What You Are Is Where You Were When: The Retiring Guy Superman and Batman Edition

Those of you of a certain age will remember attending workshops -- probably more than one -- where this guy's video was the feature attraction.

In order to best understand me, you need to know that hearing the word "Superman" instantly brings these opening credits to mind.


Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! ("Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!")... Yes, it's Superman ... strange visitor from another planet, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman ... who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way! And now, another exciting episode, in The Adventures of Superman!

A new era for Superman and Batman. (San Jose Mercury News, 8/31/2011)

Excerpt: It's Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as you've never known them before.

DC Comics -- the company publishing the adventures of legions of superheroes for more than 75 years -- began an unprecedented relaunch of its entire line of comic books Wednesday with new "No. 1" issues. And for the first time, you can download 'em for your iPad the same day the books hit comic book stores around the country.



Longtime fans are used to change. New characters with old names were launched in the 1950s and '60s. Big heroes die and come back. Series are launched with repeated new first issues in just a few years.

DC is rolling back the odometer on its flagship series -- including Action Comics, which had reached issue 904 in a run that stretched back to 1938. That got comic fandom buzzing on the Internet when the news broke in May. Debates sprouted over new looks for many characters -- Superman has lost his red trunks in one series and a younger version in another sports a T-shirt and jeans -- and much angst was expressed over changes that promised to alter, de-age or eliminate altogether some characters.

And here's the "Batman" Where-I-Was-When.


Da-da, da-da
Da-da, da-da
Da-da, da-da
Da-da, da-da
Batman!

Guess there's something to be said for TV's assault on our ability to articulate (1a)..