Other Miscellaneous Superman Stuff
Superman Homepage 2007 Survey Results
By Steve YounisMany consider this website to be the number one Superman website on the Internet, and we're proud of that title. But we're not resting on our laurels, we want to continually improve this site and ensure that it's meeting your expectations.
So, in an effort to stay in touch with what it is you guys want, we set up the huge "Superman Homepage 2007 Survey" to gauge what you like and dislike about this website, how you think we're doing, and where you think we can improve.
Below are the results, which include a commentary from me (and some of the Superman Homepage staff members) in response to many of the comments and suggestions sent in via the Survey.
How would you rate the Superman Homepage website overall?
| Excellent! | 69% |
| Good | 28% |
| Average | 3% |
| Bad | 0% |
| Horrible! | 0% |
How would you rate the Superman Homepage website's default theme design and layout?
| Excellent! | 40% |
| Good | 45% |
| Average | 13% |
| Bad | 2% |
| Horrible! | 0% |
How would you rate the Superman Homepage website content and information?
| Excellent! | 71% |
| Good | 25% |
| Average | 4% |
| Bad | 0% |
| Horrible! | 0% |
Who is your favorite Superman Homepage regular reviewer/writer?
| Neal Bailey | 73% |
| Barry Freiman | 10% |
| Michael Bailey | 6% |
| Jeffrey Bridges | 3% |
| Douglas Trumble | 3% |
| Nick Newman | 2% |
| Adam Dechanel | 2% |
| Peter McDermott | 1% |
| Jason LaRouche | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
Which section of the Superman Homepage website is your favorite?
| Home/News | 68% |
| Comics | 16% |
| Television | 5% |
| Movies | 4% |
| Multimedia | 2% |
| Inter-Action | 2% |
| Images | 2% |
| Online Shop | 1% |
| Other | 0% |
| Radio/Music | 0% |
| Links | 0% |
Which interactive feature of the Superman Homepage is your favorite?
| News comments | 39% |
| Polls | 24% |
| Message Board/Forum | 23% |
| Chat Room | 9% |
| Virtual Postcards | 3% |
| Private Messages | 1% |
| Guestmap | 1% |
Which of the following features of the Superman Homepage is your favorite?
| SuperTrivia Quiz | 20% |
| QfK - Questions for Kurt | 17% |
| "Ask Matt" Fan Forum | 17% |
| Caption Contest | 17% |
| Big Blue Report newsletter | 16% |
| Radio K.A.L. | 13% |
What is the worst thing about the Superman Homepage website?
| Banner Ads | 51% |
| It loads too slowly | 18% |
| Other members | 10% |
| Layout/Design | 9% |
| Online Shop | 6% |
| Reviews | 4% |
| News | 2% |
Would you like to see more Spoilers on the Superman Homepage website?
| Yes | 69% |
| No | 31% |
Which one of the following ideas would you most like to see more of on the Superman Homepage website?
| More interviews | 24% |
| More downloads | 21% |
| More news | 19% |
| More reviews | 13% |
| More images | 9% |
| More games/puzzles | 7% |
| More interactive features | 5% |
| More products to buy | 2% |
How often do you visit the Superman Homepage website?
| Once a day | 40% |
| More than once a day | 33% |
| A few times a week | 21% |
| Once a week | 3% |
| Once a fortnight | 1% |
| Once per month | 1% |
| Once every few months | 1% |
Do you find the Superman Homepage easy to navigate around?
| Yes | 96% |
| No | 4% |
Please indicate how much you agree with the following statement: "The Superman Homepage is the Number 1 Superman website in the world"
| Strongly agree | 80% |
| Slightly agree | 13% |
| Neither agree or disagree | 6% |
| Slightly disagree | 1% |
| Strongly disagree | 0% |
Which of the following statements best fits your feelings about the Superman Homepage?
| Its quality has improved over the past few years | 56% |
| Its quality has remained the same over the past few years | 30% |
| Its quality has declined over the past few years | 1% |
| I don't know I only just started visiting this site within the last year | 13% |
In your opinion does the Comments system on news items improve your experience at the website?
| Yes somewhat | 32% |
| Yes definitely! | 31% |
| Neither yes or no | 24% |
| No not really | 10% |
| No not at all! | 3% |
Is the Superman Homepage a friendly environment to visit?
| Yes, and it keeps getting friendlier | 84% |
| Yes, but it used to be friendlier | 14% |
| No, it used to be friendlier | 2% |
| No, it's always been unfriendly | 0% |
In regards to our reviews of the main Superman comic books, which do you prefer?
| Alternating reviewers to receive more than one perspective | 73% |
| A single reviewer who reviews the one title from month to month | 27% |
SURVEY COMMENTS RESPONSES:
Below are a selection of comments that were submitted via the Survey. Quite a few people made similar comments along similar lines, and you'll see that I've already taken steps towards making improvements to the wesbite based on these comments. Where appropriate, a response from a particular staff member has also been published to give their view on comments made to or about them.Comment: I think the forums could use some cleaning up. There are way too many multiple threads. I also would like the trolls to be taken care of more quickly. It takes a while for them to get banned. I understand that you guys don't want to be to rash, but most of these guys agenda's are pretty clear from the get-go.
