Tag Archives: Superman

Guilty as charged.

But, in my defense, let me point out that Batman is (arguably) the most capable hero in the DC pantheon because he has a contingency plan for ANYthing — even something like Superman going rogue and becoming a villain.

M’ jus’ sayin’.



Cover to “Superman” #682, Alex Ross, 2009

DC Comics.

Rest easy, Gene Hackman.

I probably saw Gene Hackman for the first time in his hilarious turn as Lex Luthor in 1978’s “Superman.”  (Yes, I do realize that I am past the point of self-parody with my preoccupation with comics.)  Then again, 1972’s “The Poseidon Adventure” got plenty of television airtime later in the decade … so I might have seen him there first; I’m not sure.  (This was a very long time ago, people.)

Later in life, it was films like “The Firm” (1993), “Wyatt Earp” (1995) and “Crimson Tide” (1996) that made me truly appreciate Hackman’s talent.

I would rather not comment on the questions surrounding his death; I don’t think my uninformed speculation adds to that conversation.  Suffice to say here that he was a truly superb actor.

[Update — apologies for posting the wrong hyperlink yesterday!]



Cover to “Superman” #675, Alex Ross, 2008

DC Comics.

Variant Cover to “Superman” #710, Adam Hughes, 2011

DC Comics.

ggh

A short and spoiler-free review of “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)

Mind. Blown.

If I could tell my 19-year-old self discovering superhero comics in college exactly how good their big screen adaptations would become, I wouldn’t believe me.

I saw “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) tonight with expectations that were very high. It was still better than I thought it would be. It was easily better than last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War” (although I think of them as two halves of the same epic movie).  I don’t pretend to be a film expert, so take this as speculation — I personally think the pair of “Infinity” films have made comic-book movie history in the same manner as the original “Superman” (1978), Tim Burton’s “Batman” (1989) and Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy (2005-2012).

I don’t really want to make any more observations, because I’m too afraid of inadvertently posting spoilers.  But I will say that there is a massive tonal change between “Infinity War” and “Endgame.”  The banter and humor of the former is largely left aside, and this concluding story is darker and far more emotionally sophisticated.  It’s moving.  It feels strange to write here, but I kept thinking during the movie that this was a more “grown up” Marvel film.

And it is EPIC.  I honestly can’t imagine how Marvel can top it with future films.  There is an action set piece that made my jaw drop.  I can’t say more.

This is an obvious 10 out of 10 from me.

 

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Cover to “Superman” #261, Nick Cardy, 1973

DC Comics.

Some trivia — the lady depicted here is Star Sapphire, Hal Jordan’s ex-girlfriend-turned-celestial-nemesis.  (Hey, we’ve all been there.)  She was traditionally a Green Lantern villain.  I’m not sure why she’s in Metropolis giving Superman a hard time — although she’s sufficiently super-powered to conceivably be a decent adversary for him.)

 

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Cover to “Superman” #35; John Romita, Jr.; 2014

Variant cover for Halloween.

What an image.  That looks like Kal-El crossed with Cthulhu crossed with Pinhead.

 

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Cover to “Superman: A Nation Divided,” Eduardo Barreto, 1999

DC Comics.

 

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