# A dad's-eye view of Superman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694 "2006-02-15T21:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/1 "2006-02-15T21:53:01Z")
My 7-year-old son brought a book home from his school library that is a collection of Superman comics from the late 50’s and 60’s. I was pretty pumped about this because it was in the early 60’s that I used to take my weekly allowance–a dime–to the drug store and buy the latest Superman comic. I was pretty ticked when they raised the price to $.12–paper and ink costs going up, they claimed. Anyway, I started reading to him out of this book as bedtime stories for a few days. The thing that struck me was how lame these stories are. (Stories from other eras earlier and later may have been much different; I don’t know, I’m not a Superman historian.) I mean _really lame_ plot devices. Like he purposely destroyed a huge underwater movie set as part of an elaborate scheme to fool some criminals who were plotting to assassinate the president (don’t ask), and then his thought cloud says, “I’ll just fix this later.” Then in the same episode he destroys a bridge, and then his thought cloud says, “I’ll just fix this later.” In a different episode he becomes trapped by Brainiac in a miniaturized Kryptonian city in a bottle. He gets out by using a rocket ship which just happened to be developed by a scientist there (why someone in a bottle needs a rocket I’ve no idea. No, it wasn’t a bottle rocket.). Problem was getting through the metal stopper in the top of the bottle. Well, it just so happens that the city has a zoo with an animal that just happens to eat metal. So he takes this animal up with him and has it eat through the stopper. Why they didn’t have a drill is beyond me. I’m still trying to figure out how Bizarro Superman could be totally inorganic. Journalists are invited aboard a spaceship. Clark feigns claustrophobia or something and simply dons a rocket pack, jumps out the door, and ostensibly jets back to Earth (although he really just flew back as Superman as soon as he was out of sight). I’m all for literary license but even for kids’ stories, this is Lame. It sort of spoiled my memories of how cool all those stories were. I will never think of them the same way again. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/2 "2006-02-15T22:10:30Z")
We’ve all been conditioned to read comics as they’ve developed since Marvel changed everything in the 60s. But late 50s superhero comics were designed to be for seven-year-olds. For one thing, this was after the comics code, so publishers went out of their way to make everything as innocuous as possible. And also comics then really were thought of as things for kids. Adults didn’t read comics unless they were morons (see any depiction of an adult comic reader in the media at the time.) Even teens were too old to read comics. Comics were for kids to thrill at without ever thinking. The past is a different country. We so forget that all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/3 "2006-02-15T22:13:20Z")
Even a young skip, I never much cared for Superman. I mean, he’s indestructable, totally moral, and completely handsome. Where’s the drama? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/4 "2006-02-15T22:16:40Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > In a different episode he becomes trapped by Brainiac in a miniaturized Kryptonian city in a bottle. He gets out by using a rocket ship which just happened to be developed by a scientist there (why someone in a bottle needs a rocket I’ve no idea. No, it wasn’t a bottle rocket.). Problem was getting through the metal stopper in the top of the bottle. Well, it just so happens that the city has a zoo with an animal that just happens to eat metal. So he takes this animal up with him and has it eat through the stopper. Why they didn’t have a drill is beyond me. The scientists of Kandor had all kinds of odd things. Some were standard Kryptonian devices. Some were part of ongoing research to restore the city to its normal size. Some were just scientists working in their fields. Flashbacks established that most zoos had metal eaters. I’d be stunned if that story was the first mention of them. IIRC Metal eaters look like a cross between a rhinoceros and a bulldog. The bars of a metal eaters cage are made from tempered glass. Otherwise, it would eat its way free. Visitors to the zoo bring empty cans, etc to throw to the metal eater. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/5 "2006-02-15T22:17:06Z")
Gee, is it appropriate for seven-year-olds to read Superman? _Especially_ from the 50’s and 60’s? After all, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, Superman Is A Dick at [http://www.superdickery.com/dick/1.html](http://www.superdickery.com/dick/1.html) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/6 "2006-02-15T22:18:10Z")
For many, many examples of comic book lameness, see [Superdickery.Com](http://Superdickery.Com) at [http://www.superdickery.com/](http://www.superdickery.com/). Started with the principle that Superman is a real dick, and illustrating that principle, he moved on into such subjects as Stupid powers, and so forth. Mainly, it’s Superman, but some others get a look in. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/7 "2006-02-15T22:25:50Z")
Even AS a young skip…sorry ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/8 "2006-02-15T22:35:45Z")
They didn’t call it the Silver Age for nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/9 "2006-02-15T22:40:47Z")
Is Kandor still in the comics? I quit buying and reading on anything like a regular basis right around the time of the Crisis on Infinite Earths dealie in the 80’s, so I am aware that a lot of the stuff I associate with Superman doesn’t “exist” anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/10 "2006-02-15T22:49:24Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Is Kandor still in the comics? I quit buying and reading on anything like a regular basis right around the time of the Crisis on Infinite Earths dealie in the 80’s, so I am aware that a lot of the stuff I associate with Superman doesn’t “exist” anymore. Bottled Kandor, no. But there’s a new version of it, with a slightly different story. (It’s now in a different dimention, and isn’t inhabited soley by Kryptonians.) Supergirl and Power Girl are going to be there in Supergirl’s book OYL. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/11 "2006-02-15T23:14:12Z")
