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By Jason Bourgeois
This month, I'm going for something completely different, and
touching upon a comic-related topic that's been getting a lot of focus
on- and offline. The first picture of Brandon Routh in the blue and
red tights have hit the 'net, and as with anything when it comes to
internet fandoms, there's been a whole lot of bitching.
These people, frankly, need to shut the hell up.
Is the costume perfect? No. There are little things that are
different from what is currently appearing in the comics, but this
argument is old. Things can almost never be a straight translation,
and people want to put their own stamp on things, to make a
contribution of their own, and have a unique vision. I can live with
that, if it turns out well. For the most part, Superman's theatrical
tights turn out quite well.
One of the biggest complaints is that the suit isn't 'traditional'
enough. Excuse me? Is it blue and red? Check. Ok, so the red is a
little darker, but it's still red, and doesn't look THAT bad. Red
undies on the outside? Check. Red cape? Check. Red and yellow S
shield in a pentagon on his chest? Check, again. It's a bit small,
admittedly, and the 3-D molding to it is different, but really, it's
the S-Sheild we all know and love, so I'm willing to see what's going
on here, and adds a bit more depth to the look. Red boots? Check.
So, what's not traditional here? All the pieces are in place. He
even has the spit-curl in the picture we've seen. This is Superman,
people. You can look at it, identify the guy, and all the
recognizable pieces that make that look so uniquely Superman are in
place.
Ok, the boots are a little short, the S-Shield is a little small, the
colors aren't in technicolor, the shorts are a little on the short
side than what we're used to, and he has an additional S-Shield for a
belt buckle.
Now, the buckle is the thing that bugs me a little. It feels overly
redundant with the emblem on the chest, but it's not that big a deal.
Unlike some folks, I'm not crying that this movie is going to suck,
based solely on this picture, because I look at it, and you know what
I see? I see Superman of the 21st Century. Hey, at least it wasn't
Stan Lee's Superman redesign.
To react so vehemently to this lone pic, to have it shake your
confidence in the film solely on its own merits, is terribly, terribly
silly. Does anyone still wonder why internet fanboys get ridiculed?
It's because of stuff like this.
Cast your thoughts back with me now, to several years ago, to 1999,
when the first few pictures from the X-Men movie were hitting the
internet. The fan reaction to the X-Men in black leather was equally
loud, and saying much the same things, but saying that the costumes
weren't from the comics. Which they weren't. They were straight
black leather with very subtle touches to differentiate the people.
And do we remember what happened when the movie came out? And the
sequel? The movies hailed by many as the best comic movies ever made?
In spite of the completely different costumes. Things are different
once you move from a few still photos, to the motion of the big
screen.
Here we are, with likely the same folks who couldn't shut up about
the costumes being nothing like the X-Men, and now with a costume that
is amazingly close to the traditional look, and the bitching
continues.
Please. Get over yourselves. Nothing will ever make these people
happy, not even a complete, literal transliteration to the big screen.
Well, except for Sin City. That's made many a fan happy, but I
digress.
Like I said, the costume isn't perfect, but definite words need to be
said for how close they did get to the costume, and I'm looking
forward more to this movie than before. Keep in mind that I'm not a
Superman fan.
Come next year, I'll be sitting back and laughing as all these
naysayers are hailing this as the next great comic film, despite these
early negative reactions. At least, I hope that's what happens. The
good movie, not the laughing. More good comic movies is always a
plus. The duds hurt everyone.
Jason M. Bourgeois
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