That's the title, of course, of an infamous 1972 Superman story which some have given a right-wing reading. It's quoted also in the dialogue of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which I reviewed yesterday. Despite spending the morning deeply absorbed by 70s BBC transmission dates for Star Trek ( see http://space-doubt.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/star-trek-on-bbc-part-one.html), I'm still thinking about the relevance of Superman in 2016.
A comment on Scipio Garling's Absorbascon blog suggest that, in a reversal to tradition, the Greek gods of comedy and tragedy have replaced the Norse Gods of Opera at Marvel and vice versa. To clarify, look at the pantheons of Forties Wonder Woman and Sixties Thor. The operatic flavour of BVS' Gotterdammerung is precisely what I dislike about it.
The Olympian metaphor applies to the movies: Captain America is as much a product of the Golden Age as Superman but Marvel makes him work. He progresses from a nebbish in The First Avenger to an icon of integrity in Winter Soldier. Cap was always a super-hero in Silver and Bronze Age comics ( aside from one stint as a cop and another as a commercial artist.) Devoid of a real personal life, he is a tragic figure: the First Avenger symbolically, if not literally.
Other Marvel movies have a comic tone- Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man. Deadpool was irreverent to the point of offence. Meanwhile, one of their most successful comic properties, Ms. Marvel, manages to be fresh ,contemporary and fun. Can the Superman "office" learn anything from Marvel, then?
In the social media age, the Batman family seems the most contemporary DC property ( cf the popularity of Harley Quinn, which will go global with the Suicide Squad movie). The Gothamites are closely followed by tv stars Flash and Green Arrow ( and spiritually, Marvel's Daredevil). These are -even Flash, occasionally - "dark" titles which meet the Goth teen sensibility. However, two DC titles have been successful in following the Ms. Marvel route to a young and primarily female demographic. Let's look at these titles more closely.
Batgirl vol 2 Family Business pits Batgirl against Jim Gordon in his Bat-armour. Father and daughter bring down Livewire, formerly of both the Superman animated series and the Supergirl tv show.
Then the hipster heroine teams up with Spyral agent Dick Grayson, Batwoman, Spoiler and Gotham Academy students Olive and Maps in the Batgirl annual. It's a colourful if confusing story about a terrorist cell called Gladius,
In a modern take on a Catwoman caper, vicious Velvet Tiger is killing coders in a tale of animal trafficking. Frankie becomes the new Oracle. The collection ends in a riot of pastel colours at the wedding of her trans friend Alysia. Barbara is in a love triangle with Dick Grayson and the new Batwing, Luke Fox.
The second collection of Gotham Academy: Calamity continues the adventures of teen Olive Silverlock and the reveal of her family secret: she's the offspring of a legacy villain. It's Harry Potter meets Dark Shadows and is aimed at a younger age range-say 11-13. Despite that, for old fans like me, it also draws upon a variety of Bat-continuity references. There's a mash-up of Bronze Age Haney's "Bow Before Satan's Children"; Professor Milo; Hugo Strange and the Animated Series' Adam West tribute, there are guest appearances from Damian Wayne and Red Robin, plus a cameo from Bats.
I think we've paid homage to Donner's 70s Superman for long enough. Perhaps the 90s model is worth revisiting?
Here's my twelve-step plan to make Superman relevant.
1) He has to be easy to relate to. For a younger audience, Clark Kent has to struggle with free-lance employment, roommates ( Jimmy Olsen, natch) and girls. I see Clark and Jimmy as a bit Big Bang Theory.
2) He should have more of an athletic build. Cavill looms in a beefy way that seems steroidal and threatening.
3) He can't be too powerful. Supes can keep the x-ray and laser eyes; they're his sonic screwdriver and psychic paper. Maybe some levitating. No circling the earth for time travel. Bullets bounce off him.
4) That horrible, er, steely movie costume with the striations and the huge cape has to go. Likewise Jim Lee's uniform/armour. Colour scheme more Cain, please.
5) I'd like both Kent parents alive, please and I don't want to be reminded of Zod, Ursa or Jor-El
6) I want to see a friendship with younger cousin Kara and a frenemy from school days in Lex
7) Fantastic urban crime stories with Intergang and Star Labs. Villains largely Earthbound: Luthor, Prankster ( a Sacha Baron Cohen type) Toyman ( see Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka). Maybe Mxyzptlk as a David Lynch backwards-man hallucination.
8) Clark works in the media. For Lois Lane. He's funny as Clark Kent (and Superman). Maybe with a Youtube channel or a Vlog? Definitely on Twitter,
9)I really don't want Darkseid; probably not Brainiac; maybe Lori Lemaris.
10) I could live with the Legion of Superheroes once in a blue moon.
11) I could live with the Cadmus Project
12) I'd love to see Cameron Stewart, Kate Leth or G. Willow Wilson write Superman.
coming soon: Defenders; The Prisoner; Groot
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