Sooo…should we tell them that Absolute Superman gets the corporate owned authorities called on him for being an illegal immigrant, and they’re the bad guys?
The truth is that the people who are MAGA today have always hated immigrants, and see themselves as the only "Real Americans," even the selfish ladder-pullers who were born to immigrants themselves.
The only difference is that they are now as loud and obnoxious as ever, because they no longer have to be discrete about their bigotry.
He has the power of a god. He doesn't dominate. He doesn't prove he's the manliest man ever. He doesn't incinerate people. Not even people who might deserve it.
He helps people. He takes time out of his day to reassure a suicidal teenage girl that she matters. He will beat up a galactic threat like Darkseid and then he will fetch a little girl's stuck kitten out of a tree. He will turn the tables on a wife beater or a slumlord. He doesn't care about money or power or position or privilege. He treats everyone as special. Everyone as worthy.
MAGA wants Homelander. Or Injustice Superman.
But that isn't Superman. Superman is the guy who lives in a world of cardboard and is always making sure that every hug, every handshake, never hurts.
That's what makes him Super.
And that's why I'll be going to see this movie on Friday because it sounds like James Gunn gets that.
EDIT: And frankly, I hope THAT is what America is really longing for. A truly GOOD guy being GOOD. And his cute doggie too.
I wish I could remember the comic that portrays the Kryptonians reciting a prayer as they wait for the destruction of their planet—Krypton's version of the Shema.
There was apparently an ancient Christian saying in some circles that Paul quoted in an epistle: "Awake, you who sleep. Rise from the dead. Christ will give you life."
Probably a prayer or mantra about the purported future resurrection, but I think it can also apply to the tolerance our consciences build to society's injustices.
This is an excellent essay! And thanks for the critique of John Byrne — despite his very real artistry, he pretty much ruined every character he touched at MARVEL, as well as managing to insert himsjelf and (on at least one occasion) his wife as characters in his stories. As I recall, he was later unceremoniously removed from DC as a writer/artist without explanation; from what I heard at the time, Byrne was on his way to unilaterally overhauling the Superman mythos a little too far afield.
I'd feel sorry for maga folk if they weren't such awful people, and currently being in charge of the government. turning this country into a shithole. Not only are they hateful people, they are incredibly stupid to not see how having empathy and being kind is better for everyone. Superman gets it. The only Batman I know, from the 1960s TV series, gets it too, and Bruce Wayne was a rich man using his wealth for good.
What’s next?!! Slate running an article about how Scrooge’s pre-lesson learning greed makes him the real hero - oh wait they did that 20 years ago… https://slate.com/human-interest/2004/12/what-i-love-about-scrooge.html
Sooo…should we tell them that Absolute Superman gets the corporate owned authorities called on him for being an illegal immigrant, and they’re the bad guys?
The truth is that the people who are MAGA today have always hated immigrants, and see themselves as the only "Real Americans," even the selfish ladder-pullers who were born to immigrants themselves.
The only difference is that they are now as loud and obnoxious as ever, because they no longer have to be discrete about their bigotry.
Oh no! A comic book character exposing truth and justice?!! The horror.
Let’s crank up the propaganda machine and stop such tomfoolery.
I never thought that I would see such morally depraved individuals in my life but here we are.
Superman is super because he is kind and good.
He has the power of a god. He doesn't dominate. He doesn't prove he's the manliest man ever. He doesn't incinerate people. Not even people who might deserve it.
He helps people. He takes time out of his day to reassure a suicidal teenage girl that she matters. He will beat up a galactic threat like Darkseid and then he will fetch a little girl's stuck kitten out of a tree. He will turn the tables on a wife beater or a slumlord. He doesn't care about money or power or position or privilege. He treats everyone as special. Everyone as worthy.
MAGA wants Homelander. Or Injustice Superman.
But that isn't Superman. Superman is the guy who lives in a world of cardboard and is always making sure that every hug, every handshake, never hurts.
That's what makes him Super.
And that's why I'll be going to see this movie on Friday because it sounds like James Gunn gets that.
EDIT: And frankly, I hope THAT is what America is really longing for. A truly GOOD guy being GOOD. And his cute doggie too.
I wish I could remember the comic that portrays the Kryptonians reciting a prayer as they wait for the destruction of their planet—Krypton's version of the Shema.
Here is the text of the sign that my wife carried at the recent NoKings rally:
"WOKE IS NOT THE INSULT THAT YOU THINK IT IS"
There was apparently an ancient Christian saying in some circles that Paul quoted in an epistle: "Awake, you who sleep. Rise from the dead. Christ will give you life."
Probably a prayer or mantra about the purported future resurrection, but I think it can also apply to the tolerance our consciences build to society's injustices.
That's a great sign - kudos to your wife! I wish that more Dems realize that and stop accepting RW framing on every issue.
Love this article. And it's a crying shame that so many willfully miss the point of Superman.
This is an excellent essay! And thanks for the critique of John Byrne — despite his very real artistry, he pretty much ruined every character he touched at MARVEL, as well as managing to insert himsjelf and (on at least one occasion) his wife as characters in his stories. As I recall, he was later unceremoniously removed from DC as a writer/artist without explanation; from what I heard at the time, Byrne was on his way to unilaterally overhauling the Superman mythos a little too far afield.
I'd feel sorry for maga folk if they weren't such awful people, and currently being in charge of the government. turning this country into a shithole. Not only are they hateful people, they are incredibly stupid to not see how having empathy and being kind is better for everyone. Superman gets it. The only Batman I know, from the 1960s TV series, gets it too, and Bruce Wayne was a rich man using his wealth for good.
MAGAts have built their own Hell.
Sadly we also live in it!
THAT is the problem. Misery loves company.