30 Day Superman Challenge
Day 13: Worst Portrayal Of Superman?
The worst version of Superman I’ve read was FRANK MILLERS take on the character in his infamous “The Dark Knight Returns”. I honestly don’t think Miller can writer a good character at DC that is not Batman and even his take on Batman is questionable. (See All Star Batman for further proof).
Now this is what Miller had to say about Supermana and Batman concerning his take on the characters in TDKR. I respect Frank Miller as an artist and writer but I really dislike most of work on superhero comics in general, I think he works best when he’s doing his own creator owned material.
“Batman’s methods can’t be nice. Much of what he does to criminals is staged like a horror movie. He’s the hero who acts like a villain - the epitome of the Dionysian hero, just as Superman - the Appollonian hero. In Christian terms, Batman commits evil to fight evil. And the whole problem with Batman is that he makes no compromises along the way. When he comes out of retirement he acts exactly as he did before. Except he’s a bit less patient now because he’s only got a certain amount of time left. The central conflict is the world versus Batman.
I stress that Superman and Batman are enemies, and that Superman and Batman have been enemies for decades. They’ve never liked each other. Batman has tremendous contempt for Superman because he’s such a “good boy,” because he takes orders, from the President, among other people. Superman is something of a federal agent. And Superman, frankly, is scared of Batman. Because Batman represents to a certain extent, his own dark side. Which Superman doesn’t want to look at. They imply completely different points of view. Superman implies a benevolent world - Batman implies a malevolent world. I cannot see two personalities like that getting along, acting friendly.”
I just don’t agree with Supes becoming such a stale and boring character, being turned into a simple government tool is just not Superman in my opinion. Other writers have done this with the character and I don’t like those version either.
To me Superman is a man of morals and he has a certain set of codes and eithics he follows, that does not mean he will blindly follow whatever the President says or what anyone says for that matter. Superman and Batman may not get agree on everything but that does not make them bitter enemies.
I hate this image below, it represents everything I hate about current comics of superheroes fighting each other. This is the image that started the current Batman wins all the time bullshit and the current Batman> Superman when it should be Batman and Superman are two sides of the same coin, best friends not enemies trying to kill each other.
So yeah, Fuck Frank Millers take on Superman, Fuck The Dark Knight Returns and almost everything it represents. I also hate how he shoehorns in his political views into these comics, keep your politics to yourself when it comes these characters.
