Apocalypse Thoughts - What Shouldn't Be In The Movie

With the DCU movie Superman/Batman:Apocalypse (based on the new Supergirl origin story by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner) scheduled for a September release, I figured it was time to take a look back at the original arc from Superman/Batman #8-13.

In particular, I figured I would reread the story and see what I hope will be in the movie but more importantly what I hope won't be in the movie.

I tend to be a curmudgeon, so I figured I would do the 'what shouldn't be in the movie' post first.

As always, I would love to hear what everyone thinks. I bet there is stuff that irked other people. And I promise, there will be a 'what should be in the movie' post so we can celebrate the strong parts of the story.

So in the order in which they appeared in the story, here are the top 5 things I hope I don't see.


1) Naked Kara - Didn't it just seem gratuitous? I never understood why Kara had to be in her birthday suit in her spaceship. But because of that, we got to see some peekaboo shots of her throughout the first issue of the arc as she emerges from the water, wanders around Gotham, and awakens in the Batcave. I really really hope to not be subjected to this sort of stuff in the movie.

Luckily, from a comic point of view, this was retconned when Gates/Igle showed Kara's "real" escape from Argo City.

2) Batman's trust issues - I understand that Batman is paranoid and that he wouldn't automatically assume Supergirl was who she claimed to be or accept her into his life. But this storyline went a little overboard. He didn't believe her. He thought she was dangerous. He grilled her with questions, interrogating her. He wondered if the message sent with Supergirl to Earth said she would bring trouble to the world rather than be a treasure to it. Even after some time interacting with her, he simply didn't believe she was who she said she was. It felt overdone in many places.

I won't mind this in a small dose because it makes sense. But let's not have it permeate the plot like it did in the comics.


3) Thong straps - I suppose this is similar to #1, but I hope that I don't get an eyeful of Supergirl's underwear in the movie. In the comic, they say Lois bought her this outfit ... Lois! And how can Clark just calmly walk beside her. If that was my little cousin, I'd be pretty uncomfortable. Does that make me too old-fashioned?

Anyways, keep the hip-hugger jeans if you must, but let's not see the thong straps.


4) The death of Harbinger - Not many current fans know or understand who Harbinger is, let alone the casual fan who might pick up the movie. I don't think she is a known enough character to even introduce in the movie. from a dramatic perspective, there will be no emotional punch gained from her death if people have no prior understanding of who she is.

I like Harbinger. But I hope she isn't in this movie at all.


5) Superman's speech as he fights Darkseid for the last time - I was cringing when I read this speech the first time and I still cringe when I re-read it. Is Superman really going on and on and on with Darkseid about the majesty of a home run? The thrill of being asked to the prom? The joy of slow dancing. Do you think Darkseid has an inkling about what any of that means?

And even if he did ... would you ever talk about going to the prom while you slug it out with Darkseid? Ever?

(cringing)

While in some other instance Superman might actually say that speech, it just doesn't work here.

And now a bonus ...

What I fear won't be in the movie.

1) Wonder Woman and Paradise Island - I hope it isn't true. I hope I'm wrong. I would love to see Wonder Woman in this movie. But when the voice of Wonder Woman wasn't announced and when she and the Amazons weren't mentioned at all in any of the promotional material, I wonder if Diana is simply being written out.

The movie could work if Batman trains Supergirl (as opposed to training happening on Paradise Island - and the text says 'Batman takes her under his wing'). I assume that Barda and the Female Furies will remain in the movie since the New Gods are all over the Blu-Ray release promo. Maybe adding Wonder Woman and Paradise Island would be too much for this; keeping to that rigid 75 minute run time might not work if the Amazons play as big a role as they did in the book.

I really hope that I am wrong. I liked how the Trinity were all involved in Supergirl's origin.

I guess we'll find out in September.