Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
I can't decide if this is the most galling or the most superfluous piece of political agitprop in recent history. Either way, it's irritating:
The key scene takes place in "The Incident," a short story in Action Comics #900 written by David S. Goyer with art by Miguel Sepulveda. In it, Superman consults with the President's national security advisor, who is incensed that Superman appeared in Tehran to non-violently support the protesters demonstrating against the Iranian regime, no doubt an analogue for the recent real-life protests in the Middle East. However, since Superman is viewed as an American icon in the DC Universe as well as our own, the Iranian government has construed his actions as the will of the American President, and indeed, an act of war.
Superman replies that it was foolish to think that his actions would not reflect politically on the American government, and that he therefore plans to renounce his American citizenship at the United Nations the next day -- and to continue working as a superhero from a more global than national perspective. From a "realistic" standpoint it makes sense; it would indeed be impossible for a nigh-omnipotent being ideologically aligned with America to intercede against injustice beyond American borders without creating enormous political fallout for the U.S. government.
Put aside, if you can, the hilarious credulity of the narrative above (because we've all been dying for "realistic" interpretations of the geo-political ramifications of "nigh-omnipotent beings"). Doubtless, most people's first reaction will be revulsion at denationalizing an American icon. I share that chagrin.
What's really striking, though, is the thinness of the lefty, Turtle Bay gruel being served up here. Superman non-violently supporting protesters in Tehran? Superman renouncing his citizenship at the U.N. (how did he even get his papers in the first place? Follow-up question: was Clark Kent an anchor baby?).
The whole reason we have superheroes is because of our almost primal longing to transcend the strictures of law and order when they seem inadequate to the cause of justice. But this Superman is not a superhero. He is a college kid fresh off an internship with Amnesty International. Good riddance.
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Jun '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
It all happened when they changed his Superman cape. With it went truth, justice, and the American Way. Would love to know what Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster think of this.
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Seminal post: the high water mark of the Age of Obama.
Put this one in a time capsule to unearth in happier times ahead.
Jul '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
I've never trusted men who prance around in tights.
Dec '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Troy, I completely disagree. It seems to me that Superman has realized that to uphold Truth, Justice, and the American Way, he must dissociate himself from a President so weak, so feckless, so un-American that he can't even stand up for the Iranian democracy movement against an Iranian theocracy that's plainly an enemy of America.
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Stuart: note the part where he's going to stand up for the "global" perspective. As defined by who? He's just going to be Dog the Bounty Hunter for the ICC now.
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
I bet Superman earns more than $250,000 per year. He certainly has mobility on his side, even with gasoline approaching $5 per gallon. Maybe renouncing his US citizenship is just his way of staying globally competitive under the Obama tax and regulatory regime.
Dec '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Maybe he's fed up with all the citations he gets for demolishing city blocks without Planning Commission approval and making major changes in the landscape without filing environmental impact statements with the EPA.
Oct '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
The fanboys don’t like it either.
http://weeklycomicbookreview.com/2011/04/27/action-comics-900-review/
This is strange because David Goyer was a co-writer on Batman Begins and Dark Knight, two Batman films by director Christopher Nolan with underlying Ricochet- friendly conservative themes.
Dec '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
James, you can turn the question around: if the American national interest is being defined by a socialist President with no sense of the God-given human rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and no commitment to truthfulness, why let your superpowers be constrained by that small man's even smaller vision?
Nov '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
As Ricochet's self appointed ambassador to the land of the geek, believe me when I say this news is par for the course for an icon fading away due to the malfeasance of its handlers. Superman as a comic is suffering from lack of interest and lack of quality. His is a rapidly depleting readership in an industry suffering from an ever dwindling number of readers. His recent storylines have all been received as a bad joke, including Supes recent decision to walk the land and get to know the people more. Even amongst those who care about such things, almost NO ONE will notice, and those that do will shake their heads in disgust.
Aug '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Technically, Superman is an illegal alien who has been hiding from the government with the help of the Kent family who manufactured a false identity for him. Clark Kent is an American Citizen, but Superman isn't.
The storyline is inane, but isn't surprising. Every time there is a Republican in office -- since Nixon -- Captain America either quits his job or is murdered. Long gone are the days when comic books advanced any kind of pro-American sentiment. They have shifted from propaganda arms of the government -- one of the ways they avoided rationing -- to venues to advance liberal politics.
