Originally Posted by
Robanker
We must not be reading the same books because he's clearly passionate. He literally went to the ends of the cosmos, beat Barry in a footrace and broke his word, something he holds sacred, to save a young girl. Over in Superman he just revealed his identity because he felt strongly enough about making a change and he truly believes in it. Are you even reading Superman Smashes the Klan? I just don't know, man.
There's a lot of sincerity that comes across from Clark then and now.
You have your own idea of who Superman is, which is fine, we all do, but I'm honestly not sure what you're reading to get a view so negative as those points you listed.
There's one thing that I genuinely couldn't understand, however. You ask why if he doesn't care much about the race, why participate even if it's for charity. Literally that last part. It's for charity. People are willing to donate money, time and attention toward an issue that helps people if Clark runs a few heats with Barry. That's why he participates. He can do something he's good at, even at a loss, because it helps people-- his highest passion. He gets to have a competition with his friends as a means to the end that he cares about a lot more. It's like going to get your favorite food in the whole world but you also get to listen to an album you really like on the way there; something you enjoy while accomplishing something you value a lot more. It isn't as if the time is wasted if he's also not listening deeply for every note and intention while debating if he instead should also have his favorite album playing. Moreover, just because he's not constantly trying to up his speed doesn't mean he half-asses it in the race. He can still be giving it everything he's got, and often does. Moreover, your reasoning betrays a logical fallacy-- that the people who are donating for the race would be shelling out just for Superman's brand. They're not selling Superman's brand, they're selling a race between Flash and Superman. Nobody went to Batman v Superman because "hey, it's got both Batman AND Superman in it," they went because they were promised those two titans meeting for the first time in a fight that will answer the biggest bar room debate of the century. There's a difference. I know I'm dialing into your argument very literally but that's because you presented an extremely flimsy one.
Clark has shown time and again that with powers or no, he always finds another way to be Superman in spirit if not body. He always gives a damn. He always stands up when knocked down. He routinely does what you claim he doesn't. He's, as Morrison put it, the man we created in our darkest hour-- the one who would never let us down. He always finds a way. That hasn't changed, and he still cares a helluva lot more than your posts seem to let on, but I'm growing more and more convinced that you'll never be satisfied short of a manga infused Silver Age Superman.
And that's fine, but outside of an elseworlds take, I don't think that can ever be sustained in a shared DC Universe with The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batman and many others. You're essentially letting all those other books tell stories and having Clark's be a highlight reel of a dude training, like all the filler episodes of Dragon Ball Z. Hard pass.