What? They’re not lame! They’re goofy! There’s a difference. I know [the book](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401207588/sr=8-1/qid=1140044789/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4369656-1992032?%5Fencoding=UTF8) you’re talking about, and it’s awesome on toast. Obviously they can’t do a story where Superman is really threatened, because nothing can threaten Superman, so the stories are soap opera, puzzles, and just plain old fashioned stories of Superman being a dick. Heck, if I didn’t already have a copy, I’d take it off your hands. (And if it wasn’t a library book.) Instead, I’ll merely wait impatiently until Volume 2 comes out this spring. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/12 "2006-02-16T17:19:28Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > What? They’re not lame! They’re goofy! There’s a difference. Yeah, that’s the one. Well, I have just have this picture of the writers sitting in a room saying (hypothetical story), “How do we resolve this situation we’ve built up? I mean, Superman has to either let Lois Lane die, or let Jimmy Olsen die. How do we get out of this one? Should we study ancient Greek tragedies, or classic Shakespeare for how they resolve their epics? Nah, fuck it. Let’s just invent purple Kryptonite and then go have lunch.” My point isn’t really to trash the comic, but just to say that as an adult I am not reliving the excitement I felt as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/13 "2006-02-16T17:30:59Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Adults didn’t read comics unless they were morons (see any depiction of an adult comic reader in the media at the time.) As starkly contrasted with the depictions of adult comic readers in the media today, you mean? _“But, Aquaman! You cannot marry a woman without gills! You’re from two different worlds!”_ ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/14 "2006-02-16T18:32:39Z")
As someone who started reading comics shortly after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, I always had a hard time understanding what anyone saw in any of those books. I think whatever comics we grow up reading are the ones we remember as being the ‘best’, so for me it was stuff that a lot of other readers at the time hated. I have fond memories of Secret Wars II , for example. When I started looking at back issues of Batman, I couldn’t believe how unbelievably corny some of the stuff was and I wondered how the book lasted to the modern era being so crappy. But occassionally now I go back and re-read one of my favorites from that era and I wonder how I could have thought so highly of it at the time. I think for a lot of this stuff it’s the memories I have associated with reading it for the first time, moreso than the actual story, that I remember so fondly. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/15 "2006-02-16T19:45:56Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Yeah, that’s the one. > > Well, I have just have this picture of the writers sitting in a room saying (hypothetical story), "How do we resolve this situation we’ve built up? Actually it’s more interesting than that. Mort Weisinger would call up the cover artist and say “Hey, do a cover where Superman’s fighting Clark Kent” or “where a lion is about to bite Lois’s head off” or “where Superboy is being denied membership is a club of super-teens.” Then he’s show the writer the cover and tell him to figure out a way for Superman to get out of it. [qoute=batsto]I think for a lot of this stuff it’s the memories I have associated with reading it for the first time [/quote] Mark Waid (and others) says “The Golden Age of anything is 12.” –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/16 "2006-02-16T20:09:46Z")
batsto: > [@](#): > > I have fond memories of Secret Wars II , for example. You’ve got to be kidding. SWI, sure, but SWII? Utter crap. Not campy, not corny, just crappy. And the art stunk, to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/17 "2006-02-16T20:13:14Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Mark Waid (and others) says “The Golden Age of anything is 12.” Mark Waid wasn’t even born when it was coined. [http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/aglocs4.html](http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/aglocs4.html) > [@](#): > > I see that now James Gunn is being given credit for saying, “The Golden Age of science fiction is 13.” Wrong. And whoever thinks I claimed credit for it is wrong, too, because I know who did first say it, which was a fan from the Bay Area named Peter Graham, circa 1952. Terry Carr picked it up from him and made the phrase popular. > > Robert Silverberg ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/18 "2006-02-16T20:31:12Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Actually it’s more interesting than that. Mort Weisinger would call up the cover artist and say “Hey, do a cover where Superman’s fighting Clark Kent” or “where a lion is about to bite Lois’s head off” or “where Superboy is being denied membership is a club of super-teens.” Then he’s show the writer the cover and tell him to figure out a way for Superman to get out of it. And those covers were inspired by conferencing with neighborhood kids. Sometimes I think that the NYC school water supply was spiked with LSD in those days. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/19 "2006-02-16T21:02:02Z")
Yes, I liked Secret Wars II…because I was young enough, and new enough to comics to not know any better. For the same reasons I assume that the OP found those awful Superman stories so much better when he was younger. I guess I should clarify…I have fond memories of _reading_ Secret Wars II. Looking back at it now, I can see why people thought it stunk. But I remember being 12 years old or so and reading it, thinking it was the coolest thing ever. It doesn’t really hold up now that I’m older though. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694/20 "2006-02-16T22:32:00Z")
That New Mutants SWII tie-in issue where they all die kicks ass, though. When Claremont was on, he was seriously on. –Cliffy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dads-eye-view-of-superman/344694.md?page=2)