Post by Metallo on Dec 6, 2008 13:56:12 GMT -5
Most of Superman's bad guys don't have that personal or psychological or character tie to Superman. Its really hard to do considering the type of character he is. A straight arrow demigod. Batman, Spider-man and and Flash are far more human with more everyman flaws. They can be beaten or put against the ropes. But none of Flash's bad guys have had the cross over appeal or success as Batman's. Most of Spider-man's badguys haven't had the crossover success of Batman's either. Batman's rogues gallery is a class all its own really.
A great villain must always have something that allows him to play off the hero in a different way and showcase a side of him you don't usually see. A hero villain dynamic must have both of them work together fluidly to show interesting qualities of each other. All batman's villains either represent a part of him or the intertwined opposite of him and in each case they expose and magnify an interesting trait of Batman.
With Superman you've got 5 or 6 that really have a shot.
Luthor - He's the antithesis of Superman. His brilliant mind against Superman's otherworldly brawn. Human ingenuity vs alien might.
Brainiac - Like Superman he is of another world but he is malevolent: its also the classic man vs machine question.
Metallo. - like Brainiac its a man vs machine scenario but the very thing that gives him life is what brings Superman death. Metallo is the lose of humanity who is the walking symbol of DEATH. Why else is he a skull and skeleton? If I were a filmmaker or writer I'd play that up a LOT more. He's Superman's grim reaper, a remorseless inhuman (literally) killer. Also interesting that in some versions he has no problem being what he is while in others it brings him some anguish. His loss of his human form plays interestingly off the fact that Superman technically isn't one, but has the spirit of humanity.
Zod - he is like Superman, only evil and militaristic and brutal. Superman's a savior while Zod is a tyrant. Like Brainiac its a malevolent alien vs benevolent alien scenario but unlike Brainiac Zod is Superman's mirror in a lot of ways.
Doomsday - Another twisted vision of Superman and his world. he is the WORSE of Krypton...the monster created by Kryptons darkest hatred and perversion. A bastardization of a progressive thinking. like Metallo he is the personification of Superman's death and he can't be stopped. Death is unavoidable and so is doomsday eventually.
Darksied. A godlike alien like Superman who uses his powers to bring about Armageddon: the end of all things. If Superman is a messiah like figure Darkseid is the devil incarnate. A dark god of death.
If Superman's villains were created In a more bold mold and followed some of those same ideas more of them would be successful.
A great villain must always have something that allows him to play off the hero in a different way and showcase a side of him you don't usually see. A hero villain dynamic must have both of them work together fluidly to show interesting qualities of each other. All batman's villains either represent a part of him or the intertwined opposite of him and in each case they expose and magnify an interesting trait of Batman.
With Superman you've got 5 or 6 that really have a shot.
Luthor - He's the antithesis of Superman. His brilliant mind against Superman's otherworldly brawn. Human ingenuity vs alien might.
Brainiac - Like Superman he is of another world but he is malevolent: its also the classic man vs machine question.
Metallo. - like Brainiac its a man vs machine scenario but the very thing that gives him life is what brings Superman death. Metallo is the lose of humanity who is the walking symbol of DEATH. Why else is he a skull and skeleton? If I were a filmmaker or writer I'd play that up a LOT more. He's Superman's grim reaper, a remorseless inhuman (literally) killer. Also interesting that in some versions he has no problem being what he is while in others it brings him some anguish. His loss of his human form plays interestingly off the fact that Superman technically isn't one, but has the spirit of humanity.
Zod - he is like Superman, only evil and militaristic and brutal. Superman's a savior while Zod is a tyrant. Like Brainiac its a malevolent alien vs benevolent alien scenario but unlike Brainiac Zod is Superman's mirror in a lot of ways.
Doomsday - Another twisted vision of Superman and his world. he is the WORSE of Krypton...the monster created by Kryptons darkest hatred and perversion. A bastardization of a progressive thinking. like Metallo he is the personification of Superman's death and he can't be stopped. Death is unavoidable and so is doomsday eventually.
Darksied. A godlike alien like Superman who uses his powers to bring about Armageddon: the end of all things. If Superman is a messiah like figure Darkseid is the devil incarnate. A dark god of death.
If Superman's villains were created In a more bold mold and followed some of those same ideas more of them would be successful.
.... I think I'll be a little disappointed- to say the least.
