Young Superman 

My personal favorite Superman story is All-Star Superman. I love it even more recently, it's helped me process my father's passing in 2021 and understand why Superman was his favorite hero. Superman is now becoming one of my favorite heroes ever. We need a hopeful Superman more than ever.

"Can be handled with either anxiety or excitment"is such a key sentence here.

“You know, I guess one man can make a difference. Nuff said.” Stan Lee - (2007)

For the new movie, I’d write it so Clark’s real passion is writing/reporting, but he struggles to commit to it, to risk failure, when it’s easier for him to just fall back on Supermanning, something he’s naturally good at. Same goes for his love life. Supes gets so much attention it’s easy for Clark to not bother risking going after the girl he really likes, especially when Clark isn’t exactly of “high value”. Maybe he needs to learn a thing or two from the overly ambitious Lex Luthor about taking action.

In James Gunn reboot, what I really hope to see is young Superman dealing not with alien threat like Brainiac but rather with something small, like rescuing a child kidnapp by Toyman or stop Parasite from stealing Metropolis energy resources. This would not only be reference to the classic golden age Superman stories (which Clark was more a social crusader) but also could give nice development as he goes from man wanting to help people against big problem (ex: natural disaster, alien invaders) to gain a new perspective about city problems and start to deal with small problems as well, and also villains like Toyman, Parasite, Metallo and others.

Honestly just love wholesome superman and how he affects the world around him.

5:19 How do some artists not know how eyes work? I think Superman being an unapologetic kind spirit, corny and all, is what makes him a breath of fresh air now.

I never really got Superman. I didn't hate him, but I just never understood the hype. Then I read All-Star Superman and Robert Venditti's stories and now I get it. He's genuinely a nice guy who builds up people, with or without superpowers. He could rule the world if he wanted to (and if you read Injustice, he does) but he doesn't, because he likes living as a human if it means he protects people like the Kents, Lois Lane, etc. I respect Supes a lot more now.

The "Changing a selfish city" part really brings tears into my eyes, This is why Superman has always been my number 1 favorite superhero of all time, Heck not just Superhero, but character. But despite calling myself a number 1 fan of him, I sometimes forget what Superman stands about. Especially after reading the entire Injustice arc Comics and playing the games. I would often side with Injustice Superman's Principle. But when I read comics or see videos like this highlighting Superman's Truest form. It always made me realize, This is the mindset I should really strive for. In Short, Everytime I hit a dead end in my life, I would always think of Superman, Imagining he really exists in real life, I would look up in the sky and be inspired and have hope I could tackle this obstacle. Which is why I loved that bit in Justice League x Suicide Squad where Killer Frost told that story of hers being your average College kid going to college and trying to pass the board exam. She was feeling defeated as not only her teachers/colleagues are making her feel bad but shes doubting herself that she would not pass the exam and get the phd, As even her Teacher and colleages think she wont cut it and would fail to get the PHD. But when She saw Superman pass by up in the sky like a real Metropolis Moment, It gave her hope and said " If a man could fly, I might as well also get into college" Now thats the Superman story I enjoy reading. As much as I enjoy Superman doing awesome battles like shaking the Multiverse, Travelling at light speed, Clapping the ass cheeks of celestial beings at the speed of light and whatnot. Moments like this is what really makes me love him

Never did I think a channel dissecting animated DC content would give me such profound enjoyment and a longing for better days

