In a clear example of art imitating life, yesterday's release of Action Comics #900 has Superman doing the unthinkable: He announces that he is giving up his status as an American citizen.
Superman has always been iconic as an "American" hero. After all, he has stood for "truth, justice, and the American way". Well, not any more. Now, led by conscience perhaps, he believes that he should be a global protector, instead of a hero of just one nation.
In the following panel, he is speaking with the President's National Security Advisor, and getting flack for showing up in Tehran to aid demonstrators against the Iranian regime.
I can't see why it took 900 issues for this to happen. In the "real world", Superman would have seriously had to have been an asshole to be hanging around Metropolis for the last 80 years, and not do a thing to help out anyone besides Americans. I've caught myself wondering a few times during my childhood why he never left town.
Bryan Singer touched on this issue a bit when he directed 'Superman Returns' in 2006. There was a line from Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet, where he asked, "Does he still believe in truth, justice, and all that stuff". He specifically left out "the American way." Singer recognized that Superman had transcended past the point where he was only an "American hero". He was a hero for all of us.
It's about time that DC got the hint.
Superman has always been iconic as an "American" hero. After all, he has stood for "truth, justice, and the American way". Well, not any more. Now, led by conscience perhaps, he believes that he should be a global protector, instead of a hero of just one nation.
In the following panel, he is speaking with the President's National Security Advisor, and getting flack for showing up in Tehran to aid demonstrators against the Iranian regime.
I can't see why it took 900 issues for this to happen. In the "real world", Superman would have seriously had to have been an asshole to be hanging around Metropolis for the last 80 years, and not do a thing to help out anyone besides Americans. I've caught myself wondering a few times during my childhood why he never left town.
Bryan Singer touched on this issue a bit when he directed 'Superman Returns' in 2006. There was a line from Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet, where he asked, "Does he still believe in truth, justice, and all that stuff". He specifically left out "the American way." Singer recognized that Superman had transcended past the point where he was only an "American hero". He was a hero for all of us.
It's about time that DC got the hint.
