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by Roger Ash

This column is going to look at a story in DC’s action Comics #900 as well as the brouhaha it spawned last week. If you haven’t checked out the problem or heard of the controversy surrounding it, think about this a SPOILER WARNING!

Action Comics #900

In a short story in action Comics #900 by writer David S. Goyer with art by Miguel Sepulveda, Superman consults with the President’s national security advisor to explain why he took part in a demonstration in Iran. Superman explains that he was exercising his right to take part in a relaxed demonstration. The advisor states that people believe he was there on the President’s behalf as well as has triggered no end of problems. Superman agrees as well as states that’s why he’s going to renounce his us Citizenship. That method his actions can be associated only to him as well as make him more global.

Fox News, as well as other news outlets, got a hold of the story as well as ran with it. While I am not a fan of Fox News, in this situation I can comprehend where the outrage is coming from since this does not seem like something Superman would do. As such, it smacks of a gimmick.

It seems like one of the primary methods DC as well as marvel have been drawing visitors in just recently have been gimmick stories; Superman decides to walk across the country, Daredevil decides to ended up being the leader of the Hand, regular comics, as well as never-ending events. The listing goes on as well as on. The reason I think about these gimmicks is since they’re developed around an occurrence rather than the characters themselves. That’s not to state that every gimmick story is bad. They’re not. An example from recent history that was done well was the death of Captain America. There was the gimmick of Steve Rogers being shot which produced a spike in sales as visitors wished to discover out for themselves what was going on. as well as a number of those visitors stuck around since what complied with were strong, character-driven stories.

But these days, gimmicks seem to lead just to more gimmicks; home of M to Siege to Dark Reign; Superman spends a year on new Krypton, walks across the country, as well as renounces his citizenship (which seems to undo the function of the previous story). I’m sure you can believe of others. My problem with this is when the stories ended up being gimmick-driven, the characters commonly ended up being shallow as well as behave in methods counter to exactly how they have acted for many years (even decades) since they have to act that method for the story to work. My belief is that character should drive the story, not the other method around.

Wonder lady by George Perez

Let me provide you an example or two of character-driven stories that have had a huge impact. My preferred run on question lady was done by George Perez. What he did was take a part of who she was as well as amplify it. She had always been connected to Greek Mythology. Why not ramp that connection up as well as see where it leads? It led to an interesting series that got people speaking as well as reading as well as stayed true to who question lady was.

Walter Simonson connected Thor in more carefully with his mythological roots as well as likewise asked the question, “What if somebody else [is deserving of] the power of Thor?” From that premise came Beta Ray expense as well as one of the most fondly kept in mind runs of Thor ever. These examples show exactly how you can produce enjoyment around a character while staying true to their roots.

In my recent interview with mark Waid about Daredevil #1, he provided this intriguing hint at what was to find in the book. “A focus on exactly how in our screen-focused 21st century, exactly how Matt’s powers are really perhaps NOT as useful as they were 15 years back or so–not in an age where almost everybody communicates via smartphone.” What I like about this concept is it’s a natural concern to ask provided the character as well as his powers. I’m curious to see where he goes with this.

So why do I feel this Superman story is more of a gimmick as well as less a character-driven story? Superman has, for me, always provided the suitable of what America should be. He utilizes his powers to assist those in need, to stand with the weak against the strong, as well as fight oppression where he may discover it.  I believe his involvement in the demonstration made sense provided his beliefs. He may be from an alien world, however he was increased from youth by Jonathan as well as Martha Kent with a strong moral upbringing, as well as let’s deal with it, an outlook on life that is firmly rural American. His experiences in Metropolis definitely came from a different side of America, however was firmly American as well. That is the core of who he is – he views life as an American, not an alien. Renouncing his citizenship isn’t going to modification exactly how he views the world.

He states that renouncing his citizenship will no longer link his actions to the US. He’s wise sufficient to understand that isn’t true. There are still people who believe president Obama wasn’t born in the us despite the long type of his birth certificate being released. If Superman believes just stating he’s not a us resident will persuade a dictator that he has no ties to the US, he’s got one more believe coming.

He likewise states that he’s a resident of the world, as if it’s impossible to be a resident of both the us as well as the world. That’s ridiculous. Of program it’s possible to be both as well as to believe otherwise is narrow-minded. Citizens of every nation likewise have to be citizens of the world. as well as everybody needs a location to phone call house as well as hang their hat. For Superman, the rational location to do that is in the US.

And when he has the option to stand up of what he believes as well as what he believes America should stand for, he takes the simple method out as well as states he’s not a us resident anymore. He runs from the problem. That’s not heroic as well as that’s not Superman.

At least that’s my opinion. What do you think?