Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 48 hours I assume you’ve heard the news: In a short story written by David S. Goyer that appeared in this month’s Action Comics #900 titled, The Incident, Superman renounced his U.S. Citizenship. If you haven’t read the issue, here’s what happened: Superman decides to go to Iran and participate in a peaceful protest. This doesn’t go over well with the Iranian Government, because they see Superman as an extension of the President of the United States, and his actions are considered an act of war which almost leads to all kinds of messiness. Realizing that his world image is so closely tied with the U.S. Government, Superman says, “Screw it. I’m out.” No, not literally. The real exchange actually goes down like this:
[Above: Superman renounces U.S. citizenship; President sh!ts himself.]
Big stuff, right? It’s certainly a historic moment for the character, but what about us as a nation? Should we even CARE about this on a national scale? GOP advocates certainly think so. Pop Tarts columnist Angie Meyer goes so far to say that DC is showing blatant disrespect and lack of patriotism in printing this story. I don’t know about all that. One of the best parts about being an American is that we can voice our displeasure with the state of the Union without fear of retaliation by the government; it’s our government for God’s sake! We vote so we have a RIGHT to bitch when things aren’t going the way we’d like them to.
Some fans who are only vested in the character side of the argument are upset as well, calling this action the end of Superman as we know him. Again, I think that’s ridiculous as well. Anyone remember the borderline racist and misogynistic Superman who was a U.S. propaganda machine in the 1940s? Watch such shorts as Japoteurs, Eleventh Hour, and Jungle Drums. That is the kind of Superman you get when he’s exclusively U.S. owned and operated and it’s a Superman that the world is better without..
I am blown away by the short sightedness of people. DC is not only showing MASSIVE stones in printing this story, but is brave for doing so. The things that Superman stand for are the things that humanity should aspire to as a whole. And when I say that I don’t mean everyone should aspire to being American. I’m talking about things like compassion, ingenuity, nobility, strength, restraint, and charity. These are all fine print ideals of our “American Way”, but these concepts shouldn’t be exclusive to one nation. These are things humanity should strive for globally.
By renouncing U.S. citizenship, Superman isn’t hating on the United States, he’s laying aside his citizenship because the work he does is bigger than any national affiliation. It’s arrogant to think that U.S. citizenship is more important than trying to make the world better, or that you can’t do that unless you choose some kind of side. Personally I think Superman belongs to the world. Sure he was created here, by red-blooded Americans, but he’s a symbol for something greater than any one nation, the same way Jesus Christ isn’t just exclusive to any one Christian religion.
I’d also like to stop all my fellow comic book aficionados out there for a second and talk about how this plays into the evolution of the character, because THAT is what I think is most important about all this. For most of his history, Superman has been more human than any of us in spite of his origins. He grew up on a farm in the heart of America, where he learned good, wholesome ideals that he lives his life by every day. He’s definitely a shining example of what humanity CAN be. But a lot of writers over the years have tried to shift that focus, and look deeper into Superman as the last alien of a dead world.
As much some have attempted to focus on the alien aspect of the character, what that means, and how it isolates him from us, this single moment in Action Comics #900 is the greatest success ever on that front. For the first time Superman has drawn a line in the sand and set himself above humanity. Miguel Sepulveor’s art along with Goyer’s words in the final image of the panel above really conveys how different and small Superman sees everything. He’s the most powerful being on Earth; we don’t tell Superman anything. He’ll tell us. It’s almost chilling in a way.
