Superman's New (temporary) Look

[RogueIce]

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/crush/superm ... keover/488

Superman Gets a Hipster Makeover
posted by Josh Duboff - Tue Oct 26 2010, 11:28 AM PDT

Superman has a new look, and the redrawn Man of Steel now more closely resembles a a vampiric Robert Pattinson or a sulky member of My Chemical Romance than a hunky matinee idol.

The new Superman will appear in "Superman: Earth One," a graphic novel by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis that retells the superhero's origin story. While the iconic superhero retains his dark mane and defined six pack, he now has a decidedly more emo vibe -- pale, leaner, and brooding. (No need to get too worked up, Superman loyalists: This new graphic novel series doesn't replace the original comics, but rather will serve as a "reinterpretation" of his younger years.)

The Superhero Universe seems to have been increasingly influenced by what could be termed the "Twilight Effect," as Wonder Woman was given a similarly "edgy" makeover in June when her "bustier and hotpants" were traded out for a blue biker jacket and a trendy new hair style.

In the words of the New York Post, the new Man of Steel "wears hoodies" and "has smoldering eyes"; and as Clark Kent, he wears low-cut pants and skinny ties. So basically Superman has turned into a full-on hipster.

DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio described the graphic novel -- in book stores November 2 -- with adjectives more typically used to hype new CW dramas.

"We wanted to tell a story that's hip, sexy, and moody," he said.

Hopefully Jon Hamm -- the front-runner (at least in the eyes of Internet commenters and fanboy director Kevin Smith) for the role of Superman in the upcoming Zack Snyder reboot -- will take note of this development. Now would probably be a good time to invest in some hipster glasses and ironic t-shirts, Jon.

*sigh*

Well, at least it's just for one story, and not a permanent makeover.

[FaxModem1]

Well, who knows, maybe this will start a wave of Lois Lane comics with her angsting about how Superman is too perfect and beautiful and she wishes she could be with him.

Seriously, I doubt it'll do much.

[Revy]

Why is this giving me Deja-vu? ... oh, that's right, Devil may Cry. I thought it sounded familiar.

[Anguirus]

I know that when I started wearing a hoodie and developed heat vision I became a hipster overnight.

Apparently one phrase ("Superman + Twilight lol") from a New York Post story has caused tons of seething Internet nerdrage. Bet that writer's getting a promotion.

[CDiehl]

This new graphic novel series doesn't replace the original comics, but rather will serve as a "reinterpretation" of his younger years.

I'm not sure why his youth needs "reinterpretation." How does the emo, hoodie-wearing version of Clark Kent grow up into anything resembling Superman?

So basically Superman has turned into a full-on hipster.

Does anybody else not buy the idea of Superman being hip in any way? What he stands for is the polar opposite of being trendy. He's supposed to be an example to others. How can he be an example to anybody if he mopes his way through life in a hoodie and a smart-ass geek t-shirt? That sort of person doesn't grow up to become anyone called the Man of Steel.

Hopefully Jon Hamm -- the front-runner (at least in the eyes of Internet commenters and fanboy director Kevin Smith) for the role of Superman in the upcoming Zack Snyder reboot -- will take note of this development. Now would probably be a good time to invest in some hipster glasses and ironic t-shirts, Jon.

I truly hope not. I'd hate to think this foolishness will find it's way into a movie. This goes double if that movie ends up starring Jon Hamm. I have no interest in watching him look like Clark Kent having a midlife crisis.

[Kodiak]

I know that when I started wearing a hoodie and developed heat vision I became a hipster overnight.

Apparently one phrase ("Superman + Twilight lol") from a New York Post story has caused tons of seething Internet nerdrage. Bet that writer's getting a promotion.

I guess that's what inspired This Comic

[Anguirus]

That sort of person doesn't grow up to become anyone called the Man of Steel.

What a dumb fucking thing to say. Do you often dismiss people's entire existence because they wear hoodies?

When this story broke it immediately sounded like some idiot applying a liberal (and attention-grabbing) interpretation of a single image to make it a bullshit pop culture story that will never get a follow-up. I then read a very positive review of the actual book. Earth One is just DC's latest attempt to ape the Marvel Ultimate imprint. JMS wrote the book under the editorial guideline "How does a young Superman find his place in the world in 2010?" I think that is a potentially interesting story.

But hey, congratulations on being ~150 pounds (+ or - 100 pounds) of seething Internet nerdrage.

[General Zod]

Why is this giving me Deja-vu? ... oh, that's right, Devil may Cry. I thought it sounded familiar.

Nah, he doesn't look like an emaciated recovering meth addict.

[CDiehl]

What a dumb fucking thing to say. Do you often dismiss people's entire existence because they wear hoodies?

No. I don't see how someone gets from a stereotypical emo teenager to standing for Truth, Justice and the American Way.

JMS wrote the book under the editorial guideline "How does a young Superman find his place in the world in 2010?" I think that is a potentially interesting story.

I'd like to believe he'd come up with an interesting story. I just don't like the starting point of the character as described in the OP, because I think it's trite and turns Superman into a clone of the X-Men, which he certainly isn't.

I can only think of two answers to the question "How does a young Superman find his place in the world in 2010?"

