To Embody a Darker Ideal: Justice League Gods and Monsters: Superman #1

The following is my review of Justice League Gods and Monsters: Superman #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

Since his creation 1938, Superman has undergone numerous revisions, retcons, and reboots. Everything from the extent to his powers to the font of the S on his chest has changed. He’s like Madonna, constantly reinventing himself while not completely deviating from his core principles. But unlike Madonna, his principles go beyond making music that hasn’t been relevant since the Clinton Administration.

Superman, regardless of the font he uses or the presence/absence of red underwear, still embodies the ideal of truth, justice, and the American way. These ideals have helped him stay relevant as a superhero from the dark days of the hippie era to the afro-loving 70s to the overly grungy 90s. Superman has always found a place in our world. Even as society has become more jaded by Fox News and reality TV, he’s never deviated significantly as a hero and an ideal.

But what would kind of hero would Superman be if he did deviate from that ideal? Would he still be Superman? Or would he just be a Superman who tries too hard to be like Batman? These are the questions that Justice League Gods and Monsters: Superman #1 tries to answer. They’re questions that nobody has really asked before, but the answers are so compelling that some might feel the urge to party like it’s 1938.

Bruce Timm challenged himself with re-inventing DC’s trinity in a new world with Justice League: Gods and Monsters. It’s one thing to make Batman a vampire, but how does anyone go about reinventing Superman? It’s one thing to remove the red underwear, but it’s quite another to completely revamp his story from scratch and still call him Superman. It would be like trying to reinvent Coca Cola from scratch. Is it even possible at this point? Bruce Timm effectively answers that question with a definitive yes.

Enter Hernan Guerra. He’s not Clark Kent. He’s not Kal-El. He’s not the humble, selfless farm by from America’s heartland. He’s not the virtuous, upstanding hero that smiling children and puppies rally behind either. And yet, he’s still Superman. He still finds a way to make himself worthy of that title. He’s not Hyperion, Goku, or some other character that pretends it isn’t a blatant rip-off. He’s Superman. He lacks a cape and goofy red underwear, but Hernan Guerra proves he’s every bit as worthy of that title as Clark Kent.

The story of Hernan Guerra that unfolds in Justice League Gods and Monsters: Superman #1 contains the core aspects of the Superman mythos. He’s the last survivor of Krypton, he was sent to Earth in a ship, and he was raised by a human family. That’s basic Superman 101 and that’s as far as the similarities go between Hernan Guerra and Clark Kent. From this point forward, their stories diverge in so many meaningful ways. Yet in the end, they both become Superman.

Hernan’s story is told through his adopted sister, Valentina Guerra. Since Clark Kent never had a sibling he grew up with, it offers a unique perspective that offers insight and commentary into Hernan’s journey to becoming Superman. Her voice never becomes overly emphatic like John Madden or excessively detached like Ben Stein. Her love for Hernan shows on many occasions. In many respects, she understands Hernan’s journey better than Hernan himself. This alone makes her the most lovable sister outside of Full House reruns.

This journey covers a lot of ground, going from Hernan’s innocent days as a super-powered kid to his not-so-innocent days as an embittered young adult. But what makes this journey so engaging are the obstacles he faces that Clark Kent never had to deal with. Clark Kent was raised in the mid-west in a small community full of friendly, down-to-Earth people. He could walk down the street and nobody would bother him. That kind of environment might as well be a Father Knows Best re-run on TV Land because for Hernan Guerra, this is not the environment that shaped him.

In addition to being a biological alien, Hernan happens to be the kind of alien that Donald Trump loves to insult in his speeches. His parents are Mexican migrants who live at the very bottom of the social and economic ladder. They’re subject to discrimination, poverty, and outright racism. It’s the kind of path that could just as easily turn him into Lex Luthor instead of Superman, but he never strays too far, nor does he go bald.

At the same time, Hernan establishes early on that he’ll do things that Clark Kent would never do. He lets a plane crash, he insults his mother’s religion, and he fights back when a bunch of stereotypical redneck racists attack him. He won’t always do the right thing, but he never gets to a point where he seems inclined to throw those principles aside. He’s not a Boy Scout, but he’s not Bart Simpson either.

In this sense, the morals his parents and sister instill in him are very influential. It’s not at all unlike the influence the Kents had on Clark. But because of the different circumstances, Hernan becomes a very different kind of Superman. He’ll fight for truth and justice, but he’ll do it his way. And if that clashes with the American way, he couldn't care less.

