Perry dickery

[Sean Whitmore]

This is partially split off from the Action Comics thread, but I've been thinking about the subject even before that.

Perry White is...kind of a dick these days, huh?

I can understand wanting to bring back his gruff, "don't call me chief" demeanor. Especially since he'd mellowed into a kind of lovable ol' Grampa Perry in the 90s and early 00s. (Anyone think he still has that adopted kid, by the way?) But did they go too far?

In "Up, Up and Away", he berated Clark in front of the entire staff. In 52, he was about to fire him without much reason (which admittedly led to the cute idea of Clark pulling a "Lois Lane" trick, but that didn't make Perry look any better). And then in the recent Action, another dressing-down, coupled with the notion that Perry doesn't even realize how long Clark's worked for him.

And it's not just the comics. Frank Langella's Perry was one cold fish; a far cry from Jackie Cooper's endearing bluster. And even the Perry from Superman: Doomsday spent most of his limited screen time yelling at Clark and Lois.

Anyone else notice this? And what are your opinions on it? Do you like Perry becoming a bit more stern, or is he crossing the line into Jonah Jameson territory?


SEAN

[David Atkins]

I honestly miss the 90s version, whom was more of a friend to Clark and Lois than a boss. Simultaneously, though, I think they should have kept him a little rougher around the edges than they did in that time period.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Bryan Singer seems to think Perry White is a complete moron if Superman Returns is any indication.

[DonC]

I can understand wanting to bring back his gruff, "don't call me chief" demeanor. Especially since he'd mellowed into a kind of lovable ol' Grampa Perry in the 90s and early 00s. (Anyone think he still has that adopted kid, by the way?)

The kid's gone. Infinite Crisis was a hard reboot of Superman in everything except name. Some of the characters (Superman, Lois) remained the same. Some of them are now radically different (The Kents, Perry, Lex). If you ask me, they fixed something that wasn't broken. Unfortunately no one asked me, so now we have Kryptonians exploring space only to be recalled because the new science rulers of Krypton didn't like the apparent non-science of space exploration.


Anyone else notice this? And what are your opinions on it? Do you like Perry becoming a bit more stern, or is he crossing the line into Jonah Jameson territory?


I think Fireface hit the nail on the head. Perry should be friends with Clark, but also be able to be forceful if he has to be.

By the way, have we seen how Perry is with Lois post-IC?

[botch]

This is partially split off from the Action Comics thread, but I've been thinking about the subject even before that.

Perry White is...kind of a dick these days, huh?

I can understand wanting to bring back his gruff, "don't call me chief" demeanor. Especially since he'd mellowed into a kind of lovable ol' Grampa Perry in the 90s and early 00s. (Anyone think he still has that adopted kid, by the way?) But did they go too far?

In "Up, Up and Away", he berated Clark in front of the entire staff. In 52, he was about to fire him without much reason (which admittedly led to the cute idea of Clark pulling a "Lois Lane" trick, but that didn't make Perry look any better). And then in the recent Action, another dressing-down, coupled with the notion that Perry doesn't even realize how long Clark's worked for him.

And it's not just the comics. Frank Langella's Perry was one cold fish; a far cry from Jackie Cooper's endearing bluster. And even the Perry from Superman: Doomsday spent most of his limited screen time yelling at Clark and Lois.

Anyone else notice this? And what are your opinions on it? Do you like Perry becoming a bit more stern, or is he crossing the line into Jonah Jameson territory?


SEAN


Frank Langella's Perry White was PINO. Perry in name only. Seriously, after that abomination of a movie and already knowing Bosworth was a terrible Lois, the one that stuck with me where I shook my head was Perry. I just kept saying "that is not perry white".

Either way Perry has always been a kind of hardass, it's why J Jonah is much more popular, cos he's funny.

[pariah-1972]

Maybe his dickishness is a way for writers to let off some steam by making fun of there own editors ?

[pariah-1972]

more late night doubley posted goodness courtesy of our lovely late night server...

[pariah-1972]

Bryan Singer seems to think Perry White is a complete moron if Superman Returns is any indication.As far as i'm concerned everyone acted like morons in that movie..
"hmmm lets see Superman leaves for x amount of time the exact same time Clark leaves for X amount of time... coincidence"? NAH !

[Slaughter]

I think Perry was always the opposite of JJJ. While Jameson is more rough and a skinflint, Perry is hard, but he's at least friendly and cares about morals and quality.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Perry White should be everything J Jonah Jamenson thinks he is, but isn't.

J Jonah Jamenson should be what Perry White fears he might become.

[Chad]

From Superman 156:

Hood (over the telephone): We'll teach you, White! Clark Kent put half our gang in jail on that diamond-smuggling rap! We'll knock him off during today's Superman parade!

Perry White: Your threats don't scare me buster! (Hangs up the phone then thinks to himself: "I may talk tough, but these hoodlums mean business! I'd better warn Clark!")

[Super Buddies Forever]

I don't mind them bringing back Silver Age elements, but not at the cost of losing the character development we gained in the '90s.

I miss the Perry White who lost a son, fought cancer and gave up smoking, and adopted a kid late in life. This stern, dickish Perry works early in Superman continuity, not 12 years into Clark's superhero career. We've all seen the same iconic scenes of Perry chewing out Clark. What more can be done with that?

For that matter, I miss Ron Troupe, Keith, Bibbo, Cat Grant, and the rest of the supporting cast from the triangle days. Superman's world doesn't feel like the breathing, functioning place it did a decade ago. Now we only have cardboard cutout versions of Perry and Jimmy in the name of "staying iconic." At this point I consider it a small miracle that John Henry is still a player in the DCU.

[Sean Whitmore]

I miss Bibbo a lot.

C'mon, he made it into the Timmverse! That should mean automatic inclusion in the comics!


SEAN

[botch]

It's amazing that so much of this iconic stuff is because of Superman Returns and the timing of that film and one year later and the build up during infinite crisis. it's ridiculous cos the movie sucks, and elements should only be brought in if they are good, not out of 'respect', like i always imagine Johns trying to put in movie stuff to please his writing partner Donner. Batman Begins should have made DC bring in elements from the movie, that would have been ok. But not for Superman.

[Super Buddies Forever]

They did the same thing with Smallville. Much of Birthright felt like an odd, panicky reaction to try to cash in on the success of that show. At this point, characterization and continuity has been so malleable that if Lois was played by a chimpanzee in the JLA movie, it would probably be reflected in the comic.