None of this really matters as Action Comics #900 will be lucky to sell 100,000 copies -- and that is with this blatant marketing ploy. In the early 90s good books sold 300 - 400k, now it's 50 - 60 k. This has been true since the late 90s -- so it's not purely due to digital piracy. Comics started pandering to an affluent and aging audience in the 90s and overlooked future customers. Now they are a loss leader for other products using the same IP. More people watch an episode of Smallville than buy Action in a year.
May '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
More fashionable anti-Americanism from an exhausted popular culture. Ho-hum.
Mar '11
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Ken Sweeney:
This is strange because David Goyer was a co-writer on Batman Begins and Dark Knight, two Batman films by director Christopher Nolan with underlying Ricochet- friendly conservative themes. · Apr 28 at 2:19pm
I have grave reservations about Goyer's script for the upcoming Man of Steel, if he like Bryan Singer before him shies away from the bedrock principle of Truth, Justice and the American Way! Clark Kent hails from Kansas which has always been reliably Republican. Superman maybe a product of the New Deal era, but his upbringing was Midwestern, where morality and character prevail and their hero would never turn his back on his heritage, extra-terrestrial or otherwise.
Dec '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
So, this is where Superman jumps the shark?
Mar '11
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
The upcoming Wonder Woman pilot has also taken great pains to remove the stars from her costume; perhaps the comic has, as well?
Oct '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Lance, I think you may speak too soon. I would argue that the main problem here was stated already in the review above.
Ken Sweeney:
It's interesting to wonder and draft a story about this situation but having it as part of the canon is the problem. This belongs in a "What If" style story along with "What if Bruce Wayne's Parents Survived?" To have this in the universe proper means that this is not the same Superman that older fans enjoy because he's missing "the American Way."
As for alternative "Ubermensch" stories where this is done well, look no further to "Superman: Red Son" where Superman's a commie or Hyperion, Marvel's take on The Man of Steel. The point is that these exist to wet the appetite of the fanboys while keeping the pop culture icon intact.
Edited on Apr 28, 2011 at 3:08pmNov '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Jerry Broaddus
So, this is where Superman jumps the shark? · Apr 28 at 2:48pm
He's been wearing the leather jacket and had his skis buckled tight for a while now.
And for the record, I was wrong. Nothing goes unnoticed by the thinning and aging herds of comic book fans. Here is a sampling of comments from Geekland, 728 and growing...
"My eyes just rolled so hard they almost changed places."
"Truth & Justice end here...with a whimper....God help us all."
"This is insane. Typical liberal mentallity.
How many times has the world been in the frying pan.
Let's see. WWI, WWII, the Cold war. The war on terrorism.
These cultural fools think that the world is so wonderful
If superman want's to abandon the USA then we'll just make
Captain America the number one super hero of the USA.
By the way, we can start importing kryptonite as well."
Nov '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Casey Way: Lance, I think you may speak too soon. ...It's interesting to wonder and draft a story about this situation but having it as part of the canon is the problem. This belongs in a "What If" style story along with "What if Bruce Wayne's Parents Survived?" To make have this in the universe proper means that this is not the same Superman that older fans enjoy because he's missing "the American Way."
As for alternative "Ubermench" stories where this is done well, look no further to "Superman: Red Son" where Superman's a commie or Hyperion, Marvel's take on The Man of Steel. The point is that these exist to wet the appetite of the fanboys while keeping the pop culture icon intact. · Apr 28 at 3:04pm
You're point is well taken. It would be an interesting "What if...", or "Elseworlds" as the call it at DC. But its just another in a line of bad plot choices that bring down, rather than lift up, the character.
Dec '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
Nathaniel Wright: Technically, Superman is an illegal alien ...
... Captain America either quits his job or is murdered. Long gone are the days when comic books advanced any kind of pro-American sentiment. ..
1) Superman isn't an illegal alien. He has always been public and truthful about his alien birth since the day he found out about it. Superman is a naturalized citizen.
2) Captain America never gave up his citizenship and his quitting his job was painted as an agonizing decision for him. The story line in question, and the theme of many many comics of the day, was the American people waking up and realizing that the government can't be trusted with unquestioned power
The fact that Superman is not only revoking his citizenship, but also has no emotional attachment to it really kinda hurt my soul.
Aug '10
Re: Waiting for Superman ... to Leave
What ? Me Worry ?
What were you guys reading ?