Superman news including Superman: Legacy, David Corenswet, James Gunn, Henry Cavill, Tyler Hoechlin, Man of Steel 2, Brandon Routh, Tom Welling, Christoper Reeeve, DC Comics, and more.
The CW has announced early renewals for 12 of its shows including Walker, The Flash, Batwoman, and Legends of Tomorrow. In addition, The CW has also ordered additional episodes for both Walker and the upcoming Superman & Lois series. Full details below. Press Release THE CW GIVES EARLY RENEWALS TO 12 CURRENT SERIES FOR NEXT […]
Henry Cavill is teased back as Superman by his manager, Dany Garcia, who took to Instagram Story to offer the following teasers for the return of the Man of Steel. Garcia, who also happens to be the former wife of Dwayne Johnson and co-founder of their Seven Bucks production company and who serves as a producer on
It took a while, but now everything will be connected regarding the future of DC says WB CEO, Ann Sarnoff. While appearing virtually at the CES 2021 convention out of Las Vegas, Sarnoff was asked about bringing everything together: I am proud of the work we did in the last year with DC Fandom being
If there was ever a time the world needed Superman, it’s right now, and now we get Henry Cavill rumored for The Flash. According to ViewerAnon on Twitter who occasionally posts a scoop or two, Henry Cavill is wanted to cameo as Superman in The Flash movie. ViewerAnon says he is unsure of the current status of
Henry Cavill confirms that he injured his hamstring while filming The Witcher Season 2 for Netflix in the UK. “We are in lockdown here [in] the UK so I’m using my once a day outdoor exercise to go for my first jog since my hamstring injury! (More on that another time),” posted Henry on Instagram
Check out Batman and Bizarro super cool concept art for a canceled video game from artist Jerad S. Marantz. If you think the art happens to look a lot like the Zack Snyder DCEU movies, that’s probably because Marantz has worked on Snyder’s flicks including Justice League. While the video game is unknown, it could
A Suicide Squad video game is confirmed by Rocksteady, the creator of the Batman Arkham games, as a poster has been released that teases the target of Superman. Rocksteady posted the poster on social media noting a further announcement will be coming at this month’s DC FanDome virtual convention. “Target locked – #DCFanDome – August
A wild rumor is offering that Henry Cavill will play Wolverine in Captain Marvel 2 alongside Brie Larson as Carol Danvers. The Quartering YouTube reports on the rumor, and while it might sound pretty outlandish, last August also saw the rumor that Henry Cavill is Marvel bound. Interestingly enough, earlier in the month saw Marvel
Henry Cavill reveals he was recently in Phoenix, Arizona to attend the Pro And Rising Phoenix Women’s Bodybuilding World Championship which saw his manager, Dany Garcia, participate in the event. Henry Cavill posted an image of Dany Garcia on Instagram showing off her super-jacked bod. “Leaving Phoenix after having had a truly enlightening experience watching
Concept art has leaked online from a planned sequel to the Batman Arkham games that has been canceled, with it also learned that plans for separate Superman and Suicide Squad video games have received the ax. A leaker posted details and concept art for the Batman Arkham sequel video game on 4Chan noting the game
The LEGO DC Super-Villains video game gets a DC Movie character pack upgrade with the additon of the Justice League characters including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Check out the details in the official announcement: LEGO DC Super-Villains Adds DC Movie Character Pack Playable Characters from the Justice League Movie Add to the Fun! Burbank, Calif.
The Man of Steel shows off his super muscles as Henry looks bigger than ever.
Henry Cavill is back on Instagram showing off his super muscles as the Superman-actor comes off looking pretty jacked! Cavill is currently filming the Netflix The Witcher series in Hungry where he posted the following to Instagram: It’s a solid snow day here in Hungary and I live at the top of a 2km hill,
On the heels of the Superman and Justice League rumors, now a Wonder Woman video game is thought to be in development at WB Games. A user on ResetEra posted information from the Screen Actors Guild production database that offers up working title for what could be in-development WB video games. One of the names
A pair of rumors has hit the net offering that next DC video game from Rocksteady could either be Justice League or “Superman: World’s Finest.” A Superman video game has been rumored for literally years and it is known Rocksteady has been working on a new DC game. Superman: World’s Finest Regarding “Superman: World’s Finest,” the
A new Superman video game has been rumored to be in development for literally years, and even Henry Cavill said he would voice the character, but so far there is nothing from the Man of Steel. The topic of no Superman video game came up at the recent PAX West 2018 where the director of
Prior to the E3 rumors swirled that a new Superman video game was going to be unleashed with gameplay footage from Rocksteady Studios, the maker behind the popular Batman Arkham franchise. The E3 came and went, and there was no big Superman reveal, and actually, Rocksteady didn’t even attend the gaming convention. Now Sefton Hill, game director
Telltale Games announces the premiere of The Walking Dead: The Final Season and releases an E3 trailer. Watch the trailer and find the info and images below. Telltale’s The Walking Dead: The Final Season Premieres August 14, Pre-Orders Available June 8 The final chapter of Clementine’s journey begins August 14 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation
New rumors are flying that a Superman video game is in the works from Warner Bros. and Rocksteady. A Superman video game has been rumored for quite a while, but the latest is that it will be announced, according to 4Chan, at the upcoming Microsoft’s E3 conference on Sunday, and that gameplay footage with be showed off
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios are celebrating Superman’s 80th anniversary in Injustice 2 for mobile by adding Classic Superman to the roster. The new character was inspired by Superman’s first appearance ever in Action Comics #1, red trunks and all! Classic Superman pays homage to the cultural icon’s first appearance 80 years ago
NBCUniversal sent over the pilot episode of SYFY and David S. Goyer’s new Superman prequel series, Krypton. I can’t get into any specifics until the episode airs, but I can say that it is pretty awesome! As we all know, Goyer wrote the Man of Steel script and was responsible (along with Zack Snyder) in creating
The last few years have been tough on the overall character of Superman. He has been lacking a true form of identity, shifting between a depowered “everyman,” an infected Doomsday clone, as well as the most recent, “god of power” incarnation — while the character of Clark Kent has been left by the wayside to fall into his own obscure oblivion until further called upon.
Well, look no further for a glimmer of hope to bring Clark Kent back to the forefront! Max Landis has crafted a tale of pure joy and wonderment in his Superman: American Alien book, and it will invigorate even the most skeptical of readers, I should know, I am one!