Hernan Guerra’s evolution into Superman was a lot harder and a lot darker than that of Clark Kent’s. Because of this, he goes about being Superman in a very different way. He’ll use violence. He’ll kill. And even those who complained about the ending to Man of Steel will understand his methods. It won’t make the kind of icon that gets plastered on kids’ lunch boxes, but it will make the kind of icon that gets the job done.

The greatest accomplishment of Justice League Gods and Monsters: Superman #1 isn’t just establishing Hernan Guerra as Superman. It’s establishing the kind of Superman he is. His sister understood it best. The world can be a dark place and sometimes it takes someone who understands that darkness to do something about it. Hernan Guerra understands it in ways Clark Kent never will. Hernan has been subjected to poverty, racism, and Ann Coulter books. This means he might not be the Superman we all need, but he will be the Superman that we deserve.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

Establishing Maturity: Superman/Wonder Woman #3

The following is my review of Superman/Wonder Woman #3, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

The romance genre has gotten a bad rap over the years and not just from those who despise Twilight and Hugh Grant movies. And in many ways, that bad rap is well-earned. Romance is a lot like porn in that it creates an idealized and utterly unrealistic narrative. In the same way porn stars distort sex for entertainment, romance distorts relationships. It's every bit the fantasy, making it seem as though any successful relationship needs to have the kind of passion that would inspire Shakespeare himself.

Superman has been entrenched in that narrative for nearly his entire existence. His relationship with Lois Lane was once held up as the ideal. This man who has enough power in his pinkie toe to level a mountain is completely dedicated to a woman who is painfully human. The love they shared was so ideal that it never really had to go through a maturation process. The only obstacle Superman ever faced with Lois Lane was keeping his secret identity from her and protecting her when she got into trouble. That may make for an epic love story in a James Cameron movie, but the reason it's epic is because it lacks all those finer details that go into making a strong relationship.

Conversely, those finer details have been much more prominent as DC has developed the budding romance between Superman and Wonder Woman. And those details are at the core of Superman/Wonder Woman #3. Wonder Woman is not Lois Lane. She's not even mortal. Yet at times she seems far more human in her struggles to make her relationship with Superman work. And for once Superman is the one who seems like the one who needs saving because he still sees the relationship from an immature perspective. It basically turns the traditional approach to Superman's love live upside down and inside out. Yet it makes his relationship with Wonder Woman more compelling and believable. It's basically the anti-Twilight.

The challenges they have been facing in this series aren't necessarily different from those Superman would face with Lois or even what Wonder Woman would face with Steve Trevor. Someone or something has been allowing creatures from the Phantom Zone to enter their world and these are the kinds of creatures that only living demigods like Superman and Wonder Woman are equipped to handle. But in trying to handle creatures like Doomsday, it provides a difficult yet strikingly realistic challenge to their relationship. And the appearance of General Zod in this issue only complicates that challenge. If that weren't enough, Superman's friend and co-worker, Cat Grant, exposes their relationship to the world. It creates the kind of strain that is second only to kryptonite, but it creates a unique undertone.

The most critical moments in this story had little to do with Zod. In fact, Zod was remarkably civil compared to the egotistical, violence prone villain he was in Superman: Man of Steel. His presence only added to a conflict that began in the first issue with this series when Doomsday showed up. In being with Superman, Wonder Woman now has to deal with his problems. Conversely, he has to deal with hers, which includes dealing with the gods that happen to be her family. While Wonder Woman shows that she is willing to let him into her world, Superman is more reluctant. It doesn't matter to him that his significant other is powerful enough to take a punch from Doomsday. He still fears for her safety if he lets his problems become hers. For some men, that's just an excuse to avoid splurging on an engagement ring. But for Superman, it's a legitimate concern.

While he has had these concerns with Lois Lane in the past, they've never been explored beyond him just protecting her. As this story plays out, the growth and maturation of his relationship with Wonder Woman is the driving force of the story. It's not a case of love at first sight and it's not a case of emulating every Beatles song ever written. Superman is learning to share his life with Wonder Woman. Even Batman makes it a point to tell him that he can't put up walls between his problems and hers. And even Superman knows there's no arguing with Batman.