Steve's Reply: I recently installed an extra Moderator (swright) to the Message Boards to help in this area. We have a strict set of Member Rules which everybody is supposed to abide by. But by the same token we don't want to stifle good discussions. It's a fine balance, and one we're always striving to get right. If you see anything which you think needs to be dealt with, don't stand by and hope a Moderator will take care of it, contact them (or me) about the situation. It's a community message board, everyone has a responsibility to help keep it clean.
Comment: The banners and advertisement at the top of the site are really annoying and distracts the user. Pain in the @$$ to continually scroll down for the real meat of the site - you know the changing content that actually drives people to your site.
Steve's Reply: While the "changing content" drives people to the site, the banners and advertisements help keep the site alive and running. Nobody is paying us to run this website, we have to offset the web hosting, domain registrations, bandwidth usage and other costs incurred running a large and highly trafficked website somehow, and those banner ads help do that. They're a necessary evil.
Comment: I personally would like to see more mods on the message boards to keep the heads cooled..and keep it from having so many similar threads... a few years ago the boards were great.... within hours if there were multiple threads they were merged and there were tons more sticky threads... also... I'd like the messages to stay instead of being deleted that way I can go back and read things that were discussed prior in a thread... I think the boards get out of hand sometimes... lots of language that isn't appropriate even if they bleep it out... it's still there... and I'd like to see if maybe the chat system could improve its pretty good now, but I wish it was quicker... and longer messages could be sent...
Steve's Reply: As I mentioned above, we've added a new mod recently, so hopefully that will help the problems you see with the Message Boards. A few people mentioned issues with the Chat Room. I'm always on the look out for a better chat room system, but none of the options I've seen integrate with the PHP-Fusion membership system this website is built on. I like to have a chat room that only allows registered members to participate, because it has been my experience over the years that allowing non-registered people into the chat room is a recipe for disaster.
Comment: Please keep spoilers to an extreme minimum. I live outside the U.S., and I HATE IT when there are Smallville spoilers on the news page. Even a photograph from the current episode of Smallville makes me frantically scroll away. Please, no spoilers.
Steve's Reply: It's difficult to know what to do when it comes to spoilers, because some people in this survey have asked for more spoilers to be included on the site. I will endeavor to make spoilers less "in your face" by making them a "click here to see the spoiler" link that people need to click on if they want to be spoilt, but those who don't want have it ruined for them.
Comment: Every time I go to the site I get a annoying pop up that slows up my loading time and at times I need to rebot my computer. but I still love this site.
Steve's Reply: We received more complaints regarding the pop-up ad than anything else. Unfortunately, the pop-up ad is out of my control. It's placed their by my web host as part of my hosting package, to help lessen the costs I have to pay them. I have requested that the pop-up ad be removed from the site. I will see what they say.
Comment: Regarding the Comics section on 'Who's who in the comic books.' The character bios needs to be update constantly in order to be in line with the Superman and general DC character continuity.
Steve's Reply: The "Who's Who in the Superman Comics" section of the site is also undergoing a revamp. We held off on updates for a while to see what DC Comics were doing in regards to continuity. "Scotty V" has recently come on board to keep this section updated, creating new entries while also updating existing entries.
Comment: More multimedia files like the "Superman III" and "Superman III" soundtracks, and more videos.
Steve's Reply: Again, this would be illegal. Warner Bros. owns the rights to those soundtracks, therefore we would be breaking the law if we made these complete soundtracks available as downloadable files.
Comment: Honestly speaking, the site is great. I appreciate the fact that the newest info is right in front when I come to the site. Really my only complaint is that the layout and colors could be revamped once in a while. Nothing drastic, but slight changes every once in a while, or maybe some changes to reflect the seasons, holidays, etc. might freshen things up. I'm being very picky mind you. The bottom line is that I visit the site more and more and I appreciate all the work you guys do. It's easily the best Superman site on the net. So thanks and keep up the great work!
Steve's Reply: Thanks! There are a number of website design themes you can choose from by clicking on the "Edit Profile" link under your membership name. We do create a Christmas theme for the site towards the end of the year. Over the past few years I have tended towards creating a new theme for each new year. I will look into other ways of keeping the site's look fresh and updated.
Comment: There are literally millions of websites out in cyberspace, and the Superman Homepage is the only one that I have continued to visit, day after day, for several years now. I cannot think of a reason that I would ever stop. That said, one section in which I would like to see more frequent activity is the Fan Forum on Superman Philosophy. I think it is a great concept that adds particular, real-world value to your visitors shared admiration of the Big Blue Boyscout. You are all doing a fantastic job, and a tremendous service, to Superman fans the world over. You have my heartfelt thanks.
Steve's Reply: I agree. But I can only publish what people submit. Feel free to submit your own article/essay to the Superman Philosophy forum on any of the topics currently there, or any other topic you'd like to discuss.
