Clark Kent Takes First Flight in 'Superman: Earth One' Preview [Exclusive] - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

 One of the things I love about comic books is that you can really explore the human condition in different ways than you can in standard art. J. Michael Straczynski is one of my favorite writers. He can really craft a story and breathe new life into characters I thought I knew.In an upcoming project he has written a piece about Clark Kent as a young adult before he decides to become Superman. I haven't read the story yet but from this preview I can see some heavy issues are going to be discuss as Clark attempts to find his purpose. Clark asks:



"Where did I come from?
What am I doing here?
Who Am I?
What Am I?"

These are basic question everyone should have an answer for. What I want to know is since you did not make you, how do you even begin to answer these? How can natural material processes even begin to answer this questions. Yes, it is very philosophical. To be honest there have been Superman stories like this before and most of the time its presented as if Clark Kent is destined to become what he becomes -  a superman - very messianic in quite a few ways. This is actually the premise behind the Smallville television series.  I want to see how Straczynski handles the stories.



I'm not at all suggesting that DC Comics endorses the concept of God. I am saying that I believe it is impossible to answer the very important questions of identity and purpose without consulting the one who made us.

Clark Kent Takes First Flight in 'Superman: Earth One' Preview [Exclusive] - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Related articles

• In Superman: Earth One, Clark Kent is the boy who fell to Earth [Comicreview] (io9.com)
• Exclusive First Look: J. Michael Straczynski's 'Superman: Earth One' (slashfilm.com)
• Cinematic Superman: Earth One Reboots Man of Steel (wired.com)
• First Look at the new Emo Superman in SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE (geektyrant.com)
• 'Superman: Earth One' Is For The Twilight Age... Really? (geeksofdoom.com)

Smallville and Friedrich Nietzsche — Superman and the Ubermensch | True Freethinker

Image by xploitme via Flickr
I enjoyed this post by Mariano so much I had to link to it. I do understand exactly what he means because I saw the latest episode of Smallville and Nietzsche's philosophy was brought up and endorsed.
Mariano wrote:

In the most recent episode Carter Hall aka Hawkman refers to Friedrich Nietzsche, “To him, the true hero was the person who embraced the life that he or she was given and made it better. He called that person ‘ubermensch” to which Lois Lane states, “A Superman.” Yet, along with the concept it is stated that, in essence, we can all be an ubermensch.

I like science fiction and fantasy because you can explore themes and ideas that can't be reasonably done in other genres. This is a good example. I think we should be careful in embracing Nietzche's ideas because while he did have some good ones that can be spun positively as it has on Smallville, his philosophy was also an inspiration for the Nazis. Also I don't think Nietzsche thought all people could be ubermensch - only the elite. And when you look at how Nietzsche's ubermensch is described by Nietzche himself do you really wanna be that kind of person? Mariano wrote:

I do not know if they realize that whist to the unlearned in this area this sounds very nice—I can be Superman, after all—to Friedrich Nietzsche the ubermensch were merciless and uncompassionate iron fisted survival of the fittest domineers. Keep in mind that uber is translatable as "super," "above," "over," etc.

I most definitely don't want to be that kind of person if that is what an ubermensch is supposed to be.
Smallville and Friedrich Nietzsche — Superman and the Ubermensch | True Freethinker

Related articles by Zemanta

• "Reconsidering Nietzsche" (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Reconsidering Nietzsche - Six Questions for Julian Young (3quarksdaily.com)
• 'Smallville' Season 10, Episode 2 Preview: 'Shield' (splashpage.mtv.com)