ArrowsInk

Tag: dc-comics

  • Reporting for Duty: The Superman Story in Between the Lines

    Reporting for Duty: The Superman Story in Between the Lines

    I have a few thoughts on the James Gunn, Superman movie.

    Who is Superman

    Before we begin, let’s first understand who is Superman. Superman aka Kal-El, was born on Krypton. His biological parents Jor-El and Lara sent him to earth shortly before Krypton was destroyed. His ship landed in the American countryside of Smallville, Kansas, where he was found and adopted by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, who named him Clark Kent.

    The Kents realized he was superhuman; due to the Earth’s yellow sun, all of his physical and sensory abilities are far beyond those of a human. Growing up his adoptive parents instilled in him strong morals, he chooses to use his powers to benefit humanity, and fights crime as a vigilante.

    To protect his personal life, he changes into a primary-colored costume and uses the alias “Superman”. Clark resides in Metropolis, and works as a journalist for the Daily Planet.

    [Thank you Wikipedia!]

    His Identity

    The earliest scenes of the movie begins with him interacting with videos of his biological parents and how he finds it soothing. It helps to inform him on his role on earth as a protector. In a way, its not just informing him but also affirming his actions.

    In fact, his biological parents words govern the actions he takes in the movie. Many times we also look to our loved ones as guiding pillars on our morals, ideas and even how to act. We are shaped not just by our own thoughts but also by how others view us.

    In the movie, these words give Superman his meaning. So when it is suspected that there was more to the story and advice provided by his biological parents, Superman (understandably)does not take it well. His whole world is shifted and turned upside down and whatever he thought he knew or who he was ends up turning into a lie.

    But while it bogs Superman down for a while, it acts as a catalyst for him to question what his beliefs, intentions and actions. It pushed him to find out who he was without the noise and words from his biological parents.

    His relationship with his adoptive parents and conversation with his father help him in finding his own path despite what other might say. In fact, the beauty of the movie is the lack of correction from the characters. It doesn’t matter what is being said anymore but only what is being done.

    Lois Lane as an Anchor

    When we see his interaction with Lois Lane we see another side to their dynamic that I enjoyed. Many times Lois Lane is presented as the no nonsense reporter but never with Clark/Superman as the subject.

    But the tables turn, when we see Clark allow himself to be interviewed by her in an act of trust. We see how both of their morals and integrity as journalists and heroes play out. Bringing across an interesting but much needed dynamic. When we want to better ourselves, we need to be challenged. I believe that the reason why Lois and Clark in this film are a believable couple is because of this challenge, and to see it play out in a trusting and vulnerable way gave insight into their dynamic. We know Lois trusts him but she also takes her role as a journalist seriously especially with the backdrop of the movie.

    Unlike Lex Luthor who views Superman as a being to be controlled and destroyed because of his infallible power. Lois challenges Clark/Superman to defend his choices and in a way unearth any uncertainties regarding them. It pushes him to see that people may not see his actions in the same vein.

    The Journalism Aspect

    The fact that Superman and many of his peers are reporters adds an intriguing layer to the story. At its core, the role of a good reporter is to seek the truth and carefully examine sources. Clark initially believes he already knows the truth and trusts his own intentions, but when his world is turned upside down, he’s forced to reevaluate what he truly believes and uncover what’s really happening.

    Similarly, Lois recognizes that the situation is far more complex than the media portrays it, and her trust in Clark/Superman drives her to dig deeper. In this way, journalism, and the shared commitment to truth, becomes a powerful force that connects them, pushing both to pursue their quests for understanding despite starting from different perspectives.

    I Guess That’s The Real Punk Rock

    I really enjoyed the movie and aimed to keep this spoiler-free, but I think beyond how the movie showed that Kindness can be a superpower these areas and themes stood out to me the most. I appreciated how the story wrapped up this dynamic in a way that stayed true to the characters and provided extra nuances and layers without compromising either.

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  • Batman: The Shadowed Beacon of Hope

    Batman: The Shadowed Beacon of Hope

    Contrary to popular belief, Batman is a symbol of hope just like Superman. Without this understanding, one has failed to understand the Dark Knight. Batman shines hope not only on the people of Gotham but also on his villains, peers and readers alike.

    Dressed in dark colours and perched on gargoyles (Gotham really does have too many of those), Batman is a stark contrast to what we usually imagine hope to be. He is not bright or flamboyant but instead is bruised, beaten and even seems sinister. Yet, he embodies a hope that lurks in the shadows, a constant presence even when the sun goes down.

