Superman's Patriotic Imagery

by Armand Vaquer


Superman's association with the U.S. flag and patriotism dates back to his beginnings in the late 1930s and 1940s.

In the 1940s, Superman was depicted in comic book covers as a morale booster for U.S. troops fighting in the European and Pacific theaters of World War II.


This association continued in the 1950s with the opening of the Adventures of Superman television show. The show's opening depicts a resolute Superman (George Reeves) standing in front of the American flag.

In 1953, Adventures of Superman's producers made a special episode, "Stamp Day For Superman" that was donated to the Department of The Treasury. In this episode, not shown on television, Superman tells elementary school children of the virtues of buying Savings Stamps to help their country.

The photo below from "Stamp Day For Superman" shows Superman with the U.S. flag and the word "citizenship" in the background. Would this Superman renounce his U.S. citizenship? Not likely!





Christopher Reeve's Superman also continued with this association. In Superman 2, the Man of Steel returns the White House's flag and pole to the Executive Mansion's roof after defeating three Kryptonian Phantom Zone criminals.



The comic books of the Modern Age also depicted Superman as an American patriot. The comic book cover at right of Superman unabashedly patriotic was produced after DC Comics re-booted the Superman character (along with other super-heroes in their stable) in the late 1980s. And the one below left is a more recent cover.












These images only scratch the surface. There are many more such depictions of Superman's patriotism. With all this ingrained imagery over the years, it is small wonder why the reports of Superman renouncing his U.S. citizenship in Action Comics #900 has some people upset. That's why it is tricky business to tamper with an iconic character.



One final point.

One of Superman's abilities is a super-intellect. Granted, even one with a superior intellect could get frustrated over some government policies. Rather than get angry and renounce his citizenship, he would shrug it off and logically figure that administrations come and go and policies change with each administrative change. He would also use his influence to get the ones he disagrees with changed. A person with his super-intellect would not act rashly and renounce his citizenship. It comes off as some politically correct internationalist bullplop. I wonder if DC's writers even considered this.

The storyline just rings hollow.

Superman: Tampering With An AMERICAN Icon

by Armand Vaquer


When Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster created Superman, they created a quintessential American icon.

The term "Truth, Justice and The American Way" is synonymous with the character.

Rocketed to Earth as an infant by his parents, Jor-El and Lara, to escape the planet Krypton's destruction, the child's rocket landed in middle America and was raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent. The baby, Kal-El, was raised as Clark Kent with wholesome middle American values and became the champion of justice and the defender of the weak and oppressed.

When Clark Kent reached manhood, he moved to the city of Metropolis to begin his career as a Daily Planet news reporter and as Superman. Thus began an American icon, recognized throughout the world.

DC Comics, co-owner of the Superman character with the heirs of Siegel and Shuster, is publishing Action Comics #900. In this anniversary issue, the story has Superman fed up after a clash with the federal government.

Says Superman, “I am tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy.” He plans to make his announcement before the United Nations: "I intend to speak before the United Nations tomorrow and inform them that I am renouncing my U.S. citizenship."

Messing with an icon is tricky business. And this has become a controversy already. It is like having George Reeves standing in front of the United Nations flag, not the American flag, to many people.


According to Fox News:

"Besides being riddled with a blatant lack of patriotism, and respect for our country, Superman's current creators are belittling the United States as a whole. By denouncing his citizenship, Superman becomes an eerie metaphor for the current economic and power status the country holds worldwide," Hollywood publicist and GOP activist Angie Meyer told FOX411's Pop Tarts column.

In the same article, Superman's publishers defended the storyline:

"Superman is a visitor from a distant planet who has long embraced American values. As a character and an icon, he embodies the best of the American Way," DC's co-publishers, Jim Lee and Dan DiDio said in a statement to FOX411.com. "In a short story in ACTION COMICS 900, Superman announces his intention to put a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as always, committed to his adopted home and his roots as a Kansas farm boy from Smallville."

Still, would Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster approve of this?

Before people get upset over this, one thing to remember: in comics, nothing is ever permanent. A character may get killed off, but quite often is brought back to life in another storyline. Sooner or later, Superman will reclaim his American citizenship.

Also, while everyone is aghast over this tampering with Superman's iconic American image, keep in mind that Clark Kent is still an American citizen.

UPDATE: A friend emailed this message (don't know if he read this blog post yet):

George Reeves never would have renounced his citizenship!

Sgt. George Reeves
U.S. Army Air Corps.1943

The email was titled, "George Reeves...Patriot!"

Thoughts On The Superman Re-Boot

by Armand Vaquer


It will be interesting to see how Brit Henry Cavill (above) fills Superman's red boots in the upcoming Superman re-boot movie.

Will he be able to suppress his British accent enough to convincingly convey that he was raised in the midwestern section of the United States? ("I say, old chap, I'm fighting the never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American Way!")



To me, for a super-hero movie to work is that the actor has to look and act as if the comic book character stepped out of the pages of the comic and onto the silver screen. In the post-Kirk Alyn era, only George Reeves (left) and Christopher Reeve (below, right) had that quality (although I despise Reeve's Clark Kent portrayal). None of the other Supermen had this quality. Dean Cain didn't look at all like Superman and his costume was wrong (especially the buckle and boots).






Brandon Routh did not convince me that he was Superman (Superboy, maybe). Cavill looks more mature and more like Superman than does Routh in my opinion. How he handles the role is an open question. We will have to wait and see.

Another thing that would have to happen for me to be convinced that I am watching Superman on screen in the new movie: jettison the Routh Superman costume with that awful collar, dark coloring and those awful Speedo trunks! The costume would have to look more like Christopher Reeve's costume with its bright colors.

Above, Brandon Routh in his awful costume from "Superman Returns."

Will the producers take note? Again we'll have to wait and see.