[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SymbiSpidey

See, I can't agree with this at all. Superman's powerset really isn't that rare in comic books. There's specific things he can do, like ice breath and heat vision that are kinda unique to him, but superheroes that can fly and have super strength are a dime a dozen in comic books.

The real issue, and what many people claim makes Superman "boring" is his personality. He's literally too good. He doesn't have the crippling character flaws that characters like Batman or Spider-Man have and that works against the character, because how do you write a character that is already perfect and give them any meaningful character development or arc that would make them interesting while still having him be Superman?

I will say that the most interesting Superman stories I've read are the ones where you see the effect he has on others. Where he kinda comes down to humanity's level to connect with them on a personal level.

One of my favorite scans of Superman, and the one that made me really love him as a character is where there's a woman who's about to jump off of a building and Superman goes up simply to talk with her. The woman is pretty much sure that she isn't important, yet he sits with her the entire night just to give her somebody to vent to. In this moment, Superman doesn't look like a god or a superhero, he really does look like a long lost friend who's trying to help somebody in their time of need. Somebody who's so dedicated to helping others reach their full potential, and that perfectly embodies what Superman is to me. It's genuinely one of the most heartwarming things in comic books that I've ever read.

EDIT: Here it is: https://imgur.com/gallery/Ijdxh

Sounds like you are talking about the scene from the JMS story Grounded. That was a brillaint scene.

Superman is a character that you really have to know how to write for if you are going to do him. That is why The Animated Series was so well received. They knew how to write Superman as a compelling character. He's a man who lost his home and has had to disguise himself as a mere human to fit in. There are so many interesting ideas you can do with that but they simply choose not to.