Going into this book, I was dreading what may yet defile DC’s “Golden Boy” even more than what he has endured in the recent past. But from page one, Landis encapsulated the sheer amazement that those tales all lacked and by page two, I wasn’t believing that a boy could fly, but I was damn sure rooting for him to! Landis has woven a tale that brings the heart and soul back to the Superman mythos, and no one should pass it by!
We follow a young Clark Kent that is both frightened of himself and by what may be done to him if anyone learns his secret. His journey is laced with nostalgia and overpowering in youthful invigoration. Readers will find themselves grinning emphatically over Clark’s exuberance and innocent wonder and will feel connected to the character more than they have in years. But this tale is not purely about young Clark, it is about the Kent’s as a family dealing with extraordinary things while trying to teach their adopted son how to act like a man regardless of what his DNA may say.
Landis couldn’t tell this story alone, and Nick Dragotta is the perfect artistic compliment to his tale of a prepubescent Clark. Dragotta’s bold, clean lines accentuate that youthful vigor ever present in the tale while creating crisp action sequences that will make your heart soar!
Max Landis has stated that each issue will revolve around completely different parts of Clark’s life with a different artist for each part as well. If each issue is as complete and thrilling as this first one, fans will not only clamor to get back into the Superman fold but they will bring as many readers with them as they can!
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Divergent Adaptation
Who Leads DC’s and Marvel’s Cinematic Realities?
By Lawrence Napoli
Ah! What a great time to be a fan of comics and movies. The cinematic creation of characters once thought far too larger than life to portray on the silver screen due to the limitations of technology has become one of (if not the best of) the marquee staples of Americana Pop Culture in recent years. Comic book film adaptations have not only set this country on fire, but they have been fascinating the global audience as well, and it shows at the box office. Those who know DC and Marvel as comic book companies primarily know them for their characters, fewer know them by the individuals that created their respective icons and fewer still know them for the writers and artists that make their characters relevant today. Regardless of where the comic book industry has been financially from the distant past and/or recent past, there is no question that the movement of Hollywood adaptations of super-heroes continues to be a boom for everyone that owns the rights. So if these films are so popular and continue to boost the visibility of various franchises, which individual is ultimately responsible?
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We know Christopher Nolan masterminded The Dark Knight Trilogy, we know Joss Whedon is behind Avenger films as well as Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we know that Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man, and we know that Bat-Fleck is happening for Batman vs. Superman or World’s Finest or [insert title here] and we know that both companies are aiming at an expanded universe where their respective characters coexist in an ever-evolving reality. But who’s really in command? Who’s bringing it all together? Sure, all the businesses involved with super-hero adaptations each have their nameless-faceless board of directors that are held responsible for decisions by their stock holders, but the choice to go in one direction or the other, veto power, day to day operations, coordination, communication and unification of this cellular network of films is being made by real individuals. These individuals bridge the gap between the corporate conglomerate and the artists of production. Without their knowledge of the material, business savvy, political skills and organizational aptitude, none of these films get made – or rather, none of these films get made well. These people are the most responsible for pleasing (or inciting) fanboys and girls around the world, and they are also the first to be fired or rewarded when the receipts are all tallied up.
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Marvel’s man is Kevin Feige. He got his start as an associate producer for the first X-Men film due to his extensive knowledge of the Marvel Universe and has gone on to produce virtually every Marvel character adaptation since 2000: Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Daredevil, the X-Men trilogy, The Punisher, Blade: Trinity, Elektra, both Fantastic Four films as well as all of Marvel’s recent Avenger “Phase X” films. We could debate the merits and failings of each and every one of these films, but they all (basically) made money and were obviously successful enough for those doing the hiring to continue to involve Feige at the highest level of decision-making for film production. Simply glancing at his résumé suggests that Feige was thinking about birthing a unified cinematic reality for Marvel’s characters long ago, and he would be one of the few individuals to have enough production experience to think about its creation in practical terms. When Iron Man was released in 2008, this theory took its first steps into reality. Despite the fact that the screenplay was written by the collective of Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, it was this film’s post credit scene that paved the way for The Avengers. This must be attributed to Kevin Feige because none of Iron Man’s writers have gone on to be involved with any level of production for any subsequent Marvel film.
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Of course, the eventual wunderkind that would be Marvel’s Avengers was only a glimmer in the eye of anyone who knew Nick Fury and what “The Avengers Initiative” could possibly represent. But it was also beyond a foregone conclusion for Feige himself because there was no public knowledge of contractual obligation for franchise expansion in any direction outside of Robert Downey Jr. which meant nothing more than more Iron Man films. Who knows what was really agreed to behind closed doors (and at what point in time?), but the future teasing in the post credits of The Incredible Hulk (2008), Thor (2009), Iron Man 2 (2009) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) continued to prove in each film that audiences liked the interconnectivity of these (seemingly) unrelated plots and characters. In many ways, the teases overshadowed the fact that all of these films from different directors and writing teams were successful by themselves, but had they not been, fewer would care about any sort of unification. One of Kevin Feige’s best attributes as a leader in this industry is the respect and courtesy he shows for the writers, directors, cast and crew he works with and has done so with the “Phase 1” films. More often than not, studio execs will throw their weight around to the point that it denigrates the production, but Feige is constantly credited (most notably by Joss Whedon) for providing leadership and direction without slapping on the creative shackles.
Introducing a massive franchise like The Avengers has proven to be successful in being introduced a bit at a time to audiences in a crescendo that built towards a pretty standard-issue “alien invasion of Earth” scenario, but let’s be frank. The whole movie could have been the Avengers going out for shwarma and people would still have fan-gasmed because there they are: all together. Big name actors playing big name characters and all in the same movie is a huge deal and completely beyond the minds of studio executives of yesteryear. Feige organized this effort between multiple films as intuitively as possible and as practically as possible. Simply acknowledging their existence in the same space as in “by the way, this too is happening over here,” is much less maintenance than designing a complex plot from the very first film as the “unifying force.” This too might have worked, but would unnecessarily marry one film to the other and the problems experienced in one might be inherited by a future production.
