Superman vs. The Elite: The Polarizing American Way
Welcome back to Adaptations Done Right, the segment that analyzes adaptations that improve its source material. Today we'll be focusing on an unsung animated film. The only thing funny about it is that its basis is just one issue of a Superman Comic: Superman vs. The Elite.
Comic Background of The Elite
The original 40-page Action Comics issue from by Joe Kelly is What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, & the American Way. In this issue, Superman confronts the titular superhero terror group based loosely on Wildstorm Comics' The Authority. Led by the dangerous psionic Manchester Black; they employ a "might makes right" tactic to rid the world of dangerous criminals. Standing in foil to the Man of Steel, it becomes an all-out brawl over how crimes should be handled.
Themes
The original comic is something of a comparison between the old but classic characters like Superman and the edgier and the more cynical plots of the turn of century. The Elite, especially Manchester Black see Superman's methods to capture crooks for the chance of rehabilitation as being outdated. In their eyes, the ideals in believing in the good of humanity are naive. Unfortunately for the Man of Steel; with terrorism occurring, the public start to get on board with the Elite. Man if this was published just a few days before 9/11 or sometime during the Patriot Act, Manchester Black would've looked more like a tragic hero. And that's counting if the comic would have ever gotten published at all.
Superman vs. The World
Superman is a character who stands a test of time; an ideal to strive for when everything in life looks bleak. Superman is meant to be an influence for a better tomorrow based on compassion. However, the competent man that Supes represents is a very difficult thing to achieve. Most people are more comfortable with their flaws rather than try to overcome them, sometimes to people's celebration. This reflects on both the Elite and the terrorists they corner. The ideals the groups fight for are based on preservation of pride or at worst petty vengeance rather than resolutions.
It also demonstrates how Superman of all people, should never go down the Elite's path. If Superman stops holding back, he would be an unstoppable juggernaut of terror. The world knows there is hardly a thing they can do to stop Superman; but they believe in him all the same because he is a paragon. To that end, Superman shows the world using the vengeance driven methods of the Elite at their most extreme. But rather than start a new movement; Superman singlehandedly deconstructs and subverts The Elite's ideals with no one willing to follow their lead anymore.
Elite Strife
Due to the Elite's popularity they make sporadic reappearances, but they don't seem as memorable after their initial arrest. Instead they splinter across the DC universe with a couple of them ending up dead. Black is the only one worth more than two more appearances; so he comes back to be a thorn in Superman's side in attempts to push the Last Son of Krypton and his loved ones over the edge. Ironically, Black's latest appearance has him working with Superman in the Authority.
The Heavier Elite Clashes
What Superman vs. The Elite does is expand on the world Superman and the Elite live in; it helps that Joe Kelly expands on his story. The first appearance of Manchester Black is accompanied by varying reports of crimes and tragedies occurring; while negatively gesturing at Superman. When Superman tries to remind the world about the greater good, some rival countries go to war and one side breaks international law by using a bioweapon. This sets up a very bleak look at the world that ends up justifying the Elite's ideals. This uneasy premise and despite the Elite's good intentions, it's clear that the clash with Superman is inevitable.
Glass Half-Empty
With the Elite showing their willingness to kill and destroy for their campaign; Superman as Clark Kent and Lois Lane meet with the movie's original character Vera Lynn Black, Manchester Black's sister. Vera provides the pair with her and her brother's backstory as victims of a rotten childhood.
Desperate to survive after the world's cruelty comes at them, Black and Vera live on the lamb at the world's mercy. When Black's powers manifest to save his sister, this shows an empowered Black ready to hurt the world back. MI5 should've paid closer attention to Black's mental state; especially after giving his alcoholic father a telekinetic stroke. It wasn't long before he finds the rest of the Elite and breaks off from the service. This creates a much more compelling version of the group rather than characters who come from nowhere.
Half-Full
One of the better scenes from the film is depicting Lois and Clark's relationship. The couple always has a deep level of trust but always worries about one another when things get dangerous. Lois for once is terrified of losing Clark because of the Elite's willingness to kill without hesitation; she practically begs Superman not to fight them. It later becomes obvious that Lois isn't just worried about Clark's life, but Superman being pushed to the breaking point. However, Superman decides to fight after seeing firsthand the influence the Elite bring to world, complete with ignorant cosplayers.
The Broken Base
The film brings a level of dimension that made a much more compelling story. With the voice acting by George Newbern giving a supposedly unhinged Superman more weight than before, many prefer this over the comic. However, despite the improvements there is a base breaking flaw that comes up near the ending; not unlike the finale of Avatar the Last Airbender. When Superman KO's the Elite, he has all of their powers stripped away; including lobotomizing the part of Black's brain that give him his powers unlike the comic. I can only guess this is Joe Kelly's way of saying the Elite and Black are never making another appearance; sounds like somebody didn't like the results of the Justice League Elite.
Unfortunately, this shows Superman willing to use authoritarian methods to defeat his enemies; that Black did break him to a degree in front of the audience. At the same time it argues that this kills the idea of the Elite; not just for the public but Black himself. Black being a Social Darwinist relies on his powers, losing them is the ultimate penalty.
You Decide what's Elite
Much like how some look at other adaptations; there are things people are going to like and things people are not going to like as much. Personally I prefer the old versus new themes in Kingdom Come. Because sometimes the simpler stories are the more effective ones. Other times it's good to have a little depth of what you're facing. The adaptation gets an 8/10 for a good story and buildup; but too big a divide on opinion in the last scenes to make it great.