I'm so glad you brought up Birthright. It's a strong contender for my favorite Superman origin story, and I love the opening subplot of Clark as a freelance journalist in Africa; it both sets up his journalism cred even before he gets to Metropolis and the Daily Planet, and also shows off his desire to help people no matter who or where they are. It's a really unique way to kick off a Superman story and introduce us to Clark Kent. And I think another unspoken point to take away from here is, whenever the next movie comes, _don't open it up on Krypton again._ Heck, don't have anything to do with Krypton period other than it being where Superman came from, maybe just have people freaking out that Superman is an alien, but nothing further than that as a major plot point. I like exploring Kryptonian lore, I don't mind elements of it impacting Superman's life (maybe this is just me talking but I'd kinda like to see an adaptation of the Eradicator arc from the 90's and take a break from Zod as far as Kryptonian invasions go), but both Man of Steel and even the Christopher Reeve movies had Superman really be established by his Kryptonian heritage. It's not a bad thing for him to acknowledge and treasure that part of his life, but up until now, Superman in cinema has been more Kal-El than Clark Kent, it feels. It'd be really nice to have a Superman movie that puts the focus on "Superman is what I can do, Clark is who I am".

Birthright and New 52 Action Comics are the best young Superman stories

There's one major thing that James Gunn brings to the table that has me hopeful, and that's personality. If a character has personality in the book you'll see it in his movies. Even if the character has none...they're still gonna have personality in the movie. There's a mix of life details, quirks, funny comments, flaws, doubts, joy, anger, etc that make a person believable as a person. The next superman has to be more than a symbol or an idea, he's gotta be a man. A likeable one. I'm not saying there was none of this present in Man of steel, I'm saying going forward there NEEDS to be alot more.

The reason why Superman's origin feels fresh, relatable and unique compared to other heroes? There is no "defining moment" that marks the whole character. There is no "gunshot in the alley" or "uncle ben getting killed" or "steve trevor crashes into the island" or "Lightning strike" or "getting shrapnel into your heart"; his whole origin is a beautiful coming of age story. Clark makes the choices that dictate his life's trajectory, moving forward. There is no one definitive moment that provides an answer-there are a series of moments which occur in a journey across years...and that is what happens in real life. You don't get defined in just one moment-it is a series of moments and events and how you react to them that define who you are.

Your intro to this one touches on a thesis I worked on during undergrad: 'the rhetorical tetrahedron' - the idea that the classical rhetorical triangle is uniquely interesting in comic books because many of these stories are told again and again but through fresh lenses not only of the zeitgeist of the time, but the individual writers and artists. Would love to see you collaborate with Comic Pop sometime - Sal's breakdown of Superman really helped me to better understand the character and appreciate him.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Gunn based his movie off of Earth-One. He's always been great at urban settings; On Earth or in Space.

Something I love about the Man of Steel is that he at the same time that he is "The Hero" he is also our hero. He isn't all about the crimes, rescues and aliens, he is a message. He is the symbol of hope, he is our hope that things can get better. Superman was supposed to bring the best of us, and I am happy that even people like me, who aren't Supes biggest fans, can still get and admire that in such a touching way just by looking at his colorful costume and bright smile.

Man I love your videos, they’re so personal and Thought provoking. I’m hella excited to watch this one. Your titles always grab my attention immediately!

Another really good young Superman story is a single issue comic called Man and Superman by Marv Wolfman. It’s about Superman first revealing himself to the world. Track it down if you can, it’s really good

I absolutely love the editing, quality, and calmness his voice brings they are such amazing films he puts together!

Secret Origin is my favorite superman origin story. It’s tough, I love the others so much, but secret origin is such a comfort comic to me, and the hope radiating from it is amazing.

Bro you are quickly becoming one of my favorite essay youtubers, lovely video. Thanks!

3:42 Clark still choose to embrace his inheritance and suit in Man of Steel. I agree with you with secret origins. Great video as always Leo, hope you cover the other origins like John Byrne’s Man of Steel, new 52, golden age era, and maybe else-world tales.

I feel like An addition of Superman for all seasons would've fit perfectly as it's a good story about Clark finding himself once he leaves smallville,and even comes back to contemplate his place in everything once he got hit with the feels in metropolis and his family helps gives him that final push to be superman. Its a great story written by Jeph Loeb and beautifully drawn by the late Tim Sale. Recommend for anyone.

