The "Death of Superman" made me a fan for life

Linkara recommended the All Star Superman stories as a great way to introduce the character to those new to Superman and for those who don’t understand why we like him so much. I did get to owning and reading both novels eventually, what instead got me to jump on the boyscout bandwagon was the story of his death.

I had heard of it early in the nineties when it first happened because it was such a big story it literally leaked into real life as real newspapers and television news stations covered the event. It would take me ten years later to read up on the tale as my interest grew on the advent of the animated movie: “Superman: Doomsday.”

While at a comics shop I asked the current clerk and a store groupie why everyone had such a beef with the last son of Krypton. It came down to his messiah complex and clean record. Coincidentally this why some of his greatest villains dislike him so much. After the conversation I picked up the soft cover collection of “The Death of Superman.”

Sharing the first part of this article relates to the story itself. During the first quarter of the story Superman is doing his thing, saving lives and rescuing reporters out of dangerous mine shafts filled with citizens of the underground. Superman is also attending a television interview in Ohio to let the people get to know the superhero the world adores. Meanwhile, buried beneath miles of soil and rock is a rubber and tube clad beast that punches his way to the surface and begins rampaging across the country.

Instead of Superman, the Justice League of America heed’s the call of distress that the creature, dubbed “Doomsday” based on his unstoppable and insatiable rampage, wrecks across several states. The combined forces of the Justice League of America is no match for the relatively unknown assailant and are all swiftly defeated with serious and near fatal injuries within a few pages.

It is important to note how the public feels about Superman. Much like the opinions of the clerks and the majority of people today that know of comics, Superman isn’t cool and he’s not that great at what he does. This is summed up through a young high school student, Mitchell, who does nothing but chastise the blue and red blur throughout the first act of the story. The student relates more to Guy Gardner, a former Green Lantern, because Guy Gardner is much more a product of 90’s attitude and rebelliousness. However when the battle of Doomsday reaches his home and not only himself but his mother and baby sister are threatened to be killed by the rampaging beast.

The only members of the Justice League of America that are able to fight after the first encounter are Booster Gold, Fire, Ice, Bloodwynd, and Guy Gardner (whose face is so swollen from the first attack he is blind.” It is also notable to know that Doomsday is still wrapped up in his rubber and tube like binding and has done massive damage and beaten superheros to a pulp with one hand binded to his back the entire time.

Mitchell’s house is totally destroyed and his mother and baby sister’s life is put at high risk as the Justice League of America are barely able to slow down and distract the beast. Another defeat and Booster Gold is sent flying through the air and is stopped by none other than Superman himself who immediately took flight to battlefield to put an end to the fight once and for all.

To everyone’s amazement, everyone who is still conscious, Superman takes the first punch to the chest like a wad of paper to a brick wall. The second hit, a swift kick to the midsection, puts Superman through the remains of the family’s home and a very thick tree. The Justice League of America all concentrate their efforts with energy beam attacks at the highest level in attempt to reduce the monster to smoldering heap. This attack does not work, but does remove the rest of Doomsday’s restraints to reveal that he is a grey and muscular heap of power and instinct complete with sharp bony jagged edges across his body and eyes.

The attack leaves the Justice League of America exhausted of it’s powers and everyone buy Superman is defeated in the incurring battle. The family is left in the remains of their broken property which is now a large blaze of broken timber and rubble. The bodies of the unconscious and seriously injured superheroes and lain astray and Superman is in hot pursuit of Doomsday, not letting the monster get any further in his wave of destruction.

The rest of the story journey’s through most of the United States that eventually to the front doors on the streets of the Daily Planet in Metropolis. The fights are brutal and every punch looks to hurt every bit. The final brawl at the Daily Planet cracks the streets and shatters every window for miles. Superman does technically win as Doomsday falls first, but at the cost of his own life as the 30 years of solar energy he has stored in his body is exhausted and he dies from battle fatigue and injuries.

