Your Obedient Serpent's Favorite Superman Quote

[athelind]

The "World of Cardboard" Speech:

"That man won't quit as long as he can still draw a breath. None of my teammates will. Me? I've got a different problem. I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard, always taking constant care not to break something, to break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control, even for a moment, or someone could die. But you can take it, can't you, big man? What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose and show you just how powerful I really am."

For those interested, I've expanded and annotated The Top Five Superman Stories list.

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Comments

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

There's a variation of the Cardboard Speech that Judd Winick put into Mimic's mouth during Exiles (back when it was good). This version of Mimic is something of a protege of his universe's Captain America and is well-respected by most heroes. His ruminations culminate in him saying that, after discussing the issue with his fellow bricks and quasi-bricks, most superheroes really, really, REALLY like fighting robots, because they don't have to hold back. He's remembering this discussion because, at the time, he's working his way through Dr. Doom's robotic army. (Heh. A Robotic Army of Doooooom.)

[thebitterguy]

Amusingly, this is also proof of how horrible Smallville was, because of how anticlimactic this same fight was in that show's climax.

[gatewalker.livejournal.com]

Definately Big Blue's best moment in the JL show. I think the phrase I used when seeing it for the first time was "aaaaand shit just got real."

[reveille-d.livejournal.com]

Goddamn, I miss that show. I think it's time to pull out the DVDs.

[zrath.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that is a most excellent speech and beat-down.
I also enjoyed this earlier speech and beat-down from "Justice League", though it's not quite as good.

[drakegrey.livejournal.com]

I remember this... I was just enthralled when they had Supes make this speech.

[stalbon.livejournal.com]

Just as much, Darkseid's verbal response to Supes, including the echo of 'Let's go.' was just as awesome, and a defining moment for the DCAU version of the villain. The whole episode, from start to finish, was fantastic.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Oh, my.

If I had my books here on a shelf instead of in storage, I'd be scanning the Top 5 Best Darkseid Scenes Ever.

Most of them would come out of one book.

[gatewalker.livejournal.com]

Lemme guess, Forever People?

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Jack Kirby's Fourth Worlds Omnibus Vol. 1, but, yes, at least a couple would be Forever People.

"You are the revelationist, Godfrey ... But I am the REVELATION!"

[gatewalker.livejournal.com]

I think I just remember his FP stuff more because...well, the heroes of the book certainly weren't standing out much!