Batman and Superman
Those who of know my affinity for the Batman might be wondering why the title isn't "Batman versus Superman." Truth be told, I don't really dislike the 'ol boy scout, and I guess this entry would be to expound on how I see these comic icons in their respective personas and what they might actually represent. Prepare for geek talk! if not...then just stop reading, haha.
The way I see it, Superman will always be everybody's hero, or at least starts out that way. He's the guy who could do it all (although technically he's not a "guy", he's really an alien from outer space...but you know what I mean). And he does do it all, from saving a cat stuck up a tree to fighting interstellar bad ass aliens and saving the day. He hardly breaks a sweat, never let's anyone down, and he never manages to offend the ladies, prepubescent kids and old folk. And more importantly, he never loses. Sure there's the occasional drama of seemingly dying or losing a loved one, but that never really happens. So for the most part, the facts that surround superman from the day he was created still hold true till today. No dead relatives, no dead wife, no dead officemates. Heck, for being the most powerful being in his universe, it's kinda odd that even he's arch enemy is still alive. That also shows just how nice he is.
Well, maybe "nice" is not a fair word. I don't intend to imply that he doesn't actually struggle with some of the more testing decisions he has to make. Yes Superman is a nice guy, but that's not why Luthor is still alive. He's alive because Superman's true virtue of steel is found in his principles. Luckily for Luthor, the Man of Steel is a believer of life and it's sacredness. That is the one ideal that he and Batman have always and will always share- that they will never take a life.
The problem with Superman in the eyes of most people is that he is too darn consistent. He is too resilient. It is easy to scream accusations of him being one-dimensional as a character. But all it really is, is that they no longer want to believe in their childhood heroes. Because fact of the matter is, they don't grow up to be them.
People want to see good men break. I guess simply because men are mostly made of broken parts. People don't want to know that there are giants that walk amongst them, or even hear of the idea. A lot of people might think that they actually hope for good people or persons, but I think they only desire this on a superficial level; on a level that would make us feel comfortable every now and then that humanity is a good thing afterall. Of course, everyone looks for good men too when they need of help. Of course, what a relief it is to have them then. But to really have them around, and cast our shadows against them, I don't think anyone would be too happy about that for that too long. All I know is, at some point in our history, there once lived a perfect man, and they ended up nailing him to a cross.
Anyway I'm veering off course...
The problem of being Superman ( I imagine) is probably the utter loneliness you must feel. Everyone eventually doubts what you really are, most would expect you to fail at some point just to ease their hurt egos, and maybe no one would ever really know how hard it is to stay blameless and true. It is a long and lonely battle, the life a virtuous man.
Not everyone gets a fairytale life, if any at all. And certainly that is the case for Batman. It's not so difficult to see his appeal. An epitome of discipline and will, bourne out of an incident of crime. He is the peak of human ability both physically and intellectually. He is a loner, therefore someone who's made himself free and unanswerable to no one. How many middle-aged men break down on just realizing they are slaves to their work and to wives?
Now Batman is more of a grown-up's superhero. Not that kids don't like him, coz they do (but more for his car and gadgets...and maybe the babes). Now "nice" is not a word you can use with him, but he is indeed a force of good. But he is a dark entity, full of hate and sorrow. Yet out of it is a resolve to fight, to have some semblance of justice in this world and to protect others from a fate such as his. He is the victim turned protector, the mortal champion. Superman is someone who hides in plain sight with a collared shirt and glasses, his true strength and character hidden by a meek exterior. Something I imagine that young men or even women might want to imagine; that they really are beneath whatever exterior, a strong and dangerous people. But with Batman, the transformation and secrecy is on a whole new level entirely. As a stoic, dark and distant individual, his virtue is that he is a man that actually cares. I guess people would like that idea. Despite their crassness and their faults, they actually are people who care. Superman hides his identity, but the Batman hides his true goodness.
....