If you have not read this I highly recommend it. It may read like I have cut the summary short, but the battle does rage on for the rest of the book that is definitely a sight to be seen. The battles were spectacular and sometimes the classic Toonami Dragonball Z background score would play in my head. It wasn’t just the massive fight alone that made me a fan, it was the reaction of everyone around him that made me place Superman as my superhero.

When Mitchell’s life and family is completely turned upside down by the Doomsday rampage. Every super hero, including his idol Guy Gardner, are laid to waste and risk burning to death along with himself, mother, and baby sister. When all is lost he cries out to Superman to help him. The young man who several times throughout the comic who has bad mouthed the boy scout for almost half an issue asks that man for help. Superman, who has been ridiculed and pushed aside by people and his peers alike for just being himself, turns back to help Mitchell, family, and what remains of the Justice League of America.

Starting from this point, Superman is the only one who can stop Doomsday from destroying the very world that openly criticizes, chastises, and is against him. To me this resembles a lot of the fans and my peers of today when I tell them that I read and watch Superman. They say that he is too good and that he’s invincible. In this story, he made lots of sacrifices to do the right thing and even died achieving it. The internal dialogue alone bundled with the imminent danger of Doomsday reaching a major city knowing full well that every other superhero is injured, in a coma, are too far away to lend assistance when Metropolis is minutes away. The tension and story structure is so well done that no matter who reads it, they would want Superman to hurry and bury the beast before it can do more harm. It is a great tale of someone so great and powerful, the ultimate force of good, meets the unstoppable force of mindless destruction that puts both sides to the test and reveals a lot of the title character.

After the dust settles, the story continues in “A world with a Superman” where minutes after his death we see the wide spread effects of what his death means to the world. In a way, it’s like an important politician, artist, a martyr that dies and the legend of that person has suddenly reached this point of symbolism that the individual could not achieve in it’s lifetime. The rest of the world’s heroes figure out how to pick up the enormous slack that is left over and there is even a heart touching story where in the most popular DC heroes pick through Superman’s fan mail and answer the call to many of the letter’s writers for aide. The majority of Metropolis is in a depression and a cult even springs up that preaches sermons at the foot of Superman’s massive grave statue. Of course, after the reign of Supermen that attempt to fill the void, and in some cases, violently attempt to replace the original Man of Steel, Kal-El makes his return and makes things right.

It is also unsettling to know that Doomsday also awakened from his slumber and drifts through space awaiting to be set free.

I, until that point of reading the story, had been like many others who placed Batman as the end all hero of the DC comics. Batman himself is even parodied of this on youtube mock mac vs. pc commercials where he says “I’m Batman” instead of “I’m a DC.” Superman had been somewhat of a hit and miss with me as like most people in life and in the story, never really bothered with a goody two shoes in a red cape who has no fear of being defeated.

Ironically it took his death to make me really understand the character and become a loyal fan. It is a theme that is certainly echoed through the large arc of death, world without, and the return of Superman.

Primetime on the PC

My television while growing up, like everyone, was the old CRT box that was black and came with the pair of rabbit ears that linked you to the rest of the outside world, so help it if you decided to stay inside during the 90’s. Those of you who are as old as I am or older will understand this. My television was a whopping 13”s and I grew up on the the classics of Roseanne, All in the family, Martin, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Hercules, Xena, Star Trek (Voyager, The Next Generation, The Original Series), and I Love Lucy. PBS and it’s awesome British Programming goes without saying.

After several moves I had stopped watching television all together. Six years I am able to say that during the time I had gotten by without the programming of the media world. When returning to the big city I began to hear by word of mouth some great shows that really seemed to be unbelievable. Spending your high school years out in the middle of no where and you desired any kind of entertainment DVD’s became the greatest filler of the deafening nights of a ranch. I considered myself to be a movie buff. Now I like to pick the quality programming of choice that I can keep up with on a weekly or seasonal basis.

I own two LCD High Def TV’s that can punch out a fair amount of quality in those 1080p resolution. Old habits die hard as I can not even receive the local stations. Which is a very calming feeling mentally when you think about it. If you are reading this, please do think about it because I have no idea what that really means. Either way I have stuck with the traditional DVD, now Blu Ray, and the occasional TV on home video niche.