Comment: Neal Bailey is a good reviewer, but he is far too in love with his own writing style which not only taints his opinions, it make his reviews a chore to read. I am all for referencing personal experiences in a review - in fact I find it refreshing - but often he can sound like a bitter out-of-work writer (though I know he's not). Far too much time is given over to comments such as "I've written X number of books" and "I would have done this". It's showing off and it's not what I'm here for. I'm here for Superman, not Neal Bailey. I understand he has his own web site, I would suggest it would benefit Superman fans, and his career, if he kept the musings on his own work there.
Steve's Reply: Neal was the topic of many comments received in this survey. Seems that just as many people love his writing as those who don't like it at all. However he DID come out as the clear favorite in the Favorite Reviewer/Writer vote (listed above). At the end of the day, Neal (like every other writer/reviewer for this website) writes for free. He does it as a labor of love. He does it as a Superman fan. However I understand that his style might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Comment: There should be games on here, orginally made by the Superman Homepage. There should be more news besides comic book news because I'm just a movie fan and Smallville fan. Some people don't read comics. It would be cool if this were a flash website.
Steve's Reply: There are some games in the MULTIMEDIA section of the site. I'm not a programmer, but even if I was able to, due to legal reasons we are unable to create our own Superman games. We don't have a lincense to create Superman games. Further more, we do have news about "Smallville" and Superman movies, not just comic books. We try and cover every aspect of the Superman universe. Comics are published every week of the year, where movies and TV shows are released less often, so it's only natural that sometimes there will be more comic book content on this site.
Comment: I just wish I could get to the content faster. I always have to scroll past the dedication and ads to even see the first news story. Too bad those can't be loaded at the bottom or the right...
Steve's Reply: You can always bookmark this URL: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?rowstart=0, but you may miss out on any important announcements that are only placed on the front page of the site.
Comment: While columns like QfK are all very nice and well it does feel at times like the Superman Homepage is really in bed with DC Comics and Warner Bros. and no longer seems to be geared towards the fans but has rather become a PR machine for the companies that promote Superman. Actual interaction with the fan community seems to be at an all-time low and this really spoils the Superman Homepage experience. When was the last time any Superman fans made the news headlines unless it served some sort of financial gain in one direction or another?
Steve's Reply: Of all the comments posted in the survey, I find this one the most shocking. The Superman Homepage has NEVER been more about fan interaction. The current system used at the site is all about allowing the fans to be a part of the site, allowing you to have your say and comment on news and reviews as they're published. We've dodged legal bullets fired by DC Comics and Warner Bros. and spent our own money to be able to attend comic conventions all over America to meet the fans face to face.
Comment: I really enjoy the site. You're doing a great job. Extensive news coverage - its really a one stop shop for keeping updated on all things Superman. Radio KAL is lots of fun - I think Steve and Neal have complimentary styles and as a result the podcast is always a great listen. You know your stuff and it shows. As a long time comics fan I would enjoy a little bit more coverage of the silver and polyester age but... I guess that's my age showing. (Hey, Cary Bates is the most under rated Superman writer ever!) Overall tho, just keep doing what you're doing because it's a great site.
Steve's Reply: Thanks! Yes, I agree we do need to do more to cover the Silver Age era. Sadly it's one area that I personally don't have a lot of access to, not owning many Silver Age comics, so if anyone out there is a fan of the era and would like to contribute on-going reviews and coverage of Silver Age Superman comics, please contact me.
Comment: More features like op-eds about comics and movies. Don't think that past op-eds will satisfy us. We want to read more and more about your opinions about supes.
Steve's Reply: We will endeavor to publish more op-eds. I do write an op-ed column in the "Big Blue Report" newsletter which is emailed out twice a month. Subscribe here if you're not already signed up.
Comment: This site has shown nothing but class (despite claims by other sites as to the Homepage getting information wrong - and it HASN'T), and continues to be my ONLY source regarding Superman.
Steve's Reply: Thanks for the loyalty! :)
Comment: I really enjoy visiting the site and I find it a fantastic place for all my superman related news. The only thing I could say (and it's not really a big complaint) is I wish the reviews came in a little faster, but I'm no jerk, I know that people are busy and they still come pretty quickly, that's just me being nit-picky. I would also like to say that the 'QfK' is a great addition and I dig on getting feedback from the people who work on supes directly. Besides all that, there's not much else to say except keep up the good work. Up, up and away...
Steve's Reply: Thanks for the positive feedback. We purposely publish the reviews on (or around Monday) to allow everyone time to read the comics first. A lot of people (including some of our reviewers) can't get to the comic store until the weekend.
Comment: Steve, your website has everthing I am looking for. You always have the latest news and your information is reliable. You dig to find out info and help steer us in the right direction when things go wrong (i.e. the DVD discs that were not correct and you provided us info on how to contact WB for replacements). I truly feel like a member to a great organization. It is a joy to view your site everyday. Long live SUPERMAN!!
Steve's Reply: Thanks! This kind of feedback is always appreciated.
Comment: As a huge Superman fan, I am very greatful at all the hard work that is put into this site. It's a place I can go to see what is new with my favorite hero, and because of the passion that everyone who works on this has, I know I'll find out about pretty much everything going on in the Superman universe. Thank you for your hard work, and keep it up!!, we all appreciate it!!!
Steve's Reply: Thanks!