"We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique." - Benjamin Jowett
Those who of know my affinity for the Batman might be wondering why the title isn't "Batman versus Superman." Truth be told, I don't really dislike the 'ol boy scout, and I guess this entry would be to expound on how I see these comic icons in their respective personas and what they might actually represent. Prepare for geek talk! if not...then just stop reading, haha.
The way I see it, Superman will always be everybody's hero, or at least starts out that way. He's the guy who could do it all (although technically he's not a "guy", he's really an alien from outer space...but you know what I mean). And he does do it all, from saving a cat stuck up a tree to fighting interstellar bad ass aliens and saving the day. He hardly breaks a sweat, never let's anyone down, and he never manages to offend the ladies, prepubescent kids and old folk. And more importantly, he never loses. Sure there's the occasional drama of seemingly dying or losing a loved one, but that never really happens. So for the most part, the facts that surround superman from the day he was created still hold true till today. No dead relatives, no dead wife, no dead officemates. Heck, for being the most powerful being in his universe, it's kinda odd that even he's arch enemy is still alive. That also shows just how nice he is.
Well, maybe "nice" is not a fair word. I don't intend to imply that he doesn't actually struggle with some of the more testing decisions he has to make. Yes Superman is a nice guy, but that's not why Luthor is still alive. He's alive because Superman's true virtue of steel is found in his principles. Luckily for Luthor, the Man of Steel is a believer of life and it's sacredness. That is the one ideal that he and Batman have always and will always share- that they will never take a life.
The problem with Superman in the eyes of most people is that he is too darn consistent. He is too resilient. It is easy to scream accusations of him being one-dimensional as a character. But all it really is, is that they no longer want to believe in their childhood heroes. Because fact of the matter is, they don't grow up to be them.
People want to see good men break. I guess simply because men are mostly made of broken parts. People don't want to know that there are giants that walk amongst them, or even hear of the idea. A lot of people might think that they actually hope for good people or persons, but I think they only desire this on a superficial level; on a level that would make us feel comfortable every now and then that humanity is a good thing afterall. Of course, everyone looks for good men too when they need of help. Of course, what a relief it is to have them then. But to really have them around, and cast our shadows against them, I don't think anyone would be too happy about that for that too long. All I know is, at some point in our history, there once lived a perfect man, and they ended up nailing him to a cross.
Anyway I'm veering off course...
The problem of being Superman ( I imagine) is probably the utter loneliness you must feel. Everyone eventually doubts what you really are, most would expect you to fail at some point just to ease their hurt egos, and maybe no one would ever really know how hard it is to stay blameless and true. It is a long and lonely battle, the life a virtuous man.
Not everyone gets a fairytale life, if any at all. And certainly that is the case for Batman. It's not so difficult to see his appeal. An epitome of discipline and will, bourne out of an incident of crime. He is the peak of human ability both physically and intellectually. He is a loner, therefore someone who's made himself free and unanswerable to no one. How many middle-aged men break down on just realizing they are slaves to their work and to wives?
Now Batman is more of a grown-up's superhero. Not that kids don't like him, coz they do (but more for his car and gadgets...and maybe the babes). Now "nice" is not a word you can use with him, but he is indeed a force of good. But he is a dark entity, full of hate and sorrow. Yet out of it is a resolve to fight, to have some semblance of justice in this world and to protect others from a fate such as his. He is the victim turned protector, the mortal champion. Superman is someone who hides in plain sight with a collared shirt and glasses, his true strength and character hidden by a meek exterior. Something I imagine that young men or even women might want to imagine; that they really are beneath whatever exterior, a strong and dangerous people. But with Batman, the transformation and secrecy is on a whole new level entirely. As a stoic, dark and distant individual, his virtue is that he is a man that actually cares. I guess people would like that idea. Despite their crassness and their faults, they actually are people who care. Superman hides his identity, but the Batman hides his true goodness.
....
"We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique." - Benjamin Jowett
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