Is the New Superman a Hipster??

Superman has a new look, and the redrawn Man of Steel now more closely resembles a a vampiric Robert Pattinson or a sulky member of My Chemical Romance than a hunky matinee idol. He now has a decidedly more emo vibe -- pale, leaner, and brooding.

The Superhero Universe seems to have been increasingly influenced by what could be termed the "Twilight Effect," as Wonder Woman's "bustier and hotpants" were traded out for a blue biker jacket and a trendy new hair style...the new Man of Steel "wears hoodies" and "has smoldering eyes"; and as Clark Kent, he wears low-cut pants and skinny ties. So basically Superman has turned into a full-on hipster.

Full article from yahoo OMG!:

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/crush/superman-gets-a-hipster-makeover/488#mwpphu-post-form

MARTY's TAKE:

Ok, where to start...
Supes is the original EMO candidate IF he saw the world that way...Speaking just of the film franchise, understand the world of the 70s was probably much more "emo" than today, though they didn't have a term for it. When Lois asks Supes what he's here for and he earnestly says "to fight for truth, justice and the American way" she's completely incredulous.

Look, they already tried making Superman a brooding, self absorbed hipster. It was 2006's epic failure, SUPERMAN RETURNS! People don't want to see that.

The point of Superman is that he's the quintisential comic book Jesus...he takes lemons and makes lemonade. Of course he has moments of doubt and those make for very interesting drama but what makes him Superman is his basic optomism and love for humanity...he snaps out of his funk and finds a way to gut out a win. He dosn't succomb to morbidity nor the absurd irony of today's modern hipster/emo clsss of losers. Rather, he serves as the example for them..an example that there is another way. That's why he's super!

What Say You??? Put your comments here!

Alright. Deep Breath. Alright. Let's begin.
First off I'm gong to go on record, knowing full well that I am risking the wrath of whothebleepever and say that I liked Superman Returns. It was a throw back to the original films (Donner etc). Now given I didn't care for Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane. Really Kate, take an acting class and eat a sandwhich. You can be a member of Hollywood's incredible shrinking girl club or be a good actress for gravitas. But if you're only 40 pounds in real life it's a little hard to have an emotional weight. I could go on, but inasmuch as there was a lot to not like about SR there was still a whole lot in it to dig. I'll take a world with Superman in it over one that doesn't anyday. Now I know he's a legend, I know he's a story. But you can't tell me that during the Gulf Spill and during all those days when oil was spewing into the ocean....You can't tell me that I'm the only guy on the planet who thought..."This is a job for Superman."

(Breath in. Breath out. And Continue)

Now, rewriting, or reinterpreting his origins is just a bad idea. A REALLY bad idea. I'm all for expanding a universe but you gotta keep the spine, the core and the values intact and I just don't see that happening if Superman gets Twilight-efied. I mean, c'mon. The lovestory between Lois and Clark is iconic. He's can't love her and confide in her without putting her in harms way. Heroes are made in a moment but they are given over to the world to possess. In Twilight Hipster talk that gets reduced to "Lois? I umm..you know..really really like you but I think I need to umm..work on myself more."
If you want to look at who is getting Superman right, look to the CW's Smallville. This is their last season and they've kept their fans (of which I am completely of the fair weather mind) waiting for TEN years with the promise of seeing Clark Kent don red cape, and trench coat, and ugly eyewear. It's ALL part of his uniform. It's all part of who he is. I sumbit that Clark Kent's nerdorific glasses are as much a part of the lore as is the red cape. If you make him a skinny tie wearin, mopey, dopey, snide blogger than what does he grow into? While heroes can be conflicted, filled with doubt, one thing they're not is pissy. He's the man of (stainless) steel. That means..he doesn't rust.

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Comments

Martin Anaya October 28, 2010 at 1:57pm

Good points Frank!

and yes, "Earth One" is just one story line of a long windy history. I mean hell, does anybody remember Superman Vs. Muhamad Ali?

m
Richard Styrsky October 26, 2010 at 8:37pm

If Superman goes emo I will personally shoot him with a Kryptonite bullet.
David W. Valentin October 26, 2010 at 4:15pm

Alright. Deep Breath. Alright. Let's begin.
First off I'm gong to go on record, knowing full well that I am risking the wrath of whothebleepever and say that I liked Superman Returns. It was a throw back to the original films (Donner etc). Now given I didn't care for Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane. Really Kate, take an acting class and eat a sandwhich. You can be a member of Hollywood's incredible shrinking girl club or be a good actress for gravitas. But if you're only 40 pounds in real life it's a little hard to have an emotional weight. I could go on, but inasmuch as there was a lot to not like about SR there was still a whole lot in it to dig. I'll take a world with Superman in it over one that doesn't anyday. Now I know he's a legend, I know he's a story. But you can't tell me that during the Gulf Spill and during all those days when oil was spewing into the ocean....You can't tell me that I'm the only guy on the planet who thought..."This is a job for Superman."

(Breath in. Breath out. And Continue)

Now, rewriting, or reinterpreting his origins is just a bad idea. A REALLY bad idea. I'm all for expanding a universe but you gotta keep the spine, the core and the values intact and I just don't see that happening if Superman gets Twilight-efied. I mean, c'mon. The lovestory between Lois and Clark is iconic. He's can't love her and confide in her without putting her in harms way. Heroes are made in a moment but they are given over to the world to possess. In Twilight Hipster talk that gets reduced to "Lois? I umm..you know..really really like you but I think I need to umm..work on myself more."
If you want to look at who is getting Superman right, look to the CW's Smallville. This is their last season and they've kept their fans (of which I am completely of the fair weather mind) waiting for TEN years with the promise of seeing Clark Kent don red cape, and trench coat, and ugly eyewear. It's ALL part of his uniform. It's all part of who he is. I sumbit that Clark Kent's nerdorific glasses are as much a part of the lore as is the red cape. If you make him a skinny tie wearin, mopey, dopey, snide blogger than what does he grow into? While heroes can be conflicted, filled with doubt, one thing they're not is pissy. He's the man of (stainless) steel. That means..he doesn't rust.

This reply was deleted.