DC Fans Still Don't Understand Man of Steel's Most Controversial Scene, But Superman Is Trying to Help

The death of Jonathan Kent in Man of Steel remains one of the most controversial superhero movie moments to date. But now that one of DC’s greatest writers has recreated the scene in Superman comics, will it finally help fans understand why Pa Kent’s death was, in his own words, a “brave” and “amazing” choice?

Recruiting writer Mark Waid (Superman: Birthright, Action Comics, Kingdom Come) to bring Clark’s first adventures as Superboy back into canon, DC is revisiting the exact same period of Clark’s life as depicted in Man of Steel. And now that the coming of age origin story has kicked off by echoing, resembling, or flat-out recreating the controversial ‘tornado’ moment, it’s clear that both fans and critics of Zack Snyder’s films are still fundamentally misreading Jonathan Kent’s entire story.

Superman NOT Saving His Father: The Scene People Still Don’t Understand

Snyder Critics Despised The Scene, While One of DC’s Greatest Writers Loved It

From the moment that Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) first told his son that mastering his powers in secret would “maybe” mean there would be people he couldn’t, or shouldn’t save in the meantime, he had enemies. Whether this cynical worldview was heresy, or just this line of dialogue, self-professed fans cried foul. But it was Jonathan Kent’s tornado self-sacrifice that drove his controversial characterization home, proving he was actually willing to be one of those souls Clark shouldn’t save.

Leave it to a comic book legend like Mark Waid to explain why, despite his own criticisms of film from writer David S. Goyer and director Zack Snyder, Man of Steel‘s controversial depiction of Jonathan Kent was one of their best decisions:

“I think you’d be surprised to find that I loved everything about Jonathan Kent. I loved his protectiveness, even when it made him sound like an a**hole. (“Maybe.”) And I loved, loved, loved that scene where Clark didn’t save him, because Goyer did something magical–he took two moments that, individually, I would have hated and he welded them together into something amazing.

“Out of context, I would have hated that Clark said “You’re not my real dad”… I would have loathed that Clark stood by frozen with helplessness as the tornado killed Jonathan. But the reason that beat worked is because Clark had just said “You’re not my dad,” the last real words he said to Pa.

“Tearful Clark choosing to go against his every instinct in that last second because he had to show his father he trusted him after all, because he had to show Pa that Pa could trust him and that Clark had learned, Clark did love him–that worked for me, hugely. It was a very brave story choice… It worked as a tragic rite of passage. I kinda wish I’d written that scene.”

As one of the most acclaimed comic writers still living (and ironically, one fan who proudly declares that Superman literally did save his life), Mark Waid knows a good narrative, a good story, or a good idea when he sees one. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that this Man of Steel ‘update’ can now be seen in Waid’s new Superman origin story.

Superman’s New Origin Story is Helping Fans Grasp Man of Steel’s Point

Mark Waid’s New Superman Origin is Bringing This ‘Protective’ Pa Kent Into Comics

Jonathan Kent in Man of Steel and New Superman Origin Comic

The new origin officially begins in Action Comics #1087 by Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge, and Ivan Plascencia, approximately the same time in Clark’s life as Man of Steel, introducing him as a young man eager to find his own place in the world. And while the Superman comic may obviously be more lighthearted than the film, Jonathan echoes the same concerns about the day his son reveals himself to the world.

Henry Cavill and Raging Absolute Superman in Comics Art

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The new Absolute Superman is following an even darker path than Man of Steel, and making Zack Snyder’s DCEU seem downright optimistic in comparison.

Waid is almost repeating the lesson for the sake of clarity, underscoring that, in a modern context, any loving parent would wrestle with the morality and risks that Jonathan and Martha Kent have considered for years (not months, as Clark naively suggests). And as was the case in Man of Steel, this voicing of caution, restraint, and even self-denial is used to form a crucial new bond between Clark and Jonathan. With one difference, once the moment arrives for Superma–Superboy to reveal himself to the world.

…And In This Superman Origin, Jonathan Lives To See Clark Become A Hero

Without A Need To Sacrifice Himself, Pa Kent Lives To Give Clark His Blessing

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane Kents with Superman Comic Version

While these Waid and Patridge scenes in Action Comics #1087 are similar to ones in Man of Steel, they are not recreations (and claiming so could be seen as unkind to the storytellers). But what stands out most is not that Superman gets to leap into action in the comic, but was forced to freeze in the movie; it is Clark’s identical look to his father for permission.

In Man of Steel, as Waid noted, Clark’s obedience to his father is used to show his trust, as tragic as the ramifications it might be. In Action Comics, having shown Clark impatiently begging to be a hero one scene earlier, it is Clark hesitating, and looking to his father in the same act of obedience, that achieves the same moment. Tempting as it may be to focus solely on this Pa Kent granting permission, and Man of Steel‘s refusing, the meaning is far greater.

Jonathan Kent Tells Superman To Go in New DC Comic Origin

Ultimately, Waid’s echo of the Man of Steel scene he so thoroughly praised is worthy of its own, as both a callback and a unique variation. Jonathan judging that it was not yet time for Clark to debut was what propelled Man of Steel’s story on film. Jonathan deciding the time has come in the comic version will do the same, proving just how much the two fathers share. Far from correcting, countering, or ‘fixing’ the controversial scene in Man of Steel, Waid has managed to illustrate much of its power.

By almost granting Man of Steel‘s Jonathan a chance to give the permission he never got to on film (unless counting Zack Snyder’s Justice League). perhaps more readers can put aside the controversy to appreciate the same story Mark Waid did oin his first watch.

Action Comics #1087 is available now from DC Comics.

Source: Mark Waid (via ComicVine)