And that's what makes the relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman such a compelling narrative compared to other relationships. It doesn't rely on decades of history or the unrealistic ideals depicted in nearly every Disney movie. It's a work-in-progress that is growing as these two characters grow. The first kiss they shared in Justice League #12 didn't automatically make them DC's power couple. It's the process of them learning to be part of each others' lives that makes their relationship both a solid romance and one that's actually believable. The fact that they have superpowers is almost secondary, which for Superman and Wonder Woman is saying a lot.

While the romantic themes have been at the core of this series since it began, the parts of the story involving Zod, the Phantom Zone, and Cat Grant are somewhat glossed over. And it's not just because Zod was uncharacteristically polite when he encountered Superman. The animosity between him and Superman hasn't been established yet in DC's New 52. The issue here is that flow of the plot from Doomsday's appearance to Zod's appearance isn't very concise. And Cat Grant exposing Superman and Wonder Woman's relationship to the world feels like it was just pasted into the story without generating much of a reaction.

In many ways Superman/Wonder Woman #3 sets up the next set of challenges for Superman and Wonder Woman. However, it doesn't do so in a way that flows evenly. It's like a garden hose with a few holes in it. But this issue succeeded in establishing the dynamics between Superman and Wonder Woman. This is not like their respective relationships with Lois Lane and Steve Trevor. This is a relationship that is maturing. It's not an ideal romance and would probably make a boring romantic comedy. However, that's exactly why it's so compelling and why the relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman has the kind of depth that makes it stronger than any relationship that doesn't involve vampires.

Final Score: 7 out of 10

Superman: Man of Steel REVIEW - A Bold (and Awesome) New Superman

For the past 25 years, the world of comics and movies have given a giant middle finger to heroes in favor of the constantly lactating tit that is the anti-hero. The ideals and morals of true heroes like Superman have been deemed "uncool" by the Illuminati or some cynical shit like that and now people love Batman, Wolverine, Iron Man, X-men, and Watchmen. These anti-heroes are not the kind of people that we would want to associate with in real life. These are not the kind of people that we teach our kids to be like. Yeah, they may save the day, but they also drink heavily, lust after married women, break the law, kill people, and generally act like complete assholes.

In fact, it's gotten to the point where I can count all the true heroes on one hand. There's Superman. There's Goku. There's Optimus Prime from Transformers. But that's it. I would include Captain America in that group, but after events like Avengers vs. X-men and Civil War he doesn't deserve to be in that category anymore. Hell, he doesn't even deserve to buff the dings out of Optimus Prime's ass. That's why I was so excited to see a new Superman movie. It's not that I'm burned out on anti-heroes. But I think there's still a place for real heroes in this world where being good, upstanding, and moral is now "uncool" for some reason and being a fucking asshole is a virtue. And if the S on Superman's chest is supposed to stand for hope, then this movie does a great job of reminding people of that hope.

Let me get this out of the way first. Superman: Man of Steel is awesome. It is by far the most awesome movie I have seen this year. It's better than Iron Man 3. Hell, it's better than the first two Iron Man movies, the Green Lantern movie, the Captain America movie, the Thor movie, and every single X-men movie (although that may not be saying much since all those movies sucked). The only movie that is on the same level is Avengers and this movie is awesome for the same reasons that Avengers is awesome.

Superman: Man of Steel doesn't try to reinvent Superman's 75-year-old story. Watching this movie, you will see the same story that people have known for nearly a century. But this movie has a number of changes. The reason Krypton failed is somewhat different, but similar. The life of Clark Kent growing up in Smallville is somewhat different, but similar. The big threat posed by General Zod is somewhat different, but similar. Seeing a pattern here? Director Zack Snyder walked a fine line between changing Superman and respecting the source material. Some of those changes are really trivial. Perry White is black, played by Morpheus himself, Lawrence Fishburne. Jimmy Olson had a sex change and is now Jenny Olson. But some changes are a lot more substantive.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

The biggest change has to do with Lois Lane. She's not just Superman's love interest if you can believe that. She's not just his human foil either. Lois Lane in this movie has more balls than Wolverine had in any of the X-men movies (again, not saying much). She also figures out who Superman is very early on. He never had to keep his identity from her. She knows because...well, she's a damn good reporter. And good reporters figure this sort of shit out. In fact, it makes you think that Lois Lane was completely inept at her job for not figuring it out sooner. But this shows that she's both resourceful and skilled, someone who you actually feel is worthy of Superman's love. No one else reaches out to him the way Lois does. Also, he didn't knock her up and leave the planet. Sorry, I just had to throw in another big fuck you to Bryan Singer.