Comment: Keep up the good work!!! I started coming here when I first got into comics about 5 years ago as research. Now I mostly read the front page and reviews. Your site is professional, easy to navigate, and highly noob friendly.
Steve's Reply: Thank you!
Comment: I understand this website is about Superman but I really enjoy the reviewers opinions and would like to see that cover a wider spectrum of comics.
Steve's Reply: We received a few similar comments asking us to cover other areas and other DC characters. This is the SUPERMAN Homepage, and therefore we only cover issues that are directly related to Superman. We are stretched to the limit as it is covering the Man of Steel, so we don't have the capacity to cover other characters, and to be quite frank I don't have any interest in trying to cover other characters.
Comment: Have more giveaway items
Steve's Reply: We're making arrangements to try and have a regular monthly giveaway. But being a fan-run website, we don't have the resources to be able to offer major prizes.
Comment: I would like to see an easier to navigate - icon based directory for the multimedia/archive sections. Go beyond using the word... I find it is easier to recognize icons than words... perhaps words and icons together. I would also like the news page to contain entries for a lengthier period of time before navigating to an earlier page.
Steve's Reply: I will add the icon idea to my "To Do" list. Thanks for the suggestion. The front news page currently contains the top 10 news stories. We've found this to be an acceptable number, as adding any more would make the page loading time even longer than it already is.
Comment: This site is great, and I think you guys are doing a great job! I would suggest getting tougher on trolls. Quite some time ago, I got a message via this site from some troll really trashing on me about an innocent praise I made about Stephen Bender's appearance in Superman Returns. I know I should've reported it, and that's probably my bad. I know you cannot control everyone or prevent things like that from happening. I just feel that there's a bit too much leniency (spelling?). But I love this site, it is my number one favorite site to go to!
Steve's Reply: As you've stated, it's not possible for us to monitor private messages sent in between members, and therefore we DO rely on members to report anything they find offensive or inappropriate. The Superman Homepage is like any community, we rely on our members to help keep things civil. I can tell you that since this website started accepting memberships in late 2004 I've had to ban or blacklist over 100 people. Which is not too bad considering we have over 9,000 members.
Comment: Just keep up the GOOD work! This was the FIRST site I found when I got into Superman, and it's going to STAY that way too! Loyal fan to the end.
Steve's Reply: Thanks! Glad to have you.
Comment: The comic book reviews start off with a synopsis of the comic book being reviewed. These synopses tend to stink lately. For people who have already read the comic book, they are basically unnecessary. For people who haven't read the comic book, they are confusing and unclear. I would want the reviewers to pay a little better attention to this aspect of their review.
Steve's Reply: I disagree with you. But I will pass on your comment to the reviewers.
Comment: You have done a great job at building an on-line community. I love how the website doesn't simply talk about Superman, but looks for ways to apply Superman's principles in everyday life. People in the comment boards aren't afraid to take their conversations about Superman and use them as a springboards to talk about faith, religion, moral values, philosophy and other thought-provoking subjects. I would love to see on the website maybe a "Super-Challenge" that involves some sort of charitable work. (for example, giving money to an orphanage in the real-world Metropolis, USA); sending money to Christopher Reeve's charity, or something along those lines. Or perhaps Superman fans helping in disaster relief in New Orleans. (which sadly, is STILL going on- I have friends who went recently.) Comics-wise, since we have "Ask Matt" and "Ask Kurt"; I would love to have "Ask Geoff" or "Ask Grant". And more fan-fiction opportunities! Great job all around guys!
Steve's Reply: Thanks. We'll look towards doing more charity work through the site. As for an "Ask Geoff" or "Ask Grant" forum, believe me we've tried to get more creator interaction at the site, but these guys are either super-busy or have committments elsewhere. We'll keep trying though.
Comment: I really like your selection in the Shop, but it is sometimes more pricey than everywhere else.
Steve's Reply: I don't set the prices. I don't actually have any say in any of the merchandise. I do work as the webmaster for SupermanSuperstore.com, but I don't actually have any direct say in their products or prices. I'm only the guy who maintains their website.
Comment: Spiderman what? Batman who? Another superheroes would like to have a really complete and great site like Superman Homepage. It's even better than the DC Comics homepage. Keep up the good work
Steve's Reply: Ah shucks! Thanks :)
Comment: I've enjoyed this site for a very long time and come back every day for news and updates. And one of my favorite things about this site is Neal's reviews, Neal and I are roughly the same age and it seems our views on Superman tend to fall pretty near each other. So for comic reviews it's sort of an early warning on whether or not I'll like the book when I go to pick it up, and I always enjoy some Clana jokes. But tractor jokes must remain banned
Steve's Reply: Neal's writing really seems to have gotten to some people.
Comment: The main feature I use aside from the main page and reviews is the timeline (at the top of the website). When I want to know something about a certain point of Superman's history, that's the first place I look.
Steve's Reply: Glad you've found this feature useful.
