Writing a good superman movie is hard. It is too difficult because superman is too powerful. Any problem he can solve instantly. He is super strong, super-fast, nigh indestructible. Where are the stakes??? Can we crowdsource this? We can try! If you have a suggestion of how to make this superman story better, submit a rival text.

I have often heard that writing a good superman movie is impossible. It is too difficult because superman is too powerful. Any problem he can solve instantly. He is super strong, super-fast, nigh indestructible. Where are the stakes??? I disagree. I think making a great superman movie is entirely possible. It just can’t be done with a team that thinks bad writing can be covered up by bland action and CGI monstrosities.

I kind of hated the previous DC movies. Now that DC has confirmed a new universe and a complete redo, lets imagine how they could actually make superman work. So lets take a drink, destroy our inhibitions, and write about superman.

A true antagonist.

For a superman story to work, my focus immediately goes to the villain or villains. These characters are going to have to create the tension and stakes. These characters are going to have to oppose superman. Now a fifth-grader (or Hollywood executive) may say: “Just make the villain 10 times stronger than superman” but this is a mistake. The villain should oppose superman where superman is weak. Jacob vs. goliath is a good story, goliath 1 vs. goliath 2 is not.

Now a fifth-grader (or Hollywood executive) may say: “Just make the villain 10 times stronger than superman” but this is a mistake. The villain should oppose superman where superman is weak. Jacob vs. Goliath is a good story, Goliath 1 vs. Goliath 2 is not.

So, what makes a good villain?

A good villain is in direct opposition to the protagonist. The villain purposefully and action-ably actionably moves towards motives that are opposed to the hero. This creates conflict. Simple enough, but conflict, simple enough. But the design of a truly great villain goes deeper.

A truly great villain is a distorted mirror of the hero. The hero and villain should seem alike in so many ways. They should see themselves in the other. Except for where they are different. And that difference should become the theme to their relationship and perhaps the entire story.

Take batman and the joker in the dark knight. Batman is someone who sees problems in the world. He devotes his life to solve these problems. He prepares and plans, he dresses up, and he fights for what he believes in. Now the joker. The joker is someone who sees problems in the world. He devotes his life to solve these problems. He prepares and plans, he dresses up, and he fights for what he believes in. They are the same… except for where they are different. Batman believes in order and sees chaos as the problem. The Joker believes in chaos and sees order as the problem.

How to make the antagonist work

This problem has already been solved. The best superman villain is out there… and it’s Lex Luther. He is iconic. Lex Luther doesn’t face superman with brawn but with brain. He fights where superman in weak. How can we use this to make a truely strong superman movie? Where can we use our creative freedom to make this dynamic stronger?

A good superman movie needs a good villain like that. Let us make an attempt to create just such a villain. This will be a short story just to get the idea across. Remember this is MeritFront, if you have any ideas, edits, or suggestions submit a rival text or leave a comment.

• We want a lot of screen time with antagonist. Perhaps superman and Lex grow up together.

• Superman can not just defeat the antagonist by beating them up. We need a power imbalance that is not physical. Perhaps Superman and Lex start as childhood best friends. The awkward genius kid and the weird alien boy. This relationship gives Lex power over superman.

• Additional power imbalance. Perhaps Lex is the only one who knows Superman’s secret and so holds additional power over superman. Perhaps Lex even uses his friendship with superman to gain access to alien technology. Now superman is somewhat responsible for any power plays Lex makes.

• Lex and superman can both want to help people! The conflict can stem from how. Perhaps Lex imagines helping people from a position of power. He can see that a central authority that is smart and effective can help far more people.

• We can develop a deep complex relationship as superman starts saving people from various minor villains, whilst Lex is slowly building up power and making his own moves.

The end game

Introducing a villain.

We start our story at a middle school. A young Clark Kent and his parents are being shown around by the school principle. Clark is obviously over sensitive to all the noise and chaos of classrooms and school life. His hands are often over his ears and eyes.

“He is very smart” says Clark’s mother, “But he has trouble with…” She gestures all around.

The principle looks Clark up and down, “our special needs program might work.”

