No comic character gets as much flak as Superman. I'm sure you have either heard or thought to yourself "He's too powerful" "He's a goody two-shoes" "Batman is better" or something similar. I'm here to dissuade you from your opinions on Superman.
The best Superman stories offer something more than just a character for Clark Kent to punch. I would be considered "too powerful" if I only played basketball against second graders. The writers of Superman don't have him fight human bank robbers for 700 issues in a row. He's had to fight Gods, time-travelers, King Kong, robots, and even Muhammad Ali. A character is only "too powerful" if the writers don't know how to generate conflict, and with over 10,000 comic books featuring Superman, there are plenty to choose from where he faces a sufficiently dangerous threat.
The idea of a character that is so inherently good, he fights for the equality of all humans. That's something we can all read, enjoy, and learn from. That should not be the first criticism leveled at Superman, it should be the first defense of Superman. A character that is the manifestation of the heights of humanity is boring? And he also punches giant robots? That sounds exciting, inspiring, and uplifting.
The argument inevitably comes to "Batman or Superman" - like they are Coke and Pepsi, UCLA and USC. YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY LIKE BOTH! First off - you most certainly can like both. Secondly, Superman has had to fly into the center of the Sun after it had been damaged by another, evil sun computer. Batman punches mentally ill people in the face. Let's maybe give Superman another chance. The stories of Batman and Superman take place on different levels, and there is no need to compare them. We can love both characters!
If you are still not convinced, then please pick up the comic "All Star Superman" from your local comic book shop. It has everything you could want from a story, let alone a Superman story. Never before has one comic book been so unanimously praised as the definitive work of a single character. All Star Superman is a peerless book. A great adventure story that mirrors the 12 heroic labors of Hercules - All Star Superman is poignant, fun, imaginative, and beautiful. In other words - it is EVERYTHING you could want in a comic.
If you buy your copy from HiDeHo Comics and you don't like it, we will give you a full refund. That is how much I am sure you will love Superman if you just give him a chance.
To learn more about all things comic books, visit Hi De Ho Comics, 1431 Lincoln Blvd., in Santa Monica.
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