Zack Snyder’s DC comic films have divided critics and fans alike, but there’s no question that every film is unique. The 300 The director teamed up with producer Christopher Nolan to give Superman the psychological, grandiose touch Dark Knight Treatment in the 2013s man of Steel. The character collided with the Caped Crusader – and the revered world – in the idiosyncratic nightmare Batman versus Superman. And now with the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice LeagueHenry Cavill’s incarnation of the hero (probably) came to an end as he was born, killed, and reborn with a clearer view of the world.
The arc rubbed some longtime Superman fans the wrong way. Following Christopher Reeves’ withdrawal in 1978 and in many on-screen incarnations since, many see Clark Kent as an idealist and beacon of hope. Snyder’s Superman was tormented and sad.
But on ours Justice League result of Galaxy Brains, Polygons brand new film and TV podcast, Host Dave Schilling brings a theory to his friend and co-host Jonah Ray: Superman should be sad. And why shouldn’t it be? His real father is dead. His adoptive father is dead too. He’s an orphan from a planet that exploded! He is also responsible for ensuring that cats get out of trees for most of the day and beat up robots. How much sleep could Clark Kent possibly get each night?
At the end of the Critical Brain segment, Dave was ready to take his the ory one step further: Snyder may have made the best onscreen version of Superman.
To decide whether this was the mother (box) of all DC comic films or the anti-life equation to Jonah’s love for Happy Superman, our hosts reached out to Polygon’s comics expert Susana Polo to catch up on the history and future of the to deal with character. Here is an excerpt:
Susanne: I think we tried to deconstruct Superman by making him grim for so long that we somehow get to this weird place where that’s the only angle we can get on the character. And the thing about deconstruction is that what you are deconstructing has to be really fresh in the audience’s mind for it to work. And the problem is, we haven’t made a simple Superman for a wide audience since the 70’s or 80’s.
The conversation leaps over tall buildings into true galaxy brain territory, including the necessary mentions of Superman’s least flattering moments.
Dave: Do you remember as Clark Kent had a ponytail? When did Superman get the mullet? I always thought he looked like an art dealer.
Jonah: I remember when I was a kid there was a graphic novel in which Clark Kent tried to write a novel – his name is Under a yellow sun. It was very much like there was a Mumblecore comic about Superman. It was about Clark Kent trying to write a novel and having a hard time because he doesn’t really know the human experience.
Dave: It’s like Adaptation, but with superheroes!
For a greater, deeper immersion in Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Superman’s current place in the comic culture cosmos, take a look at this the new episode of Galaxy Brains, out now Wherever you can get your podcasts.