hope to be each and every day. To those of you who also believe in that, you aren’t alone
When i was a kid,
My uncle gave my brother and i a VHS tape he had from when he was little,
And it had a collection of classic cartoons on it.
Old warner brothers stuff.
Bugs bunny, mostly.
But one cartoon was a SUPERMAN cartoon.
It was a total trip,
It was a 1940’s animation of clark and lois going somewhere that bird people lived.
Thing went badly, and the bird people attack, and superman saves the day.
It was strange, and left a mark on my imagination.
I never read any of the comics or followed much of the superman lore,
But that 1 cartoon….. man.
Spider-man is my favourite. But i have a soft spot for superman.
(That cartoon i watched as a kid is Superman and the underground world)
I have an old VHS tape like that too!
Due to watching Smallville and reading the comics growing up I've always admired this character, a "god" walking among men can do whatever he wants but chooses to help others, I'd say it even helped me shape the person who I am today and for that, Superman will always have a special place in my heart. Best hero in my book for sure.
Superman is my essense of comic superheroes. He's never insecure, selfish. No desires. Nothing he wanted to achieve. He's completely satisfied with what he's. He never hesitated when death is certain. No psychological issues. He's mature no quirks. Always God like.
Superman was the first super hero i was introduced to as a kid in the 2000s in Nigeria when i would watch the DCAU cartoons and the okd Fleischer cartoons on VHS, and to this day, he is my favorite Super hero and one of the top popular fictional characters in my country❤ I love him cause he is heroic, kind, compassionate, inspiring, inspire of his suffering and flaws and also not a jaded, misanthropic character, as most western "super heroes" have become. These days i tend to buy and read manga cause modern western comics just stopped being good around 2017😢 Man of Steel and the whole DCEU was a disappointment for how it botched Superman in terms of character but i hope with great stuff like the HBO Superman and Lois cartoon, we can get back to more heroic and better super heroes😌👏👏
Superman is the Paragon
By all accounts, apart from the Flash and Spiderman, my favorite superhero has always been Superman. Like in the 90's, people call him outdated, boring, and other things and practically worship people like the Punisher or straight up villains like the Joker as if they were thinking like Lex. But if stories like Public Enemies or The Elite have taught me anything, it's that it's OK to be optimistic and have dreams to look up to and aspire to reach, much like Spiderman fights to achieve and Flash lives up to. Otherwise we'd end up no better than those we fight against and a hero like Batman who comes off as moody or fighting a hopeless battle wouldn't keep going to make hope happen and smile. But mostly to smile
It’s ironic you mention the Punisher since anti-heroes of his kind, particularly the Dark Age types tend to struggle to evolve and getting with the times including adaptations in newer media while characters Superman and Spider-Man manages to more or less remain nearly identical to their origins amongst the updates. Even with their early selves, everything that they are is all there from the start and the misfires happen when the author forgets them or try to force them into something else.
Great vid, but a few thoughts. Manchester Black is from Manchester England not Australia. Batman in that Justice League episode isn't just in denial, he's promoting a genuine reason to believe he's not dead. Superman's energy wasn't converted, leading him to believe he was missing instead of dead. I'm no Batman superfan but that's the genuine reasoning in the episode. Otherwise really good content, glad to see more people who understand Clark Kent, easily my favorite character in all of fiction.
Quite frankly the video perfectly describes how I feel about Superman being honest here
Rewatching Superman the Animated Series recently made me miss his character a ton.
The evil superman tropes in media have been a bit of an eye roller in recent years (the suicide squad game announcement was my limit)
This video single-handedly tought me what idealism is and it is what I have been following for 2 years now without even knowing the concept. Thank you.
The Superman is more than his powers and alien DNA if Clark were a Metahuman he would still be the Superman we all know and love.
I just want to say: This is an amazing video and I cant wait for you to make more!!!!
A masterpiece video. This is exactly why Superman has been and still is the greatest of them all.