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Yes, that’s right; I’m talking about the Ed Norton recast for the Dr. Banner/Hulk character. This situation is one likely reason for the audience not having seen a second Hulk film prior to The Avengers, and recasting a major role could have been a significant monkey wrench to the gears of this unified franchise. Who knows if that problem was ultimately money, politics or ego; the man was replaced by Mark Ruffalo, and he did a great job. Had Ruffalo whiffed, we’d all be hearing no end of it from every critic working in every media outlet in the Western world. I like Ruffalo as an actor, but I didn’t really have an opinion of him replacing Norton other than I’d rather have established continuity maintained, but The Avengers film put the actor into many successful opportunities for the audience to like his Banner to the point that this recast has been practically forgotten. This is thanks to Joss Whedon, who in turn thanks Feige, who was knee-deep in the Norton situation, and their combined efforts made the necessary adjustments in the subsequent film to reconcile everything. That’s some uncharacteristically efficient leadership in Hollywood which is known for dragging its feet through the political muck of “creative differences.” Kevin Feige may be the unifying force for the Avengers Initiative, but he shows his leadership almost every day with interviews and public appearances and whenever people have questions, he has answers. I’m not sure his position as President of Marvel Studios requires him to do this, but his visibility and confidence suggests a master plan at work.
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So what about DC? They have every bit the intriguing roster of characters as Marvel and (so far) have demonstrated an equally high dedication to enlist big Hollywood names and attach them to franchise pillars for multiple films. This seems to be carbon-copied right out of Marvel’s playbook, but casting news for the Man of Steel sequel and its elusive title is evidence that the strategy for introducing its characters in a unified reality to audiences will be taking a completely different approach than Marvel Studios. It remains to be seen if audiences will buy into this strategy or not because the first film hasn’t been made, but who’s there to answer that question? Who’s there to lay our insecurities to rest? This person was a tad more difficult to track down due to the fact that this DC movement is only in its infant stages and the only news out there to comment on is a growing cast for a film years from completion. At first I looked at the closest corporate counterpart to Kevin Feige. Diane Nelson is President of DC Entertainment and President & Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. According to DC’s website, “Nelson is charged with leading the efforts to fully realize the power and value of DC Entertainment’s rich portfolio of stories and characters, including such cultural icons as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, across all media and platforms.”
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First, I’d like to point out the order in which “DC’s icons” are placed as per Nelson’s title description (yep, Batman is #1). Second, her title and description sounds like someone ideal in bridging the gap between the comic book people and the movie making people, right? As it turns out, someone established more firmly on the Warner Bros. side of the equation will be overseeing DC’s adaptation expansion. He is Greg Silverman the President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production for Warner Bros. and according to the WB’s website, “In this role, he has full oversight of Warner Bros. Pictures’ development activities, global production and budget.” He began in Hollywood as a lowly craft services worker for indy films but eventually became an assistant at Tri-Star and Mandeville Films and eventually a production executive at Mad Chance. He got his start at Warner Bros. in 1997 being a junior production executive for The Matrix, A Perfect Murder and Cats & Dogs. WB credits him for “shepherding” the success of 300 (2006), The Dark Knight (2008), The Hangover (2009), and Inception (2010).
Silverman’s visibility is still on the low end with only his interview with Variety being his major public comments regarding “Batman vs. Superman?” and/or the franchise moving forward in which he addresses several concerns.
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Regarding Ben Affleck:
“We knew going in that we had more information than the general public had. We knew what the take of the movie was; we knew what the character was going to be. We don’t take these decisions lightly. We thought about everybody – brand new people, established people. Ben is the perfect guy to play this role.”
Regarding Batman and Superman’s interaction:
“They both will be wearing suits, there are capes involved, there will be action, there will be excitement.”
Regarding Wonder Woman:
“Wonder Woman is an amazing character. I think it’s a great opportunity both for box office success, but also to have an amazingly powerful female superhero.”
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Again, I note that this is merely the beginning for DC adapted unification and based on that, Silverman seems to be saying all the right things so far. Nothing’s too committal, nothing’s specific and everything is going to turn out all right. It’s your standard politician or rather, executive response. If however, one is looking for a more personalized commentary regarding this next production, Zack Snyder is your man and has been at every stage of this production because every cast member revealed thus far has been a hot button topic. Personally, I don’t care for some of the decisions that have been made so far, but I do respect Snyder stepping up to the plate when it really isn’t, technically, his job to do so. When I first started hearing Snyder defend Affleck, I wondered if Snyder was the guy who really had all the answers or if he was just simply the only guy that had any authority in this new DC filmic reality to date. If Silverman has been in place prior to Man of Steel and Snyder’s involvement moving forward will only be related to Superman related films then the latter is true and Snyder was the only one at the time to face the firing squad of public scrutiny. If, however, Zack Snyder’s role expands to even that of a producer for any additional DC ancillary films, the significance of Greg Silverman as an individual directing this movement is greatly diminished and the true maestro will be revealed.
As a fan of movies and comics, I could care less about who’s making what call in regards to which movie, but I do care about seeing good movies, and I care even more when I see bad ones (especially when the potential was there for greatness). If things go well, the right individuals ought to be praised. If not … well you know what happens then. So far, DC’s and WB’s leadership is feeling itself out and being only so forthcoming with the details this early, and that’s as it should be. However, it still feels like this whole thing rests on Zack Snyder’s shoulders and many out there have him and Goyer fitted for pine boxes (figuratively, of course) should all of these interesting production and casting choices result in what is assumed to be a sub-standard envisioning of the Dark Knight and the Blue Boy Scout getting their hero on in the same movie. Studio exec’s (unlike Kevin Feige) that stay out of the limelight tend to reap rewards with zero risk because their association with given productions is obscured. I think Greg Silverman would be doing his own projects and people a big favor by getting out there a little more and putting on the best face he can to charm the pants off some reporters. Then, if in two years time, whether Batman vs. Superman booms or busts, no one will accuse him personally of not making a better effort to sell the film. But again, maybe this is what separates the Kevin Feiges from the Greg Silvermans? It’s not for me to tell him how to run his business, but I don’t want him to fail, I don’t want this franchise to fail, and I certainly don’t want this film to fail. The Justice League can be every bit as amazing as The Avengers.
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That being said, here is where I personally stand in regards to this Batman vs. Superman film as of 2/8/2014. This is my unlucky 7:
1) I don’t like most of the cast decisions regarding the newcomers to this franchise. Everyone returning from Man of Steel is fine and Jeremy Irons couldn’t mess up Alfred even if he showed up completely drunk and high for every day of principal photography (that would sure be a different take on Mr. Pennyworth).
2) I think Henry Cavil is being done a great disservice by having to play second fiddle to a bigger actor and a better character in Bat-Fleck for the sequel that used to be his franchise.
3) I think another chapter in Superman’s tale (solo) would have done more to establish the perils of this new DC cinematic universe than teasing the rest of the Justice League sooner than later.
