Tom Brevoort on Superman

[CagedLeo730]

The characters and the marriage were one in the same. It was part of who they were. It was a symbol of the growth of their relationship from where they started when they first met to where they had come after exchanging vows and rings. It meant that Clark realized that he could make a family of his own, just as his parents had with each other and him. It meant that Lois saw past the idea of Superman and saw the man that was underneath the public image. It meant new challenges awaited them and new situations to deal with. That's why so many were in favor it and not fond of it's ending.

You can also say that some saw the marriage as basically "happily ever after". The end of the story. The relaunch is taking us back to the beginning with a modern setting.

[SubjectDelta]

Its not about the change so much as the reason for the change. Superman reeks ofmonogamy. Romance with women is not part Supermans character, romance with lois lane is, it is perhaps the greatest romance ever, and therefore there's no reason for them to not be married unless you want to shake things up but to say marriage is bad is myopic.

[KurtW95]

I just think Ma and Pa Kent should both be dead. Then he'd have two sets of dead parents. It's like killing off Aunt May.

[Auguste Dupin]

I just think Ma and Pa Kent should both be dead. Then he'd have two sets of dead parents. It's like killing off Aunt May.

Considering both sets of parents were dead for 50 years before John Byrne decided to change things for no reason, it would more be like killing off Uncle Ben.

[Mr. Holmes]

Considering both sets of parents were dead for 50 years before John Byrne decided to change things for no reason, it would more be like killing off Uncle Ben.

Well even if you disagree, it wasn't "no reason."

[Auguste Dupin]

Well even if you disagree, it wasn't "no reason."

Probably, but you can't really say the kent being dead is really the same as Aunt May being dead, with one having actually been dead when first created and the other not.

[wyokid]

I agree that DC needs to stop trying to make DC relevant and that all Superman needs is a good writer.

I disagree on the marriage.

As for killing the Kents, it all depends when and how.

One of the best Superman writers IMO was Jeph Loeb. He just got it right.

[Fate's Faith]

I have for the longest time never understood why the marriage (and Spider-Man's) were problematic. But I think I agree with the guy. At the least someone finally explained why it was bad. Still glad I did get to see it so there's not going to be that question of what if they did marry. Its been done and no longer a reason to do it again. And until Marvel reboots, Spider-Man will always be married to me. For better or worse. In sickness and health. No matter if you forget...

[Fate's Faith]

Its not about the change so much as the reason for the change. Superman reeks ofmonogamy. Romance with women is not part Supermans character, romance with lois lane is, it is perhaps the greatest romance ever, and therefore there's no reason for them to not be married unless you want to shake things up but to say marriage is bad is myopic.

While I can't imagine him with anyone but Lois, I dislike the idea that the guy can't have romances outside of only Lois. He's had Lana in his life (or used to) and Lori. I don't think that should stop just because he's now a grown man. I think it would be nice for him to explore the different possibilities. Especially since I don't think a marriage will ever happen again.

[SubjectDelta]

While I can't imagine him with anyone but Lois, I dislike the idea that the guy can't have romances outside of only Lois. He's had Lana in his life (or used to) and Lori. I don't think that should stop just because he's now a grown man. I think it would be nice for him to explore the different possibilities. Especially since I don't think a marriage will ever happen again.

Don't see the point of that, you might as well explore the possibilities of ecoli flavored twinkies. Supes and lois are perfect together so you oughta just have superman do hero stuff and let lois serve her function of love interest as necesary.

[Sacred Knight]

I rather find it an insult to Lois's character altogether in that she can only function as Superman's wife. I'm not trying to play revisionist history or anything, I know love interest was the number one reason the character was created in the first place, but that was over 70 years ago. The character has evolved since then. She doesn't need to be embroiled in romantic tension with Superman/Clark for her to be viable.

[SubjectDelta]

I rather find it an insult to Lois's character altogether in that she can only function as Superman's wife. I'm not trying to play revisionist history or anything, I know love interest was the number one reason the character was created in the first place, but that was over 70 years ago. The character has evolved since then. She doesn't need to be embroiled in romantic tension with Superman/Clark for her to be viable.

Are you equally offended by people expecting supes to function as a hero?

That's what they are good at.

But she's always been more than a love interest, she is a perfect damsel in distress

[davidgrantlloyd]

I totally agree with Tom Brevoort on each point (especially the marriage)

The heart of heroism is self-sacrifice. Superman has to be an outsider. He has to be alone. The last Kryptonian. The marriage to Lois was always a joke. Frankly, I think Superman being married made less sense and hurt the character infinitely more than Peter Parker's marriage ever could. Superman would probably be close to the last character that should be married. Once he's married, the outsider aspect (which is absolutely essential) to the character is destroyed; subsequently, by doing that, the entire character design falls in a heap.
Thank you, DC, for finally undoing the marriage.

Sure, at some point they could always revert to the Lois marriage -- hopefully, not for a long time ... I know I won't go near a Superman comic if they do -- but they should at least wait and get as many good ideas, stories, etc they can out of this New 52 (and vastly better) version of Superman before shooting themselves in the foot.

[J. Robb]

There's hundreds of superheroes, they can't all be moody loners.

[Sacred Knight]

Are you equally offended by people expecting supes to function as a hero?

That's what they are good at.

But she's always been more than a love interest, she is a perfect damsel in distress

Damsel in distress? You've missed out on decades of characterization if you still see Lois Lane as a damsel in distress. The very concept of the damsel in distress-type character is dated beyond belief.