As a fanatic of the contemporary
comic book and graphic novel genre, I often ask myself: "why him...?"
What makes our friendly neighborhood webslinger and the Dark Knight such
captivating and commercially successful franchises (consistently ranked in the
top three in terms of popularity) when they are so fundamentally different. I
would like to make the point that the key to detail propelled superman to the heights
of fandom was his 'relatability'.
Let's use how superman was drawn
as a point of departure. We noted as a class that in comparison with some of
our previous readings (Tin-Tin and Adventures in Dreamland come to mind),
Superman in action comics is fairly dull. The panel to panel progression was
fairly rudimentary, there weren't any splash pages, the color pallet seemed
much less vibrant, the dialogue was not as verbose and when superman is out of
his uniform, he lacks any distinguishing characteristics that make him distinctively
Clark Kent. But this in itself is what makes superman such a relatable
character... He could be any one of us!
We all have dreams of being
athletically superior, of being strappingly handsome and of getting attention
from the office/classroom cutie (you know who you are haha). Superman, I believe,
was successful because he could serve as the alter-ego for every hum-drum, 9 to
5, underappreciated cubicle employee stuck in the endless cycle of monotony.
The conservative style of artistry
used also keeps superman grounded in reality. People don't dress up like Tin-Tin
for Halloween because his character development makes it clear that he lives
outside this reality. But Metropolis and Metropolitan are nearly homophones,
and the latter plainly means "densely populated urban area". Clark
Kent is even an extremely general name, that could easily draw readers to
empathize with his plight. Even his lack of extreme powers initially might have
had an impact on his popularity. He was not yet shooting lasers out his eye, flying
or (spoiler alert) exploding with the strength of an atomic bomb. Soops was
powerful enough to engage and enthrall readers, but not so god-like that he was
out of touch with humanity.
Clark Kent is flat because he could be anyone,
anywhere... and that's the way we like him.
I agree, just as all of the other comic book heroes. Whether it is the ring that chooses them, or them choosing the mask, the idea that anyone could be under that hood/costume really ignites the passion in readers and lights up the ideology of individual heroism in the US.
ReplyDeleteJeremy, I think you hit the nail on the head here. Superman has lasted so long because he is essentially the everyman with some cool new tricks thrown in. I'm not sure, however, that this is an altogether positive thing though. By creating such a bland ideal for young readers, Superman (as a pop culture icon) promotes a homogeneous society. His character does not dismiss individuality, but is without it all together. Though he is an inspirational character that passes on decent enough morals to his readership, I worry that he's promoting a mold rather than a constructive image of personhood.
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point in saying that Superman’s iconic recognition is a result of his accessibility, and that perhaps the comic’s dull layout in comparison to Tintin is both a weakness and a strength. Superman Chronicles vol. 1 likely does not attract audiences due to artistic appeal, but caters to one’s desire to distinguish himself/herself as a hero and the possibility that the reader could easily be Superman. In particular, Superman’s suit and Kent Clark’s glasses serve to enforce the relatability of Superman and entertain the possibility that young readers may become superheros. The Clark Kent/Superman costume change is seamless and easy, ignoring the improbability that a pair of glasses could conceal one’s identity. The glasses individually also emphasize Clark Kent’s human qualities in that he has poor eyesight. In today’s world the contradiction between Superman and Clark Kent could be compared to a case of multiple personality disorder, but nevertheless the depiction of character dichotomy is an enticing fantasy that is timelessly captivating. For some Superman may be appealing not only because he could be any average citizen, but because he portrays the potential to be two completely different people and exist in two completely different roles, a power allowing one to escape the mundaneness of life but also return to the comfort of routine.
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