4) I think Warner Bros. studio executives are forcing this massive cameo extravaganza prematurely because they see the X-Men franchise doing it for 20th Century Fox and the Spider-Man franchise doing it for Sony Pictures – and they want that money ASAP!
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5) If someone were to describe Jesse Eisenberg’s character based on the fact he’s playing it and how he’ll be a tattooed skinhead that will “earn” his wealth and intelligence on the mean streets of Metropolis, there’s no way I would have guessed him to play Lex Luthor. Every previous manifestation of that character is much higher status than that of a street thug – and then there’s the whole Jesse Eisenberg is playing a street thug, thing (editor’s note: rumored).
6) With each new development, I lose more and more interest with this franchise because decisions are seemingly being made just for the sake of being different: different from Marvel, different from its comic book roots, different from Tim Burton, Chris Nolan and Richard Donner.
7) I would reiterate Kevin Feige’s advice to the DC/WB powers that be in regards to their adaptation movement and that is: “have confidence in the characters, believe in the source material, don’t be afraid to stay true to all of the elements of the characters no matter how seemingly silly or crazy they are.”
More Batman vs. Superman vs. The World Shenanigans
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I’d like to formally introduce you all to the Hollywood “Wait and Guess” game. It’s a game that entertainment journalism is most familiar with, but since the ‘90s has been intricately woven into the fabric of Western pop culture for the average John and Jane Doe. The global demand for entertainment is insatiable. So even before any production gets even the slightest hint of green-lit glory, every media entity dives head first into every rumor and infuses the commentary with as much speculation as possible to fill time slots and web pages. We all want to experience something new and fantastic from the Hollywood Machine so desperately that we want to consume it before it is even produced. Thus, we “Wait and Guess” before the next mega-budget blockbuster gets released to satisfy our appetites in the meantime with dialogue, debate and (more often than not) fanboy grudge matches.
So now I’m going to “Wait and Guess” (or “Obsess and Criticize”) the latest curiosity released by Warner Bros. regarding the fluctuating state of what seems to be a very ambitious movement to breath cinematic life into the Justice League. Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as Lex Luthor. Comments? Questions? Concerns? I’ll bet there are plenty of all of the above, but I’ll also bet that this actor wasn’t on anyone’s theoretical top 10 or even 20 casting call lists for this particular role. When I first heard his name I instantly thought, “Is it really big news for who’s been cast as Jimmy Olsen? Oh Wait. He’s going to be Lex?”
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Eisenberg is an A-lister that has done well in both the studio and indie scene with roles that have regularly seen him tip toe between the lines of comedy and drama. He has shown an ever increasing range of acting ability in his expanding filmography, but still manages to hover around a certain character type. Do you need an awkward and atypical yet sympathetic hero to root for? He did a great job for that role in Adventureland and Zombieland (both in 2009). Do you need an awkward and sniveling yet sympathetic antagonist to root against? I give another solid checkmark for him in The Social Network (2010). He’s a solid actor that can give you more than you expected for roles that fit him visually, and he’s to be congratulated for an excellent career that will only get more visibility (and roles offered him) by hooking up with a big budget, comic book adaptation.
However, I simply do not see him as Lex Luthor outside of one of these scenarios: 1) a spoof, 2) a decoy (perhaps used as a younger Lex in flashbacks or a red herring like Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin), or 3) a complete reinvention of the character, written from the ground up and tailor-made for Eisenberg taking full advantage of his every idiosyncrasy. Chances are that option number three is the closest to what the production team is going for, although I wouldn’t count on that level of intricate character writing for everyone in the cast. But, then it seems the concept of “different” is defining this production more and more. Batman’s costume is getting all kinds of recognition for being different. The casting of a rail thin actress in Gal Gadot is very different for a character always depicted as a curvy, sometimes very muscular, but a certainly fuller bodied woman in Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. The DC and Warner Bros. strategy for introducing their superheroes into this cinematic reality is very different (almost the exact opposite) from Marvel’s. Superman kills people … that’s pretty different.
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The casting situation for what seems to be the Justice League Light movie is unconventional to say the least, so much so, that I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Jonah Hill cast as the Flash who’s obese Barry Allen will be struck by the lightning of the Speed Force and will have the most dramatic body transformation this side of “The Biggest Loser.” It could happen. Anything could, and maybe that’s what Warner Bros. wants us all to think? The only problem is that in an effort to out-think or over-think the conceptually simple (yet unprecedented) task of making the Justice League a live action reality, the end result is so far removed from any previous depiction of those characters and those kind of stories that you lose your fan base entirely as well as your most vigorous source of word of mouth advertising – the gateway to attracting audiences outside the target demographic which yields Avengers and Avatar levels of cash – which is what this is all about.
So we are left with the fact that Jesse Eisenberg will be Lex Luthor, and it could very well be that he delivers a transformative performance that would eclipse Heath Ledger’s Joker with a dedication to discover Lex as a character beyond the level of obsession. He could also deliver a completely unexpected and charismatic Lex that the audience finds charming in his ability to insert foot-into-mouth regularly while still being a force to be reckoned with. Yes, it could very well be that Ben Affleck and Henry Cavil stand next to Eisenberg on screen and sell Luthor as an actual threat to audiences around the world. Maybe none of this happens.
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I can appreciate Gene Hackman’s and Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Luthor as much as the next person, but I always felt that the no-nonsense, intellectual hubris and unwavering confidence of the Lex from the Superman Animated series or the one that runs for President in the comics or the one that organizes the “Mankind Liberation Front” in Ross and Waid’s Kingdom Come is the kind of Luthor that could actually go toe-to-toe with both Batman and Superman in a live action adaptation. Eisenberg has never been tasked with portraying this kind of character (as in this particular level of “Lex Luthor”), and it remains to be seen if this kind of character is anyone’s goal in the first place. If it is, no amount of extreme fashion makeover for Eisenberg can generate the kind of screen presence that this kind of Luthor requires. Sure, great performances can transcend a lot of things, but an actor’s body and voice are essential tools in the formation of character, and neither in Eisenberg’s possession equate to the hyper-alpha-male of the Lex Luthor I’m thinking about. A director doesn’t cast an actor that doesn’t have the things you want in a character. One could, but this would be subscribing to the aforementioned “over-thinking” of this character in the first place. Suffice it to say that Eisenberg’s Luthor will neither pay homage to the past nor embody a realization of the ideal, but he will be … “different.”
