Michael Breakfield of Lone Star Comics in Arlington, Texas read Steve Bennett's column regarding the upcoming Superman movie (see "Confessions of a Comic Book Guy--Go Ahead, Tug On Superman's Cape") and writes in to offer his thoughts on the subject.
Recently I read online a comment by a fellow comics dealer concerning rumors about the upcoming Superman movie. He said, and I quote, "The problem with the character is the costume. There's no way you can justify it; no context you can put in where it makes any sense; no reason why anyone would ever wear it. Maybe it's time we stop kidding ourselves and go ahead and have the guy in the comics start wearing a black t-shirt with an 'S' shield insignia and a red hoodie."
Well, while I usually agree with a lot of the points of view this particular dealer champions, this is definitely not one of them. Am I the only person that remembers Superman: The Movie starring the quintessential Superman actor Christopher Reeve? He stood on the Big Screen unapologetically in the best translation of the character to the live action medium ever. The costume was instantly recognizable. Bright stark colors of red, blue, and yellow and guess what, it worked. We've been watching the version of Superman said comics dealer describes for the last ten years. It's called Smallville. Why carry that same formula over to the Big Screen? We've seen it already.
I just don't understand why it's so hard for Hollywood to put together a Superman movie. There are literally thousands of comics, books, and graphic novels worth of stories and adventures to choose from. Why must Hollywood always try to reinvent the wheel? There's a reason why a character like Superman has been around for over seven decades. He survived the World War II paper recycle bins, the Seduction of the Innocent scare, the Vietnam era, and the Dark Knight Returns deconstruction. He survived Doomsday, marriage, and three Crises (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis). There's a reason why this character endures. It's because he stands for something. He isn't just some guy playing dress up and beating up other guys playing dress up. Superman stands for truth, justice, and the American way. And while some may snicker at such a concept, there was a time when that actually meant something. And it does mean something to Superman.
Not to get off on a rant here, but he represents an example, which others can strive to be like. No matter what a person's race, skin color, political or religious affiliation, Superman is here to protect everyone. He's an icon and a role model. And, by golly, his darn costume does not need to be changed to fit the cynical attitudes of a generation of moviegoers that could care less anyway. Instead of bringing Superman down to meet their lowered standards, present the Man of Steel in all his glory and challenge those cynics to rise to his lofty standards of a better world for a better tomorrow.
And if none of that makes any sense, how about this--he wears the costume because guess what, he's a super hero!
Anyway, I hope my fellow comics dealer was being a little sarcastic in his comments and that I just didn't get that from the written word. Because I'm here to tell you, if there is a Superman movie where Superman doesn't wear his iconic costume and he's just some emo, angst-ridden twenty-something struggling with his obligation to use his powers for good, then that is a Superman movie I have no interest in seeing. Maybe I'm in the minority, but if that's what the majority wants, then I weep for the future of comics.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.