It feels illegal to be this early

I’m a lifelong Superman. I love all the different interpretations and how they add something to the mythos. But one thing I’m gonna take away from this video the most is a singe line… “Doing your part as a reward for the heart.” It was the reward for the heart that got me. I understood it. I got it. I’ve been having a bad few days with work and my sister telling me she has breast cancer. It feels likes there’s a lot bearing down on you but for some reason that reward for the heart line got to some small part of me that helped lift that overbearing feeling I’ve been having. So for that and a really well done video I’d just like to say thank you. Thank you for giving me a little bit of joy during a trying time. Keep up the amazing work!

I just love that Superman in Secret Origins looks like Christopher Reeves. I think that look is timeless.

I like John Byrne's take on Young Superman. His parents just go "Great Power, Great Responsibility" on him and encourage Clark to go around the world helping people, which he does for a while as a hobby. When he decides he wants to do it for work, he becomes a Journalist to learn about disasters as they're happening. Meanwhile, he's genuinely good at and interested in being a reporter, so he's living two fulfilling lives at once.

If anyone is intersted, superman seasons and american alian is also a very good read. Also almost all the elseworld superman origin stories are great takes with a twist.

I find it oddly fulfilling that people choose the hard fight because it's the only fight they know how to win. No matter in the face of life and death, if the truth is out there, all you have to do now is reach for it. If there is truly a purpose to keep moving forward no matter how many bullets you take, beatings you take, the people you save, their memories, yours, the dreams and hours between all this chaos, a single thank you, smile is worth living hell and back to go back to. You found yourself, that's what heroes are. God damn it, Superman is amazing, if not super, the fact that this video made me surprisingly cry and made me relapse on the idea of empathy and human nature, I never really understood Superman until now, he's greater than all of us, he's greater than himself, but like you and me, he's just a person trying or dreaming for a better tomorrow.

6:33 "It's corny" Tbh the general audience and DCEU fans see corny as a bad thing these days. It manage to get to me too, until I rewatch Raimi Trilogy wholeheartedly. If a medium is corny with a heart that means it works, some things doesn't need to be that realistic, dark or even depressing, some times people want to see the cornyness, cheeseness, and the positives to enjoy without the need to "thinking outside the box" Just like Spider-Man, Superman is very suitable with corny. They have an internal struggle with daily lives but they never stop spreading kindness to complete strangers. That for me why I really love the story of these two. A story of young Superman trying to discover himself with the help of his parents is deeply needed after DCEU butchered the Kents.

American Alien is one of my favorite Superman storylines.

My God I love Superman

I think this helps me understand why James Gunn wanted to start over with the dc movies

My favourite Superman story of the past 20 years is the Shazam crossover First Thunder.

I really liked MOS but kinda wish it took even more inspiration from this book. Could've been a epic trilogy. I also wish the idea of the metropolis becoming overdependent on superman was explored more.

Superman and Ted Lasso are kind of the same journey when you think about it. An optimistic man goes from Kansas/Smallville to place that is very cynical and they have to take up the roll of someone who people look up to. They both have to do their best to stay optimistic and want people to the best versions of themselves.

Another great Superman video. 🦸‍♂️👍

Tom DeHaven's It's Superman is incredible

I haven't seen much people talk about Earth One. I'm glad you mentioned it among other classic Superman origin stories, I always found it suspicious how MoS copied (horribly, by the way) so many elements from this story yet I haven't seen any acknowledgement over it.

WOLFGANG NOVOGRATZ LOOKS JUST LIKE THIS COMIC BOOK VERSION OF YOUNGER SUPERMAN 🎯💯🔥

I always tear up watching your videos man 💙

Birthright and smallville be my favorite depictions of Clark’s origins. 2:19

Honestly, it's probably a few more years out, but I would LOVE to see a canon story about Superman's early days that reflects this new generation. It would not need to be another origin story, but I was thinking about it earlier. At this point, Kal El could have been born in 2000 and he would have debuted as Superman this year. I think that is so cool. Writers do not need to alter Clark Kent's personality to make him fit in with a more modern age. They need to show that despite the world's cynical views on superheroes, the good and bad side of social media, and the foreign and domestic issues of this day and age , Superman, the man with unshakeable morals and a good heart, is more relevant than ever. Superman, the man with an unshakeable will, that finds a way to inspire others and give them hope.

