superman vs. batman « Letters from Grenada

superman vs. batman

A few weeks ago Bean was really into Batman. George Clooney-Batman, believe it or not. He saw the movie and he thought Poison Ivy was “so pretty, especially her hair”. He also informed me on more than one occasion, in a very SRSBSNS tone of voice, that “this is why Superman works alone.”

Superman vacuums. Your chores are invalid.

So I asked him. I said, “Honey, do you know who Superman is?” No. He did not. But it just so happened that one of my friends has a little boy who had an awesome Superman costume – the fancy kind with the fake chest muscles – that he was, sadly, outgrowing. So Bean inherited it and wore it all. over. the. place. To Stop & Shop. To Target. To vacuum the sofa.

But he still didn’t know Superman’s story. So I told him. I’m not a comic book girl, really, but, hey. I’m AMERICAN. I know about destruction of Krypton and the little escape pod with the baby that crash-landed in a field in Kansas and got rescued and adopted by the Kents who named him Clark and loved him as their son and forgot that he was, in fact, an alien. An alien who grew up to be humanity’s superhero protector, a nietzschean figure who loves those weaker than he more than that lion does. The one with the thorn in his paw.

(In the version I told to Bean, I left about the part about Nietzsche. But you knew that already.)

So he’s got the costume and he has heard the story, which he likes even more than the one I told him about Wolverine. (I’m accepting recommendations, by the way, for any reading material resembling superhero slash comic book Cliff Notes®.)

But he’s not even going to be four for a few more months yet, so he really needs to see Superman to get Superman. So I found a cartoon, the one the WB did a while back, I assume as a companion to Smallville. It’s pretty good, especially the part that takes place on Krypton, even if Jor-El looks nothing like Marlon Brando. It’s not bad. Bean digs it. We watch it together. More than once. Life is good.

That was a few days ago. This morning he informs me:

“Mommy. You know how Batman was my favorite? He was, he was. But now Superman is my REAL favorite for real. And you know WHY? Because SUPERMAN CAN FLY ALL BY HIMSELF.”

My child, he is wise.

Because, really?

We should all be able to fly unaided.

Just in case.