In the pages of Action Comics 900 something happened.Yes Superman fought Lex Luthor, Yes a surprising twist was brought to the “Reign of Doomsday” storyline and yes Action Comics now has 900 issues published.
But the story that is getting headlines is that Superman has renounced his US citizenship.
People are pissed.
In the story Superman is scolded by a member of the U.S. President’s Security staff when he shows up in Iran to take part in a protest.
The staff member gets into it with Superman about how his actions will affect America.
Superman then rips up his passport and craps on it.
No he didn’t do that. Superman makes the choice to renounce his U.S. citizenship rather than have his actions seen as a statement from any government or a country's policies.
Couple of things.
First off, I know Superman’s tag line or his banner rather, is Truth Justice and The American way.
So I understand that many will see this as Superman (or DC) spitting on the flag.
Secondly, think about it people, he’s Superman. Can he really be cut off at the country line?
He hasn’t in the past, and when he’s saving everyone from Brainiac or Mongul I am pretty sure he’s saving the world and not just the United States.
This is going to be a debate and it will be interesting to see how DC moves forward with this, but as a HUGE Superman fan I don’t see the big deal.
I actually hope this wasn't some small story not meant to be taken with a whole heart. I hope this turns into issue in the comics and both ideas are addressed.
But really, come on, he's Superman, the most powerful superhero in the world!
Not America.
Not America.
This isn't a big deal.
Though his membership in the JLA might be revoked.
4 comments:
The medium of comic books was born in America… No, not the comic strip… that has been around for a long time (some would argue that it goes all the way back to hieroglyphics)… the magazine or ‘book’ form of comic strips of original material was invented here in America. The Superhero, though steeped deeply in the mythologies of old, is also a uniquely American idea. Many believe that Superman is the first superhero… his name became the adjective to describe the genre. But, it can be argued that he wasn’t, The Phantom was there in a costume fighting evil four years before Superman and Popeye was busy performing ‘superhuman’ feats throughout the 20’s.
But, to many, Superman is the first Superhero. He is a uniquely American character… he is an immigrant who fled a dying world to find a better place, much like the immigrants of old who fled Nazi Germany at the time of his creation. In his ‘origin’ it is his parents who are credited with giving him his moral compass… his parents being American… actually Middle Americans who were probably more conservative in their mindset than Superman’s creators. Schuster and Siegel even seemed to model his costume after the flag.
Regardless of the political affiliations of Superman’s creators they were Americans who loved their country. They were the ones who wrote the story where Superman captures Hitler and Mussolini and brings them to the world court. Superman was used as Pro-American propaganda during the war effort during World War Two and has always been shown as a beacon of American strength and Justice.
In recent times political ideology, along with the acceptance of various ‘radical’ social agendas have lead to anti-American sentiment growing to disturbing levels. The fact that one doesn’t have to agree with all the polices of various Politicians or have to agree with one party or another to still be American seems to have been forgotten in some circles. So it’s even more disturbing to see a major publishing company like DC Comics decide to allow their greatest creation to be used in such a fashion.
The argument being made is that ‘Superman is bigger than America’… Well the truth is that America made Superman, both in fantasy and reality. Why he would turn his back on that goes against the character and the character’s creators. Superman is considered Americana and American mythology… So in some ways, America is bigger than Superman.
To those who would suggest that being disturbed by the recent decision is somehow ‘blind patriotism’ I would say that there’s nothing ‘blind’ about it. With the rich history of Superman being linked inexorably to America its more blind ‘arrogance’ to not be bothered by it.
In the end Superman is an exclusively American creation. The fact that his modern day writers felt no hesitation to have him turn his back on his country shows just how great this country is…
The fact that Superman is no longer a citizen of America however,makes him a little less likeable and a lot less super….
I think this makes perfect sense. I don't see why Superman should be held back by things like a country's borders.
Everything that goes on in this issue with Superman felt, to me, like Superman's walk across America ended, he's made up his mind, and made up his mind about what he plans on doing. Just a small side note. Maybe I'm not the one who feels that way.
Superman is who is because of American values.
That hasn't changed.
Also (@ Sean Kasper) no one is disputing who was or wasn't the fist superhero.
As a character of fiction I can see why people are going ape shit but in the reality of DC Comics I never thought Superman represented The U.S. solely.
Everyone knows he's an alien and most know about his home in the arctic. So I don't think the averge joe in the world of DC Comics is thinking that Superman voted in 2008.
I am sure I could be wrong but I don't think I have seen (again in the reality of the comics) Superman labeled as the most powerful American. Or the greatest hero in America.
So as a fan I don't see this as a problem.
I know Superman is still an American Icon for being a fictional character but as hero in the comics he saves the world not just North America.
So yeah, I am fine with this story.
Being an ‘American’ does not mean that Superman would only protect America… in fact, that argument is silly, considering that our armed forces (Americans) are fighting 3 different wars in 3 different countries right now… None of which are remotely close to North America.
The act of ‘Renouncing’ his citizenship borders on offensive when one thinks about the message it is sending… Because he disagrees with a certain political party’s stance he turns his back on the entire country? It also speaks volumes to the National view of just how important patriotism is… there are many who will say that this isn’t a big deal… But, unfortunately it is. To take a piece of American Heritage and highjack it into some Globalist form of a social and/or political point is just wrong. The fact that I haven’t seen mass outrage from Superman fans is a sad commentary on just where our mindset is an Americans.
On the other hand… it could also be viewed as a scathing rebuke of the current administration’s stance on foreign affairs and its lacksidasical approach to the current turmoil in the Middle East but somehow I doubt it. Like Captain America before him I believe that this is just a political message being put forth by the writer who has an agenda. However, it is more the editors and the publishers whom I hold responsible for it.
This isn’t a costume change or lose of powers… this is an iconic Super Hero tossing away Citizenship at time when that very thing is sought by so many people both legally and illegally… It paints Superman as a complacent and self righteous fool who really is more alien than human (which doesn’t make sense considering he was raised as human since he was a baby) and totally unrelatable as a character… something that DC Comics has been trying not to do for many years now.
In the end I hope this proves to be a mistake for DC Comics, I hope people will let them know how wrong this was and we’ll see Superman actually become ‘Super’ again.
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