I know it’s a great channel when I’m interested in watching the video regardless of the top. Great work man!

Secret Origin has one of my favourite panels ever. It's the moment when Superman is posing for a photo from Jimmy. He has such a dorky pose at first. I can't help but love it.

Superman is always and has always been a symbol of a better tomorrow, just like Captain America has always been a symbol of standing against oppression. What makes both of them so compelling is that they are super powered, but they are still people at the heart of things. They aren't perfect, they aren't gods. However, they will always be a representation of human optimism and resistance against hatred and aggression.

people need hope, more than ever!

I just want to say your videos on superman have inspired me a lot to take inspiration from who superman is and become a better person, thank you

Awesome video! I've been watching your videos for sometime, and I love how thought-provoking they are. I've liked Superman, but didn't appreciate him as much until I saw your videos. Your videos got me to admire him much more. They make me think about the characters and the deeper messages from the comics, animated films, and animated shows more. And, you inspired me to watch "Superman v. The Elite". This video, along with praise from a friend, inspired me to check out Superman: Earth One. Keep up the amazing work. Kudos!

I've been studying a lot of Philosophical theories right now for my Thesis and every video from your channel has always taught me something new either in Philosophy, or the small details and attitudes that my favorite superheroes have, what makes them relatable even if they have god like powers. Mixing my passion for comic book superheroes and the Philosophical Theories that I am studying right now is something that I never thought I would be doing right now, as well as enjoying it. Very inspiring and motivating, thank you!

Seriously you are a top quality youtuber. I wish you could put out 3 videos a day. About the only channel I catch most releases in the first few hours

Wake up babe new Implcitily Pretentious just dropped

I miss this Superman so bad

Superman is the best, and i love watching ur videos especially the ones about him lol. thanks for everything!

You are by far the most underrated comic book/ tv related channel out there atm

We never seen this version of superman before thanks for the video

Do you think a teenage Superman would let ya borrow his Sega Dreamcast?

When it comes to the Smallville Show(...) I'm mix about it; there are some parts of it I love - there are other parts I didn't like for example: I didn't how they portrayed Pete-he never get the chance to meet Lois- and was there A storyline reason why Pete didn't show up for his high school reunion ?

I love all your videos. Especially the Superman related ones

I quite like young Superman in grant Morrison’s action comics. He’s never gotten to let loose before and as a result there’s an excitement there and a sense of “what can I actually do?” That I find endearing

love your vids man would love to see more uploads bro

Very cool, that looking down then looking up to the sky dynamic in Secret Origins is one od my favourites in comics

Your videos just hit different every time.

Please keep making Superman videos!!! They’re really good!!!

God your videos are always top tier

Superman is very relatable. He’s always trying to do the right thing in tough situations. People say he’s not relatable because he’s too powerful where as Batman is just human. Not sure about you, but I can relate much more to a guy moving to the big city and trying to be successful at his job while being overlooked by the girl he likes. I’m not a billionaire who’s never worked a day in his life and spends all day thinking about his parents’ murder

Every video is better than the last!! thanks a lot for these and the messages!🤙🤙🤙🤙

There's nothing like a good Superman story.

_We need a superman irl._

My personal favourite superman is the legion of superheroes superman

Oh a new IP vid lets gooooo

Earth One is what Zack Snyder's Man of Steel was trying to be. Secret Origin is what a Superman origin film should be.

That starting quote means a lot in a world were you are taken as the most vile of villain for standing with the truth.

I need to hear you talk about Superman: Secret Identity.

Can we talk about Superman: Secret Identity already? Great video btw.

