What's with the Supes hate?

[Super Macho Man]

Why do so many people hate on the poor man? Some consider him to be the worst character in DC canon. I've always wondered why people jump on him all the time, cuz most of the time it seems to be pretty baseless.

[Ekko]

It's just one of those things I guess. Some people say he's overpowered, even though you have guys like Silver Surfer or Sentry running around. Some people think he's too much of a boyscout, despite the fact that guys like Spiderman and Batman are every bit as soft on crime. Really though, there are still plenty more Supermanfans than hatas, which is probably another reason why the hatas don't like him.

[NotSuper]

It's just one of those things I guess. Some people say he's overpowered, even though you have guys like Silver Surfer or Sentry running around. Some people think he's too much of a boyscout, despite the fact that guys like Spiderman and Batman are every bit as soft on crime. Really though, there are still plenty more Supermanfans than hatas, which is probably another reason why the hatas don't like him.
Well said. Another factor, I think, is Superman representing "traditional" comics which some fans don't like.

[Kara Zor El]

Everything that existst as a reality or in imaginatoin is hated by a multitude of people. In other words all things are hated. You get to hear about more with Superman because he is such a big character.
There are people out there who hate you and I.

[Thanos_6383]

Shouldn't be any reason for Superman hate.

[aukevin]

I don't understand how anyone could "hate" him. I guess some could find him uninteresting or dull, but why hate him? What has he done for that except devote himself to saving the universe. Dislike the writers sometimes maybe, but don't hate the character.

[Eliseu Gouveia]

"Hate" is such a strong word....
I personally prefer to reserve that word for neonazis, murderers, rapists and child abusers.

If I were to describe my relation with Superman it would be a "dislike" of the direction the creative and editorial staff chose for the character in the last few years.

I like Silver Surfer (but I don´t care for Sentry and I openly hate Thor overcompensating-poster-boy-for-aryan-supremacy Odinson), so I have no problem with a powerful Superman, it only depends on the story.
I like Spiderman (but not Batman), so I have no problem with a boyscout Superman - but not with a blubbering goodie two-shoes aspiring to sainthood who´s whipped by his abusive wife and "hasn´t inspired anyone since he last died fighting Doomsday"

Byrne´s Superman is probably one of my favorite characters of all times, right up there with Miller´s Daredevil, Pratt´s Corto Maltese or Herman & Greg´s Comanche, mostly because he was human, relatable, vulnerable, clever, powerful (but not over-the-top)..... most of all, he was fun (even dare I say it? -cool!).
There was empathy between him and the reader (if anyone still uses that word anymore), the reader could identify with him.
He was someone I could either relate to or aspire to be.
Usually both.

He wasn´t perfect or saint and he made mistakes.
He killed the three kryptonians and would most likely have slept with Wonder Woman after 1,000 years of exile in Asgard.

Nowadays I pick a Superman book and I just don´t know who that person is or why I should care for him and his stories.



And with this post I just offered myself for an all-out flamming.

Have fun, guys. ;)

[G'nort]

You have not opened yourself up to flamming. Anyone who would flame you would do it anyway no matter what you post. it is in the flammers nature.

I think there have been some good superman stories recently, the only problem with supes right now is that more and more now adays, he is becoming more of an Icon now than he ever was before. this is forcing writers I think to be careful with superman. Unlike some other heroes, (green lantern) you really do anything too terribly risky with superman without backlash from the fans.

its like the debate right now between the unified new earth or the multiverse. Alot of people remember the good old days were a writer had more freedom with his books because of the multiple realities. While others want this unified earth because they want things to make sense and they want an orderly universe. the unified earth is good for alot of characters. who thrive on continuity but for others, like superman. the in continuity books arent very interesting because there is less risk taking.

the only good superman comics Ive read in the past few years have been out of continuity elseworlds titles.

[Kid Quick Foots]

i dont HATE him, just some of his fans and the writers get under my skin. there is no way he should be able to beat cosmic level baddies like silver surfer, darkseid, or goku, but ppl will argue till they are blue in the face that they are no match for him. IMHO it doesnt cheapen or lessen his character to say he can be beaten, but some ppl just cant take it. then the writers will pull some new power out of there butts, or have him spend 10,000 years in some other realm just to say NOW he can beat thor or captain marvel even with their magic.

[shyguy]

I think a lot of it comes from people not really having read a lot of Superman comics.

A lot of my non-comic-reading friends dislike Superman (one describes him as her least favorite superhero ever), but they also don't really know anything about him. I imagine their opinion would change if they spent an hour with Showcase Presents: Superman or Alan Moore's Supreme, but who knows?

There are a lot of misconceptions about Superman that are easy to buy into if you don't actually read his books, like him being too powerful (what does that mean?) or not having any interesting villains, or that he can easily solve any problem thrown at him.

A lot of people don't like the boyscout mentality, either, which I guess I sort of understand even if I strongly disagree with it.

[Ekko]

I think another thing that causes Superman grief is the fact that everyone likes to see him imagined the way they want. I actually think a lot of the people who might say they don't like Superman don't necessarily dislike the character, they just would rather see him portrayed a certain way.

Eliseu is a perfect example saying he doesn't so much dislike Superman, and just rather prefers the Byrne-era Kent. While I was living in Texas, I had a friend who used to tell me all the time he hated Superman, yet he loved the show Smallville and watched it faithfully with me whenever it aired. And there are a number of people on this forum who have said they don't really like Superman outside the Timm version.

There are definately a lot of people who just plain hate the character, but some of the people who say they don't like him I think really only dislike certain portrayals of him.

[Alan2099]

I think most of the actual hate comes from people that just aren't intrested in seeing larger than life, good natured heroes. These are the people that insist all heroes be dealing with rapists and drug overdose stories, while gritting their teeths and forgetting to shave for the last several days.

[Will.S]

I usually just don't care for the character when the editorial direction is dull and uninspired but with Infinite Crisis, OYL, All Star Superman and the new movie coming out, I feel that the character has been fully revitalized to his full potential and has become inspiring again.

[Mia]

I think most of the actual hate comes from people that just aren't intrested in seeing larger than life, good natured heroes. These are the people that insist all heroes be dealing with rapists and drug overdose stories, while gritting their teeths and forgetting to shave for the last several days.


I used to be of this opinion too. But I like Captain America, I like Mr. Majestic and I like Nightwing. All good and moral men. But none of them have Superman's 'goody-two shoes' annoying personality which I find majorly annoying.