Squeaky Dark

Superman comics ignited my desire for large, hulking (pun intended) muscles, when I was a kid. Boy, wouldn't they be of help against my nemesis, my brother, who already had the muscles I dreamt of. I pushed against the floor, but each push-up looked more like a full body heave. I'd collapse, frustrated that I was never going to get strong, or at least strong enough to beat him or even defend myself against his bullying.

So, I'd have to watch someone else fight evil. Christopher Reeve's classic, chiseled features in the 1978 version of Superman were fine, but he was nowhere near the behemoth in the panels of my comics. I watched as Supes flu through to truth, justice, and the American way, feeling empty. At home, I flipped through the piles of comics stored in the hermetically sealed, specially designed, suitcase I kept them in (It was an old Samsonite I wrapped in plastic). Superman was S-H-R-E-D-D-E-D-E-D.

WTF!

Batman outnumbered my Supermans by 10 to 1. He was dark. Complicated. Orphaned. And as badass as superheroes are allowed to be. It was 11 years before I saw another superhero movie. This time, Michael Keaton was caped and cowled, to play Batman. But it was Jack Nicholson's range as a character actor that stole the show. His interpretation of The Joker was flawless.

There were 4 Batman movies, each trumping the last in terms of awfulness. Keaton stayed on for two, Kilmer signed on for one, and the campy, bastardized, neon version with George Clooney, buried the franchise.

It was revived by Christopher Nolan in 2005. DC twice attempted to reintroduce Superman but failed miserable. Which proves my point about my generation. We like our heroes dark and brooding with checkered pasts, who have great big voids they can't fill unless they don a Jungian Archetype and overcompensate on a grandiose scale, like Nolan's Batman. (I credit Nolan here, but it was the 50 years of character exploration by the numerous writers and artists that contributed to Batman's depth).

Maybe my generation is more introspective, seeking to answer why one would fight to the death for an ideology, good or evil.  This is where Nolan succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. So Warner, owners of DC, asked him to dust off the Man of Steel and see what he could do with Superman. Nolan didn't direct but his influence is woven throughout the plot. Superman is an alien, asked by his earth father to hide his powers, caused by living under only one sun. Clark Kent toils with how the world might react to him should he ever reveal that he is Superman. He wanders, alone and lonely, conflicted about whether to help or manipulate these puny humans?

Rent it or buy it on Tuesday and see for yourself if you haven't already. You'll be happy you did.