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enchantedsleeperLast week I went to the cinema to watch James Gunn's Superman reboot. I went with two friends, one of whom is a fellow Superman enjoyer and the other of whom doesn't even really do superheroes - but all of us had a great time.
As someone who was very much a fan of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) but has since dropped off following it almost completely, I would definitely say I had superhero adaptation fatigue. But I'm glad I went to see it - and it's also given me a cause to reflect on my past Superman fandom and the fact that I am, in fact, a Superman girlie at heart.
While there obviously are commercial motivations at play, I can now say that it was also clearly made with a lot of care and heart, a lot of love and respect for the source material, and that's so evident when watching the film.
My introduction to Superman came through Superman Returns, a film that many people would argue didn't need to exist (or simply wasn't executed that well), so right off the bat, I know that even an 'unnecessary' film can still be someone's entry into the world and the characters, and can capture their imagination even when it doesn't hold the most esteemed place in the superhero Hall of Fame. I was lacking a lot of context for Superman Returns, having not seen the original Christopher Reeve Superman films (or even realising that this built off them) - the reasons why Superman needed to "return" at all were something I later gleaned through fanfiction.
But I liked the film; I was just a couple of years on from discovering fanfiction at this point and I think the tropiness of it all - Clark pining for Lois while being unable to reveal his true identity (similar to the Spider-Man films with Tobey Maguire that I also loved) and Lois' son's secret parentage layering another element of identity shenanigans on top of the existing Clark/Superman double act - was what really appealed to me. Sure, there were awkward and schlocky parts. But again, as a teenager just discovering the joys of fanfic, it was more than enough to win me over.
Fanfic probably also played a big part in my enjoyment of the material. Superman Returns was an early fandom for me, landing not long after I began exploring Spider-Man fanfiction in the wake of Spider-Man 2, and even though I didn't write much for it, it was pretty influential. Along with my usual reading on Fanfiction.net, I read a lot of fic on LiveJournal, and joined my first ever challenge comm: 12 Days of Clois (for which I wrote a fic in the 2007 Holiday Challenge). As fans are wont to do, the fandom really ran with the source material, playing out possibilities for what could come after the film and integrating the backstory from the Christopher Reeve films more fully. This gave me a lot of the context I was missing and generally fleshed out the world and characters beyond the film in a way that kept me invested.
Superman Returns also introduced me to other Superman media like Smallville, which was still airing at the time, and Lois & Clark, which I feel is often overlooked as adaptations go, but which came with enough recs from the fandom that I checked it out (and enjoyed it a lot).
I didn't really take an interest in subsequent reboots and adaptations like Man of Steel, and I don't think every variant on Superman is necessarily for me. But I've been reminded of exactly what I enjoyed so much about the fanworks that came from Superman Returns and from the Superman-related fandoms that I wandered into afterwards.
(Here's where we get into very minor spoiler territory for the film - it won't be anything substantive or plot-related, but there'll be some brief mentions of memorable moments and character writing choices).
If I were to try and put into words what I enjoy about Superman, I think it's the contrast inherent in a person who is at heart a very sweet, awkward, wholesome do-gooder type and who also happens to be a being with insane, god-like powers. The whole point of Superman is that he was raised to be an ordinary farm boy - something that the latest film understands very well, I feel, particularly in the way it portrays John and Martha Kent as Just Regular People. Of course, the fact that Superman is secretly so much more is where the fun comes in - but that human-ness is what anchors him. It also guides his sense of justice and desire to help people no matter how small their problems are. I've been searching fruitlessly for a Tumblr post I saw that expressed this very well, talking about how Superman wants to be the guy who helps random people and saves cats who are stuck up trees. (People tend to hone in on the saving-a-squirrel scene as the perfect embodiment of this, as well as some other moments where Superman just looks after people and does everything he can to protect one person from harm because every person matters).
The combination of gawky awkwardness and hidden power reminds me of Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, in fact, and other fans have drawn comparisons between Superman 2025 and those films, such as the way that both depict superheroes being aided by ordinary people who have connected with them. (I am an absolute sucker for the train scene in Spider-Man 2, and kind of credit that with getting me into the fandom, because I really wanted to read more about those characters and that scenario). The way that Spider-Man helps ordinary people ("Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man") is a big reason why I also love Spidey, so, it makes sense that I'd enjoy this quality when it's embodied by Superman.