1. He doesn't, or at least he doesn't end up being Superman. Modern society doesn't emphasize the values with which Superman is associated nearly as much as they did in the 1930's.
2. Same as he did originally, because Truth, Justice and the American Way still work. Again, based on the decription from the OP, I doubt DC is interested in him being attached to those ideals. They're the antithesis of being cool, hip or edgy.

[Anguirus]

I can only think of two answers to the question "How does a young Superman find his place in the world in 2010?"

Glad you're not writing the book then. lol superficial resemblance to a subculture I despise for an ill-defined reason means the character can't be honest, just, and have American values

And have you paid any attention to DC lately? They are balls-deep in Silver Age nostalgia, to the point of killing or marginalizing all of their minority heroes to bring back their white predecessors from the '70s. DC loves the fucking shit out of all their old-school heroes, especially Superman. And if you've ever read JMS wax poetic about Superman, you'd know that he gets the righteousness of the character as well.

I'd like to believe he'd come up with an interesting story. I just don't like the starting point of the character as described in the OP, because I think it's trite and turns Superman into a clone of the X-Men, which he certainly isn't.

The OP is second-order idiocy. It's an idiotic blog post about an idiotic MSM article.

[Bakustra]

Yes, things like the "hero box" certainly show how well JMS gets Superman as a character.

[Enigma]

We already have an emo Superman. Hasn't anyone watched Smallville?

As for the look, it is fine by me if it is used as an Elseworlds or whatever name DC uses for a non-canonical comic.

But if they are going for an super powered emo bitch then how the hell does he become "Superman" not the least a world class reporter?

Wouldn't he be hiding in some dark cave bemoaning the collapse of western society and snort some powdered Kryptonite?

[Anguirus]

I give up. It's good to know that anyone "emo" (whatever the fuck that means) can't be a hero. Or a journalist. I'm probably not even going to read this thing, so just go ahead and freak out for no reason. It's not worth defending from the secondhand readership of the New York Post.

[Batman]

It's one Valendamned picture. No, I don't think the man who would become the Man of Steel should be going about in garb like that regularly, but far all I know it was raining at the time and he was just trying to stay dry. Heck given he appears to be wearing the Big Blue duds underneath for all we know he just randomly grabbed stuff off a washing line somewhere to keep his cover.
Unless anybody here has actually already read this, we really haven't got anything to go on.

[Samuel]

The only thing weird is the eyes, but I guess that might be what they look light just before he hits you with a heat ray.

[Batman]

The only thing weird is the eyes, but I guess that might be what they look light just before he hits you with a heat ray.

They've been using that or similar as the heat-vision preglow look for quite some time so that's entirely possible.

[Enigma]

Looking through Yahoo News, apparently DC wants to do the same with Batman as they are doing to Superman.

[Srelex]

Jesus. Wonder if they'll do Wonder Woman or the Flash too.

[Enigma]

Jesus. Wonder if they'll do Wonder Woman or the Flash too.

As far as I understand, they already did that with Wonder Woman.

[Ryan Thunder]

Oh Jesus Christ. He doesn't even look emo, and even if he did, why should we give a shit?

[Lord of the Abyss]

Ah, that picture. I think of it as the "Alex Mercer Just Ate Superman" picture.

[Bottlestein]

Guys - hipster and emo aren't the same thing. I know because I've lurked Garbage Day's articles on Something Awful

No but seriuosly - Superman can't wear a hoodie. How will a mang with x-ray vision see around him if he's wearing a hoodie ?!!?

[TimothyC]

Once I get around to reading this I'll let you know how it is (It's still in shrinkwrap).

[Themightytom]

We already have an emo Superman. Hasn't anyone watched Smallville?

As for the look, it is fine by me if it is used as an Elseworlds or whatever name DC uses for a non-canonical comic.

But if they are going for an super powered emo bitch then how the hell does he become "Superman" not the least a world class reporter?

Wouldn't he be hiding in some dark cave bemoaning the collapse of western society and snort some powdered Kryptonite?

This. He put it better than I could, whats more, LOOK at the smallville example, THATS a shitty superman, half the time the problem in the episode is that Clark DIDN'T step up when he knew he should have because he was busy brooding.

No but seriuosly - Superman can't wear a hoodie. How will a mang with x-ray vision see around him if he's wearing a hoodie ?!!?

It's a CRAP! I'm not thinking he'll have trouble seeing, more about how he will look. Is Superman Chilly? Is Superman uncomfortable with his Body?

How big would that hoodie be too, like a size XXX? personally, I wear hoodies a lot, Because I Have Hypothyroidism, and dislike being chilly.. when i am in marathon shape i pull off the look quite well being skinny and bony, when it is winter, and i am weight training.. I'm not gonna lie, I have been told that people with muscular shoulders and a vanishing neck should not wear hoodies. How would they draw this exactly without making Superman skinny...

See Batman would make an awesome Hipster. Superman is iconic old school farmboy apple pie right is right and right is wrong, That doesn't really work with a hipster vibe, nor an emo vibe.

All of that being said, DC will do what it always does. Superman's appearance changes subtly over time to keep the look as current as possible give the underwear on the outside and the cape. i'm not really that serious about superficial changes, but I really don't want them start writing Superman as batman.

[Sarevok]

He looks like Alex Mercer. Thats not emo at all.