Rebooting The Man of Steel

Superman is getting a good old-fashioned reboot. This is why I have hope for DC’s new endeavor.

In the early 90s, I had a crush on Michael from Nickelodeon’s Salute Your Shorts.* In season 2, my heart shattered when Michael was shipped off and replaced with Ronnie. My initial response was to hate Ronnie as much as I hated Tori from Saved by the Bell (seriously what the hell was that about?) but with his delightful Pinsky Salami and sharp wit, I grew to love him way more than that sissy Michael.

Change is often a good thing.

The re-imagining of Batman in the 70s by Denny O’Neil and Neil Adams was another fantastic update. People were nervous when the gloomy and issue-riddled Batman KER-POWed the campy original right in the face, but he ushered in the dark knight we know and love today. (Frankly, when I think of the original Batman, ualuealuealeuale plays in my head.) These comics (notably Batman #251) also gave us the sadistic maniac Joker who loves violence more than sea otters love holding hands.

Without this reboot, we wouldn’t have The Killing Joke, or Batman: the Animated series, or jet skis.

Okay maybe we’d still have jet skis but they certainly wouldn’t be as awesome without gritty Batman around to protect us.

Anyway, when DC announced that they’re rebooting their entire echelon, I was nervous and cuddled in a nest of pessimism. Superman is hailed as one of the greatest superheroes in the universe (the kids on Oa love the guy) so why mess with it? But now we’re getting a Superman with some limits, which is pretty exciting.

Reports say that the series will kickoff with our hero able to leap tall buildings, but still working on flight. And he’s more Kal-El than Clark, processing the loss of his home planet and then Ma and Pa Kent, along with feeling alone on our planet. Without going full emo (you never go full emo), his disposition will be more brooding and brash than the previous version.

These comics also gave us the sadistic maniac Joker who loves violence more than sea otters love holding hands.

I’ll admit being nervous. But if artists hadn’t toyed with Batman, we wouldn’t have superb story lines that are loved by millions. And DC’s updated emphasis on diversity and reflection on real world events are interesting. (Plus Superman does look dreamy.) That’s why I’m optimistic about DC’s full universe reboot, and am looking forward to September.

*If the reference is too esoteric, I apologize – but you’re missing out on some sweet 90’s children’s television.