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The point is that the pressure is on (and has always been to match Marvel’s Avengers) once the decision was made to turn the Man of Steel sequel into whatever it’s ultimately going to be titled and whatever kind of superhero movie it’s trying to be. The big names representing the big characters are still there, but their revelation has split fans into pro’s, con’s and apologists (“so and so wouldn’t be my pick, but let’s give them a chance … yada, yada, yada”). Polarizing a potential audience that could very well be every man, woman and child on this planet could not have been something desired by casting director, Kristy Carlson, but it continues to do exactly that. I realize she helped Zack Snyder construct such legendary casts as those seen in Watchmen (2009) and Sucker Punch (2011), but it will be interesting to find out after this movie is finally made and released to the public how many of these decisions were actually hers and how many were Snyder’s or DC’s or (most importantly) Warner Bros.’s. Maybe we’ll never know, but she is still credited as the casting director, so I presume she has some say in the matter.
It seems the success of this next installment of the Justice League movement depends entirely on whether the audience likes “different” or not. That is until Verne Troyer is cast as Darkseid. Then, the franchise will officially be a flaming wreck of Hollywood mismanagement and utter cluelessness.
This is the END, DC!
Attempting to comprehend “Why?!?”
By: Lawrence Napoli
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It’s Thursday night, August 22, 2013, and I just found out that Ben Affleck will be the next Batman in the sequel to Man of Steel as well as what I presume will be DC’s efforts moving forward to culminate in Justice League. Let that sentence percolate for a moment. Ben F*CKING Affleck!?!? Here’s a pro tip: count to ten, take a breath, in the nose, out the mouth. Needless to say, but I am extremely disappointed in this decision. Nothing (and I mean NOTHING) in this actor’s repertoire indicates that he would, could or should be Batman in a serious adaptation of that character’s license on the silver screen. I’ll delve into my opinion about this debacle later, but first I need to make some predictions about what this means for DC shamelessly attempting to recapture The Avengers in a bottle.
1) Established media entities will universally praise this move.
Affleck, love him or hate him, happens to be an A-list, popular name whose attachment to any film production can send budgets through the roof and potential ticket sales of seemingly obscure films in the same direction. He’s a regular on GQ, he’s a tabloid darling, and thanks to Argo he not only has “street cred,” but finally something significant to distinguish himself from Matt Damon’s more esteemed body of work. DC, Dune Entertainment, Syncopy and Warner Bros. are making this decision entirely about money, but the false assumption is that Affleck has this effect for this kind of serious comic book adaptation. In the one, previous stint Affleck had with starring as a superhero: Daredevil, that production had a budget of $78 million dollars in 2003 and its GLOBAL take at the box office was just under $180 million. This is NOT an example of “showing me the money!”
2) Bat Fans, Bloggers, Fan Websites and anything else remotely grassroots will universally pan (or at least raise a serious eyebrow at) this move.
The die-hard fan (a.k.a. fanboy) is instrumental in turning these comic book movies into legit challengers to Avatar’s all time money record. They’re the ones that pump movies they like incessantly (and for free) on the internet, attend multiple screenings and contribute to a fever pitched word of mouth campaign to do the kind of things The Avengers did. Core fans don’t care very much for Affleck because everything about his persona reeks of Shannon who worked at The Fashionable Male in Mallrats. He’s comes off as arrogant, narcissistic, over privileged and completely devoid of an ounce of genuine humility. You know, he’s the kind of guy that beat up the comic book geeks and nerds in high school. Yeah, this decision should go over really well with them.
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3) Superman vs. Batman and Justice League by extension will be out-earned, outperformed and out-classed by the Marvel Films.
DC is already at a distinct disadvantage with making Superman the center piece of their movement because that character’s godlike immunity makes him difficult to connect with contemporary audiences. Green Lantern was so awful that DC would rather have everyone completely forget that it ever happened. Nobody gives a damn about Aquaman. No woman (save for Lucy Lawless in her prime) could do Wonder Woman justice. And no one (outside of “the core”) knows about Flash, Martian Manhunter or Cyborg. DC’s most valuable character is the one they’ve already made seven movies with, and Christian Bale’s performance is recognized by many to be the “best Bat” to date. Oh, and Bale happens to be an Academy Award winning actor.
4) Zack Snyder is going to be constantly hitting every media outlet to pump up Affleck as Batman and tell nay-sayers to shut up.
“(Affleck) has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”
– Zack Snyder.
Expect to see unending remixes of this last statement for the next two years. By the way, if you were looking for a translation for that quote, it goes something like this: “Forget your apprehensions concerning this casting call; Ben Affleck is the perfect Batman because the studio told me so, and I couldn’t identify a real actor even if Hugh Jackman punched me in the face.” Okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but seriously, what was Snyder thinking with that? “Scars of a seasoned crime fighter,” implies the aforementioned humility factor that a career spent personifying arrogant bastards is pretty much incapable of depicting.
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5) Everyone will suddenly pine for Superman snapping Batman’s neck in the movie.
This has a lot to do with prediction #2. Frank Miller’s, The Dark Knight Returns has that infamous showdown between Batman and Superman that has had every comic book aficionado salivating over Batman’s ability to overcome any odds and defeat any adversary put before him. People like Batman because he’s dark, deductive, mortal and flawed, and Superman was depicted as a brain-washed boy scout in that comic. Affleck is not an underdog though; he’s a front-runner and people want to see him get taken down a peg or two. Ergo, Henry Cavill needs to melt his face off with heat vision. Perhaps this is all an elaborate scheme by DC to make Superman their #1 guy in the eyes of the fans: by neutering Batman with Affleck.
I’m sure other things will happen like fans picketing theatres, or petitions to bring back Christian Bale. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if people hit up Kickstarter to put real money behind the serious opposition to this decision, but the fact of the matter is that this casting decision is the furthest from a slam dunk and it astounds me that no one calling the shots for DC’s film adaptations gave this a serious thought. Not once did I ever consider Affleck to be a legitimate contender for this role because he’s simply way too high-profile for it. What motivates an actor who’s already made millions and could give two shits if people don’t like his performance? I simply do not know, but actors who have neither of those are more likely to deliver a better performance and that’s what it should really be about.
The one thing I’d really like to know is what Affleck’s boy, Kevin Smith has to say about this. I’m sure he’s polishing his knee pads for the man now that the decision’s been made, and it’s out there for everyone to discuss, but I’d want to know what he’d say behind closed doors before any rumors concerning his casting were ever conceived.
