Superman in this reality

[mcgaffer]

Superman somehow gets transported to our reality. How does that change the world we live in? And how does our world affect Superman?

[Syphre Zero]

This question hits the forums every few months, and the default answer is usually the same:

"Go read Busiek's Secret Identity."

While I agree, I suppose I should provide my own answer.

Superman has been shown time and again to be the consummate hero in any environment. He'd immediately figure out where he was needed and deal with the non-super-villain problems that we face all the time: putting out wildfires, saving people from earthquakes, catching errant planes, trains, and automobiles. Social problems are another matter entirely; I can't imagine him getting involved in the Iraq war or any political conflicts. It doesn't matter that he could spot Osama bin Ladin from orbit, pick him up, and drop him in the White House Rose Garden; in his heart of hearts he knows he can't show favoritism on the world stage, or act as an agent of the US government.

In terms of how our world would affect him, I don't see him being overly pleased with the state of things. I think he'd be turned off by red-state hyper-patriotism (we all know That Guy who answers "kill 'em all!" when asked about the Middle East), and disappointed in the apathy shown by others. Ultimately, I think he might find himself hamstrung by his own ideals, and left only with the hope that he could inspire someone in a nation more interested in Britney Spears' latest meltdown than being decent to each other.

Our world needs a Superman, but I think it needs a social enema first - in some ways we're not ready for a hero, no matter how much better off we would be for his presence.

Oh, and I call dibs on taking Jimmy Olsen's place as Superman's Pal. Yep, dibs.

[Preus]

Superman makes it into this world & every criminal is f*cked. I'd really be glad if we got a Superman of our own.

[Xothermic]

"Go read Busiek's Secret Identity."

You pretty much took what I was going to say. Anyway, go read Busiek's Secret Identity.

[Froggy]

This question hits the forums every few months, and the default answer is usually the same:

"Go read Busiek's Secret Identity."

While I agree, I suppose I should provide my own answer.

Superman has been shown time and again to be the consummate hero in any environment. He'd immediately figure out where he was needed and deal with the non-super-villain problems that we face all the time: putting out wildfires, saving people from earthquakes, catching errant planes, trains, and automobiles. Social problems are another matter entirely; I can't imagine him getting involved in the Iraq war or any political conflicts. It doesn't matter that he could spot Osama bin Ladin from orbit, pick him up, and drop him in the White House Rose Garden; in his heart of hearts he knows he can't show favoritism on the world stage, or act as an agent of the US government.

In terms of how our world would affect him, I don't see him being overly pleased with the state of things. I think he'd be turned off by red-state hyper-patriotism (we all know That Guy who answers "kill 'em all!" when asked about the Middle East), and disappointed in the apathy shown by others. Ultimately, I think he might find himself hamstrung by his own ideals, and left only with the hope that he could inspire someone in a nation more interested in Britney Spears' latest meltdown than being decent to each other.

Our world needs a Superman, but I think it needs a social enema first - in some ways we're not ready for a hero, no matter how much better off we would be for his presence.

Oh, and I call dibs on taking Jimmy Olsen's place as Superman's Pal. Yep, dibs.
aww man!

I wanted to be his pal :(

[Preus]

If Superman were real I doubt he'd have a pal.

[Sean Whitmore]

If Superman were real I doubt he'd have a pal.

Certainly not if it was the Pre-Crisis version. He'd kill the poor bastard!

http://www.superdickery.com/images/dick/1027_4_127.jpg

http://www.superdickery.com/images/dick/1027_4_102.jpg

(Courtesy of Superdickery, natch)


SEAN

[CYOTI]

Superman somehow gets transported to our reality. How does that change the world we live in? And how does our world affect Superman? His powers probably wouldn't work in our reality.

[filthysize]

Depends.

By our world, you are including the fact that he is a popular character with a 70+ year history?

[Preus]

Actually, he's right, his powers wouldn't work in our reality. The difference between a red & yellow sun is very small. You're only going to get a little more or little less energy from one or the other.

[eggie]

You pretty much took what I was going to say. Anyway, go read Busiek's Secret Identity.

Yes, yes, YES!!! If you haven't read 'Secret Identity' drop whatever you are doing and find a copy now...it is phenomenal!!!

