Kal-L: reputation sullied no matter what happens from here on?

[Buried Alien]

Before INFINITE CRISIS, Kal-L the Golden Age Superman of Earth-Two occupied a unique place of reverence in the DC pantheon. Not only was he the original superhero that inspired all others, but he was held up as the paragon of superhero virtue: the pure moral standard by which all others were measured.

With his actions in INFINITE CRISIS, is Kal-L forever sullied? Thus far, he's been portrayed as a self-righteous, judgmental old man at best and a complicit party to genocide at worst. No matter what happens from here on, has Kal-L's status been damaged beyond all repair?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[scratchie]

Depends on what happens in the next two issues, doesn't it? I think he's still redeemable and I assume they have some plan for doing so.

[Buried Alien]

Even if he redeems himself, he will have already shown himself to be fallible. His aura of perfection is gone. No one will ever be able to look back upon Kal-L as they did before the events of INFINITE CRISIS. The damage is done.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Oggar]

I think he comes across as a dupe more than anything. He trusted Alexander Luthor who had proven himself a friend and ally. I don't think you could call him complicit in genocide if all he was after was a recombination of the universe. The "flaw" that's exploited is him trusting people.

[Calybos]

My view of him hasn't changed. Kal-L is the paragon. I don't see him as judgmental of Earth-1, I see him as right. Too bad he's considerate enough to try fixing thing Alex's way first, but that's a hero for you... generous to a fault.

If anything, he's too noble for his own good--just like a hero should be. And he's spot-on: Earth-1 (the mainstream DCU) is wrong, wrong, wrong, and Kal-L is right to intervene.

[DDM]

My view of him hasn't changed. Kal-L is the paragon. I don't see him as judgmental of Earth-1, I see him as right. Too bad he's considerate enough to try fixing thing Alex's way first, but that's a hero for you... generous to a fault.

If anything, he's too noble for his own good--just like a hero should be. And he's spot-on: Earth-1 (the mainstream DCU) is wrong, wrong, wrong, and Kal-L is right to intervene.

But the "wrong" is the direct creation of Superboy Prime & Alexander Luthor of Earth-3.

[glennsim]

I think when the situation "something bad happens to Lois" comes up, Superman should always get a bit of slack, and I see all of his recent flaws as being an offshoot of that.

[The Shadow]

Even if he redeems himself, he will have already shown himself to be fallible. His aura of perfection is gone. No one will ever be able to look back upon Kal-L as they did before the events of INFINITE CRISIS. The damage is done.
I've never thought of him as infallible. Why did you?

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I've never thought of him as infallible. Why did you?

I agree. I think you need to re-read the early Seigel & Shuster Superman stories again. He was brash and arrogant and a bit of a bully--but for the cause of justice. Yes, he mellowed a bit as the years past and developed into the Superman of Earth-1 but it seems perfectly reasonable that this character, who is supposed to be that original Siegel & Shuster version in his old age, would become a bit of a cranky, self-righteous old fart whose heart is in the right place.

This doesn't deminish Superman's heroism, it just makes him human, a super-human from another planet, but human none the less.

[handOFfate]

I agree. I think you need to re-read the early Seigel & Shuster Superman stories again. He was brash and arrogant and a bit of a bully--but for the cause of justice. Yes, he mellowed a bit as the years past and developed into the Superman of Earth-1 but it seems perfectly reasonable that this character, who is supposed to be that original Siegel & Shuster version in his old age, would become a bit of a cranky, self-righteous old fart whose heart is in the right place.

This doesn't deminish Superman's heroism, it just makes him human, a super-human from another planet, but human none the less.

This is exactly what I think. I have a couple of the early Superman archives, and Kal-L comes across as somewhat cocky. But part of what makes Superman what he is is that he tries his hardest to be human. Unlike Alex, Kal-L really does want the right thing.

[The Shadow]

I agree. I think you need to re-read the early Seigel & Shuster Superman stories again. He was brash and arrogant and a bit of a bully--but for the cause of justice. Yes, he mellowed a bit as the years past and developed into the Superman of Earth-1 but it seems perfectly reasonable that this character, who is supposed to be that original Siegel & Shuster version in his old age, would become a bit of a cranky, self-righteous old fart whose heart is in the right place.

This doesn't deminish Superman's heroism, it just makes him human, a super-human from another planet, but human none the less.
I just started reading Superman Chronicles Vol 1... great stuff! But he's a bit of a dick sometimes.

[Cotton]

This is an interesting question. I thought that the reason why Kal-L was infallible to begin with was because his World was simple and he could afford to be simplistic. His actions in IC happened because he can't deal with the complexity of the New DC Universe, so he tries his darnest to restore what he believed was the right Earth. I mean imagine if the current Superman were to go away for a long time and find that his World has become a World of Bizarros, wouldn't the current Superman try and restore things also?

[Green Arrow Jr.]

Superboy Sr. was saying the same thing in the DC boards.Short of saving the day in Infinite Crisis, DC really hurt not only the legend of the Golden Age Superman but every version of Superman.

[The Shadow]

DC really hurt not only the legend of the Golden Age Superman but every version of Superman.
How?

As handOFfate said above:
I have a couple of the early Superman archives, and Kal-L comes across as somewhat cocky. But part of what makes Superman what he is is that he tries his hardest to be human.
And I agree after reading some of the Superman Chronicles.

He's far from perfect.

[Citizen V]

Before INFINITE CRISIS, Kal-L the Golden Age Superman of Earth-Two occupied a unique place of reverence in the DC pantheon. Not only was he the original superhero that inspired all others, but he was held up as the paragon of superhero virtue: the pure moral standard by which all others were measured.

With his actions in INFINITE CRISIS, is Kal-L forever sullied? Thus far, he's been portrayed as a self-righteous, judgmental old man at best and a complicit party to genocide at worst. No matter what happens from here on, has Kal-L's status been damaged beyond all repair?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

In my eyes,Kal-L will always be a hero.Ive recently bought some TPB`s of the Golden Age Superman from DC because Infinate Crisis once again sparked my interest in all things old.

He has done nothing wrong,i dont think.Its just the transition,its not the 1930`s anymore.That should be enough right there.

Treu,a perfect world does not need a Superman...but i dont see any perfect worlds...hence,Superman would always be needed.

[Arkham Resident]

I think it will all depend on how people will look at him after IC..

For me, his reputation was redefined. He still commands respect and reverence but IC showed he's not Infallible and should not be treated in God-like standards.