I remember over fifteen years ago when VHS was king. Owning a television series on home video was something of a novelty. It was really expensive to own just one season and really hard to even find the “box set” unless you went to specialty stores. This is when box set actually meant a box set as the ten to fifteen VHS tapes are bundled together in a slightly thicker than cardboard box that held the tapes together in order to spell out something clever like the logo with the show’s stars or banners on the side. Owning TV and Movies on the home video medium today is so easy and affordable that it is mind blowing to be able to think back to an age when owning your favorite season of a hospital or science fiction show would really make your home video collection go BOOM from setting it down next to the Entertainment center.

Watching television for me is all done on the PC. If the codec is compatible and able to be shared, I am able to place it on the Playstation 3 for my viewing pleasure. Because of the internet and the television station’s websites that allow broadcasting of their material, programs are easy to come by and I couldn’t be happier. I live a busy lifestyle and it is wonderful to carry around a preferred entertainment on a variety of platforms that most middle class citizens have, arguably, too much of.

With the further advancement of technology and give it’s rate of speed I have become an advocate of the digital age. I still purchase a few special DVDs of shows that I like. The large wall of DVDs I have collected over the years have all been sold and have been backed up to hard disk for a more future proof solution. Granted that Blu Ray is the accepted medium of high definition for the time being, I do purchase the occasional Blu Ray if the film/show is of good enough quality to warrant a purchase. Anyone who sees the lack of creativity and the cash ins of today’s Hollywood knows that this trail and error of what is worthy of a purchase isn’t too hard to do these days.

Look up in the sky! It's season 10!

Today started with a brief interview with a Professor, exaggerating solutions to world problems in a Composition class, and skipping Algebra for fried chicken and gravy. I was not about to let a poor lecturer of mathematics ruin my day. I had spent five months preparing for the tenth and finale season of the show “Smallville.”

It began with a returning interest in comics. I started with Marvel and was met with lackluster results. I then turned to the internet reviewer Linkara for suggestions. My favorite reviews of his happened to not only be Batman stories but many DC stories in all. I started with Batman and moved onto to Superman when I randomly picked up “The Death of Superman” and became hooked.

When I craved more stories of the blue and red boy scout I looked back to Smallville. I had only caught maybe a single episode’s worth of time in snippets of many that a room mate watched when ever he could. At the time, we were lucky to even see the WB (now CW) due to our remote location. I recall the episode where Clark rescues Lex from a psychiatric ward and fully displayed his powers in front of him. They seem to be friends. It did not leave a good impression then and I remember the only reason why I had watched it. The “Superman Returns” teaser played during the final commercial break.

Thinking that it would be neat to start at the first season and watch straight through, I began the first episode in May and kept going like a speeding bullet. I obtained all nine, then current, seasons and started a journey with Clark Kent that would lead him to be the most iconic superhero the world would ever know. I have to admit, for three seasons it didn’t get old watching a guy tear off doors and toss people in the air. It was strangely gratifying.

As of this writing, this last season that I have prepared for looks to exceed all of my expectations. I finished the last episode of season nine hours before the premiere and I did not miss a beat. I gotta say, the Cinema Snob’s theory on series last season may ring true. When the series “24” learned that it would be canceled only halfway through their current season in production, the show radically changed and the stories and character really went all out knowing that they had nothing to lose. The series would be over and there was not any pressure to keep things smoothed over and play it safe to insure longevity of their show. However, when the end is in site and with enough warning they can really pump ideas in that they could not before and really raise the stakes to “go out with a bang,” so to speak.

Smallville season ten definitely got off to the right start. As someone who has watched all nine seasons back to back I can safely say that episode one of season ten is the best episode I have seen so far. It recaps with Clark sending General Zod and his army away from Earth and falls to the ground from atop the Daily Planet with the blue kryptonite still lodged in his chest. Inside his near death experience there are echos of his greatest nemesis, the darkness within him that is still needed to be met and overcome, and a great danged that lies ahead. Since his reawakening, Lois knows who he really is and respects his identity, Clark is prepared to don the proper attire for his symbol of hope, Lex is definitely coming back, Johnathan Kent’s cameo, and the first act of what would become Superman’s iconic save is catching the globe of the Daily Planet as it free falls onto the crowd below in mid-jump. All of this happened in first episode and it was incredible to watch. The surprise at the end is best left to potential viewers and fans who have not seen this episode yet.