Comment: I honestly believe that at this point Neal Bailey's contribution is doing more harm than good. I quit reading his reviews a while back, and with his proliferation around the site, he's responsible for a large amount of content. He doesn't seem to understand basic criteria of review or criticism, and, instead, interjects personal opinion as fact and his own life experience as some sort of universal experience the reader is really, really supposed to appreciate. It's one thing to show personality in reviews as writers like Nick Newman have managed to do consistently. It's quite another to have to hear about Neal's money and girl troubles. He's sort of the Jim Anchower of comic and TV reviews. And I know he thinks he's hilarious, but... There's not much Steve can do about the influx of teenagers who patrol the site thanks to Smallville. I did say "it used to be friendlier before", and I meant it, but it's okay. It's easy enough to read around the posts with lots of emoticons, etc.. But the endless speculation as to how Superman could kick more ass is kind of sad. It's a pretty rare instance when I actually read the comments. -lurker
Steve's Reply: Sorry Neal's writing isn't to your liking. I share your concerns re: "Smallville" though.
Comment: I think you could do a better job of policing some of the posts in the "comments" section. Debate is one thing, but somtimes it just degenerates into "Smallville sucks," or "Superman Returns sucks," and it get really tiresome to read and doesn't inspire participation in the discussion.
Steve's Reply: Believe me we try... but it's a fine line to tread. We sometimes get accused of stopping free speech when we do delete and/or edit people's comments, and then get accused of being too lenient when we don't. We're trying our best.
Comment: I discovered this site more than three years ago, and have been visiting it at least several times a week ever since. Though I am not very vocal in the Superman Homepage "community" per se, I thought I'd take the opportunity of this survey just to express my appreciation as a regular reader (and listener, since Radio KAL has existed). The reviews at the Superman Homepage have become a routine part of my Superman-related comics reading and television viewing experiences. This is where I come to find out what other fans are thinking and saying about Superman-related things. The site is consistently well designed and maintained, and the news and information on all things Superman-related by far exceeds any other web site I've visited, bar none. If that were not enough, the question-and-answer features with DC creators like Matt Idelson and Kurt Busiek make this site a must-read on a regular basis for me. So it was about time I said "thanks" to Steve Younis and everyone else involved. So thanks, and here's hoping the Superman Homepage lives on for the foreseeable future.
Steve's Reply: You don't know how much these types of comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Comment: Multiple reviewers for comics etc, like with the Smallville episode reviews, it's always good to have different perspective.
Steve's Reply: This seems to be another common request. I will discuss this possibility with the reviewers on staff here and see what we can come up with in regards to multiple reviewers on each issue. If we come to a decision we'll try and start implimenting a new system from comics with a 2008 cover date.
Comment: The only thing, and it's minor, is change up the little pics in the upper left corner. There's one pic of Supes that just doesn't do it for me. That's all! I love the site!
Steve's Reply: Well I've tried to select a range of Superman images from different eras and mediums. I do continually add new images as new versions come out.
Comment: I think that as reviewers go Neal Bailey is ok, I often agree with his take on the comics and Smallville. But he is way too enchanted with the "sound" of his own voice. I am reading his review and I will hit a pedantic pocket of prose (hey, alliteration) and have to scroll doen until reviewing starts again. I skip his letters and responses altogether but if other people enjoy them that's great. One other thing Neal might want to tone down on the in-jokes in the Smallville reviews or explain what they are supposed to be indicating (i.e. "squeaky shoes"). I don't mind reading reviewers that are at odds with me, can be interseting, but to wade through so many asides and digressions is tiring. Maybe Neal should put out the review in a "director's cut" version for all the people who dig it and an abridged version for the rest (maybe it's just me)
Neal's Reply: Good point about the "in-jokes." To that end, in the build-up to the next season I'm going to collaborate a list of the in-jokes and explain them, and in the process put a link from each review back to the aforementioned. If long-time readers have any suggestions as to their favorites or what I should cite, let me know.
Comment: Really I think the only thing the site needs very much is a makeover. It's a bit clunky, cluttered, and old fashioned looking and sometimes this can make it hard to navigate. Other than that, it's a fantastic site.
Steve's Reply: Interesting. As a Web Designer I take pride in the design and layout of the site, trying to keep it user-friendly. I'd be interested in hearing from people who agree with the above comment. Can you give examples of other sites you like that you think we should be more like?
Comment: I really like the site. I think the News section could be improved upon. I read and hear things from other places a few days before I read it here. And it often doesn't get updated during the weekends.
Steve's Reply: I doubt very much that you'll see Superman news on other sites a few days before you see it here, maybe a few hours. But I will say this, I work on this website full-time. I doubt you'll find many fan sites that can make the same claim. I work on the site Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm (Sydney, Australia time... which is 6.30pm - 3.30am EST in America). If you do see something first on another website, it's probably because they've posted it during the time when I'm asleep (yes, I do have to sleep). As for weekends, it may come as a shock to some people, but I do have a life beyond this website, a wife, family, friends. I sometimes do make updates on the site over the weekend, but they're the exception rather than the rule.
Comment: More movie news, less crappy Superman news-like so-and-so's cameo appearance on "Law & Order" who was once on an episode of "Lois & Clark".
Steve's Reply: We don't post "crappy" Superman news. What you're referring to is Barry's "Superman on TV" article which highlights appearances by Superman actors across all mediums. What may seem "crappy" to you is gold to other fans, who like to watch some of their favorite Superman actors in other shows/movies.
