Icon Battle 3

Originally posted by Dinalfos
Yes, but Superman is first and foremost a comic book character. And in that respect, he's not quite where Spiderman is right now. People worldwide know Superman, but they don't really know(nor care) who or what he is. Except that he's a man with a cape and a symbol on his chest. We've come to a point where the brand name has surpassed the actual character in terms of popularity.

Spider-Man is first and LASTLY a comic-book character. Superman's icon ism has transcended the mere realms of comic book character. Spider's stuck where he is. Superman is in the league of Jesus Christ and Buddha...

Everyone knows who Superman is and what he is about. A alien who came from Krypton to fight for truth and justice. Everyone knows his personality, his history, his name, where he's from, his girlfriend, his villain and even his friggin hometown. And regardless they love him for it.

Superman's origin unlike Spider-Man isn't a story. It's reached the level of a legend or a opus. Everyone in this damn country can recite Superman's origin and character by heart. More people know about his history and character than they do about the Old Testament.

Originally posted by Dinalfos
So I honestly believe you're overestimating the impact he made. He's recognized, he's frequently referenced. That's it. I agree that Spiderman is purely an icon of pop culture, whereas Superman has transcended that. But mostly the name, not the character.

Spider-Man is just a popular fad in society today that was until recently committed by comic book fans. He's popular because of his movies, games and toys. That's it. It'll die out until the next hip, "new" superhero comes along that represents their generations' cool.

Superman won't endure that.

Hell:

😬

Originally posted by Draco69
It's like saying Scientology is more popular than Christianity....

It is not at all like that, considering Spiderman gives people hope and lessons to be learned. People just depend on Superman for stuff.

Originally posted by Draco69
Spider-Man is first and LASTLY a comic-book character.

And Superman isn't. When's the last time you saw a man with an "S" logo and a red cape flying around saving people in the real world? Superman defined superhero. Spiderman redefined hero.

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
It is not at all like that, considering Spiderman gives people hope and lessons to be learned. People just depend on Superman for stuff.

Spider-Man does not give hope and confidence to the majority of the world.

People just like him swinging around. He may give YOU hope and confidence. But he sure as hell doesn't give hope to the people suffering n the Dafur genocide which by the way Superman is very popular over there because HE inspires hope, freedom and justice for all the atrocities they've endured. He's an mythical angel to them.

Spidey? People won't think of him when they really need inspiration.

Like 9/11. Who did people turn to? SUPERMAN. Not some cartoon character who shoots webs.

Superman is so revered, the ACTOR who played him is treated with reverance. Everyone was up in arms when he got crippled. Noone would give a sh*t about Tobey Maguire....

Originally posted by Draco69
Spider-Man does not give hope and confidence to the majority of the world.

People just like him swinging around. He may give YOU hope and confidence.

Along with almost everyone I know, even foreign penpals?

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
And Superman isn't. When's the last time you saw a man with an "S" logo and a red cape flying around saving people in the real world? Superman defined superhero. Spiderman redefined hero.

Superman has transcended the realm of comics. Spidey is still confined as a comic character.

Superman has become a metaphor, a religous figure, a theme, a ideology, a philosophy and yes an ICON all in one go.

Spider-Man will never, ever reach that level of reverance....

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
Along with almost everyone I know, even foreign penpals?

You're a comicbook fan and everyone you know is likely one too.

A starving African child who lost his mother to warfare and his father to AIDS doesn't seek inspiration from Spidey. He seeks it from Superman. That everything bad happening will stop. Because Superman will save him.

That's almost WORSHIP.

😬

Did I mention the friggin' POPE has mentioned Superman in his speeches to the masses in Italy?

THE POPE....

Originally posted by Draco69
Superman has transcended the realm of comics. Spidey is still confined as a comic character.

Considering people I know adore him as a close friend that have never read a comic in their life? You seem to deny the fact that Spiderman is a hero for everyone. I knew someone who said that their friend actually STOPPED himself from doing something bad because he went back and thought about Spiderman's experience. There's ever a poster on this forum that used Spiderman as an example for her kid!

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
You just ignored everything I said. People look up to Superman for a hero, but when they need a friend or an idol, they look for Spiderman. What you said about race and religion isn't true. They don't look up to him. They see him as a hero they can trust and can use to put in example of the AMERICAN way. Iranian aren't looking up to Supes. Canadians don't look up to Supes. Americans do. Comics just show that to give off a bigger effect. I have penpals all over the world that think Parker is the single greatest fictional character ever. Why? Because he gives them example. Superman just flies around and saves people. Spiderman allows people to learn and think, not just be saved and that's it. Spiderman is a friend to anyone and everyone who needs one. Superman is just a savior. He's liked for being able to save them. Spiderman is adored for being a hero to everyone.

You HONESTLY believe only Americans look up to Superman?

NO.

There are hundreds of organizations in Africa that give out Superman insignia and Superman dolls to children suffering from warfare, genocide and AIDS. They look up to Superman as a archtypical angel that will make everything all right. They clutch those Superman dolls in a way Christians clutch their crosses....

Your penpals are entitled to their opinion...but their opinion isn't the majority by any means whatsoever. To the world, Spider-Man is a comic book character. To the world, Superman takes on so many definitions and inspirations in the way the see him.

Superman is nearly a religious figure. The way he's perceived and the way he's likened to suggests an almost worship.

Spidey doesn't inpire to everyone in the world. Superman does.

Please, it's fine that you like Spidey and he inspires you but to suggest that Spider-Man inspries more than Superman across the world is just ludicrous. You know it. You just won't admit it.