It's not just that, of course: I love me some identity porn shenanigans, which most superhero premises have, but the Superman brand is a particularly fun one, what with Clark being a journalist who ostensibly covers major news developments and crises while also trying to be there as Superman to help solve those crises - and meanwhile, his love interest is a notoriously sharp investigative reporter who'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT CLARK.
And while I am a fan of a few different Super-ships including Clex (Clark/Lex) and Superbat (Superman/Batman), my first love was Clois (Clark/Lois), and for good reason. The contrast between headstrong, stubborn, independent and chaotic Lois and the gentle, wholesome farm boy she hates to admit she's increasingly down bad for is excellent, as is Lois very obviously crushing on Mr All-Powerful God-Like Hero while also being determined to figure out the puzzle of him, not realising that the pieces are right there in front of her. (Until she does, of course, realise). Mwah. 😘👌 Meanwhile, Clark would really like it if Lois could stop putting herself in the middle of deadly situations for five minutes, plz, Lois, it's all I ask.
Anyway!
Some aspects of the film were stronger than others and there are elements that I had issues with, but the same can be said for pretty much all media that I like. It still remains a really strong film and above all, a fun one. The bright colours and light-hearted tone are very intentional, although it's a mistake to think that this means the film doesn't grapple with anything complex or difficult, because it does. I know that a lot of fans are arguing over Snyder's Superman versus Gunn's Superman as to who did the better job with the character and world. (Because we love to pick camps and yell at each other :D) I can't comment on Man of Steel because I haven't seen it, but they're both different takes on the character - if doesn't make either one the "right" or "best" direction. I'm more likely to go back and watch Man of Steel now because I want to compare and contrast, although I suspect Superman (2025) will still be more my personal vibe.
I'm looking forward to more entries in what is apparently being called the DCU (not to be confused with the previous DCEU x3). (They should have called it the DCCU, the DC Cinematic Universe). Even though I still don't think everything needs to be a sprawling cinematic shared universe à la the MCU, I'm taken by this first instalment and happy to go along for the ride.
Though, in typical fashion I'm now feeling the pull of another Superman adaptation, namely My Adventures With Superman, which keeps popping up in the tags I'm perusing on Tumblr. So far I've gleaned that Lois handcuffs herself to Superman and also that Superman is a space princess, so in short, I'm sold.
As someone who was very much a fan of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) but has since dropped off following it almost completely, I would definitely say I had superhero adaptation fatigue. But I'm glad I went to see it - and it's also given me a cause to reflect on my past Superman fandom and the fact that I am, in fact, a Superman girlie at heart.
Pretty much this (source: Tumblr)
While there obviously are commercial motivations at play, I can now say that it was also clearly made with a lot of care and heart, a lot of love and respect for the source material, and that's so evident when watching the film.
My introduction to Superman came through Superman Returns, a film that many people would argue didn't need to exist (or simply wasn't executed that well), so right off the bat, I know that even an 'unnecessary' film can still be someone's entry into the world and the characters, and can capture their imagination even when it doesn't hold the most esteemed place in the superhero Hall of Fame. I was lacking a lot of context for Superman Returns, having not seen the original Christopher Reeve Superman films (or even realising that this built off them) - the reasons why Superman needed to "return" at all were something I later gleaned through fanfiction.
But I liked the film; I was just a couple of years on from discovering fanfiction at this point and I think the tropiness of it all - Clark pining for Lois while being unable to reveal his true identity (similar to the Spider-Man films with Tobey Maguire that I also loved) and Lois' son's secret parentage layering another element of identity shenanigans on top of the existing Clark/Superman double act - was what really appealed to me. Sure, there were awkward and schlocky parts. But again, as a teenager just discovering the joys of fanfic, it was more than enough to win me over.
Fanfic probably also played a big part in my enjoyment of the material. Superman Returns was an early fandom for me, landing not long after I began exploring Spider-Man fanfiction in the wake of Spider-Man 2, and even though I didn't write much for it, it was pretty influential. Along with my usual reading on Fanfiction.net, I read a lot of fic on LiveJournal, and joined my first ever challenge comm: 12 Days of Clois (for which I wrote a fic in the 2007 Holiday Challenge). As fans are wont to do, the fandom really ran with the source material, playing out possibilities for what could come after the film and integrating the backstory from the Christopher Reeve films more fully. This gave me a lot of the context I was missing and generally fleshed out the world and characters beyond the film in a way that kept me invested.
