SUPERMAN: DARK SIDE or DARKSEID?

I thought I would chime in on the scrapping of “The Man of Steel” and the darkening of the big blue Boy Scout. As reported by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and everyone else, it looks like Warner Bros. is giving up on Brian Singer’s follow-up to “Superman Returns” in favor of giving Clark Kent and company the “Dark Knight” treatment.

Like many Supes fans I don’t think making him a darker character is the answer to the franchises woes. I watched “Superman Returns” yesterday and I could see past my initial reaction to the film (loved it), and separate the wheat from the chaff.
Brian Singer’s homage to the Richard Donner vision was too long by at least 30 minutes. It lacked urgency and pacing. As a film school instructor told me once it ‘made a meal of every scene’ when it should have been taking small bites.
All the beats were there, all the elements of a great story were right there, and I could clearly see the direction Singer was going in and his reverence for the Donner films was obvious, but…

Now I’m sure you all are saying: ‘OK smart guy, what would you do?”

Well, I certainly would not make Superman ‘dark’. He is not a dark character; he’s an example of all that is good and right with America. He is a hero that sets the example for all other heroes (of the DC universe) to live up to. He does not lie, he does not cheat, he unabashedly waves the flag, and he strives to be a better human being, even though he’s not an American or even a human being for that matter.
Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman’s story is the story of the American dream. An immigrant from a distant land, Clark is adopted by America (folded into our melting pot) and given the chance to become something (someone) better and to succeed despite his differences.

You know, ‘Truth, justice, the American way’, remember?

So, again, what would I do? Well, we’ll need at least three elements to darken the Superman universe, Red Kryptonite, Doomsday and Darkseid.

Episode 1:
Red-k is the Kryptonian element that has the ability to change Superman’s personality and/or his powers. Unlike green-k which kills him, red-k can have multiple, unpredictable effects on Superman. Classic villain and Superman nemesis, Lex Luthor hires the world’s leading chemist to synthesize red-k and exposes Superman. While Kal/Clark experiences all manner of unpredictable personal and professional calamities, Earth sees the arrival of a threat like no other it’s ever seen, another strange visitor with abilities beyond those of mortal man - Doomsday!

Episode 2:
Doomsday comes from Superman’s home world of Krypton. Created to be the ultimate hunter/killer and having escaped Krypton before it’s destruction and the birth of Kal-El. Doomsday travels the universe for hundreds of thousands of years (even encountering Green Lantern) before arriving on Earth and battling a fledgling Justice League. Finally hunting down his fellow Kryptonian in Metropolis, Doomsday and Superman meet in the ultimate showdown where Superman does the unthinkable and sacrifices himself to kill Doomsday and save Earth. Earth is left in shock, mourning and defenseless, opening the door for an invasion…

Episode 3:
Superman needs an adversary that is as bad as Supes is good, a villain that is a clear and frightening threat to planet Earth. We need a character that is the moral opposite of Clark Kent… We need Darkseid.
With the death of Superman, the door is left open for Darkseid and his minions from the planet Apokolips to invade Earth for colonization. Darkseid lays waste to Earth and enslaves its inhabitants. Meanwhile an underground guerilla faction, led by Lois Lane, secretly move Superman’s body to the Fortress of Solitude where they are able to resurrect the Man of Steel and spread the news of Superman’s return. Earth’s human population rises up against Apokolips, and Superman defeats Darkseid.

We don’t need a dark Superman. But we can have a dark Superman movie. Superman is not Batman; he is the opposite of Batman. Superman is the light that leads us out of the darkness; a beacon of hope when all hope is lost.

Supermanica
Superman/Doomsday DVD
DC Database Project
MTV Splashpage