So the early Golden Age days? I don't think he would've been very popular and likely died out. In those days stories were simple, and Superman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman were regularly having bigger feats trying to one-up each other as a sort of "arms race." Of course you can have great stories with any power level, but that's not what people were going for then. I remember on HISTORY, back when it was still THE HISTORY CHANNEL and actually about history, did a special, COMIC BOOKS UNLEASHED I think it was, looking at the history of comics and how they effected the real world and vice versa. It was talked about how in most of the Golden Age, comics were all about being so sure of things, when World War Two was going on and things were far from sure. I think the big feats was part of that escapism, hence the constant increasing of power levels of those three.
__________________ Bluewaterrider: "I'm surprised that a Skyfather like Zeus defeated Hulk when Zeus' Top-Tier son Hercules has lost to Hulk."
Superman as he first appeared? He wasn't nearly as powerful in his first appearance as he is today. His more ridiculous Pre Crisis feats came years later. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound has been surpassed these days by even John Bryne's Superman.
False. Plenty of heroes have stayed close to their OG power levels and didn't die out.
To evolve is one thing. In personality, stories, issues he deals with etc, but the thread starter stated original power level and abilities. I think people are getting confused here thinking its a change like campy batman vs frank miller batman instead of power levels like op said.
About changing comics in general , i don't know. Captain marvel part is right since it was a dick measuring contest since DC didn't originally own him. Wonder Woman wasn't close to superman levels till about the late 80's & 90's.
The entire landscape of comics would be different.
The world would be different.
We wouldnt be having this conversation.
If he had stayed at his original power levels, other Comic Book Publishers probably would have flourished. Superman was so dominant though, DC were top dog until the 70's anyway.
Marvel may or may not of even flourished at all.
Batman would have carried on as normal as hes the ****ing Batman.
The thread is talking about if Superman's powers stayed exactly the same in those early ACTION COMICS issues, how things would go from then to today. Back then, stories were simple, character evolution was non-existent, and the arguments you're making Inhuman simply didn't apply to comics then. Odds are he would've been popular for a few years, then faded away.
__________________ Bluewaterrider: "I'm surprised that a Skyfather like Zeus defeated Hulk when Zeus' Top-Tier son Hercules has lost to Hulk."
He might have fallen into the Phantom/Flash Gordon zone. Considered an old time favorite, brought back in cartoon or cheesy movie form every once and a while.
The 50s tv show might have raised his stock, though, if it were even made.
Captain marvel actually didn't have "growing feats" in the GA. he started out at the high end, Superman was quickly elevated in feats to match him because Whiz was stealing his thunder. It wasn't long after Cap Debuted in Whiz comics that he actually had sales figures that exceeded a million copies an issue. That's why by mid 42 Superman was matching all his feats and by 43/4 was producing feats pretty damn close to the Silver age level.
That simply isn't true. About Wonder Woman that is. While in All Star Comics she was depicted less than feministically ( team secretary) She had feats in the golden age of towing the moon with her magic Lasso (IIRC might have been a cover shot) and spinning another celestial body around her head
You are aware that the reason that The Phantom get's brought back so often is because Internationally speaking he is one of the 5 or 6 most recognized comic characters in the world, right ?? While the character started out in America it is published in dozens of countries around the world mostly in a fortnightly format. Throughout scandinavia, India, South east Asia, and South America. Not to mention it's a regular feature in newspaper comic strips in Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Growing up in Australia I would walk into my local newsagent and see 20 to 30 Phantom comics on the shelves at a time while only seeing 10 Marvel or DC comics. The few times I've had car boot sales where I've taken some of my comics to sell I'm almost always asked if I have any Phantom comics and when the answer is no (because my 84 year old father would never let me sell them) they don't even look at what I do have. The 1996 Phantom movie for example almost had a straight to DVD sequel because of how well teh DVD went internationally.
KMC Community Forums
What If Superman stayed at is orignal Power level/Abilities
Jul 6th, 2014 04:06 PM
Bluewaterrider: "I'm surprised that a Skyfather like Zeus defeated Hulk when Zeus' Top-Tier son Hercules has lost to Hulk."
