Working Backward in Time to Ovid’s Metamorphoses

uper Heroes

Why do superheroes compel us?

Why do we read/ watch these stories?

What do their stories tell us about ourselves?

Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey”/ The Monomyth

1. The Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of Call/Reluctant Hero 4. Meeting Wise Mentor 5. The First Threshold 6. Tests, Allies and Enemies 7. Supreme Ordeal 8.  Revisiting the Mentor 9. Return with New Knowledge 10. Seizing the Sword (or Prize) 11. Resurrection 12. Return with Elixir SEE http://orias.berkeley.edu/hero/

David Adams LeemingMythology: The Voyage of the Hero

1. Miraculous conception and birth

2. Initiation of the hero-child

3. Withdrawal from family or community for meditation and preparation

4. Trial and Quest

5. Death

6. Descent into the underworld

7. Resurrection and rebirth

8. Ascension, apotheosis, and atonement

8 Linked Videos - Monomyth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny68V2PgULw&feature=bf_next&list=PLFA1899BEE29381CE&lf=results_main

Superman

“Superman isn’t Superman because of some tragedy which informed his growth. Pa Kent does not die because of a failure on Clark’s part – indeed in most versions of the story, Pa dies when Clark is already Superman. Clark’s knowledge of Krypton doesn’t make him a superhero either; again, this is something he finds out later, too late to traumatize him. Clark is Superman because he decides to be Superman without being prompted. That’s more complex and nuanced a story than “somebody did something to me.” Superman’s story, which informs his entire character, is one of someone who chooses to be good of his own free will and agency, with no influence other than moral upbringing.”

(http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2011/02/23/a-superman-post/)

1. Miraculous conception and birth

Here the individual is introduced to the audience. S/he doesn't know her/his personal potential or calling.  

1. Superman’s Miraculous conception and birth

Superman is born Kal-El on the alien planet Krypton. His parents, Jor-El and Lara become aware of Krypton's impending destruction and Jor-El begins constructing a spacecraft that would carry Kal-El to Earth. During Krypton's last moments, Jor-El places young Kal-El in the spacecraft and launches it. Jor-El and Lara die as the spacecraft barely escapes Krypton's fate. The explosion transforms planetary debris into kryptonite, a radioactive substance that is lethal to superpowered (as by Earth's yellow sun) Kryptonians.

2. Initiation of the hero-child

Initiation is the point in the individual’s life when s/he is first given notice that everything is going to change, whether s/he knows it or not.    

Heracles as a boy strangling a snake(marble, Roman artwork, 2nd century CE)

2. Superman’s Initiation

“The spacecraft lands in the rural United States, where it is found by a passing motorist. Jonathan and Martha Kent adopt Kal-El and name him Clark Kent. As Clark grows up on Earth, he and his adoptive parents discover that he has superhuman powers. The Kents teach Clark to use these powers responsibly to help others and fight crime.”

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Superman)

Kal-El just out of his Kryptonian ship in the pilot episode of Smallville.

3. Withdrawal from family or community for meditation and preparation

This element varies with Superman becausethe different media tell different stories. Often, however,Superman is shown traveling to the arctic “Fortress of Solitude” to meditate and prepare himself for super hero service to humankind.

3. Superman’s Withdrawal from family

“Clark keeps his powers secret in order to protect his family and friends. In order to use his powers to help humanity, Clark creates the alter ego of Superman. A number of elements are added to each identity to keep them distinct enough to prevent the casual observer from matching them. Superman wears a characteristic red and blue costume with a letter ‘S’ emblem and a cape.”

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Superman)

Clark Kent

Clark Kent takes to wearing glasses, styling his hair differently, changing his body language, significantly altering his voice, and wearing looser clothing and suits that hide his physique.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Superman)

4. Trial and Quest

The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in 3s.

Trials of Perseus

4. Superman’s Trials and Quest

Superman’s trials and quests are on-going. His purpose in the context of his evolving persona is to “save” humankind from its worst characteristics; therefore, Superman’s trials and his quest are continuous.

5. DeathThis is sometimes described as the individual’s lowest point or darkest moment. The separation has been made between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. By entering this stage, the individual shows her/his willingness to make a change, to die and become a new person.

