This Superman Story is Extremely Overrated and I Can Prove It

by

Superman boasts some of the finest comic book series ever produced, and while classics like “All-Star Superman” and “Superman: Up in the Sky” are often highlighted, there are other outstanding titles that deserve mention too. For instance, “Superman: Secret Origin” offers a brilliant portrayal of his early years, and epic series like the “Warworld Saga” redefine the character in innovative ways. Generally speaking, when someone praises a Superman story, it’s usually a must-read. Occasionally, though, a highly acclaimed tale might not meet expectations upon closer examination. Today, I aim to demonstrate that the 1986 miniseries “The Man of Steel” falls into this category – a disappointing story despite its initial acclaim.

What is The Man of Steel?

In simple terms, “The Man of Steel” is a six-part series created by John Byrne, which was published after DC Comics’ “Crisis on Infinite Earths” reboot. This series not only introduced a new origin story for Superman, but also laid the foundation for how his tales would be told in the coming years. To make Superman relevant to a new generation and fit the revised continuity, almost every aspect of his character had to be reimagined from scratch. Key changes were made to Superman’s mythos, such as establishing him as the only survivor of Krypton’s destruction, thereby erasing characters like Supergirl and Krypto from existence. Additionally, any reference to Superman’s hero days as Superboy was erased, meaning his connections with the Legion of Super-Heroes were also eliminated.

The series initially depicted Krypton as a cold and impersonal planet. Rather than sending a baby boy away in a rocket as Krypton exploded, Jor-El and Lara placed an artificial incubator containing Kal-El’s fetus into stasis within the ship that would later arrive on Earth. When this spacecraft was eventually discovered by the Kents, Clark was essentially “born” from the spaceship itself. Raised in Smallville unaware of his origins and powers, he didn’t discover his abilities until his final year in high school. Upon learning about his powers, he embarked on a journey to aid others and eventually adopted the Superman persona with the support of his parents. The series explored significant milestones in Superman’s early life, such as encountering Lex Luthor, portrayed here as a businessman instead of a scientist, and Batman. It ended with Superman discovering his alien lineage and embracing his true identity. This comic significantly influenced the Superman legend and benefited the character, but regrettably, it’s not well-crafted itself.

What’s Wrong With The Man of Steel?

In my perspective as a movie critic, while this comic version of Superman isn’t inherently flawed on the surface, it fails to deliver an authentic introduction to the iconic character. Although some elements of reinvention are still applauded today, the alteration of Superboy’s past and other Kryptonian survivors might be too unconventional for many fans.

For instance, the concept of Clark Kent as a gestating fetus until his birth on Earth feels disconnected from my understanding of Superman’s origins. Similarly, the shift that Superman isn’t invincible but rather emits a psychic field to protect his body and clothes is inconsistent with the “Man of Steel” title.

However, these are minor quibbles compared to the fundamental issues I found in the story’s characterization and world-building. The characters and setting feel misrepresented, which undermines the overall appeal of the comic.

One significant transformation brought about by this comic in the Superman lore is presenting Clark Kent as his true self, while Superman is a persona he adopts. However, this portrayal of Clark Kent deviates from typical expectations. Instead of being a meek and well-meaning journalist, Clark is an assertive individual who aggressively pursues what he desires. He exhibits confidence bordering on arrogance, and broods more than Superman should. This characterization isn’t limited to Clark Kent; the entire world in this comic seems shrouded in a cynical perspective. For instance, in the first issue, when Clark reveals his powers to save an experimental spacecraft from crashing, the people react like a hungry mob eager for any piece of him. While it’s natural for Clark to be unsettled by this, he describes their behavior as if they were sharks smelling blood. He developed his Superman disguise out of fear that people would chase him, and while he maintains a secret identity to lead a normal life, this comic portrays the world as ready to devour Superman at any moment. A similar scene occurs in Superman: Secret Origin, but by the end of that series, there’s a scene where the people come to terms with this and find inspiration. In contrast, this comic maintains a consistently pessimistic tone without any uplifting moments.

In the 1980s, The Man of Steel reimagined Superman, yet it fell short in conveying the essence of Superman’s character. It portrayed a Superman devoid of hope for humanity and filled with a relentless sense of obligation instead. There was no sense of joy or optimism associated with this version of Superman, neither for him nor for others. Moreover, it set the stage for numerous subsequent Superman tales, many of which shared this somber, serious tone that doesn’t align well with the Superman we know and love. A Superman story that fails to motivate people to aspire to be better is hardly one of his finest, making The Man of Steel excessively praised in my opinion.

Read More

2025-06-04 06:39