Comment: I think the entire staff at the homepage does a good job, and is curteous to everyone. Having a live talk back would be extremely interesting.
Steve's Reply: The live talk-back idea is something we're experimenting with behind the scenes at the moment. Stay tuned.
Comment: I really like the Big Blue Report, but for some reason I have to highlight the text every time. Otherwise I'm not able to read it, because it's black letters on dark-blue background. Could you change the color please? A lighter background and black letters would be great.
Steve's Reply: The Big Blue Report newsletter should be dark text on a light background. That's the way it's designed. My guess is that your email application is over-riding the color settings of the email.
Comment: Steve and Neal -- you have the best Superman page on the web, period. Neal Bailey is one of the best writers I read, and his reviews are very well thought out and detailed and contain his trademark humor. I am on your page AT LEAST twice a day. You have all the news and I tell other people how great you are. Many thanks for all your hard work--it is VERY appreciated. Steve's Reply: Thanks!
Comment: I first started coming here to read Neal's Smallville reviews back in season 1... and they're still the main attraction after six years.
Neal's Reply: I paid this guy... No, seriously. Like, forty bucks... Kidding. THANK YOU so very much.
Comment: Just let Neal know that I've pretty much replaced watching Smallville with reading his reviews. It's less stressful.
Neal's Reply: The best compliment I've ever received doing those reviews has always been "I read this instead of the show" or "I watch the show to understand the reviews." That means so incredibly much to me. Thank you.
Comment: I appreciate the work that Steve and his contributors are doing in regards the site. It's informative and entertaining. My only complaints are in regards to the Radio K.A.L. podcast's content. It appears that Younis and Neal Bailey are becoming really negative as to Superman and the way he's being portrayed in the comics and in other media. It's becoming a real downer to listen to the podcats. Now, they are entitled to their opinions, but I just don't things are as bad as they seem for the Man of Steel and all of his incarnations right now. We need positivity, not negativity right now, guys! In short, lighten up, Steve and Neal!
Steve's Reply: Sorry you feel we're being too negative. We're just being honest.
Comment: Steve, I think you are doing an incredible job with this site. I know it must be very time consuming keeping all of us 'super-fans' informed with the latest information. Personally, I don't think you need to change a single thing on this site. It looks great, easy to navigate, and very easy to find (just ask Google). In other words, keep up the great work! And take a vacation sometime!
Steve's Reply: Thanks! Crazy thing is, I'm scared to go on vacation, because twice when I have the website has crashed while I was away. Typical! :P
Comment: I thank you for getting Douglas Trumble to review Smallville along with Neal Bailey recently. Neal blatantly shows bias and allows personal views to take up a lot of space in his reviews. Frankly, I am not interested in his personal views; I want to read an honest, fair review of every Smallville episode. Douglas does that. Neal used to do that years ago, but not anymore. Also, I think you should either not allow Neal to post emails written to him about his Smallville reviews and his replies back to them every week, or allow Douglas to do the same. If Douglas is not willing to do the same for some reason, then in the interest of fairness Neal should stop posting his. Changing the subject, your site really helped me keep up with Superman Returns news during the production of the film. Thanks! Also, overall I like the reviews of various Superman comics. (Neal does a better job at times with them than he does with Smallville, but lately his personal views and obvious biases are beginning to creep in more and more there too.)
Douglas' Reply: Thanks for enjoying my reviews. I am glad to hear that my opinion's are relevant to someÊusers of the site. However with that said...ÊI would appreciate it if people did notÊuse my work to try and verbally negate the work of others. Opinion's are neither right nor wrong. We all have them and they are all different. My reviews are actually my own personal views and are noÊmore or less valid than anyone else's. As far as the emails go, I don't get all that many and I usually just respond directly to the mail. Seems the only time I get a bunch are when I give an episode a bad grade. Then I get a ton. LOL. I've never been told I couldn't publish them. I just choose not to.
Neal's Reply: I've never been averse to Doug or anyone else having a column dedicated to their letters. Steve's the big boss, of course, but if Doug wants a letter column, I'm sure Steve would be cool. That's my guess, anyway. The nature of the internet is that you can post as much information as you want, pretty much, and get away with it. I try and take advantage of that, as opposed to places where I'll be constrained and every sentence costs in ink or patience, like a novel. My reviews, however, are entirely personal opinion, and thusly perpetuating my bias. Doug's are. Steve's are. Everyone who writes is entirely doing their own personal opinion and bias. Even if they're lying, it's their personal opinion of what lying should be. I can assure you they're honest, but if you find them not to be fair, as I usually say in the letter column (which might address your problem if you give it a shot), I'm more than willing to address any issues of fairness or concerns there. To date, I haven't edited a single letter down, and I post everything that says "Okay to post," precisely because of that lack of limitation to space. And I'm not saying that facetiously. I want to be tested and found fair. If you have any kind of points with regard to how I'm being unfair, I'd love to see and address them. As to length, my response is that Doug's are short, mine are long, so we can please both folks, as I figure it.
Comment: Bring the relationship between SH and DC Comics a little closer together, and have the ability to correspond with DC officials as much as possible with what's going on in the DCU. Especially, for instance, posting more details regarding the horrible delays of the Superman comics and, hopefully, the Superboy lawsuit (as legally as possible).
