The End of Superman?

[jessealess]

In 2013, Warner Brothers will lose the rights to the Superman franchise.  Sole ownership will then belong to the heirs of Jerome Siegel and Joe Schuster, who created Superman in 1938 (as the character is known today).  No one can say for sure what Siegel and Schuster will do once they've secured the copyright.  They could turn right back around and craft a new deal with WB, or any other company for that matter.  However, their lawyer in the settlement case has been quoted as saying this: "The Siegels look forward to the remainder of the case, which will determine how much defendants owe them for their exploitations of Superman."  Is it me, or is there some animosity in hidden somewhere in there?

[Gypsy]

and the movie for 2011?

[jessealess]

I can't be sure, but I think WB is still moving forward with it. 

[Deadlight]

In 2013, Warner Brothers will lose the rights to the Superman franchise.  Sole ownership will then belong to the heirs of Jerome Siegel and Joe Schuster, who created Superman in 1938 (as the character is known today).  No one can say for sure what Siegel and Schuster will do once they've secured the copyright.  They could turn right back around and craft a new deal with WB, or any other company for that matter.  However, their lawyer in the settlement case has been quoted as saying this: "The Siegels look forward to the remainder of the case, which will determine how much defendants owe them for their exploitations of Superman."  Is it me, or is there some animosity in hidden somewhere in there?

I really couldn't speculate on this Jess. All I can say is I hope Superman never fades away. Perhaps it is foolish of me, perhaps it is silly romanticism on my part, but I am one who values heroes. Be they fictional ones or actual ones, in my opinion the world needs heroic characters. In today's time Superman and what he represents may be a cliche. To be sure most American's no longer value the virtues of a character like Superman, the patriotism, and the sense of right and wrong. Superman was born to another generation of another time who had a totally different set of values than people do today. Superman might be a relic, a corny and cliche hero representing things people put little stock in. But he was at one time a part of American popular culture. He did indeed have a value to society. The history of comic books closely mirrors society and its values of the moment. When America aided in saving the world from Facism Superman joined the fight. Other comic heroes also fought against real villains and social ills. Fighting drugs, crime, etc..our fictional comic heroes dealt with it. This in part keeps them relevant to the current times. But it also represents an aspect of our collective psyche I think. Batman, for example...I always felt Batman represented real people. Sure, his alter ego was a millionaire. But he was a normal man otherwise with some great martial prowess, advanced technology, and exceptional detective skills. Gotham City was the ultimate expression of what is bad about human society. Every crime, social ill, etc is found in Gotham. And Batman, much like me or you is an ordinary man, an imperfect person, but above all a person of decency fighting against an indecent world. The new movies reflect the true character of Batman well.

Our world is not unlike some of the comic book worlds. We have evil in it. We have crime. We have inhumanity. Just like in fictional worlds there's a need for heroes in our real world. Only, we really don't have them anymore. We used to in past generations. But in today's time we love to destroy anyone heroic. And the anti-hero is now the hero. In some cases we even see a villain as a hero. Superman, Batman, any fictional hero should be kept alive somehow in pop-culture. There's a value in them...even if it is merely fantasy.

[Qucifer]

In 2013, Warner Brothers will lose the rights to the Superman franchise.  Sole ownership will then belong to the heirs of Jerome Siegel and Joe Schuster, who created Superman in 1938 (as the character is known today).  No one can say for sure what Siegel and Schuster will do once they've secured the copyright.  They could turn right back around and craft a new deal with WB, or any other company for that matter.  However, their lawyer in the settlement case has been quoted as saying this: "The Siegels look forward to the remainder of the case, which will determine how much defendants owe them for their exploitations of Superman."  Is it me, or is there some animosity in hidden somewhere in there?

I really couldn't speculate on this Jess. All I can say is I hope Superman never fades away. Perhaps it is foolish of me, perhaps it is silly romanticism on my part, but I am one who values heroes. Be they fictional ones or actual ones, in my opinion the world needs heroic characters. In today's time Superman and what he represents may be a cliche. To be sure most American's no longer value the virtues of a character like Superman, the patriotism, and the sense of right and wrong. Superman was born to another generation of another time who had a totally different set of values than people do today. Superman might be a relic, a corny and cliche hero representing things people put little stock in. But he was at one time a part of American popular culture. He did indeed have a value to society. The history of comic books closely mirrors society and its values of the moment. When America aided in saving the world from Facism Superman joined the fight. Other comic heroes also fought against real villains and social ills. Fighting drugs, crime, etc..our fictional comic heroes dealt with it. This in part keeps them relevant to the current times. But it also represents an aspect of our collective psyche I think. Batman, for example...I always felt Batman represented real people. Sure, his alter ego was a millionaire. But he was a normal man otherwise with some great martial prowess, advanced technology, and exceptional detective skills. Gotham City was the ultimate expression of what is bad about human society. Every crime, social ill, etc is found in Gotham. And Batman, much like me or you is an ordinary man, an imperfect person, but above all a person of decency fighting against an indecent world. The new movies reflect the true character of Batman well.

Our world is not unlike some of the comic book worlds. We have evil in it. We have crime. We have inhumanity. Just like in fictional worlds there's a need for heroes in our real world. Only, we really don't have them anymore. We used to in past generations. But in today's time we love to destroy anyone heroic. And the anti-hero is now the hero. In some cases we even see a villain as a hero. Superman, Batman, any fictional hero should be kept alive somehow in pop-culture. There's a value in them...even if it is merely fantasy.

[mozzribo]

WB should be destroyed by Superman. That would be justice.