Iconic comic book writer Grant Morrison thinks the evil Superman cliché is “ridiculous.” The writer of All-Star Superman has explained why the oversaturated trope from recent years is overrated.
Pop culture has become inundated with the subversive “what if” premise of a twisted, authoritarian Superman. With the video game Injustice, in which Kal-El joins the dark side, the idea became mainstream and sparked a morbid movement. Whether it’s Ultraman of the Crime Syndicate, or characters clearly based on the archetype of Superman in the form of Omni-Man or Homelander, many fans have become irritated by the trend. Although there is arguably a time and a place for an evil Superman, the trope is about as common these days as regular heroic versions of the character. Recently, comic book writers have voiced similar criticisms of the trend, including Grant Morrison.
In an exclusive interview with Comic Book Resources, Morrison made it clear they aren’t interested in tyrannical Superman stories. Morrison’s comments specifically referred to ideas depicted in Injustice and Zack Snyder’s DC movies in which the Man of Steel becomes evil after losing the love of his life. In the interview, Morrison commented on the trend, saying, "I think the idea that Superman would react to the death of Lois Lane by becoming a tyrant is ridiculous; my mum and dad died and I didn't become a tyrant. If I can handle it, Superman can handle it.” This point means a lot coming from Morrison, as they have been known for crafting one of the most beloved Superman stories ever told, in All-Star Superman. Soon, Morrison will be revealing their own take on an authoritarian Kal-El in Superman and the Authority.
Morrison teams up with artist Mikel Janín to tell the story that is certain to be a masterclass in how to portray an authority-driven Superman well. The writer went onto elaborate about this new interpretation, saying,
“We're kind of leaning into the idea that he's a really good man and wants to do the best for us but he's not actually human. He doesn't want to break us but he's gotten to the point where he thinks maybe he should break us, maybe we need this. It's slightly scarier than Superman as an authoritarian dad with heat vision eyes, it's more of an alien perspective saying, 'I've had enough of you. You've been messing up too long and are really going to hurt yourselves if I don't do something.’"
The trend of evil Supermen has often been associated with a certain edge or being somehow “realistic.” It doesn’t seem like it will be going away anytime soon, with ongoing Amazon Prime adaptations of The Boys and Invincible, and the upcoming animated adaptation of Injustice. With Morrison and Janín’s Superman and the Authority coming July 20, fans can expect a new angle that promises to be feel more authentic to the character.
Source: CBR
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