I know I should be a more mature, reasonable and responsible journalist in regards to expressing my opinion on this matter, but I simply never cared for Ben Affleck, any of his films, his association with J-Lo, and his (generally speaking) smarmy attitude. I care even less for him now that he’s been tapped to be my favorite vigilante. I realize I should reserve all judgment until the film comes out, but that would be difficult seeing how I am giving serious thought to boycotting DC’s films from this point on.
Make mine Marvel!
Related: Op-Ed: A Response To Ben Affleck Batman Nerd Rage & Why Heath Ledger Argument Doesn’t Work
By: Lawrence Napoli
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Comic book adaptations continue to take the world by storm, and Hollywood’s desperate need to use “superheroes” as a crutch won’t see that trend ending anytime soon. So we know (think) the Justice League adaptation is coming in an effort to mirror Marvel’s success with The Avengers, but no one seems to know how DC’s team of super folk ought to be adapted to the screen. Does everyone get their own film to establish origins as well as a following? Do we present the team first? Oh, and what do we do about Batman? Yes ladies and gentlemen, that last question is the one that’s truly plaguing the executive brass over at Warner Bros., and DC because Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy remains too familiar within the social consciousness of the present and a depiction of that character (DC’s most valuable license) that isn’t as proficient will directly translate to millions (if not billions) in lost profit all over the world.
I’ve never liked the concept of “rebooting” and I never will, but that’s not to say some efforts have been made in good faith to really deliver some marquee entertainment that attempts to show an audience something we haven’t quite seen before. Nolan’s trilogy is a perfect example of this, but if Justice League is to happen then Batman not only needs a new face to fill out the cowl, but he needs someone who will be as dedicated to the role as Henry Cavill is apparently for Superman, as Robert Downey Jr. is for Iron Man, and as Christian Bale was for Batman before. If Justice League was truly a project attempting to carbon copy The Avengers, this production should have considered recasting Bale as Batman to maintain some viewer familiarity with that role as Downey Jr. has for Tony Stark. Not everyone saw the Captain America, Incredible Hulk and Thor films, but most saw the Iron Man trilogy thanks mostly to the performance of the title role. Bale’s presence could pay similar dividends for JL, but Bale has solidified his Hollywood legacy, he’s won his Oscar and made tons of money; he’s going to take a break now.
So, what is the corporate conglomerate to do? Audiences liked Cavill enough through strong showings for Man of Steel at the box office so Superman is set. Everyone hated Green Lantern (and rightly so), but can JL afford recasting another emerald warrior in the form of a brand new Hal Jordon or swapping him out for Alan Scott, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner or (ugh!) Guy Gardner? That character is a toss-up. How about a CG Martian Manhunter? Possibly. Is Wonder Woman simply inconceivable to cast due to the need to make her as physically dominant, yet sexy, attractive and somewhat cute at the same time? Perhaps. Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman: does anyone even care about these guys? Maybe not. The point is that The League isn’t particularly stable, so the two pillars of this fictional franchise have got to work well (butting heads) onscreen. Whoever is given the power to choose the next Batman better not miss.
That being said, we will discuss some possibilities for actors who could potentially do the role (ahem) justice, but before we do, let’s glance at some of Batman’s past renditions to see if we can extract the elements of a performance that are vital to bringing this character back to life for Justice League and beyond.
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What worked: He helped bring Batman to the mainstream in the late 60s with a very family friendly performance that employed a decent amount of action for television shows produced at that time. The show kept fresh by employing a number of his iconic rogue’s gallery for several episodes. Heck, they even all teamed up against him; Legion of Doom style and Mayor Adam West confronted them with as much dignity as he could muster.
What didn’t: It’s obvious isn’t it? It was campy and it was foolish, and West had no choice but to play it that way. Seriously? Shark repellent Bat spray??? West is only partially to blame as the man was simply following direction and reading off the script, but his smarmy chuckles, warm smile and Little House on the Prairie interpretation of fathering Robin is far off the beaten trail for this character.
What to keep: Despite the dated nature of this material, West showed that you can generate interest and an audience through shear charisma and the man certainly had that in spades for his Batman. A suave demeanor and face is the shortest route to an audience’s heart, so the next Batman must have this kind of likability because his clashing with Superman over JL decisions (as well as his personal brand of “justice”) might lead an audience to view him as a villain.
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What worked: I count both men as the same because the only real positive impact they had on this character is the fact that A-list recognition will bring the masses to the box office; completely independent of the story, production value and quality of the performances. It is the primary reason why “stars” fuel Hollywood’s engine in the first place.
What didn’t: There’s almost too much to mention here, but let’s try anyway! Joel Schumacher, anatomically correct rubber suits, dumb stories and stylized settings are only a few reasons why Batman Forever and Batman and Robin ought to remain in the Dark Knight’s closet. However, the number one, unforgivable offense for both of these actors is that neither truly bought in to this character to give it the seriousness it deserved. They treated these movies as only paycheck films and it showed onscreen.
What to keep: Before Robert Downey Jr.’s career took a hiatus thanks to substance abuse and rehab, he was already established, A-list talent that every media entity dubbed as one of the “next big things in Hollywood.” Of course, blow can derail anyone’s career, but he came back with a vengeance thanks to the Iron Man franchise, and he did it by fully investing in his character and it produced a performance that will forever be linked to this man’s legacy. Sure, Christopher Reeve did this as an unknown for Richard Donner’s Superman, but odds are that A-list talent has a higher batting average to hit one out of the park in any role for audiences.
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What worked: Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989 kick-started the contemporary love affair with and modern adaptations of comic book characters and stories. It had a big production budget, bigger stars and encapsulated it all within a very dark, brooding and serious plot that brought the character closer to its roots than ever before. Many were confounded with the casting of Keaton who was more established as a comic (ha-ha) actor at the time, but Burton witnessed this man’s ability when they worked together on Beetlejuice the year before. Keaton yielded a performance that no one could have possibly predicted thanks to his Bruce Wayne persona that matched the trends of his past roles and a distinct Batman persona that was decidedly solemn, gruff and cold. He also rarely flapped his lips in regards to anything while donning the cape.
What didn’t: Hollywood is good at faking a lot of things. It even made Michael Keaton look like he was some kind of martial arts master; well, kind of. Keaton never has and never will be described as an action star, but the next Batman will always have the need to be depicted as very physical on the screen through stunt work and combat sequences. It’s not necessarily that Keaton’s action didn’t work in ’89, but that it won’t work for Justice League moving forward.
