#642 – Superman and Batman

As I wrote about yesterday, I totally thought my first post after Comic-Con would be about the Superman and Batman crossover. As a Marvel fanboy, though, I needed to write about The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Guardians of the Galaxy first. Since I got that out of the way, though, let’s move on to the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader.

On Saturday at the DC panel it was announced that Zack Snyder, director of this summer’s hit Man of Steel, would follow up his take on Superman with a crossover movie featuring Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne…and their alter egos. The Internet and Twitter lit up with people excited that DC’s two greatest heroes would finally stand side by side on the big screen. My reaction was a little less enthused.

I’ve been very clear about my feelings concerning Superman. I don’t like him but I thoroughly enjoyed Man of Steel. I thought it was a great movie and addressed a lot of what I don’t like about Superman. One good outing with Superman, though, doesn’t make a great cinematic universe.

I’m worried that DC is moving too quickly in its attempts to team up its heroes. The Avengers is one of the most successful movies of all time but that only happened because Marvel started with a plan. Iron Man came out in 2008 and planted seeds that bore fruit four years later. Marvel took time with the Avengers, introducing them slowly and methodically.

Instead of taking its time and forming a long-term plan, it seems to me that DC is simply striking while the iron is hot. Man of Steel is almost successful enough to make people forget The Green Lantern. DC is taking what good will it has and using it to throw Superman and Batman together. Now, instead of getting his own standalone film to develop his character, the new Batman will just be tossed in with Henry Cavill’s Superman. Christian Bale won’t return to the role of Batman and Man of Steel’s creators admitted that their movie takes place in a different universe than the Dark Knight Trilogy. I think people are excited to see Nolan’s Batman enter the world of Snyder’s Superman but that just isn’t going to happen.

Admittedly I may just be a Marvel fanboy who has inebriated himself with Joss Whedon’s Kool-Aid. However, I want to see DC succeed in its cinematic endeavors. The more successful nerdy fair in theaters means the more mainstream acceptance all of our favorite nerdclinations will receive. I just worry that DC isn’t taking the time necessary to create something truly great.

What are your thoughts about the Superman and Batman crossover?