tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post7472123183371449267..comments2023-11-05T07:44:07.654-05:00Comments on GeniusboyFiremelon: The Superman 2000 Pitch: Clark KentTimothy Callahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078183191900311833noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-45613755389169526642008-06-21T01:11:00.000-04:002008-06-21T01:11:00.000-04:00I can see the logic behind this idea, but I'm not ...I can see the logic behind this idea, but I'm not sure I agree either. The logic is, of course, extending Superman's respect for life beyond its usual limitations--something Casey did during his run by making Superman a pacifist. It's an interesting idea and one worth exploring if only to see if it goes too far or doesn't actually make sense. On the surface, it does: Superman is against killing and would therefore try not to kill anything. The current character already has a hierarchy of life since he won't kill humanoids or "intelligent" life, but everything "below" is fair game. Extending that to animals or even bacteria is a dangerous move, because, as stated, plants are alive as well, so why would we eat them? Where does Superman's sanctity of life begin and end?<BR/><BR/>Superman as a vegetarian makes sense in many ways, but does open the door to some strange consequences. It also may cross that line between "inspiration" and "didacticism," which is pretty thin as it is.Chad Nevetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11785622045733202883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-76007531079494612992008-06-19T18:58:00.000-04:002008-06-19T18:58:00.000-04:00Regardless of what sense it may or may not make in...Regardless of what sense it may or may not make in terms of Superman's character, this dietary issue is in my view little more than posturing on the part of the Superman writers. How many scenes can you recall in which the non-animal-based superhero is having lunch? <BR/><BR/>The only one I can remember is in Waid's "Birthright!"andy khourihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05717045909747792941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-7377365512376372902008-06-19T17:12:00.000-04:002008-06-19T17:12:00.000-04:00I guess I've never really understood the logic beh...I guess I've never really understood the logic behind vegetarianism anyway, so I can see how Superman becoming one would just add needless controversy to the comic books.<BR/><BR/>After all, plants are just as much alive as any other organism on the planet. Is it so much more moral to slice apart, dehydrate, or freeze a radish than to do so to a rabbit? In fact, since most plants convert our carbon dioxide waste, which we and some of our machines expel, into oxygen, which we need to breathe, wouldn't becoming carnivores make more since if, as it seems in my experience, the reason to become vegetarian in the first place is due to some concern about the environment? Plants are the ultimate pacifists and they do almost nothing to use except aggravate some people's allergies. Whereas some animals put out more atmosphere-harming gasses than some cars, plants help us survive, so I don't understand why it's somehow more moral to kill something that can't even try to fight back. Just because you can't hear your carrot scream when you bite into it doesn't mean it doesn't and just because they have no eyes doesn't mean fruit juice isn't the sweet tears of the innocent that run down your cheek.:}<BR/><BR/>I'll admit that went to a little weird place, but I think I made my point. Back to the topic. <BR/><BR/>Especially in this fictional world wouldn't it be kind of hypocritical for someone like Superman to become a vegetarian when he knows that there are a variety of intelligent plant-based organisms in the universe. Not even taking into consideration the possibility of intelligent-plant life on other planets there are people like Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing on Earth. <BR/><BR/>It also just doesn't make since for Superman to think that eating only plants is more moral, because his own physiology is more plant-like than most aliens he knows. He uses solar energy to power his powers, much like how plants use photosynthesis to maintain their metabolism. When he eats either plants or animals, you could make a case for quasi-cannibalism, so I don't think making people think too much about his food choices too much.<BR/><BR/>Not that I wouldn't mind seeing a story exploring Kryptonian evolutionary similarity to plants or Superman not needing to eat so much because of his photosynthesis-like energy collection. I think if done right a story like that could be interesting.<BR/><BR/>I've been keeping up with your and Mr. Nevett's exploration of the Superman 2000 pitch and I have to say that this is the only part that I really disagree with. Everything else sounds excellent, but this has been a real sticking point for the whole project. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, sorry for the long post, I just thought I should explain my thoughts as fully as possible. Thanks for sharing this "what if" with us!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-72502066009238871682008-06-19T10:53:00.000-04:002008-06-19T10:53:00.000-04:00Good point.Good point.Timothy Callahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078183191900311833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-39548977220734942102008-06-19T10:48:00.000-04:002008-06-19T10:48:00.000-04:00"I think most people are like this, no?"Yes, but w..."I think most people are like this, no?"<BR/><BR/>Yes, but wasn't the whole point of this pitch that Superman is not like most people?Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14740669500899738381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-40824430152058371552008-06-19T10:17:00.000-04:002008-06-19T10:17:00.000-04:00"I don't think he'd make a distinction between eat..."I don't think he'd make a distinction between eating some lifeforms and not others."<BR/><BR/>I think the important line here is whether he gains pleasure from the death of another creature. Being a vegetarian, at least for me, isn't about whether I'm killing something or not, because i <I>know</I> the animal is already dead. Rather, that I'm morally uncomfortable with feeling like like i'm directly benefiting from another being's death, especially when other, realistic options are available to me.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03572198466379251838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22842788.post-29717685083457536952008-06-19T09:37:00.000-04:002008-06-19T09:37:00.000-04:00I'm a vegetarian, but I agree that Clark needn't b...I'm a vegetarian, but I agree that Clark needn't be one. He can see the deaths of thousands of bacteria with every step of every human's foot, but he's not going around trying to save paramecia. Especially with his farm background, Clark would appreciate that omnivorism is a fact of nature. I cam see Superman caring about animal cruelty, but I don't think he'd make a distinction between eating some lifeforms and not others. If he started drawing those lines, you have to think it'd be impossible for him to act at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com