Why superman is a cruddy hero
 

he donst have any weakness, and dont give me that kryptonight junk, there have been so many times that he has gotton away with that. He always gets away with that, he is a misrible excuse for a hero. The only way they could make it work was making doomsday, a villian who could, and did, kill superman.
then they brought him back for some reason, luckly they brought doomsday back
best superman quote ever, from when doomsday returned "he broke my jaw..." repeat that for about four pages, that was a great one

Except for Smallville. Smallville rocks.

But, you are a cruddy hero because you have no capitals in your ENTIRE POST.

I disagree. Superman could be a great hero. Except for the fact that comic books are crap because they have more deus-ex-machina and retcon than Bob and George. "Look at me, I get my powers from the sun, so now I can shoot lasers from my eyes just like that guy from the other multiverse. Except I'm better than stupid One-Eye because I can fly."

I'm still playing around with a novel about Superman. Just an origin story, with him growing up in Smallville, finding out his alien heritage, and promising himself and his father's memory that he'll protect his adopted planet with his gifts. Sounds like the same old thing as Smallville, right? Except there's less angst.

Running parallel to that (not strictly chapter by chapter, but point for point), we see Supe's archnemesis growing up, too. Lex Luthor, growing up in the slums of Metropolis. Smart and arrogant, he's the Lex we know and love. He wants out, so he studies to get to college. During his teenage years, while studying Nietzsche, Lex decides that he's a superman. This primary thought drives him on his path.

One superman using his gifts to protect his adopted planet, and another superman using his gifts to escape his lowly roots.

Fast forward to the present, and then I continue from there. Still working on a climax and final battle. Likely involving Kryptonite.

As for Supe not being a good hero because he manages to avoid being killed, well, by your logic, the only good hero is Hal Jordan, and he's still around. Somehow. I feel that, yes, Supe is pretty invincible right now, but he needs to get back to basics. The character CAN be redeemed.

Smallville does a good job of humanizing Superman, but as a character, he's bleh.

I mean Superman himself is essentially the brain child of the world's first chat-room god-modder. I've even heard tell, that originally he had no weaknesses whatsoever, and kryptonite didn't come along, except as an afterthought.

SWB

Originally the story focused on the social problems with being a superhuman who has to fight crime and such, thus preventing the man from doing what he wanted to do: go out with Lois. Then they made it that godmodding type stuff, focusing on battles, so they threw in a weakness: Kryptonite.

Then they said screw it, and started all over again.

You know... all the things you said about Superman, I felt the EXACT same way watching Troy and seeing Akiles. That was a sad excuse for a character. He stands there looking superior when TWENTY soldiers on horses come galloping after him. TWENTY!!! I don't care if you're the greatest warrior who ever lived... you still can't take on twenty average soldiers!!!
They made him way too powerful and superior. It was a sad excuse for a main role. Good thing Brad Pitt makes up for it by playing Mickey the Pikey (heh, go Snatch).

As for Superman... he has kryptonite.... just kidding, don't get mad.
I never really read into the Superman comics. I always thought that Superman was the strongest superhero in all comic history (stength-wise, not story-wise). And I always supported him telling people "he could destroy Spiderman... Batman... Wolverine... etc.." However, I know that a good hero would go through incredible hardships, and take on risks that he KNOWS can kill him just for the good of others. If Superman saves kids from a gigantic boulder that will crush and kill them... it's not exactly so heroic... according to Superman's level it's just a common courtesy.

Im not saying to be a good hero you need to die, that would be a crapy comic if he just dies, i can do that. What i am saying is he needs some better then one relitivly simple thing as a weekness, and yeah your right on the common courtesy thing, its not as exiting as, lets pick some heros, Spiderman, who not only has the issues with money and that, his abilitys are limited, he is fast and strong, but bullets still kill him, there are those more powerfull then him, so he uses his brain. Marvel is so much better at heros, well to show you an example on the other end, Batman, while he dosnt have any probloms with money and that, since his power is being loaded with cash, he still can die from wepons, he is not the strongest and fights alot of people who are stronger and the such then him, so he thinks, now both spiderman and batman have a mental supervillian, Doc Ock and Riddler (great enamy) who they use other tactics against. All i am saying is when there is only one rather mild weakness its not that exiting

I kinda like Superman in some depictions, but most of them is just ho-hum.

And if my memory serves me right, Kryptonite was added as an afterthought so that the actor who played Superman on the radio could get a vacation. Which just makes the Kryptonite weakness seem even sillier.
Or at least, that's what I heard. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Superman is a fine character, provided he is written correctly. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow by Alan Moore was amazing because it showed what it would be like if you were that powerful, but still couldn't keep the people you love safe.

Along with that read "Red Son" if you get the chance. Superman's comic is ok at best, but in elseworld-esq comics he really shines.

PS: Superman is weak against magic, and red sunlight.

Also, the Death of Superman was just a bad, poorly written, poorly drawn, poorly planned out stunt. The best thing to come out of it was coast city getting destroyed because that gave us some good Green Lantern stories. Using the death of superman to define superman is like using the clone saga to define spiderman.