    My love for ‘The Bat’ stemmed from watching the Justice League and Batman shows as a child. It slowly grew on to me when I started reading the comics and learnt more about the affectionately termed ‘Bat Family’. I found it fascinating to see the hero that many assume works alone, have a vast network of misfits trailing behind him. Each with a contrasting personality but still united for a single purpose.

    Bruce Wayne The Boy

    To understand Batman, we must first understand the boy behind the mask. Bruce Wayne was once just a child, devastated by the tragic loss of his parents in a dark alley (infamously dubbed as Crime Alley). This traumatic event doesn’t just define his past; it shapes his very purpose. Ironically, Bruce is his own greatest foil. He sacrifices the chance at a normal, happy life in exchange for a never-ending mission to ensure that no other child suffers the same fate he did.

    Gotham itself is a reflection of Bruce’s inner turmoil. The city is as broken, chaotic, and corrupt as the boy who lost everything. Its streets, plagued by crime, greed, and violence, mirror Bruce’s own darkness, a darkness born of grief and a longing for justice.

    Gotham is a reflection of the personal devastation that fuels Batman’s every action, a city on the brink of collapse, just like Bruce’s fractured soul. But, in fighting for Gotham, Bruce is also fighting for himself. He’s reclaiming control over a past that took everything from him, much like he’s attempting to reclaim agency in a world that seems uncontrollable.

    We see this in his symbol, The Bat-Signal, shining in the Gotham night sky, a symbol that embodies both fear and hope. For the citizens of Gotham, it represents a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark world, a signal that someone is watching over them, fighting to restore order.

    For Gotham’s criminals, it evokes fear, signaling that their actions will not go unpunished. This duality mirrors Bruce’s own existence: the trauma of his childhood both fuels his resilience and defines the very symbol of Batman. Bruce doesn’t run from his pain; he channels it, using it as the driving force behind his quest for justice. In doing so, he reclaims not just Gotham, but his own sense of purpose and control.

    Yet his mission isn’t without its personal cost. Every step Bruce takes towards his purpose is met with a new challenge. Whether it’s the villains he faces or the children he tries to protect, Batman is constantly walking a tightrope. His “No Kill Rule” is tested time and again most poignantly during the death of Jason Todd. Death in the Family was particularly tough to read, because Jason’s death wasn’t just a loss it nearly broke Bruce, pushing him to the edge of crossing that line he swore never to cross: killing the Joker.

    This event left a deep scar on Bruce. His guilt and sense of failure made him hesitant to take on another Robin Tim Drake (who many consider the one who perfected the mantle). After Jason, Bruce became more isolated, more obsessed with his mission, and more burdened by the weight of his choices. It’s in these moments that Bruce’s true resilience shines: he never takes for granted that anyone, even those closest to him, won’t be pushed to the brink. He treads the line between hope and despair daily. In the darkest of times, he chooses to stay true to his purpose.

    (I bet if we took an Adversity Quotient (AQ) for Bruce Wayne ,it would be higher than anything we could ever imagine.)

    ”People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy, and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed. But as a symbol, as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting.”- Christopher Nolan

    The Hero We Deserve

    Batman is a friend in today’s age; his relatability is in showcasing how a tragedy spends its time shaping us. Many people are shaped by good and bad things that happened to them. It impacts their politics, speech, dressing, thoughts and even their interests.

    I find it poignant that his villains were also shaped by things that happened to them; Penguin, Harvey Dent, the infamous Joker each of them mirrors Bruce in some way, embodying the path of despair and hopelessness that Bruce has always fought to avoid. Batman stands as a constant reminder that one bad day doesn’t have to define your future. He doesn’t just fight to stop them; he fights to show them that redemption is still possible. He sees in them what they can’t see in themselves: the possibility of hope.

    To quote Kingdom Come page 151, panel 2 “More than anyone in the world, when you scratch everything else away from Batman, you’re left with someone who doesn’t want to see anybody die.” Batman’s journey isn’t just about defeating villains, it’s about showing us that, no matter the pain or loss we face, we have the power to choose hope.

    Till we meet again

    No matter the version, whether the detective of the comics, the dark knight of the movies, or the animated hero from the cartoons, each Batman carries the same essential truth: even when all seems lost, it is not. He stands as a symbol of resilience, a reminder that hope can survive even the darkest nights.

    Each new incarnation is a passing of the torch, a fresh reminder that the fight goes on, and so does the hope.

    Till we meet again, in shadows and stories yet to come.