Superman Returns also introduced me to other Superman media like Smallville, which was still airing at the time, and Lois & Clark, which I feel is often overlooked as adaptations go, but which came with enough recs from the fandom that I checked it out (and enjoyed it a lot).
I didn't really take an interest in subsequent reboots and adaptations like Man of Steel, and I don't think every variant on Superman is necessarily for me. But I've been reminded of exactly what I enjoyed so much about the fanworks that came from Superman Returns and from the Superman-related fandoms that I wandered into afterwards.
(Here's where we get into very minor spoiler territory for the film - it won't be anything substantive or plot-related, but there'll be some brief mentions of memorable moments and character writing choices).
If I were to try and put into words what I enjoy about Superman, I think it's the contrast inherent in a person who is at heart a very sweet, awkward, wholesome do-gooder type and who also happens to be a being with insane, god-like powers. The whole point of Superman is that he was raised to be an ordinary farm boy - something that the latest film understands very well, I feel, particularly in the way it portrays John and Martha Kent as Just Regular People. Of course, the fact that Superman is secretly so much more is where the fun comes in - but that human-ness is what anchors him. It also guides his sense of justice and desire to help people no matter how small their problems are. I've been searching fruitlessly for a Tumblr post I saw that expressed this very well, talking about how Superman wants to be the guy who helps random people and saves cats who are stuck up trees. (People tend to hone in on the saving-a-squirrel scene as the perfect embodiment of this, as well as some other moments where Superman just looks after people and does everything he can to protect one person from harm because every person matters).
The combination of gawky awkwardness and hidden power reminds me of Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, in fact, and other fans have drawn comparisons between Superman 2025 and those films, such as the way that both depict superheroes being aided by ordinary people who have connected with them. (I am an absolute sucker for the train scene in Spider-Man 2, and kind of credit that with getting me into the fandom, because I really wanted to read more about those characters and that scenario). The way that Spider-Man helps ordinary people ("Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man") is a big reason why I also love Spidey, so, it makes sense that I'd enjoy this quality when it's embodied by Superman.
It's not just that, of course: I love me some identity porn shenanigans, which most superhero premises have, but the Superman brand is a particularly fun one, what with Clark being a journalist who ostensibly covers major news developments and crises while also trying to be there as Superman to help solve those crises - and meanwhile, his love interest is a notoriously sharp investigative reporter who'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT CLARK.
And while I am a fan of a few different Super-ships including Clex (Clark/Lex) and Superbat (Superman/Batman), my first love was Clois (Clark/Lois), and for good reason. The contrast between headstrong, stubborn, independent and chaotic Lois and the gentle, wholesome farm boy she hates to admit she's increasingly down bad for is excellent, as is Lois very obviously crushing on Mr All-Powerful God-Like Hero while also being determined to figure out the puzzle of him, not realising that the pieces are right there in front of her. (Until she does, of course, realise). Mwah. 😘👌 Meanwhile, Clark would really like it if Lois could stop putting herself in the middle of deadly situations for five minutes, plz, Lois, it's all I ask.
Anyway!
Some aspects of the film were stronger than others and there are elements that I had issues with, but the same can be said for pretty much all media that I like. It still remains a really strong film and above all, a fun one. The bright colours and light-hearted tone are very intentional, although it's a mistake to think that this means the film doesn't grapple with anything complex or difficult, because it does. I know that a lot of fans are arguing over Snyder's Superman versus Gunn's Superman as to who did the better job with the character and world. (Because we love to pick camps and yell at each other :D) I can't comment on Man of Steel because I haven't seen it, but they're both different takes on the character - if doesn't make either one the "right" or "best" direction. I'm more likely to go back and watch Man of Steel now because I want to compare and contrast, although I suspect Superman (2025) will still be more my personal vibe.
I'm looking forward to more entries in what is apparently being called the DCU (not to be confused with the previous DCEU x3). (They should have called it the DCCU, the DC Cinematic Universe). Even though I still don't think everything needs to be a sprawling cinematic shared universe à la the MCU, I'm taken by this first instalment and happy to go along for the ride.
Though, in typical fashion I'm now feeling the pull of another Superman adaptation, namely My Adventures With Superman, which keeps popping up in the tags I'm perusing on Tumblr. So far I've gleaned that Lois handcuffs herself to Superman and also that Superman is a space princess, so in short, I'm sold.
