Superman versus Batman

With the huge campaign promoting the return of Superman to the big screen next week, fans are hoping for a 2-part victory – a proper, successful movie version of the last son of Krypton and the subsequent JUSTICE LEAGUE movie which would finally provide DC Comics with their answer to the wildly successful rivals, Marvel’s THE AVENGERS.

So I was chatting with a couple friends and they were saying that they think Superman will be a dud. Superman, they said, represents ideals and values from a different time. Truth, Justice and the American Way. And in the post-9/11 world, it was Batman – the Dark Knight – who better captured the current mood of the country and the world – cynical, fatalistic, nihilistic.

And if you take this a step further, Superman and his god-like qualities and the practically Biblical story – Jor-El sends his only son to save Humankind – hits the screens right when people are more and more vocal about being atheists?

I’m not sure. All the MAN OF STEEL promos feature Christopher Nolan’s name – prominently promoted – hoping that some of that DARK KNIGHT box office magic rubs off on SUPERMAN. And when we look back at when Superman first appeared – in 1938 – it was during the Depression and the worldwide churn just before World War II. Times were pretty dark then too.

Everyone needs something to hope for, aspire to. I recently watched SUPERMAN RETURNS and was a little bored because the story-telling wasn’t particularly motivating. And let’s not forget that SMALLVILLE has kept the Superman torch burning bright for 10 years.

Here’s hoping that MAN OF STEEL is a good movie. Henry Cavill is a wonderful actor and looks the part. Zack Snyder can make good movies – check out 300 or his remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD.

ps
I originally wanted to blog a big thank you to everyone who’s bought the CHRISTIAN BALE biography. In the past 30 days, the book has won Best Biography by the Indie Excellence Awards, and was a finalist for Best Biography by the Indie Book Awards. As my first published book, I can’t ask for a greater reception than that! Thank you, all! I hope you stay turned for the next books!:)