With the release of Justice League #1, the DC Reboot is officially underway and answers to a lot of questions are starting to trickle out. I've been a fan of Superman my whole life, so it's the changes they're making to him that concern me the most. I have to say, I'm not happy about some of them.
At first, I was just upset that they changed the costume, but I got over that. The red belt serves the same purpose as the red trunks to divide top from bottom. How the cape connects with that collar bugged me, but then I realized that it didn't bug that Superman can fly and see through walls, so why worry about how his cape stays on? It must be securely fastened to his costume somehow. Superglue, maybe. And the boots with the excessive padding really threw me. Why would Superman need padding or any sort of protection in his costume? He's invulnerable! Batman needs padding, Superman not so much. It can't be a style choice, it doesn't look that comfortable. The explanation we've gotten is that his costume pays homage to his Kryptonian roots. One piece of the big problem I have with the "new" Superman.
Then I was upset about the changes to the characters. No more Lois and Clark (she's even dating someone else)? Clark marrying Lois was one of the best things to happen to Superman in all the time I've been reading him. Seeing Lois try to figure out Superman's secret identity over so many years was getting very tired. And she was a much more effective character once she was in on his secret. But I enjoyed seeing Clark trying to get Lois to pay attention to him over Superman, and I'll enjoy it again. No more Ma and Pa Kent? They were a great addition to the story when John Byrne re-introduced them back in the 80's. They were Clark's moral compass and foundation continuing to give him guidance. Now, with the Kents gone, it seems he's going to struggle with his humanity and feel like he doesn't fit in because he's an alien. Except, he's not. Not really. And that's the biggest problem I have. Superman is from Earth.
Yes, Superman was rocketed here from Krypton as an infant, but that's it for the influence of Krypton. After he lands, Jonathan and Martha Kent take over. Sure, he eventually learns of his alien heritage, but not before he gets a happy childhood with loving parents, growing up on a farm in Kansas. No matter which origin you go with, he was raised by the Kents to be a normal kid. Eventually, he learns of his abilities and, based on his upbringing, decides to leave the farm and do good in the world. Superman was made by a guy from Smallville, Kansas who wanted to help people and still have some sort of private life. He doesn't go by Kal-El, his Kryptoninan name, he goes by Clark Kent, who was raised on Earth.
I'm a little worried this reboot will bring back aspects of the Superman of the 60's and 70's. The Kryptonian overseer and protector who lived in the Fortress of Solitude and disguised himself as Clark Kent so that he could walk among us. He was creepy. He called the Kents his "foster" parents. He often just called them "The Kents." Who does that? Sometimes you wouldn't even be talking to him, but a robot that looks like him and has all his powers. Creepy, I tell you.
So that's my two cents. Superman is a reflection of the culture around him. And that culture is America. By putting him more in touch with his Kryptonian heritage in the reboot, DC risks taking away a lot of the humanity that makes him who he is. It remains to been seen who he'll be when all the dust settles, but here's hoping he wont be fighting for truth, justice and the Kryptonian way.
