Katie Couric's Notebook: Superman

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

I don't know if you've seen the "new" Superman, but DC Comics just turned the "Man of Steel" into a surly man.

His extreme makeover comes just in time for a new set of graphic novels aimed at today's young people.

You might not recognize the new Clark Kent in the early pages. Gone are the doofy glasses and suit, replaced by a hoody and skinny ties.

He's also less beefy, as if he might have snorted a little kryptonite.

In fact, he looks like one of the vampires from "Twilight."

A co-publisher at DC Comics tells the New York Post they wanted "to tell a story that's hip, sexy and moody," showing a younger hero, struggling with his identity and his place.

Is this the Superman we've been waiting for?

Sure, it's 2010, and maybe it's time to update the character a bit.

But loyal fans may wonder if you can really trust an angst-ridden hipster to fight for truth, justice and the American way.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by Mitchster13 November 10, 2010 2:08 AM EST: I think this is just another case of the news looking to stir up trouble. The Superman Earth-One Graphic novel isn't changing superman. It is just a different take on Superman in a new line of books. Superman is the same as he has always been in his various comics that haven't stoped being published since 1938. This isn't any different than when superman was killed, or superman RED and Superman Blue. It is even more similar to a story DC published where Superman had grown up in Russia and lived in a Communist themed world. This is just a new publishing line. It won't last. Superman is always the same and he always changes. He was an everyman Democrat in the 40's, a wacky science fiction character in the 50's and 60's, a movie Icon inthe 70's, a re-imagined more down to earth man of Steel in the 80's, a large strong mulleted man who came back from the dead in the 90's, a legacy filled Symbol in Aughts, and Now.... Maybe the stories just in a new Flux. Is this so surprising in a world where Smallville has been on the air for 10 seasons?; Reply to this comment


by xanderdavis November 1, 2010 8:49 PM EDT: Superman desperately needs reinvented and this is a great step in the right direction. A character with no internal conflict, a perfect character, is a completely boring character. Wouldn't it be far more interesting to witness a story about a flawed and internally conflicted Superman, someone struggling through his own life (as we all do) despite his amazing power? That gives him more depth, and provides more fertile storytelling ground we'll actually care about. Superman needs this new tone to become anything other than a caricature, which he's always been until now.; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw October 30, 2010 9:01 PM EDT: Look ! Up in the Sky ! It's a Bird ! It's a Plane ! It's Superman !
And an October 13, 2010 New York City UFO from Krypton ! :); Reply to this comment