Originally Posted by
comicskirby
Absolute Superman
Doomed Planet. Desperate Scientists. Last HOPES.
Themes:
It is easy to be pessimistic, but optimism affects change. You cannot progress your life or the ways of life through maintaining the status quo. Maintaining optimism in the face of adversity, is a muscle that characters must build. No person is destined through nature versus nurture, it is the characters own self discovery and willingness to persevere.
General Plot:
Kal and Kara are sent from Krypton to Earth. Kal is 6-8, Kara is an infant. Kal remembers his parents and vague understanding of their heritage, and needs to be the guardian over Kara. Ma & Pa Kent remain the kindly couple, adopting the both of them.
What would change is the dynamic between Kara and Kal, and the personality traits provided to both. Kal is protective of Kara, refusing to abandon the last of his family. Kara is the one that is brought up to be as if she's human. Kal retains his introverted nature, aversion to forming bonds outside those of the family home. Kara is the ticking clock (obviously for later dramatic reveal) regarding her heritage. Kal wants to shield her from otherness that he feels, but also a small portion of himself resents being the one that remembers the destruction of Krypton.
Kal becomes Superboy in his adolescence, operating outside of Smallville and his only objective is to save anyone while also not being seen.
Pa Kent dies while Kal is acting as Superboy, trapped in a heavily populated city, making the choice between his adoptive father and thousands of civilians. Upon his speedy return to Smallville, Kara discovers Kal could've been there and blames Kal. Kara refutes her heritage, and remains in the comfort that is Smallville. Kal takes this as a time to find direction, and a step into the unknown of growing up. Kal moves to Metropolis, becomes a reporter at the Daily Planet. Kal's future with the Planet is one of self-discovery and uncovering systemic corruption. Kara's future is seeing the good done by Kal, coming to terms with her heritage, and beginning in his footsteps. Wanting to not relegate her to a sidekick, but a partner. She's a part of a whole, the last hopes of Krypton, and to deny destiny/heritage is akin to allowing for more like Pa to die. Kara becomes more adjusted to humanity and is not stifled by her abilities as a means of outcasting. With Kara and Kal being united, we are able to progress both in their need for kinship because they have each other.
Lex is the co-chair in LexCorp, now military contractors for weapons development and scientific advancements. His father presiding as the CEO and industrialist businessman, while Lex is the R&D/ socially inept "mad scientist". Lex's relationship to his father is similar to Succession's portrayal of Kendall Roy & Logan Roy. He is chasing his father's footsteps, but is never able to surpass. Lex is tired of being in the shadow, while not gaining the due respect. His innovations are suspiciously aided by technology gained with the working relationship to Sam Lane, Lois Lane's father.
This technology will be of alien origin, and once activated works as a honing beacon. We are NOT doing Fourth World! I want this to be technology from Colu, and an attempt by Brainiac to send Trojan horse devices to habitable planets. He knows that the planets that are able to access and activate the technology, will be ones of great value in his pursuit of knowledge.
Brainiac is enamored by the human race, and their insistence of resiliency, while also behaving in the interest of selfishness. Brainiac sees Earth as a case study and sees humanity as a doomed planet, devolving because of the human flaw. Brainiac works as a reflection of cynicism, paired with metaphor for colonialism on "uncivilized cultures". Brainiac is the end point of fascism by way of imparting will onto societies, and the garnering of planets as a capitalistic allegory of resource hoarding (on a planetary scale). Superman and Supergirl function as the oppositional force, and embodiment of the human perseverance. Not enacting their will, but providing humanity with the ability to make systemic changes.
Characters:
Pa Kent: Reserved and not a man of many words, but the words he does provide identify his underlying care for his family. Not reactionary, but played as an allegory for conservative men with closeted children. His acceptance of Kal's (and later Kara's) embrace of their heritage is the moment he realizes he cannot ignore or treat their shared heritage as an elephant in the room. He is the "status quo" characterization. Himself, like Smallville, are the warm blanket and the opposition to change.
Ma Kent: Continuing the Birthright characterization, she is the allegorical mother of children with autism. Knowing the mannerisms, changes in personality, supportive in their interests, and able to be the calm wave of emotions. Ma Kent raises Kal to instill the love and compassion, while helping him work through the isolationist tendencies he has as a child with post traumatic stress.
Kara (Smallville): Eight years behind Kal, she is naive to their heritage. Kal ensures to hide his abilities from Kara until it is no longer possible. Kara stays in Smallville to be raised by Ma Kent, after the sudden death of Pa Kent. She learns of Kal's persona of Superboy, and thus learns of their shared heritage. Kara retreats to the comfort blanket of Smallville, wishing to retreat to a status quo, while Kal takes his progression to Metropolis.
Kal (Smallville): Isolationist, fearing of the power within himself, he is relegated to be a self-imposed outcast. Kal's first friend is Lex while in Smallville, and learns of the absentee parents that raise Lex. Lex is Kal's first encounter with helping someone, and self betterment. Lex, like Krypton and Pa Kent's death, are inevitable in their events. He relies on Ma for emotional support, and Pa for life experience.
Lex: He is not born evil. I would be modelling Lex after Ditko's Peter. He is a young kid that is given every opportunity financially, but emotionally he is fractured. He is a reflection of Kal, and that's why they become friends. What happens when a child in a troubled home, and with one friend, is forced to leave? His parents relocate him from Smallville to Metropolis in an attempt to become the higher status that the parents seek, ignoring Lex's pleas to stay. He cannot start over again.
Superboy: Kal works in secret, akin to Secret Identity. In and out, not to be seen. He yearns for notoriety and kinship with others, but knows that is a selfish need. He knows Smallville is the town of no trouble, so he begins outside of this area into larger cities. At first to test his limitations, but realizing that if there's those in need, he must be prepared to help. It's a necessity to keep away from Smallville, to distance his appearances to be easily located, but also to keep any hint away from Kara.
Superman: Upon the death of Pa, Kal realizes he cannot save everyone but he can attempt to be where he's needed. He needs to take the leap of faith outside of the comfort of the status quo, and begin a new journey.
Kal (Metropolis): He still adopts the mannerisms of Clark Kent, and is played as a masking of his true self. In a room filled with some of the best investigative reporters, he can never be himself. He is taken aback by Lois Lane's attitude, because she sees corruption and will speak truth to power. He's frightened of his ousting his identity, but is heartened by her dedication to protecting the innocent and ousting corruption, without having the capabilities of Superman. She's intriguing, dangerous, and unabashedly stands by her morals.
Lois Lane: She has a history in Metropolis of shaking up the status quo of citywide corruption. Providing the people with a voice, but not allowing the power of trust by the public to corrupt. She's cynical, seeing the flaws in everything surrounding her, but not being able to admit that her greatest flaw is her inability to trust in goodness... until she meets Superman.
Kara (Metropolis): Kara reconciles with Kal, deciding to take his lead and become Supergirl. She provides Kal with the kinship he desires in a life of isolationism, while being provided the opportunity to embrace change and her heritage.
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