Heracles killing Centaur Nessus (marble by Giambologna, Florence). Ovid Metamorphoses Book IX “Death of Hercules” (243)

5. Superman’s Death

"The Death of Superman" is a 1992 comic book storyline that occurred in DC Comics' Superman titles. The completed multi-issue story arc was given the title The Death and Return of Superman.

The Death of Superman

Written by GRANT MORRISONArt and cover by FRANK QUITELYDigital inks and color by JAMIE GRANT

All Star Superman 2005-2008The Death and Return of Superman 1992

Devised by editor Mike Carlin and the Superman writing team of Dan Jurgens, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, and Karl Kesel

6. Descent into the underworld

In Grant Morrison: Combining the Worlds of Contemporary Comics (2011) by Marc Singer, he observes that All Star Superman –a series Morrison created between 2005 and 2008— “combines the myths of Icarus and Prometheus . . .” Further, in the series “Superman attempts to complete twelve challenges before he dies, an obvious echo of the twelve labors of Hercules. The series as a whole is structured around the monomyth of the hero’s descent into the underworld” (260).

“[Grant] Morrison listed the twelve challenges in chronological order, during an interview with fan site Newsarama.

1. Superman saves the first manned mission to the sun. 2. Superman brews the Super–Elixir. 3. Superman answers the Unanswerable Question. 4. Superman chains the Chronovore. 5. Superman saves Earth from Bizarro–Home. 6. Superman returns from the Underverse. 7. Superman creates Life. 8. Superman liberates Kandor/cures cancer. 9. Superman defeats Solaris. 10. Superman conquers Death. 11. Superman builds an artificial Heart for the Sun. 12. Superman leaves the recipe/formula to make Superman 2. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Star_Superman)

6. Superman’s Descent to Underworld

“In most DC Comics, Superman is getting a costume makeover, that, as shown at the right, gives him a slightly more cosmic look (the lined blue costume and red belt and boots suggest alien-tech sleekness, and then there’s that higher, band collar) and a less Speedo-informed fashion sensibility (he loses the red trunks that he’s been wearing since the FDR years)”

(From “Superman first look: ‘Action Comics’ takes flight with new Man of Steel”http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/06/10/superman-first-look-action-comics-takes-flight-with-new-man-of-steel/).

7. Resurrection and rebirth

“The return usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the adventure world by a force from the daylight world.”

(http://orias.berkeley.edu/hero/return.html)

7. Superman’s Resurrection and Birth

Los Angeles Times

“Superman first look: ‘Action Comics’ takes flight with new Man of Steel”

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/06/10/superman-first-look-action-comics-takes-flight-with-new-man-of-steel/

(June 10, 2011)

8. Ascension, apotheosis, and atonement

8. Apotheosis of George Washington

8. Superman’s Apotheosis -First Super Hero

Promotional ArtSuperman No 204Vol 2, April 2004

Jim Lee & Scott Williams

In Superman/Batman No.3 (December 2003), Batman observes, “It is a remarkable dichotomy. In many ways, Clark is the most human of us all. Then... he shoots fire from the skies, and it is difficult not to think of him as a god. And how fortunate we all are that it does not occur to him.”

Superman 1938

Artist: Joe Schuster

Video Images of Superman Over Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjsg7KG3Qs

“Truth, Jawlines, and The American Way: The Changing Face of Superman”

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/01/142935250/truth-jawlines-and-the-american-way-the-changing-face-of-superman?sc=fb&cc=fp

Artist: Jim Lee

Iconography

“S” shield on chest “S” curl on forehead Red and Blue Cape Boots Boxers – until rebirth/ recreation 2011 Physique

Superman’s Super Powers

Superhuman Strength › “more powerful than locomotive”

Invulnerability Flight

› “leaps tall buildings . . . “ Superhuman Speed

› “faster than speeding bullet” X-ray Vision Heat Vision Superhuman Breath Superhuman Hearing Superhuman Vision Eidetic Memory Disguise/ Clark Kent Persona

(More details at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_and_abilities_of_Superman)

Characteristics - Superman

Moral superiority Selfless-service Modesty Humility Honesty “Truth” Fair “Justice” Democratic(?) “American way” Strength

SUPER HERO

SupermanHERO

Human

THE END