Steve's Reply: Believe me, I'd love nothing more than to have a closer and more official relationship with DC Comics, but we're a fan site, we're lucky they simply don't send us a legal letter and shut us down. We do however have DC officials corresponding with us via the "Ask Matt" and "QfK: Questions for Kurt" fan forums.
Comment: The reviews are usually fairly accurate, but it seems Neal is the only one willing to go the extra mile and truly break the subject matter down, offering personal opinions and interpretations while treading into some more intellectual territory. I love that in a review, as it holds more credibility than just relating whether or not one was entertained. I would love to see attitudes at least in the same vein as Neal's applied across the board by Homepage writers. Commentary is the domain of the internet (and it has about a billion blog sites to prove it), so while the more mild "I thought this was neat, this kind of dragged" reviews may be inclusive and safe, they often seem to fall short of their true potential. If this is to be the #1 Superman site on the net, it makes sense that it might take a more active role in shaping the interpretation of the character...Not necessarily in any kind of elitist way, but more getting into the thoughtful, complex, dare I say philosophical aspects which so much of Superman fandom truly embraces in the character (and which those outside of Superman fandom often fail to see and/or appreciate).
Neal's Reply: Thanks. As much as I belabor and hate most of the time I spent in college, even if the teachers didn't really lead me right, they did give me the books I read that pushed me to explore critical inquiry. Often the subjects of said inquiry or fans of said inquiry (even a creator or two who have called me out) don't appreciate that, but I tend to believe that comics are literature, or at very least something to be studied, and I approach the reviews like that purposefully. Sometimes, for humor, I'll go for "It sucked" and "It ruled," but most of the time I'm with you, I think given that there are ten thousand armchair critics, you have to insert yourself, know your bias, and explore more thoroughly than the next guy, otherwise why would anyone bother reading you?
Comment: I think that you shouldn't have to be memebers to use things and to hear podcasts. So I think you should change that.
Steve's Reply: You don't have to be a member to listen to our Radio KAL podcast. It's freely available to everybody. Membership is free, and is simply a way for people to get involved, have a profile, make new friends and be a part of a community. It's also a safety measure against trolls and trouble-makers who could over-run the site if they were allowed to anonymously participate.
Comment: Rock on Steve, this is without doubt the best Superman site on the web, and quite frankly, one of the best fansites for anything, period. I constantly check other sites for other comics characters, and think to myself that I wish they were more like the Homepage. Keep up the good work!
Steve's Reply: Thanks! Much appreciated.
Comment: I think it would be cool if you allow us members to post our fan art in the fan art gallery without having to ask you to post them. That way it will save our time.
Steve's Reply: You're free to post images in the Fan-Art and Fan-Fiction section of the Message Boards. However the Fan Art gallery in the IMAGE section of the site is designed for the best of the best, which is why it's set up the way it is.
Comment: The comic reviews are my favorite section of the site. I enjoy seeing how others interpret what they have read in the various Superman comics. I wish there was another site as good as this one that reviewed Batman, GL, and Flash titles in the same format.
Steve's Reply: Yes. I'd like to personally and publicly thank all the reviewers who write for the site. They don't get enough recognition.
Comment: The best thing you can do is add a section that gives us a list of comics on the most character defining moments for superman of all time. This will help out new fans looking for really good superman comics (like action comics 775). I found this website looking for information on Superman and thought it to be a good source to visit. A list like this would definitely add to the appeal of this website. Maybe have "Neal Bailey's favorites" list. I'm eager to know which comics he thinks are the best, considering I agree with him a lot.
Neal's Reply: Great idea! I talked with Steve about this, I'd feel uncomfortable with "Neal Bailey's Favorites!" alone, because the other writers are just as qualified, many more so, because my history of Supes is more limited to Post-Crisis, even though I go off at the mouth about that pretty avidly. I suggested to Steve that we put a "Critical stories that inform my opinion" link below each writer's bio, so that you can go and figure out which reviewers identify with your viewpoints the most. Hopefully that will address that concern.
Comment: I love the amount of detail that Barry Freiman is able to pin down - sharp sense of humour. Neal Baily sometimes, I feel, just loses persective altogether instead of focusing on the review at hand - his creativity does however make for interesting reading though. Thx for a great site.
Barry's Reply: Will you marry me? Seriously, though, those are the two main things I try to incorporate into my writing whether it's for an article, an interview, or a review. I like to ensure that all the details are there, more or less, because at its core we are an information site. But I never want to lose sight that the Homepage isÊabout a fictional character that all of us love because his world is fun. To share information in a dry, humorless way turns an information piece into an encyclopedia listing. And it's not true to who I am. One of my main inspirations as a writer is the TV show "Knots Landing" and the two creators of that show have said in interviews that one of them wanted to do something serious like "Scenes From a Marriage" and the other wanted to do trash and together they did television. That's basically what I see as my style -- the marriage of class and trash. Or serious journalism meshed with the not-so-serious me. Thanks for the kind words.
Neal's Reply: Thanks, I think that I... I think I... uh... wow, that's a nice squirrel out there. I like monkeys. Now what was I saying?
