Superman versus Spiderman: The superior superhero

Superman

3 of 22

by Jimmy Ettele

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

Making his first appearance in February of 1936, the Phantom can be recognized as the first superhero to make his appearance in a skintight and colorful costume. The Ghost who Walks had his predecessors(Lamont Cranston's Shadow and the Man of Bronze Doc Savage) but it wasn't until Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's unknowing immigrant from Krypton landed in June of 1938 on the pages Action Comics #1 that the iconic image of a superhero was born. Thousands of originals and direct copies of the Man of Steel have since been created and maybe none more popular or enduring as Marvel Comics's Spectacular SpiderMan. But in this day and age of the anti-hero and character flaws, who's chiseled features dominate the primary spot on the Mount Rushmore of superheroes?

There is not much to debate on the question of the powers that make them superhuman. Peter Parker's powers of jumping, wall-crawling, agility, strength, and danger sense add an element of vulnerability and susceptibility to his hero struggle,
*I have purposely omitted web-slinging from the debate because those of us who are true fans do not recognize organic web-shooters as a power Peter Parker portrayed. He invented and utilizes his web-shooters with refillable cartridges and as ingenious and clever as that might be, it is not a superpower to use string spitting wristbands. The movies can spin his powers whichever way suits them but that is not Spiderman. Marvel experimented(and failed with)the organic shooters and has since rewrote that part in the Spiderman continuity. If you want organic shooters read Spiderman 2099(my super geekdom has now emerged). We are not counting gadgets or items here unless you would like to add the Fortress of Solitude? How do you think that compares with a spidey belt that has a floodlight that looks like his mask? No web-shooters!*
yet most children's daydreaming of heroic adventures has them soaring though the clouds. Superman's powers are born of his Kryptonian DNA and our conveniently yellow sun's rays. As a list, they are too many to even scribe down, sufficed to say he is "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound".
Swinging along the Manhattan cityscape reacting to a tingling of danger may have some reaching for their spider-suit but the thought of flying around the world in a few minutes and juggling boulders has had children captivated for the past 70 years.

Beyond the the Kryptonian's dominance in sheer power we have his alter ego. This is where the Spiderman faithful begin to diverge from the Last Son of Krypton's path. Their argument goes something like this, "...he's Superman. All he does is save the day and the damsel in distress. He has no interesting character story or alter ego he just punches out the bad guys and that's it. Spiderman is a kid dealing with real issues. He's trying to grow up and keep his secret identity and figure out his place and blah blah blah blah." While it is true Spiderman has always represented that everyman and his struggles, we have turned a masked eye to Superman, or rather, Clark Kent. First off he is an orphaned alien. He has limited knowledge of his heritage and does not remember the limited amount of contact he has made with his parents. Who has not felt alien at one time or another? Left out. Counted out. Like they didn't belong? What sort of anguish do children who have been adopted go through? Even though Clark Kent's entrance to this world was in a starship, he is as human as you or I. He has loved ones he knows he needs to protect and is worried about their safety daily. He puts his life at risk countless times for citizens that sometimes treat him with contempt and fear. What is not attractive about a story that centers on one man's control with powers that could easily conquer and destroy the planet he has sworn to protect?
Peter Parker was a whiny kid who has turned into a whiny adult. What if my aunt finds out? Where is my wife? Black Cat is hot and interested but I'm married. Why do I have these stupid webs under my arms? This character is somehow portraying "real" problems? If he is then we are all sadly pathetic. It's time for Peter Parker to grow up, get a grip, grow a set, and take charge.

As role models, both are characters one could look up to. Throwing themselves into the heat of conflict disregarding their own safety for those around them. Superman embodies the Samaritan spirit our local churches try so hard to convey to us every Sunday sermon. A being who helps those that are not like him because it's right. He stands for truth and justice. Two admirable and respectable qualities this country prides itself on. "...Ever the boyscout." as Batman put it. I would hate to diminish the idolatry that Spiderman enjoys, but when you call even their superhero "duties", the Man of Steel and his willingness to look past potential bigotry and hatred of his alien roots and still save the day, keeps him atop the charts.

Though Spiderman has not been around as long as Superman, certainly he has remained popular throughout his 36 years since Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created him. Recently he has enjoyed a renewed vigor with the successful and highly entertaining trilogy of movies. Spiderman merchandise can be found anywhere on anything. Spiderman needs to swing over to Metropolis to shake Supes' hand for it too. In 1978, Richard Donner's Superman the Movie, gave way to the birth of superhero movies as we know it today. Had anyone else seen production on live Spiderman productions? Superman the movie gave way to the X-Men, Batman, and Spiderman. Big budgets, big stars, 3 Academy Award nominations, and 300 million in the bank. Though Spidey's big screen success outweighs the Man of Steels' presently, if it were not for Jonathan and Martha's adopted alien boy and his initial success, who knows what sort of web Spiderman's big screen debut would have spun.

At some point we have to realize we are splitting hairs on this issue. Both heroes transcend their times. Sports writers often say of Hall of Fame voting, you just know. If you say a name you will know instantly if he/she is Hall of Fame worthy. Both have become legends and recognizable to even casual passerby. With qualities very different but very similar, we find out the reason both characters are so engaging is due to their differences and similarities on the pages of their comic books. I believe I could have argued for ol' Webhead just as I did for Kal-El but when asked about a superhero, who immediately comes to mind, is the shy farmboy from Smallville, KS, Clark Kent and his alter ego Superman. It does not take away from the Wonder Woman's, Fantastic Four, Batman's, Flash's, or Spiderman's of the comic world. Nor does it diminish their importance to the generations of fans still waiting to discover their heroic deeds. It merely allows Superman ever to be "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound".

Learn more about this author, Jimmy Ettele.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.