10 Problems With Batman V Superman Nobody Wants To Admit
4. Comparing Superman To Hitler Is...Odd
To Man Of Steel's credit, it did do something with Superman nobody else had really done before. In following the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight films, audiences were shown the first ever mainstream iteration of the character who wasn't universally adored by the rest of humanity, seen as a paragon of what people could and should try and achieve. A universal role model, essentially. That's what made Lex Luthor's pathological hatred of him so interesting he's one of very few people who consider Superman a menace, rather than a hero. On the basis of his hostile reception and the Batman V Superman teaser, Luthor is very much in the majority with these films. A voice over montage in the leaked teaser suggests the human race is more than a little sceptical about Superman using his powers for good. And there's one particular line that stands out, concerning the tragic events when humanity has trusted a charismatic, powerful man. Hitler. They mean Hitler. Not to break Godwin's Law, but that's clearly what they're referring to. Which, frankly, doesn't make a whole lot of sense in a narrative way, and also seems pretty messed up when Superman was created by two Jewish kids in WWII-era New York. Plus, like, what has the Man Of Steel done to engender such distrust?
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