Go back to blowing Joel Shumacher.

Beyond Lois, another big change is Krypton itself. Superman isn't exactly the last of his kind in this movie. We already knew from the trailers that General Zod was the big bad guy and not Lex fucking Luthor this time (although Lexcorp is mentioned in an easter egg). But Zod also had an army of fellow Kryptonian exiles that were all loyal to him and dedicated to beating Superman to a pulp. It was actually the first time in a Superman movie where he looked truly overwhelmed. And he was. He actually couldn't defeat them without help from the human race.

And this is the biggest and best change to the Superman mythos. Superman himself is not all power. He's not the one that comes in and saves the day in this movie. He actually teams up with the human race. Hell, even the military folks help him. Yeah, they act like assholes at first, but without them the world becomes Zod's personal toilet. Both the military and Lois Lane are instrumental in saving the world. And the point isn't just that Superman is powerful enough to save the day. The point is that Superman will always make the right decision, even when it's the hard decision. And that's who Superman is supposed to be.

This was still a dick move, but Superman didn't hold it against them.

Beyond just the changes, this movie is very nicely detailed. The motivations and emotions are thoroughly vetted of not just Superman, but all the characters. General Zod is not just a tyrannical douche in this movie. He wants to restore the home he lost. He's a proud Kryptonian. That's not inherently evil unless you bring Nazi metaphors into the mix. And the reason why Krypton as a planet failed is thoroughly vetted too. It's not the same as it was in previous movies or in the comics, but it shows an attention to detail that you don't always see in a comic book movie. And yes, I'm looking at YOU the Dark Knight Rises.

There details extend to some flashbacks of Superman's childhood. It's not exactly like Smallville, but it once again shows that the Kent's are the reason why Superman is who he is. There were some truly emotional moments where Superman learned from his parents the importance of doing the right thing and making hard choices. That all played out later in the story and later in his life in a perfectly harmonious way. It makes this movie somewhat long at times, but every minute is gripping and it fits into a coherent whole. In the same way that I value comics that take the time to make sense, I put this movie on a higher pedestal because it makes sense.

Now I get there are criticisms to this movie. Rotten Tomatoes actually rated this movie lower than Superman Returns. But I say fuck you Rotten Tomatoes! Too much CGI? Who gives a shit! Too much Michael Bay style action? Who gives a shit? It's entertaining! It tells a coherent story! Yes, it's a story we're all familiar with. And yes, it's not as campy as previous Superman movies. And why should it be? It's not grim and gritty. The whole movie is centered around hope and doing the right thing. And it succeeds. If you somehow have a problem with that, then you're not being an intelligent critic. You're just being a douche-bag.

Please take this to heart, motherfucker.

Superman: Man of Steel isn't just a reboot. It's a bold new Superman for a new era. This isn't the same world from which Superman was created. It's not 1938. But this movie shows that there is still a place for the ideals that Superman represents. He, like the symbol on his chest, represents hope. Now Jor-El himself said in the movie that humanity would stumble behind that ideal, but in time we would join Superman in achieving wonderful things. That's a very real message that is a lot better than messages from other movies like Batman can get away with anything, Iron Man can built a suit to make up for the fact that he's an asshole, and Wolverine can be a cold-blooded killer yet still be a hero. None of those movies convey that ideal that Superman represents. When you see this movie, you see the hope that is that ideal for which we should all strive. Not all of us can reach it, but its mere presence is like a beacon of hope that is every bit as powerful as Superman himself.

When this movie was over, I walked out of the theater feeling every bit as satisfied as I felt when I walked out of the Avengers movie. Superman: Man of Steel is more than just another superhero movie. It takes a classic story that we all know and love and reminds us of why we love it. Superman: Man of Steel gets a 5 out of 5 and my highest recommendation. I may be an X-men fan and a lifelong Marvel fan, but I'm not afraid to admit that this movie touched me as both a comic book fan and just a fan in general. Superman is and will always be the standard by which all other heroes and anti-heroes are measured. And if you don't like, then you can go kiss his Kryptonian ass. Nuff said!