Just
to mention a some themes that the 2003-2004 miniseries and the 2013
movie obviously have in common: It was in Birthright
that the \S/, which originated simply as a stylized “S” but with
the 1978 movie became the crest of the Kryptonian House of El, was
first explained as a Kryptonian symbol meaning “Hope”; the Kents
exhibit a very realistic sense of trepidation and unease as to
what might be the consequences should their son reveal himself to the
world; Lois Lane tracks rumors of some kind of mysterious guardian
angel; Kryptonians invade the Earth. Especially the latter element
seems to be handled differently in the movie, where it appears that
the invasion is very real, rather than being an elaborate ruse on the
part of Lex Luthor, but the previews could themselves be deceptive.
Part of me hopes not – if that is indeed a plot twist in the movie,
it could be compared unfavorably to Iron
Man Three
even though Man
of Steel
is based on a prior source. And, to be sure, Zod doesn't play any
part in Birthright.
Some lines from Birthright
seem to have made their way into Man
of Steel,
albeit differently: Ma Kent – “'Are
we alone in the Universe?' is
a question man has asked since time began
… and you're the answer”
(trade paperback, p. 74); Here it's Clark who assures Pa Kent, “You
are
my [father]”
(p. 81). There are plenty of visual images, some of which are iconic
and not at all original to Birthright,
but striking nonetheless when reading it in light of the Man
of Steel previews
that have been appearing of late (Clark lifting part of a building on
p. 40 is exactly the same angle as the movie's image, albeit without
the flames). I hope
we'll get an homage to the cover of the original Action
Comics
#1 in the movie as Birthright
gives us on p. 50.