Ê Comment: I enjoy and look forward to reading Barry Freiman's review and insight on Superman.
Ê Barry's Reply: Thanks so much for that. I got involved in the Superman Homepage initially -- four or five years ago nowÊsince my first articleÊI think -- because I realized that fourÊdecades of being a Superman fan(atic) gave me a headÊfull of trivia that would only end up beingÊuseless triviaÊif I didn't try to share it with other fans in some way. Along the way, I've learned even moreÊabout Superman's history -- and aboutÊmy passion for writing. With that, let me say that the person most responsible for allowing me to grow into the writer I've becomeÊ-- and I'd guess the same can be said by every contributor to the site over the years -- is Superman Homepage owner and editor-in-chief Steve Younis. He lets me write on the topics of my choosing and yet he's brought me some great topics that I'd never have considered without his suggesting them (like the piece I did last year on the history of Superman's "S" emblem). And in the process he's become a really good friend -- which is just too weird given we've yet to actually meet face-to-face.
Comment: I think the Superman Homepage should include nude photos of Lois, Lana, Chloe etc. Otherwise this site totally rocks.
Steve's Reply: Ah... Don't think this will happen any time soon. :P
Comment: In the website I think it would be awesome if there was a new feature where you can read all of the Superman comics from page to page. Stuff from the late 1930's,40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and all the way up to the present.
Steve's Reply: That would be illegal. DC Comics reprints many of these comics in Trade Paperback and Hardcover Archive editions which you can buy online or from your local comic shop.
Comment: If some of the users would be a bit more on the friendly side, I would enjoy this more. I understand everyone is entitled to their opinion, but do they need to be so negative toward others? Who cares if someone liked Superman IV, let them enjoy it. Who cares if someone liked or didn't like Brandon Routh as Superman. We all have our own reasons for enjoying Superman, and we shouldn't be trying to standardize those reasons out to every other fan.
Steve's Reply: Good points. This isn't something I can improve. This is up to the community as a whole.
Comment: maybe u guys could put some online flash games like the one where you have to play as Jim Olsen and take pics of Superman, or the one where you have to stop all the flying derbis from falling to the ground or maybe you guys can make your own superman flash games (ect... action games, adventure games). Ohter than that... the site is great!
Steve's Reply: We do have those two flash games you mention in the Inter-Action section of the site ("Save Metropolis" & "Stop! Press!"). Making our own games isn't possible due to legal reasons. We don't have the rights to Superman to make our own games, products, merchandise, etc...
Comment: If your allowed, maybe in the future, show clips from different Superman cartoons, movies, tv series, like some of the memorable scenes from the movies or animated series, great job, keep it up!
Steve's Reply: Again, due to legal reasons, we are unable to do this.
Comment: I would like to see links to Superman relates websites no matter what the content may be.
Steve's Reply: We have a whole LINKS section on the site dedicated to showing you links to other Superman related websites, both fan sites and official sites.
Comment: The only thing I'd recommend is reviews for the older Superman shows, like Superman: TAS and Lois & Clark. I'd really love to see those!
Steve's Reply: Good suggestion. If anyone would be interested in taking up this writing position, please contact me.
Comment: Keep doing a great job!!! It was nice meeting you guys at Wizard LA I love Neal Bailey's reviews of "Smallville." I might watch Season 7 just to read his reviews.
Neal's Reply: Please watch season 7 anyway... just because the reviews have been negative lately doesn't mean I want the show to tank. But thank you. :)
Comment: On Neal Bailey's weekly review of Smallville, since your critic is very, very, very long to read, I think it should be good to bring back you super short review (maybe have a short review) I know you switch to video for that part...but I like to read it better... just a comment. Thanks.
Neal's Reply: I honestly wouldn't mind doing it, I just don't know what the demand is. If you guys want to see the Super Short Review in addition to the video, just leave a note in the comments and I'll see how people react.
Comment: I wish the site was more printer friendly. 'Cos on IE the text comes out grey and is cut-off often because its margins are too wide (not that I print much). Also I wish the TPB information was more up to date and in order (somewhat). Because I used to collect the comics but haven't for years and until I found the information on another site I didn't know what TPBs to get in the right chronological order. The information is sparse and often out of date (because it hasn't been updated).
Steve's Reply: Each news item on the front page has a printer icon for printer-friendly pages. You can find a complete list of Superman, Supergirl, Justice League and other related Trade Paperback publications here.
Comment: I definately think you guys are doing an amazing job. Might I recommend possibly switching to a "flash" type of interactive website. That would allow for a little better organization without compromising the content.
Steve's Reply: This website has thousands of pages. It would be impossible to convert it all into a Flash site. Besides, search engines are unable to index Flash sites, so we would be at a disadvantage there if Google couldn't find us and reference our articles for people to find us. Flash sites are generally reserved for display websites like official movie sites and DVD sites (like Warner Home Video) as they contain limited content.
Thank you all for participating in the Superman Homepage 2007 Survey (we had over 800 participants!). I've gained a lot of useful information from the results and will endeavor to incorporate as many of your ideas and suggestions as possible in the near future.