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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:27:53 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:28:09 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:28:48 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:30:04 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:30:38 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:31:21 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:32:24 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:33:07 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:33:57 GMT -5
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 11:36:11 GMT -5
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Post by millring on Jul 5, 2009 11:37:59 GMT -5
Most sensational strip character of all time?
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Post by Fingerplucked on Jul 5, 2009 15:23:30 GMT -5
Demi Moore
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Post by millring on Sept 6, 2009 9:09:56 GMT -5
Yet another skeptic speaks out (a blogger who goes by the name "bend the round") If like the superhero genre at all, you’ve gotta love good ol’ Superman. He can fly, is super-strong, shoots frickin’ lasers out of his frickin’ eyes, and always gets there in the nick of time (or inexplicably turns back time so that he DOES get there in time). Plus, you gotta love that little curl of hair on his forehead. It makes you feel good to see him always make it right.
…and yet… there are a number of things that bug me about Superman and his schtick.
WTF#1 The Disguise
Lois Lane, the crack reporter with honed observational skills, who’s gotten plenty of good close looks at Superman doesn’t notice that Clark Kent is Superman? WTF? Seriously.
WTF#2 Variable Super-Strength
In scene one, a bridge is falling! Superman has to fly up and hold the bridge up until everyone safely clears it. He grits his teeth and grunts and groans under the weight – it’s taking everything he’s got to keep that bridge in place!!
In scene two, a helicopter is falling! Superman has to fly up, catch it, and slowly lower it to the ground. He catches it! He grits his teeth and grunts and groans under the weight – it’s taking everything he’s got to gently lower that helicopter to the ground!
WTF? The bridge covered with cars must have been WAY heavier than that one helicopter, even adjusting for the inertia Superman had to overcome. Is he show-boating? What’s the deal??
WTF Corollary
How does the flying thing work in with the super strength? If Superman’s on the ground, he’s got something to push off of when he’s demonstrating his feats of strength. Not so in the air. Does super strength plus the ability to fly automatically mean that he’s a super strong flyer?
WTF#3 Lois Constantly Falling Great Distances
Superman ALWAYS catches her. ALWAYS. You know why? Because he’s got a freakin’ half an hour to get there before she hits the ground. There’s no in between for Lois…she’s either on the ground or 7,000 feet in the air.
Bad guys – if you ever really want to pose a threat to Lois Lane, and you really feel the need to stick with the “drop her to her doom” theme, push her off the fourth story instead of the 400th. Four stories will do the job, and Superman won’t have nearly the time to get there. Of course, he’s going to be super-pissed when he arrives to find Lois splattered on the ground, but since you’re screwing around with Lois in the first place, you must be aware of that.
WTF#4 Henchmen’s Insistence on Unloading as Many Rounds as Possible at Superman
Guys… Really… The first clip you unloaded on him didn’t phase him. Did you miss those bullets bouncing off him? Sure, most people fall down when you pump a clip in them, but this guy didn’t, so cut it out. All you’re going to accomplish is the possible causality on your side from the ricochets.
While we’re having this nice little chat, lemme ask something else. Why is it that henchmen are only able to hit Superman? Every bullet bounces off of him, but when it comes time to open fire on Lois or the cops, they can’t hit a damn thing. WTF?
WTF#5 The Suit
How many of those things does he have? Does he wear the same one all the time? And where the hell did he get it – or does Superman also have super-tailoring skills? What about the boots? Do those fit under his Clark Kent shoes like footie pajamas?
What is that suit made out of, by the way? Bullets don’t seem to phase that fabric. Lasers frequently bounce right off it without leaving even a scorch mark. Superman is occasionally shown walking casually through fire – would somebody like to tell me why he doesn’t walk out bare-ass naked with all his clothes burned off? Maybe there’d be more female comic book fans if stuff like that happened… probably not, but hey, seems like an easy way to reach out to a market niche.
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Post by mnhermit on Sept 6, 2009 9:43:18 GMT -5
Is that Sonny Bono standing in front of Batman? I think it's MNHermit. Thanks for reminding me John, I'd forgotten all about that night (it was during my party years). I never had too much complaint about Superman - he was obviously a fictional character - but I always had problems with Steve Austin until I realized it was the 'super' music that made him so fast and strong.
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Post by Resolve on Sept 6, 2009 9:55:36 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong...I'm laughing along with the rest of you at all the WTFs!
It just reminds me of one of our book club members who so frequently laments that a book we've read (fiction, mind you) is just too "unbelievable"...and that all the things that happen could never happen to one person. To which I think, "Duh! It's FICTION" and then try to kindly make that point...to no avail!
When life gets a little "too real", I for one love the escape to the "impossible/improbable". To put a thing too closely under a microscope takes away some of the intended fun/romance/mystery/whatever.
The discussion is fun though...so...carry on! ;D
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Post by millring on Sept 6, 2009 9:56:24 GMT -5
- but I always had problems with Steve Austin until I realized it was the 'super' music that made him so fast and strong. Well, yeah, that and the atomic prosthetic arms and legs. At least they didn't claim he could fly. A great smackdown would be ... Kwai Chang Caine vs. the Batman
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Post by Fingerplucked on Sept 6, 2009 9:58:52 GMT -5
WTF#5 The SuitHow many of those things does he have? Does he wear the same one all the time? And where the hell did he get it – or does Superman also have super-tailoring skills? What about the boots? Do those fit under his Clark Kent shoes like footie pajamas? What is that suit made out of, by the way? Bullets don’t seem to phase that fabric. Lasers frequently bounce right off it without leaving even a scorch mark. Superman is occasionally shown walking casually through fire – would somebody like to tell me why he doesn’t walk out bare-ass naked with all his clothes burned off? Maybe there’d be more female comic book fans if stuff like that happened… probably not, but hey, seems like an easy way to reach out to a market niche. Everybody knows that the suit was made out of the blanket he was wrapped in when he came to earth, and that it's just as invulnerable as he is. (I don't remember ever seeing a good explanation as to how it was tailored though. It must have been tough on needles. Or maybe shards of Kryptonite were used to sew it together.)
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Post by millring on Sept 6, 2009 9:58:55 GMT -5
...and that all the things that happen could never happen to one person. Yeah, well, unless it involves Kevin Costner and a message in a bottle. You can't make up stuff like that.
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Post by millring on Sept 6, 2009 10:01:36 GMT -5
Everybody knows that the suit was made out of the blanket he was wrapped in when he came to earth, and that it's just as invulnerable as he is. (I don't remember ever seeing a good explanation as to how it was tailored though. It must have been tough on needles. Or maybe shards of Kryptonite were used to sew it together.) And, of course, it was wrapped around him multiple times, with bunches of excess fabric in both blue and red so there'd be enough of it to cover his adult hugeness. And, of course, contained in the rocket ship that brought him to earth was a pair of special scissors, needle, and thread so that Martha Kent could sew her boy the special outfit.
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Post by Fingerplucked on Sept 6, 2009 10:04:35 GMT -5
WTF#1 The DisguiseLois Lane, the crack reporter with honed observational skills, who’s gotten plenty of good close looks at Superman doesn’t notice that Clark Kent is Superman? WTF? Seriously. Here's another one where the WTF'er is overlooking the obvious: Clark Kent: Wears glasses, a suit & tie, and has no curl over his forehead. Superman: Does not wear glasses & has a curl over his forehead. It doesn't matter though. What does matter is that he wears tights, and Lois Lane is always too busy checking out his package to look at his face.
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