Talking Superman With Mark Waid
Transcript of a conversation I entered on Twitter Tuesday evening with "Superman: Birthright," "Kingdom Come" and, more recently, "Daredevil" and "Irredeemable" writer Mark Waid.
- Earlier in the evening, Waid and other comics creators were discussing Superman.
@erikburnham @petergkrause @JoeCaramagna I wish they would jump back further and go for Pure American Superman. AND NO GODDAMN JOREL, EVER!- @jeffparker @erikburnham @petergkrause @JoeCaramagna that was supposed to be "Americana" Superman, sorries
- @petergkrause @erikburnham @joecaramagna That he's an alien isn't even remotely crucial to the character. It's how the KENTS raised him!
@jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @joecaramagna I love you, Jeff, but you are categorically insane. Superman KNOWS he's different.- @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @joecaramagna It's the element of tragedy necessary to any great hero.
- @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @JoeCaramagna I don't, actually. I disagree--it's the alien side that keeps him apart and alone.
- @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @JoeCaramagna I'm of the "3 sides" theory--Kal-El, Smallville Clark, and Adult Clark as a construct.
- @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @JoeCaramagna If Clark's real and Superman's the costume, then he's like every other superhero.
- @tropicalsteve @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @JoeCaramagna Agreed they're crucial. But he still has to feel alone, otherwise--
- @tropicalsteve @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @JoeCaramagna --the Clark identity, as an adult, serves no purpose.
- @tropicalsteve @jeffparker @petergkrause @erikburnham @JoeCaramagna None. Kal's half, Smallville is half, and Adult Clark is fake.
- This is where I jumped in.
@MarkWaid As an immigrant, I find the question of "which is the real Clark" a bit ethnocentric, which limits the character. @tropicalsteve- @aboynamedart @tropicalsteve Kind of agree, actually. See your point. How would you address the question?
- @MarkWaid It's a false dichotomy. Like many of us, he appreciates not only the values/mores of his birthplace (cont'd) @tropicalsteve
- @MarkWaid @tropicalsteve But the values he learned in Smallville and Metropolis. Classic Lex stood for anti-immigrant business interests.
- @MarkWaid @tropicalsteve But it's not like (pre-Nu52) he becomes a whole other person when he interacts w/Kara or even Mon-El.
- @MarkWaid Also fair to point out we've hardly ever seen Kryptonian life fully realized a la Metropolis. @tropicalsteve
- @MarkWaid Surely a whole planet has layers of industry/interest/arts beyond Jor-El's work sphere. @tropicalsteve
- @MarkWaid Call it shorthand for Lexcorp Lex - he believes the company (and his) identity is tied to Metropolis'. @tropicalsteve
- @MarkWaid If you accept him as "born and raised" (Smallville notwithstanding) then he's a true Local. @tropicalsteve
- @aboynamedart @tropicalsteve They do. Addressed it in Birthright. But science trumps all there. I mean, come on--
- @aboynamedart @tropicalsteve --their supreme governing body was called the Kryptonian Science Council.