What to keep: Michael Keaton represents the antithesis of the two men who followed in this role. When it comes to the nature of a performance, there’s clearly no equation to separate “successful” from “unsuccessful,” but this is why casting is a tricky art form in and of itself. One makes a decision to fill out a role based on an actor’s history of work and the energy he or she brings to an audition. Open-mindedness is the key lesson in appreciating Michael Keaton as Batman which applies to the casting of either established talent or a new face entirely. I also would like to see the resume of whoever will be charged as the casting director for Justice League because if movies like the Star Wars prequels, Ghost Rider and Daredevil are credited to this person, we should all brace ourselves for JL.
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What worked: He’s easily the most skilled actor to ever play this role and outside of his natural talent, has an entire history of completely selling out for just about every role he plays as evidenced by the extremes in physical conditioning he has subjected his body to over the years. He made me fall in love with Batman again thanks to Christopher Nolan’s more realistic interpretation of the character. He’s an Academy Award winning actor who kicks ass onscreen. There really isn’t much of that going on in Hollywood; ever!
What didn’t: Oh dear, Bale’s “Batman” voice was awful! He stumbled on to it about halfway through Batman Begins and never let go for the rest of the trilogy. I understand the need for the character to obscure his identity, but could we get the man a vocal coach for that? “Swear to me!” Sheesh! It makes me cringe even now.
What to keep: When push comes to shove, the actor must make the character his or her own. It doesn’t take a great actor to yield a great performance, but it certainly takes a great effort to do so. JL’s Batman will have some big shoes to fill, and that person had better not be intimidated in the least, otherwise the performance will suffer and sour the entire franchise. Bale’s confidence as an actor is nigh unmatched, and while the next Batman doesn’t have to be as proficient, I’d like him to at least be on the same path as an accomplished actor. Desire and dedication are absolute musts here.
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What worked: What? A voice-over actor you say? What’s he doing here? True Bat-Fans know this man as one of the most iconic voices for comic book characters next to his co-star Mark Hamill’s rendition of the Joker. He’s voiced the Dark Knight in Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Arkham City and Asylum, DC Universe Online, and most of the direct-to-video DC animated features like the most recent Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. The best voice-over actors are masters at manipulating their voice, and one of Conroy’s often overlooked skills was his distinct differentiation between Bruce Wayne’s voice and his alter ego’s. His voice brings so much life to Batman that it would be remiss to disregard his contributions to the character and is easily one of the best portrayals of Batman ever.
What didn’t: Animation is limiting due to the obvious nature of the medium, but in Conroy’s case, this is actually a benefit. The man looks nothing like Bruce Wayne/Batman. Voice-actors also have less say in the organic evolution of a performance as they are constantly being given direction over the headset in a sound booth. An actor can only control so much when they are being told to “do it this way,” as opposed to live action where several actors over the years have clashed with their directors/producers over creative differences because their embodiment of their characters gave them more political power during production.
What to keep: Never underestimate the importance of the voice. Christian Bale’s weakness is Kevin Conroy’s strength, and the next Batman has got to own intimidation, the bass, the staccato and the diction. No pressure.
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That was the easy part. Now comes what websites all over the globe love to get into and that is the theoretical casting call for who the next Batman could and possibly should be for the Justice League franchise on film. It seems a daunting task because there really isn’t a clear cut choice in Hollywood, but that assumes no one in the current talent pool is capable of a quantum leap in ability and performance.
Here are five suggestions in no particular order:
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Strengths: I still can’t believe that this is his real name, but regardless, this actor has consistently been in the rumor mill for this role, and it’s pretty obvious for some reasons. Besides the fact he’s 6’5”, 220 and there’s two of him, the man clearly has the right kind of body to step into the cape. I felt that the dramatic acting he displayed in J. Edgar is proof enough that he has the ability to be as serious with a role as he wants to be. His face is also attractive enough to sell billionaire, playboy Bruce Wayne without selling out as a stereotypical Hollywood boy toy that loses Bat-Fans everywhere.
Concerns: The Lone Ranger tanked and he had Johnny Depp’s help. This doesn’t bode well for his ability to aid in the helming of a franchise. Taylor Kitsch knows exactly what I’m talking about, and this leads me to my primary concern for Armie. How much would he really want this role? I see desire as somewhat lacking in this actor because he’s already shown the ability to act in different genres, so who knows how much he would want to buy into a franchise that will monopolize his life for a number of years into the future. Armie Hammer makes a lot of sense on paper for the next Batman, but I’m not sold on his ability to truly commit to this role. Tonto knows what I’m talking about.
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Strengths: This gentleman will be the only member (ahem) of the cast of Magic Mike that should ever be seriously considered to be the next Batman due to the fact that his face, physicality, size, shape, voice and demeanor make him one of the few bodies out there that I could see standing toe to toe with Henry Cavill. He has all the tools needed to thrive in this role, and he has demonstrated the acting ability to be intense for both action and drama.
Concerns: But, can Joe pull said intensity inside to yield the wounded loner and solemn respectability? Can he project intelligence, stratagem, leadership and experience? Supposing Warner Bros. wants this type of Batman to contrast with Cavill’s youth and inexperience, I’m sure Joe is capable once he puts that costume on, but his repertoire is not quite on par with that of Christian Bale. Limited experience and ability are the main concerns here.
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Strengths: Karl has a much better gruff voice than Bale could ever possibly wish for, and he certainly has the acting chops to pull off this role. His look is also right in line with both the Bruce Wayne and Batman personas. He also has a very respectable history of work in these types of action and CG-heavy films that would make him that much more comfortable on set. He owns the concept of deadpan intimidation.
Concerns: Dredd was not a homerun for me, and that character is pretty close to what most Hollywood productions will make Batman look like. Karl will also have to hit the gym to buff out a little because being tone might work for Star Fleet, but even Batman’s body armor needs a bit more. I would love for Urban to use Hugh Jackman’s work out regiment, but that kind of commitment might be outside of this actor’s asking price.
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Strengths: This gentleman’s name has been tossed around the internet in connection with this topic for a while, and I didn’t quite see the connection at first, but the shear deviousness he demonstrates in Dexter proves he has more than enough “dark” for the Dark Knight. He has also demonstrated the ability to project an ordered and scientific persona which relates to Batman quite well. The overall acting ability is there for Michael to be the next Batman.