James Gunn should adapt this in his new DCEU

I know Max Landis is not a great person, but I can’t help but absolutely LOVE American Alien. It’s my favorite Superman story.

I kind of feel the only reason that this sort of four-point summary is possible is because by now we all know Superman's origin story and that, as Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse demonstrated, you can do it pretty much with every well-known superhero. Heck, the 1989 Batman film relied on that for its bait-and-switch opening sequence, almost 35 years ago. And there's also a lot to the Batman mythos that different adaptations have done differently - from "why bats?" to "why the Joker?" to the bat-family, to different Robins and his relations with them. Even Batman's core motivation can range from "revenge for his parents" to "making sure no child ever experience that again" to abstract notions of justice, to just a compulsive coping mechanism. And these are just off the top of my hands before I had my first coffee. Trauma is not more emotionally rich than hope. In many ways, its the other way around.

Wonderful video, and the New 52 "Rockabilly" young Superman would make for a fun topic of discussion.

It sounds like whatever the next proper Superman movie is gonna be (as opposed to whatever JJ Abrams and Tah-Nehisi Coates are somehow still working on), it sounds like they're going back to the early days. Personally, I'm reminded of the things the villain in Kill Bill vol. 2 said about his thesis of Superman, and I hope this movie takes this idea of his character, dissects it, dismantles it, and shows how it's a fundamental misunderstanding of who Superman is as a person. I have hopes for the comics too, but I don't think a whole lot of DC Comics in general (or Marvel for that matter) have any hope of being good until they're offloaded by their megacorporate safety net and either forced to make smart creative and business decisions to survive on their own again or sold off to some comics veteran who actually gives a rip about there being good and entertaining comics with these established heroes (I heard rumors over the years of offers from veterans like Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane to rent out the license to publish DC Comics or to outright buy them). Superman is an American icon in fiction, and whatever form that takes, I hope he continues to survive and thrive as a character. (Also Birthright is probably my favorite version of the origin story, wbich is saying something considering how much I've soured on Mark Waid over tecent years.)

Me when I subscribe for someone who is funny and explains things in a unique way, just to find out that they're these things AND a big DC fan.

Superman NEEDS to be corny sometimes. He's just a simple guy who wholeheartedly believes in the potential of every living being to do good. Such a shame media is so cynical nowadays that the idea of a being like superman truly wanting to help and protect people is "too unrealistic". I want hopeful superman back in the movies

Would love to see a video about the other side characters and villains in the MCU that you never did with your MCU Cade. Studies which we haven't seen in a long time.

Earth-1 is fucking great, and a must read, not just for Clark, but Bruce and Diana too And please more just superman, and I'd absolutely love it if you did a red hood/Jason todd video ❤️

Let's hope that James Gunn's Superman movie is as good as this.

I love the chapter named "finding purpos"

my personal favourite superman is the vs elite (movie version) allstar is a close second

Birthright is amazing, Secret origin i yet not read.

Good stuff

I love Earth One Superman

I admire your videos so much. I had a question about the actual video editing, which is always superb. Where do you get your music from? Is it through a stock music library like Epidemic Sound? Or do you use entirely copyrighted music? Was always curious because the music is always excellent.

My favourite books are red and blue,the wedding album and all star

God, there was almost no one in the world less prepared to adapt Superman to film than Zak Snyder. Maaaaaaaaybe Taratino but even he, at least it'd not be a giant depressing slog, it'd be energetic and funny in a teenage-edgelord kinda way.

I feel like the next Superman or JL movie, should portray everyone as their younger selves, like a day one Batman and Superman teaming up. And all the other young hero’s and vigilantes are inspired by them.

finding purpos

Please do more comic book dubs like 5:37 , I love it so much even if you’re just goofing around.

Will you be continuing to review agents of shield? the seasons ramp up the further you go

After this I have to watch Mr. Chris Reeve, again!

The Legion cartoon should be the blueprint imo