Better than Conan the Barbarian? Superman is ineffective in stopping villains. Conan doesn't have that problem.
Right on! Superman was always known as the world's greatest superhero and he still is. Some people have just forgotten that being so damn cynical these days.
I thought Manchester Black was British, not an Aussie.
@@gentlemushroomthat source made it up,or got confused.
Bro you didn't have to make me cry man I just wanted to watch a video about my favorite hero Superman can't believe this video is better than 99% percent of most videos on UA-cam
Thank you for putting this video together. This very well be my favorite video on Superman that I have ever watched. Phenomenal job.
Ever since I was a kid I loved and admired him. He made me want to be a hero to help people. But you know how fantasies are when you're a kid. You imagine being able to fly around?. Stop the bad guys while at the same time helping them. Showing people a better way through love and compassion through intelligence and understanding empathy as well as heartfelt sympathy. Superman represents the best of all of us. That we need to represent the best of what he is in our everyday lives.
This is genuinely the best UA-cam video I've seen in a long time
After watching the entire video, I felt really god damn emotional at the final part, with the girl on the building. Genuinely I don't know why but the framing just made me almost cry.
I personally relate to iron man's erratic alcoholism and paranoia
Thats the point
Superman vs the elite is the best Superman movie
I’ve always loved Superman. Ever since Christopher reeve. He’s the man every man should hope to be. I’ve wanted them to give him a story where he possibly trains with Batman while using blue kryptonite. Then we’d be able to focus even more on his character. Like with Reeve and all star Superman (the BEST Superman story by the way😂)
Took me years to realize why my father, who liked all sorts of comic heroes, preferred Superman the most. And I’m so glad I realized it now, a symbol like Supes is necessary in this world.
Also, RIP Kevin Conroy 🙏
This was phenomenal! Supes has always been a favorite of mine. It's so great to see someone provide such great context. Keep it up man!
Dude, what an INCREDIBLE video essay. I love and I believe in superman. Made me tear up. Good job.
Excellent video.
I enjoyed the separate segments, with a theme.
One of the greatest Superman videos
Fantastic job!! Superman IS my favorite superhero and you nailed the reason why
You, my friend, gained a subscriber for this video alone. I look forward to exploring your channel more and what may come in the future.
Stumbled on this channel and man its sad to see such a high quality channel be retired.
Also I really like that in the animated series they kept Pa Kent alive, I feel it makes him more faithful to his idea
Superman: The Antidote to Edgy
This must mean you would love the new Superman animated show. It's exactly what a superhero should be and what and who Superman is
Such a great video . I cant even imagine the amount you have put into making this video
What a great video. It's so good to see someone who understands what superheroes stories really mean. Thank you mate. It's important to remind us all what being a good person is all about. And these stories don't really mean much without people who believe in their message. I'm glad to see there are people like us all around the world. As Superman once said "There is a superhero in all of us. We just need the courage to put on the cape."
This is terrific work man, keep working because you've got something great here. I subbed because this video is amazing, keep it up!
As someone who has long considered Superman boring, I respect the hell out of this.
I do still think there is a lot of critiques of superman that go unaddressed here, but unfortunately the real trick is finding someone who is both critical enough (not to be confused with cynical or pessimistic, as is often the case with this discussion) and who really cares that much about the superhero genre to really filter through decade upon decade of content that was originally concieved as mass produced, cheap (literally, cheap to produce and cheap to buy) entertainment.
Unfortunately I'm way too casually invested in the comics and superhero scenes to be up to the task, but it would be awesome to see you go back and forth or just collaborate on a video with someone who's an actually intelligent critic of superman, to try and get the most compelling and complete case for Superman's awesomeness.
I'm really not a fan of him but seeing so many people throughout my life who are, just has me curious about why. And for as casual as I am in these scenes, these stories are still so massively culturally important that they really do deserve well thought-out, well reasoned, and nuanced discussions.