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
Considering people I know adore him as a close friend that have never read a comic in their life? You seem to deny the fact that Spiderman is a hero for everyone. I knew someone who said that their friend actually STOPPED himself from doing something bad because he went back and thought about Spiderman's experience. There's ever a poster on this forum that used Spiderman as an example for her kid!

I've present evidence of UN statues, hospitals named after him, a parade held in his honor and the fact that the Pope has mentioned and likened him to Jesus Christ in several of his speeches and all you have is your penpals and a friend.

No contest.

Spider-Man is not a hero for everyone. Heroes get statues. Heroes get entire books written after him. Heroes get a mythology. Heroes get stuidied in college courses. Heroes have buildings named after them. Heroes are the figureheads of charities and peace organizations. Does Spidey have this. Absolutely not. And he never will....

Originally posted by Draco69
Spider-Man is first and LASTLY a comic-book character. Superman's icon ism has transcended the mere realms of comic book character. Spider's stuck where he is. Superman is in the league of Jesus Christ and Buddha...

Everyone knows who Superman is and what he is about. A alien who came from Krypton to fight for truth and justice. Everyone knows his personality, his history, his name, where he's from, his girlfriend, his villain and even his friggin hometown. And regardless they love him for it.

Superman's origin unlike Spider-Man isn't a story. It's reached the level of a legend or a opus. Everyone in this damn country can recite Superman's origin and character by heart. More people know about his history and character than they do about the Old Testament.

I'm sorry, but he's NOT in the leagues of Jesus Christ and Buddha. He's a comic book character with name recognition. He isn't any more iconic than, say, Ronald McDonald. I know the states are a somewhat different story. Superman originated there. But let's not make more out of him than he really is. When all is said and done, he is STILL a comic book character. Most people don't care as much as you'd like to believe.

And no, only comic book lovers know the story. As someone who has spend extensive time in various countries (including the U.S, of course), I can assure you that Superman's icon ism doesn't really extend beyond the most superficial basic knowledge. People may have heard of the name Lois Lane or the word Kryptonite, but they can't even place it for the most part. It doesn't mean anything.

Spider-Man is just a popular fad in society today that was until recently committed by comic book fans. He's popular because of his movies, games and toys. That's it. It'll die out until the next hip, "new" superhero comes along that represents their generations' cool.

Superman won't endure that.

Hell:

😬

That's where you're wrong. Spiderman has ALWAYS been popular. Always. The reason why the movies became such big hits is exactly BECAUSE of that popularity and name recognition. Calling Spiderman a fad is just wrong on so many levels. The movies may may not eventually lose their blockbuster appeal(like Superman!), but the character is here to stay. Period.

Do you have any sources for superman speech/superman tatoo requirements/superman hospitals/praying to superman???

Google search for me turns up nothing on those topics..

Just a few things to add :

Superman is one of those names that to me, simply mean "beyond human", and whether he be a god or an alien, he's something that we know is better than ourselves. I'd pray to superman over spiderman, just becuase i know he'll get better results. But i also pray to silver surfer over superman..so what does that mean ?

Spiderman : I'll admit you have to know his story or you'll think he's just some insect. Spiderman has that urban western feelings, whereas superman definately can be seen as a god-who-walks-the-earth.

as someone who served in the armed forces i can tell you that no unit i know of requires a superman tatoo... i can also tell you that the majority of presonel i worked with think that spider-man is the better inspriration to them, we all know superman like it was stated before he's as easily recognizable as mc donalds that's why he's known all over the world his name preceeds him, and no he's not loved everywhere he's loved in many places but not everywhere a good deal of places think of him as the enbody ment of american ideals, superman has always stood above the people as a near godlike idea your right about that but like all religion it's not an idea for everyone, spider-man has always been popular ever since the day of his creation you wanna know why? simple look in the mirror you are spiderman, i am spiderman we all are every single man woman and child on this earth can be a spider-man, unlike superman hw's depicted as never being wrong and above temtation and always being pefect, spider-man is flawed he's not above temtation he's not above wanting to lead a happy life, he's a man who will spend the rest of his life repenting for his sins we've been there with him for every single one of his choices he thinks the same way you and i do should he go out on a date or save a burning building and loose the girl he risk his life every single day for the most part superman never has to worry about being killed spidy does he's a man who goes out with no even a fraction of what sups has and faces the same challanges weather he's killed by a superpowerd villan or he slips up and is killed by a common thug the fact that he takes whatever little power he has and trys to make a diffence in the world makes a deeper impact than superman ever could superman is just that super but spider-man is a man and he's become a symbol almost an enbodyment of responsiblity the term great power great responsiblity is just as recongnized as that s on his chest, he shows us that even if you cant save the world you can still make a diffence if you try you dont have to have some godly otherworldy power to make a diffrence every time you or i have a choice to make to do the right thing or to turn your back we become spider-man

Peter Parker represents the underdog. He can be related to by people far and wide. Superman, as a character, will never reach that kind of personal relationship with the reader.

As far as I'm concerned, that trumps S shield any day of the week. 😉

Looks like Spiderman wins.

seems that way

has anyone ever notice the connection between these 2? both flagship characters bot wear read and blue both initals are sm

Originally posted by lando005
has anyone ever notice the connection between these 2? both flagship characters bot wear read and blue both initals are sm

Only Spiderman's more iconic and sympolizes more than just a hero.

Originally posted by Ultraman Baltan
Only Spiderman's more iconic and sympolizes more than just a hero.

Originally posted by lando005
suprised draco isnt jumping all over you saying spidy's only a comic book character and superman's a semi religious icon

I know. Spiderman is closer to real life than Superman. Until we see him as God, he is not what Draco says for him to be.