Concerns: Michael has recently been undergoing treatment for Cancer and the disease is now in remission, but the physical requirements for this role may be too much of a burden for this actor. Even a modest training regiment could be unreasonable and that instantly hurts his chances. He also comes up a little short in the stature department as well as the look of his face. No offense to him personally, but I’ll come right out and say it: his ears are just too damn big!
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Strengths: If I had to pick one man, right now, to be the next Batman, Jon is it. He’s got the total package: the looks, the ability and the size. He’s a little older than some of the other actors I’ve suggested here, but I’ve always felt Batman should be older than Superman because he’s always seemed to represent the voice of experience in the hero game when these two come together. Jon has the ability to be in any kind of movie he wants which is stunning how his appearances continue to seem limited to me. It could be he’s genuinely not interested in his offers or it could be AMC’s contractual situation has him chained in their basement. Either way, if I was casting, the role would be his if he wanted it. Who knows how to act like a suave debonair better than Don Draper?
Concerns: As good of shape as he is in; the gym is the first stop for Mr. Hamm. However, this is usually the case for just about any role in an action film and something to which I’m sure he’s accustomed. Being well into his acting career might demonstrate a lacking desire and or energy to get involved in such a project, but that would be something for him to decide. He’s also not had an opportunity to demonstrate physicality in terms of hand to hand fisticuffs in many of his projects, but good stunt choreography could address this.
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This is not the be all and end all to Batman’s possibilities, and the questions will only begin to be answered when the cast for the Batman/Superman movie is announced. We can all hope that “the right decision” is made, but whoever gets tapped will only begin their challenging journey because the proof will be in the final product. For better or worse, this decision will be binding for Warner Bros. who could ill afforded a series of recasting in this iconic role which would be interpreted by the viewing public as stumbling into the Justice League franchise as opposed to marching in with heads held high as Marvel did for The Avengers.
As for the rest of the rumored actors in line to be the next Batman, I will make short-SHORT commentary in regards to why they should NOT be Batman:
Ryan Gosling (too mopey)
James Franco (too busy looking in the mirror)
Bradley Cooper (too eccentric)
Michael Fassbender (he’s Magneto)
Joseph Fiennes (too old and too British)
Wes Bentley (not enough talent)
Tom Cruise (WAY too crazy, and old)
Andrew Lincoln (too busy with The Walking Dead)
Stephen Dorff (too skinny)
Josh Holloway (isn’t he supposed to be Solid Snake?)
Matt Bomer (too pretty)
Channing Tatum (the male version of Megan Fox)
Sam Witwer (who?)
Hugh Jackman (he’s Wolverine)
Any Hemsworth boy (contractually inaccessible)
Johnny Depp (um, no)
Jason Statham (too bald and too interested in generic action films)
Joel Edgerton (his face is too fat)
Sam Worthington (owned by James Cameron)
Chris Pine (he’s Captain Kirk)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (must have a Barry Bonds body transformation to apply)
Shia LaBeouf (come on, really?)
Ryan Reynolds (didn’t he already fail at a DC hero?)
Vin Diesel (not enough hair, talent or time)
There are moments in our lives that resound more than others. A special event, a tragedy or a first meeting with someone that will change our lives. These milestones define us, make us better or worse than we once were.
Greg Pak and artists, Jae Lee and Ben Oliver, use these same circumstances to bring together DC’s biggest icons for the “first” time. Their defining moments, shared tragedies along with prolific upbringings, are used to build upon their mythos and create something that is truly noteworthy. Pak portrays their rivalry/friendship in a perfect manner. Bruce Wayne, before the cape and cowl, has an instant dislike towards the future savior of Metropolis. Their brief encounter leads to immediate judgment from both parties, branding each other as the drunkard, playboy and the other, a sanctimonious blowhard. It’s nothing fans haven’t seen before, but the pristine writing form Pak and the beautiful art of Lee, bring it to a level never done quite as well as this. It will become a moment that fans won’t soon forget.
As for the first encounter of the Batman and Superman, I won’t reveal the circumstances behind it but, it is explosive to say the least! Utterly jaw-dropping visuals assault you as you take in the sheer brutality and power of these two individuals. The internal thoughts of our heroes, as they take each others measure, is pitch perfect. Pak makes them come across as arrogant and bold, passing judgment upon their foe again and underestimating each other in the process. The naive nature of the fledgling heroes is what Pak is trying to portray and he does it with panache.
Overall, the story is the perfect portrayal of Bruce and Clark, Batman and Superman, in the early days of their careers as future pillars of the DC Universe. The underlying tale of why these two are strewn together is both intriguing and thought provoking, but it is the rhetoric, both internal and external, between these two that will make this book unforgettable!
Scott Snyder takes on DC’s “Big Blue Boy Scout” in an explosive and stunning read that will have longtime fans feeling rejuvenated and ecstatic!
The dynamic duo of Snyder and superstar artist, Jim Lee, combine their masterful talents to DC’s oldest superhero. But, does all the hype pay off, especially for five dollars? This skeptic must give a resounding — Yes!
From the first page, you can feel Snyder’s skillful presence in every word and realize this is a Superman story that goes deeper than just the flash bang heroics of years past. He gives us a character that genuinely feels epic. His motions are calculated and even though he my feel a twinge of panic internally, he does nothing but exude confidence and calm to those he is saving from imminent danger. He is a hero that would exhaust every possibility before showing the populace an ounce of doubt and that is the true core of Superman. So, what makes this book different than all the others?
The tale is one veiled in secrecy. There are many components at play and the underlying current that Snyder exudes is one of insecurity. Something is hiding in the world and it may become the catalyst that will eventually crack the Man of Steel. The best part is that it is none of the usual suspects, unless it is and Snyder has given us a red herring! This threat is deeper than anything else seen before, something that will strike true fear in the heart our hero, something that will shake his confidence in his own abilities.
What takes this particular series over the top besides Scott Snyder’s story? The inclusion of Jim Lee on art of course! Everything Lee touches exudes energy! What character is more iconic, explosive and impressive than Superman? None that I can think of! Lee is the perfect compliment to Snyder and even the “down time” character pieces seem more powerful with Lee on art chores!
My only issue with the book is the fold-out poster that contains part of the story within it. Fans will not want to remove it in order to read those parts and it hinders the story slightly. An outstanding, fold-out Jim Lee poster that could be removed and displayed without defacing the integrity of the book would have been a better option!
So, Happy 75th Superman, Snyder and Lee have made me a fan all over again!
