Superdickery in Superman Returns

Although Batman is my favourite superhero, I will always have a soft spot for Superman. As a child of the 1980’s, the Christopher Reeve movies, Supergirl and assorted cartoon and TV spin-offs, as well as the comics, ensured him a spot as the first ever superhero to enter my consciousness.

I still go all giddy when I hear the first few notes of John Williams’s theme. I have visions of running around, arms outstretched, with a cape tied around my shoulders.

With his bright outfit, strict code of ethics, and bullet-proof hide though, Superman has become terminally uncool over the last few decades of cynicism (Even though I’m sure if most people could choose to have a superhero’s powers, they’d pick Supes’s- not Brandon Routh’s- full package).



Anyway, the point is that I like Superman. He’s the superhero I’d be happy my non-existent kids adored. Of course I can also see the funny side of Superman. My perceptions of the Man of Steel have forever been affected by the brilliant website Superdickery.com.

Inspired by the website, I looked for examples of Superdickery (i.e. Superman being a dick) in Superman Returns. I found the following:

WARNING!

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

• Deserting earth without telling lover Lois because it’s too ‘difficult’
• Deserting earth and leaving the planet to fend for itself
• Breaking Lois’s photo frame
• Using his superpowers to mess with the family dog
• Using his superpowers to spy on Lois
• Using his super powers to break into children’s bedrooms
• Using his super powers to cause billions of dollars worth of property damage
• Attempting to seduce engaged Lois
• Leaving his incredibly powerful crystals around for anyone to find
• Lex Luthor sums it up: Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes and don't share their power with mankind.
• Being a complete glory hog (see baseball stadium scene)
• Neglecting his witness role, allowing Lex Luthor an early prison release
• ‘The father is a son, the son is the father’ – Supes Jnr is a killer at the age of 5
• ‘He never lies’… Because concealing your identity isn’t lying
• Walks into a cushy job at the Daily Planet after 5 years and yet never seems to do any journalistic work
• Steals… OK… is handed Lois’s black-out story. But she still does all the life-risking research
• He saves the day but never cleans up the mess – what are you supposed to do with a giant Daily Planet globe in the street? Or a plane in a stadium? Superman's the only one who can move them?

Am I forgetting anything?

Comments

RC said…
wow...strong list...supedrman is just an emotionally weak superhero who is too strong and powerful.

SPOILER:

he was stabbed w/ kyptonite on a kryptonite island...how in the world does he die???

--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
Pfangirl said…
How in the world does he die, or how in the world does he NOT die?

Because seriously, in the original he couldn't even get out of a pool with kryptonite around his neck... and here he's still saving the world by using his super powers. It's as if kryptonite's power has been downgraded.

Or... maybe Superman is up to his dickery again... His 'death' was a bit suspect. Perhaps it was all done to get attention?

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