There have been many adaptations of Superman in other media over the past 86 years. With so many great figures from comics left untouched, fans can be forgiven for thinking there are enough Superman stories. Because of his invulnerability, strength and other godlike powers, many fans and professional storytellers think he’s a “weak” character. Some people think morally conflicted anti-heroes are both more interesting and more “mature” than a god-like alien who is everyone’s friend. Yet, scanning news headlines or just a quick look out the window reveals why the world needs Superman now more than ever.
The Moral Purity In Superman Stories Is the Character’s Greatest Strength
Superman Works Best When He Is Portrayed as Everyone’s ‘Friend’
One sign that Kal-El is still culturally relevant is that James Gunn and Warner Bros. plan to launch their new DC Universe with Superman in 2025. Whether fans loved or hated Henry Cavill in the role, they are curious about what kind of Superman David Corenswet will be. Most adaptations before Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe stuck to the notion that Clark Kent is big, nerdy “Boy Scout.” Arguably, he was that good in the DCEU, too, but he was just a Superman for a different kind of America. In that adaptation, he lost control of his costumed identity, but Clark Kent represented his moral core.
“All this time I’ve been living my life the way my father saw it. Righting wrongs for a ghost, thinking I’m here to do good. Superman was never real. Just the dream of a farmer from Kansas.” — Superman to Lois Lane in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
The rest of the actors who played Superman in live action and animation were given a more traditional character to play with. Just as Cavill’s Superman was reflective of its time, so were the Superman adaptations from the 20th Century to the present. Staying faithful to Superman’s core decency is why even the 1948 film serial holds up better than others released around that time. What society considers “good” changes with time. Whether he’s played by Kirk Alyn or Henry Cavill, Superman should always be above that standard.
In the 1940s, the Superman radio show did an anti-KKK story. While it’s unclear how that production affected the adults of the time, its basic message of tolerance surely reached some of the kids it was made for. Despite the societal advances made over the past 80 years, America can still be an intolerant and divided country. A modern allegorical story like “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” featuring an aggressively compassionate and empathetic Superman could do some real-world good. When people’s hearts are closed off by bias and anger, fiction can burst those walls like George Reeves did in Adventures of Superman.
People Who Think Superman Is Better When He’s Bad Are Wrong
Storytellers Who Say His Goodness Is ‘Boring’ Reveal Their Own Weakness
After the failure of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, the character vanished from the big screen for 20 years. There were attempts to revive the franchise, like Superman Lives, that never happened. In the 1980s and 1990s, the idea of what made a “hero” changed in ways that made storytellers and studio executives alike think that Superman was no longer relevant. This idea was underscored for Warner Bros. when audiences rejected Joel Schumacher’s light, campy Batman films. While seeing how dark The Dark Knight can go is fine for that character, Superman is the “yang” to Batman’s “yin.”
Some believe Superman’s powers and morality are obstacles to the kind of conflict needed for good drama. Sure, it’s a little “easier” to tell a story with a morally conflicted central character that has more than one weakness. Another argument is that such moral certainty is inauthentic and/or an antiquated idea in an increasingly complicated world. The CW series Superman & Lois, however, dispels that notion. A traditional Man of Steel not only works in a modern setting, it makes the character even more inspirational.
“I love the idea of Superman going on a journey… [and] having to reconcile his morality, reconcile his place on Earth, reconcile his love affair with Lois and how that affects… the way he relates to humanity.” — Zack Snyder in an interview.
From DC Elseworlds’ series like Kingdom Come and Injustice: Gods Among Us, to independent stories like Brightburn or The Boys all feature a “bad” Superman. Had Zack Snyder’s DCEU continued, Lois Lane would’ve died, Clark Kent would’ve succumbed to Anti-Life and brought about the “Knightmare” world. While these stories are entertaining enough, restraint, kindness and his sense of justice are what set Superman apart. Stories about using power to abuse public trust and seize control can be found in both fiction and nonfiction. Superman remains one of the most recognizable characters in the world because he tempers his power with his morality.
Clark’s Superpowers Aren’t the Obstacles Some People Think They Are
Superman’s Abilities Demand More Creative Conflict and Higher Stakes
When it comes to setting the stakes in a story, the most common thing is the risk of death or injury. Especially in a visual medium, the conflict between a hero and villain is supposed to get physical. This is why some believe Superman’s array of powers get in the way of that. Even when he dies, he almost always comes back to life after getting a bit of sun. His strength and durability are such that most people have no chance of beating him in a fight. Because he’s the most powerful being in the world (or universe), his restraint, lack of ego and insecurity means that much more. Still, like with his personality, the solution to the “problem” with his powers is creativity.
Superman’s Most Common Powers
Flight
Super-strength
Invulnerability
Heat Vision
X-Ray Vision
Telescopic Vision
Microscopic Vision
Frost/Gale Force Breath
Super-hearing
Super-speed
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For example, in the 1990s series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the Man of Steel’s powers are transferred to Lois Lane. She takes on a costumed identity, Ultra-Woman, and does the job meant for Superman. A standout moment in that episode is when Lois is overwhelmed by her super-hearing. It’s not like the scene in Man of Steel, where every sound all at once is too much. Rather, right after rescuing folks from a car accident, she hears multiple cries for help from different directions. Even with all those abilities, Superman (or Ultra-Woman) can’t save everyone.
Kryptonite isn’t Superman’s only weakness, because each ability has a downside that serves to create rich drama. Even in the DCEU, Superman’s powers cause him more trouble than not. Because he was outed to the world when Zod arrived, people are either afraid of him or worship him. One thing Zack Snyder got right about Superman is Clark wants neither of these things. Superman: The Movie is one of the character’s most beloved iterations, but lifelong fans rarely realize Christopher Reeve doesn’t throw a single punch in the film.
Against Some Villains Like Darkseid or Doomsday, Superman Can’t Hold Back
If Used Sparingly, These Moments Can Make Kal-El More Relatable
With powerful villains like Doomsday or Darkseid, sometimes Superman doesn’t hold back. This works only if it happens rarely enough to surprise him and the viewers. Superman is never supposed to be arrogant, but he does have confidence in himself. Given his power, Superman is rarely scared the way mortals are. In Superman & Lois, there are a handful of instances where the Superman faces defeat and death. Moments of fear or desperation can heighten the drama, but the true payoff is when he overcomes those feelings.
Perhaps the most controversial thing in Man of Steel was the battle with Zod. Not only did it nearly destroy Metropolis, Zod forced Kal-El to kill him. While the cost of this act is the creation of Doomsday and Superman’s own death, the personal toll it took on Clark is mostly ignored. When Superman executed Zod in the comics, he was so ravaged by guilt he exiled himself from Earth. Just like his victories, his defeats must be both tied to his powers and his emotions.
Superman doesn’t have to be perfect or infallible. He can make mistakes like anyone else. The real drama of these moments comes from how he reacts to those failures. While making him more relatable, working through failure isn’t what makes Superman inspirational. The Man of Tomorrow stays in fans’ hearts because, with all his power, he remains kind, fair and — most importantly — prioritizes the preservation of life. When the real world is troubling, confusing and scary, the world needs Superman more than ever.