I mean it...don't post again until you've read it! I am NOT kidding...well, I kind of am, but it is really really good so you should read it anyway, but you don't have to do it right now, although you would be happy if you did! ;) :D

[3D Master]

Superman somehow gets transported to our reality. How does that change the world we live in? And how does our world affect Superman?

Not at all.

He dies moments after our sun's radiation kills him. :p

[David Atkins]

Oh, and I call dibs on taking Jimmy Olsen's place as Superman's Pal. Yep, dibs.

Fine then. I'll call dibs on the arch-nemesis role, even if it does mean I'll have to shave my head, start a multi-billion dollar corporation, and rant about how I could cure cancer if he'd just GO AWAY. :evilangry

:p

[Captain Smith]

He is killed by Donald Trump and Dick Cheney in purple power suits.

Seriously, he would have profound impacts on science and religion.

1. He's seen that the literal creationists are full of it.
2. He proves that there are alien life forms. He tells us that the universe is full of really dangerous other civilizations
3. He tells us that there are alternate universes - that would be a joy for physics but that we are in a puny ass one.

About what he does in a universe without supervillians is problematic. He could use his powers to overt disaster and aid in such. He could aid modern medicine with his powers.

He can't patrol every city to stop muggings.

He could stop with warning 9/11 like events.

But I like the suggestion to read Secret Identity

He would be bugged to classify himself as conservative or liberal. If the latter, he is denounced by Fat Boy Rush and Sleazy Sean on the radion and tube. He throws them into the sun.

[Ironman2978]

If Superman exist in the world. It would be a mixture of Smallville and Superman the Movie, Superman 2 the richard donner cut, Supergirl the movie, Superman Returns, Superman: Batman: Generations and Kurt Busier's Superman: Secret Identity.

[Gernot]

Superman probably wouldn't have any REAL friends. He'd have a few billion sycophants, though. ;)

[Ironman2978]

Mabye he would fight realistic versions of Bizarro, Metallo and angry comic book fanboys:D

[Zacharius]

Social problems are another matter entirely; I can't imagine him getting involved in the Iraq war or any political conflicts. It doesn't matter that he could spot Osama bin Ladin from orbit, pick him up, and drop him in the White House Rose Garden; in his heart of hearts he knows he can't show favoritism on the world stage, or act as an agent of the US government.


Reason that Superman does not solve world´s problems is because then American readers would stop buying comics.


Superman does not change the world he lives in; he introduces enough danger that his stories are interesting to read, but he literally can not change his world. The superhero as a genre is unchanging and eternal. Heroes don't age and they don't die (even when they do it is almost always transient, as in the 'death' of Superman). They can do this because they are not taken as reality by the reader.

If the superhero was taken as real, his world would diverge from our own very quickly, since a super-powered being would change everything. He would not, if taken in a realistic sense, be unable to change the world around him. Of course, the commercial nature of comic books today means that the superhero must be in his monthly comic every month, and the reader must be able to relate to that world. So the superhero is left in limbo, utterly a failure in any realistic sense. By their very nature, a superhero should make the world a better place; that is his purpose. And yet he can't, because of the nature of the format in which the character is published.

WATCHMEN said to hell with that. In this book superheroes are presented as real beings, and their world shows vast changes from our own. Dr. Manhattan's very existence has revolutionized everything, allowing electric cars to become the norm, outrageous architecture (the geodesic domes shown in every cityscape shot) to flourish, and science to advance exponentially. Comment by Michael Tymczyszyn

[IamtheRock3]

He may not interfear in world politics

but imagine him stopping terrorist attacks and genocides

But no, he wouldnt tossed dictators in the ocean..sadly

We need Sumpreme to do that

[Ironman2978]

http://www.freewebs.com/ironman25978/
(http://ironman2978.proboards79.com/index.cgi ) for
fan fiction for superman(http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/m...31#2004100331), batman( http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/m...006#2004082006) and the JLA(http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/m...632#2004086632

[Lord Trigon]

Actually, he's right, his powers wouldn't work in our reality. The difference between a red & yellow sun is very small. You're only going to get a little more or little less energy from one or the other.

I'd relly try and avoid talking about just how his powers work. I...can think of some ways but it might now be the light from the sun that gives him his powers. maybe it some of that other stuff the sun throws off or he may breath hydrogen...else