I cannot stress how well this episode was written and set up the rest of the season for what could possibly be not only the redemption of the fledgling, but could be the best thing to happen for comic book television. If you ever want to premiere a new season of a show, this is how it should be.

Why I don't read Marvel anymore

I grew up with Spider-man as a child. He is who I pretended to be and even dressed up as for Halloween. My favorite beat em up game is “Maximum Carnage” which is based on my favorite graphic novel. I kept up with the X-men the animated series and saw briefly what was the Iron Man show. I couldn’t get enough of it. As I grew older, Marvel stalled while my mind continued to expand.

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am a HUGE DC Universe follower. While Spider-man was a large part of my childhood (key word) Batman and Superman were always there and have evolved and kept up with me as my my mind and maturity sought new things. This of course excludes Joel Schumacher and Superman three through four. Going back to view their animated series I am blown away by the content, animation, and writing. Some of the stories of Batman the animated series really disturbed me knowing that this aired for children back in the 90’s. This also reflects how poor the children’s market is today when nothing can compare to power house these toons are.

As of this writing, the past year has been a journey to rediscover the things that make me myself and to rediscover those things that I enjoy and make myself an individual. Star Trek came back first, next came the comics. When I decided to pay real attention to the comic book world once again, I of course turned back to Marvel. What I got instead of my wall crawling web slinger, is a pathetic shell of a man who sold out his identity for a pay check and gave up the love of his wife for his aunt who, lets be frank, wouldn’t live for a few more years with or without a bullet wound. Marvel, in their mega even “Civil War”, effectively destroyed an icon of my childhood with no anesthesia.

I know Peter Parker is a feeler type of person. His life does suck. But what grown man would sell his wife’s love and memories in an exchange for his aunt’s life that would probably chastise him for such a gross misjudgment on her nephew’s part. It certainly isn’t rational. What makes it worse is that his then wife, Mary Jane, actually encouraged this after much deliberation. This event was completely out of character and invokes bitterness in this writer.

The X-men I don’t follow too closely on, but from other real die hard fans of the series I hear that the films were not done well at all. No where near as horrifying as the rape of Resident Evil, but serious misinterpretations were made in making the serious. I will say this much, my prediction for Professor Xavior came true as Sir Patrick Stewart portrayed him in the films. I was a little off on the Clint Eastwood as Wolverine, but I stand firm that he has the best voice and attitude for the character.

In short, the live action adaptations are really well made, they just were not intended for the comic book audience. Yes, even Batman Begins is guilty of this as it combined three origin stories into a twenty five minute chapter. My buyer’s remorse of Marvel was not complete without it’s source material.

I really wanted to collect the trade paperbacks. I absolutely can not get enough of collected editions. It is what I have always wanted as a child. The third issue of the Carnage arc I have had to re buy is an issue I had once before but was worn out from wear and usage. Trade paperbacks (also hardbacks if you can chuck the change) are the way to go for an avid reader.

I collected a few Batman books and picked up the “Death of Superman” book (more on this later) on the account that they were affordable and packed a lot of pages for the buck. When i came to pick up Marvel trade paperbacks, I was astonished in how expensive they were. I really wanted to read and learn about Deadpool. But the 270 page volume 1 will run me $29.99. The same amount of pages or even a thicker edition of an important cross over event in the DC Universe would only cost a delicate $14.99. It blows my mind that Marvel would think so highly of a single character, or any character for that manner, to inflate the prices.

I asked a comic store clerk his opinion of the matter. It comes down to paying off the artists and writers, which I didn’t even know were that badly mistreated (another x on you Marvel) and mostly for profit. DC, on the other hand, it is all about competition and accessibility. If they can sell a book for half the price of Marvel, their main competitor, and gain a returning reader then it is a victory. It may come at a cost of losing profit, but more or less it seems to be a way of sticking to the Marvel “man.”

