In My Own Silver Age

And we take
What we hide from them
And then say
“What do you want from me?”
―The Strokes, Oblivius

9/25/26

Lately, I’ve been fascinated and enamored by superhero comics, as evident in my last few blog posts highlighting Joshua Williamson’s Superman and Mark Waid’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest. Both of these books are wonderful representations of their respective characters, offering me a classic set of superhero stories that dive into high-concept, Earth-shattering stakes.

I’ve caught up with Superman and am now waiting on a deep backlog of issues to make their way to the DC Universe app. A bummer, because I really want to dive back in but I was also really satisfied with the way the last arc ended. Superboy Prime’s tale of redemption as he atones for the sins of his past (a past that was technically rebooted) and tries to be as great as Superman was excellent. Prime’s ability to break the fourth wall and his love of all things DC comics was another fun layer to the character. Different issues would see him use his knowledge of obscure DC villains, travel through a variety of distant worlds and even reference the fact that he’s in a comic, quite literally crashing through the ad pages or appearing in pages as they were getting drawn.

It was a great read, but even the stuff focused on Clark before all of that was amazing and reminded me why I’ve grown to love this character over the years. All throughout middle and high school, Batman was at the center of my comic book consumption. I was devouring the classics like The Dark Knight Returns, Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum while also obsessing over each of the Arkham games and watching cable reruns of Batman: The Animated Series.

I love Batman but as I got older and read stuff like All-Star Superman and Superman: Birthright, I realized that the best writers are doing incredible things with the latter. Superman isn’t a boring and infallible being, he’s as human as anyone reading. His stories aren’t just about fighting god-like beings from outer space or foiling evil schemes, they’re usually about love, family and the overall pursuit of being good.

Superman comics are immigrant stories and the everlasting appeal of empathy and hope in a world that seems to get darker and more cynical as time marches on. Sure, Clark Kent is all-powerful and damn-near invincible but he’s also afraid for his loved ones or simply wants to connect to those around him on a much deeper level.

The books are also about a world grateful for a protector, guardian angel. As things in the real world seem to get worse, it’s fascinating how the story of an all-powerful immigrant has sustained for so long. There is no real Superman and I always think back to Land of Confusion by Genesis:

Ooh, Superman, where are you now

When everything’s gone wrong somehow?

Lately, as I keep reading the news, I notice myself getting cynical about the state of the world. Being a Latino in an era where I feel like my own people are either hunted for sport or executed publicly for no reason has been getting to me. I always fall back to the same way of thinking: No one is coming to save us.

It feels so hopeless at times, and I know that way of thinking is ultimately unproductive. If I go about each day with that doomer mentality, am I really helping anyone? Of course not, but I hold onto a lot of anxieties and fears, wishing for a world where my Latin brothers and sisters can live in peace.

And that’s why Superman resonates with me, especially lately.

A superpowered immigrant father who carries the weight of the world on his back. He isn’t great simply because he can fly or shoot lasers from his eyes, he’s great because he is emblematic of humanity’s greatest strengths. He is a beacon of hope. As I wait on for more issues, Waid’s World’s Finest comics have been a great way to pass the time and fill the void.

Using Silver Age sensibilities to tell an origin story of Batman and Superman’s partnership, pulling from almost a century of stories. It’s a little goofy at times, but feels right at home with the best comics of the 1960s. Mark Waid feels like an encyclopedia of DC knowledge, pulling from every corner of the shared universe and upping the stakes across each issue. Dan Mora’s art is another highlight (my Latino king!), with some issues boasting beautiful, full page drawings that would work as posters or separate art prints.

It’s funny how deep into the comic book rabbit hole I’ve fallen into lately. I have these periods where I fixate on the most random things (Star Wars comes to mind), making it my mission to have it consume all my free time. What feels different about comics is how low-friction it is to simply pick up my iPad and start reading.I’m trying not to doomscroll and replacing that bad habit with a good Superman book feels much more productive.

This week has felt productive overall. As I get back into the groove of balancing work, school and my own fitness regime, I’m noticing changes to the way I interact with different kinds of media. The biggest change I’ve seen is now I’m actually watching movies again at a regular pace. This past week I watched stuff like Deadpool & Wolverine, The Life of Chuck and Hulk (2003). While D&W wasn’t too great, the other two had a much greater impact on me.

The Life of Chuck felt like one of the most beautiful, life-affirming pieces of art I’ve seen in ages. As I worry for my future and the kind of legacy I will leave (a really stupid thing to think of in your 20s, by the way), the film presented me with an earnest message to live my life to the fullest. It’s a really great movie.

Hulk was interesting, as I hadn’t seen it since I was very young. A few years ago, a friend of mine bought me a 4K disc of it, knowing I have a lot of love for auteur-driven blockbusters. In an era where superhero movies feel stale and play things way too safe, watching this weird, 2000s monster movie that so happens to star one of my favorite superheroes felt like the biggest breath of fresh air.

It leans into its comic book origins, thanks to some awesome transitions in between scenes and the panels showing some cool picture-in-picture stuff. It felt like I was watching a live-action version of the old Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Hulk comics, similar to how Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man adapted the Lee/Steve Ditko-era comics of its respective hero. It’s so funny how there seems to be a weird resurgence of love nostalgia for older comic book movies, specifically the 20th Century Fox ones. Most of those films weren’t great and I would much rather see a wave of love for Ang Lee’s underrated blockbuster.

Regardless, I should read more Hulk comics.

As my comic and movie time has gone up, I haven’t been gaming as much as I’ve wanted to. Lately I’ve noticed that I only spend an hour or two every other night playing, coupled with the fact that I’m no longer doing the split-focused thing. I don’t have a podcast or video essay in the background, instead I’m focused on what’s on screen and trying to be as present as possible. I’m not really locked into the game either, playing a little more casually and stopping when I get bored or I’m not feeling it.

I started Borderlands 3 this week, as my search for an offline looter shooter/ARPG continues. Readers may remember how I was playing the first Borderlands for that same reason, but I opted to jump ahead and play 3 since gunplay and loot are improved. I could’ve jumped to 4 but I wanna wait until that game is done getting updates. Overall, I’m enjoying my time in Borderlands 3 despite the story feeling a little grating. The writing and humor isn’t working on me and it’s almost begging to fade into the background as I pull up a podcast episode.

It’s kind of in conflict with my current philosophy, huh?

Clearly, I am still searching for the next, big grind. Diablo IV’s latest season looks fun but I know I’ll hop off of it really fast. I wanted to dive into one of the RPG-focused Assassin’s Creed games too, but with my upcoming trip in a little less than two weeks, I know it’s a little unwise to get invested in some large-scale, narrative-focused adventure.

Speaking of my trip, I’m looking forward to visiting New York in the fall. As we enter the last stretch of the year, I am reminded of how nice these next few months are. Despite Miami’s weather being less than fall-like, there’s a general vibe change here that I can’t deny, and I’m excited for stuff like Halloween, my birthday in November and the holidays in general.

Anyway, stay curious, folks.