“He is very smart” Clarks mother insists.

“Well, there is only one other child in the special needs program, and he is the smartest kid in school.”

The principle leads Clark and his parents to the back corner of the school. It is isolated, quieter. They are ushered into a classroom.

The large classroom has no desks, but it is not empty. Except for a narrow passage, an immaculate Lego city spans from one wall to the other. Colorful skyscrapers in the middle, reaching towards the ceiling. Suburban houses line the walls. Highways and roads crisscrossing in between.

On the far wall, a little boy stands on a chair drawing on the whiteboard. The drawing obviously representing plans for the next iteration on his Lego city.

“Clark” the principal nudges Clark forward, “This is Lex Luther.”

I think Lex Luther is the best choice as a villain against superman. He is iconic. Lex Luther doesn’t face superman with brawn but with brain. But in this story, we are going to give Lex more weapons against superman: emotions & insight. Lex will be Superman's first and closest friend. Lex will know all about Clark and all of his weaknesses. Besides this way, we will be able to develop Lex as we develop Clark. Screen time doesn’t need to be split.

We would then continue to develop Clark’s and Lex relationship as best childhood friends. They are oddballs that other children pick on. Perhaps we have a scene where Clark is being bullied. But Clark takes it, trying to hide his powers. Lex steps in and just verbally decimates the bully. This results in the bully punching Lex. At this point Clark steps in and uses some of his powers to beat the bully. Clark won’t use his powers to save himself, but he will use them to save Lex. At this point, I want the audience to feel that they are BEST friends.

Now that we have established an emotion connection between our hero and future villain, we need to start setting up their conflicting difference. What is the divide that is going to set them on different paths? Let's imagine a scene where Clark has to save the day. Perhaps a school bus plunges into a frozen river and Clark has to pull the bus out of the river (Like in Man of Steel). I would do this so that only Lex sees what Clark did.

So, Lex learns about Clarks powers. But Lex, perhaps jealous, is not happy with his friend's powers. He dismisses them.

What good are your powers? You can only save people once they are already in danger. You will always be playing catch up. If you really want to help people you would stop them from being in danger in the first place. If you really you want to help people you would change the system. The local government should have required snow tires. The local government should have delayed school because of ice warnings. The local government should have invested in stronger railings on the bridge. We should not have to rely on people like you.

This is the first major difference I imagine between our two characters. Both have dreams of helping people. Both have dreams of saving the world. But while superman reacts to catastrophes, Lex wants to preemptively change systems to stop catastrophes. I like this difference because of two reasons. First, it stems from their natural powers. Superman can fly and is super strong and so thinks about saving people directly. Lex is super smart and determined, and so thinks about changing systems in order to save people. The second reason I like this is because many of the audience (if not all) is going to agree with Lex. The best way to help people is to change systems for the better. We should not have to rely on heroes.

I would then show at some point that lex mean and acts on this philosophy. Perhaps he starts improving systems around the school or even at the local government level. He is meant to be a genius after all. From all appearances, I want Lex to be initially perceived as a different type of hero.

How to use Lex Luther

I am imagining a new superman and DC series. A.k.a Multiple Movies. In which case, I think Lex Luther works best as a mastermind character that is slowly moving all of his chess pieces into place. In the first movie, i would have Lex and Clark remain friends... a.k.a have another big bad guy as a villian. But over the course of this movie you should see Lex starting to make power moves. You see him start a technology company in the name of creating good systems. You see him buddying up with government figures. You see Lex using superman as a muscle man. You see him manipulating his friendship with superman to get advanced alien technology. I imagine that movie by movie, you see Lex better his position, but never reveal himself. He is the shadowy figure that the hero's never fully see. Then in one great move, you watch Lex's magnum opus. You watch him win endgame style. He turns the entire earth against the justice league. In a campaign against aliens and massive threats, he essentially becomes emperor of the world.

Then in one great move, you watch Lex's magnum opus. You watch him win endgame style. He takes full control… perhaps in the name against the alien menace. He turns humanity against superman.

IDK just my thoughts, let me know what you would change! Feel free to add and subtract and submit a rival text!!!