New Job Agency and Superman

[davetheanalyzer]

Finally got a new agency to help me find a job. Last Wednesday, a woman came around and with another person on a virtual call, explained she will find a job coach near us to help us with our job skills and build experience. Unfortunately to get any jobs, I’ll have to do unpaid volunteer work. I’ll also have to work 5 hours a week, divided between job training and then working somewhere. That might mean I’ll have less time to watch or read certain things. For catching up with missed writing days, that might be awkward but I’ll deal with it as it comes. Who knows, I might still be sitting at home doing my hobbies for much of the day but at any rate, it’s some progress. I’ll remain in contact with the woman who dissolved her previous agency, just in case.  

I saw the recent Superman film. I was unsure if I would but the positive word of mouth on the discord server I’m a part and the general good reception had me see it with my brother. I did worry if it’d match the hype but I liked it. Superman is a good person with power dealing with a world that has so many constraints. I like that Lois already knows his secret identity since we already know the song and dance for Superman, so might as well move on. It’s nice it also embraces some of the weirder or goofier superhero comic aspects, like Krypto the Superdog, his robots at the Fortress of Solitude, and Luthor’s personal pocket dimension. These elements don’t get in the way of telling a good story. That Luthor smears Superman with the revelation his parents did want him to conquer earth and “repopulate” felt very like him. His use of the term “grooming” felt very apt for the times we live in, where that word is being appropriated to smear queer people as pedophiles. The Justice Gang were neat. This film didn’t feel like much of a James Gunn entry, so Green Lantern Guy Gardner in all of his douchery comes in to provide some of the dickery humor.

Luthor was able to manipulate Superman well with kidnapping Krypto, getting a rise out of him while his girlfriend Eve records their confrontation. Though I know the murder was supposed to be sudden, I did find it difficult to feel the weight of Malik Ali’s death since it was so fast. I thought the moment might have benefited from slowing time and lingering on the loss, how it effects Superman while for Luthor it’s another Tuesday. I did like that Element Man was willing to rebel after seeing an innocent person be murdered, even with his son as a hostage. Mr. Terrific was great helping Lois track down Superman and fighting whoever got in the way. Hopefully this means he gets more showcase in the comics. The scenes with the Kent family were sweet. That Luthor was willing to sacrifice a city and more in his vendetta with Superman feels sadly realistic in these modern times. I like that Lois and the Daily Planet crew had an important subplot of investigating Luthor and writing an article to take him down, even if it meant Jimmy had to uncomfortably reconnect with 1 of his exes who can’t take a hint.

I know Gunn said the Boravia invading Jarhanpur plot wasn’t intended to be about Palestine but either he’s lying or it’s great serendipity. The Justice Gang coming to the rescue was also nice. I do like some people called the Boravian dictator Putinyahu and Hawkgirl being ruthless enough to drop him to his death. The Ultraman fight was good, though it still felt weird hearing that name and it not referring to a silver alien giant fighting kaiju. There’s been speculation we might see Ultraman as Bizarro at some point but I don’t know enough to believe it either way. Superman’s confrontation with Luthor in the finale was good, revealing how petty and egotistical he was. The reunions of families with those Luthor trapped was sweet, as was Superman and Lois’s big damn floating kiss. I’m interested in seeing where the DCU goes from here and the new Supergirl film next year which’s hinted at with her cameo. There’s attempts at genocide, racism, domestic abuse, and Jimmy being uncomfortable with women flirting with him, but with all those in mind, I recommend this film to all interested.

That’s all for now. My tooth fillings have been redone and with a numbing regiment less extensive and less long lasting. I’m glad for their work, though I’m also glad I won’t have to come back to the dentists until December.  Free Palestine and may Trump and his ilk fail within their lifetimes. Until the end of next month, see you!