Opinion of a single clerk aside, for me it came down to price and what I am getting for my hard earned cash. If I can get two or even three high quality books of characters that I enjoy for the same price as one half inch thick book of one character that I am not entirely too clear on, I go for the familiar and affordable.

Starting out

I have decided that I should post some sort of article as often as I can. This can be my thoughts, ideas, or reviews. This may be the start of a routine that may run into the ground or it might be a great idea that never takes off and still runs into the ground.

Today while discussing journalism with a classmate that happens to be the online editor of the college website, I picked up a copy of the school’s paper to better my understanding of the product college journalists (students) put out. The paper did entertain me and inform me for a few minutes. The particular classmate’s article was very good as it addressed the serious problem of the lack of attention campus clubs receive.

The lack of attention is actually not the worst problem. I attended the club fair early in the semester to see what all was offered. For a campus of approximately 10,000 there was a very narrow range of clubs to choose from. The choices were slim and recruiting power was very underwhelming, which is an understatement. In fact I happened across the Native American Student Association table, which was only a table covered in a Pendleton blanket, was not being run at all and was in danger of being vandalized by students who desperately needed to scribble on something. I took it upon myself and another lady, who left to go to a class for an hour and a half, to make sure that the club received proper representation.

After two hours of stewing I only gained eight signatures and nobody picked up any of the complimentary candy that had been set out. It was really sad. After leaving the table I browsed around the other club tables and I did not find the events to be particularly engaging. The big screen and Wii Sports set up wasn’t even being played on. The one table I was interested in chatting with, the gay/straight alliance, did not have anyone representing the club. Instead, they had a table, a poster, and a sheet of paper to collect e-mails. An alliance that seeks to strengthen and build relationships across orientation and taste does not inspire a lot of confidence when the party is absent.

This is what a newspaper should do. It should report and inform the public at large and engage the reader in discussion. It can be within the person’s mind that can inspire change or create a viewpoint. It can also lead to discussion with others that at best may lead to change. I picked a good day to start searching for other career choices.

At first glance, the road to an Engineer is riddled with complex subjects of mathematics and repetition that leads to a very fulfilling career. I really wanted myself to want this. I finally caved in when I came to the conclusion in my refresher Algebra course that doing math, that I do enjoy, would bore me to death on a daily basis. Apparently I have a knack for other things such as information and report writing. I’ve had this brought to my attention several times by other peers. At one point, when Myspace was the place to be, I maintained a blog that at any time of a posting I would have one thousand views. I reached one hundred and twenty articles before closing the account.

Journalism, at a glance, appears to be a lot tougher than Engineering. This really boils down to interpretation and the person itself. In this instance, an Engineer really loves detail and could write a one hundred page manual on how to operate a simple factory machine that would be operated on by a worker holding a high school diploma at best. Then there are people who can take this book of instructions and transforms the medium to a much simpler banter for the general audience.

I’ve taken into account that interactions with people, deadlines, hectic work environments, long irregular work hours come with the job. If it is something I enjoy I would not mind being apart of that particular work experience. All of my friends have moved far away from me and I have virtually no life outside of Academics. This could be something I could potentially be good at. Being available to pursue a hot, last minute, breaking story could really put you ahead of your peers in such a dog eat dog job.

This all came about from a twenty minute conversation with an editor of a college newspaper. When I have spoken with Engineers and faculty members, I had not had a similar experience. While I may not choose right away to go into journalism it does make myself rethink my career choice. Which is a shame because I just declared the pre-engineer major a few days ago.

Not bad for a first post. I plan on adding a bit of zing and zam to this with each post I plan ahead in. Something I have started doing on good and bad days on facebook is the “song of the day.” Which I try to maintain a wide variety of music. I am trying to keep this as close to impromptu as I can. If I start talking about one topic it may actually just be the warm up for the real topic at hand.

Here’s to hopefully one hundred more posts and an audience who likes to share in other people’s misadventures.