Not too long ago, one of my friends claimed that Superman was just about "having unlimited power" and "fifty years of filler." Disregarding the fact that he probably meant to say "seventy-five-odd years of filler," I took some offense at this.
I love Superman. He's probably my favorite character in comics. Superman's had more great stories than most other characters have had stories, period - and that's not just by the stopped-clock rule. But at the same time, I understand that Superman isn't in vogue right now, that people view him as being a square or a dick or a Sue. And sometimes they're right; there have been a lot of Superman writers, and a good number of them just aren't very good.
But sometimes they're wrong. And to me, it's those times that really matter.
But if that's not what Superman is about, what is Superman about?
To that, I dedicate this post.
Superman is about a boy who rose from the Depression and took on the world.
It's the story of the immigrant from a dead land...
...who became the icon of his new home.
It's about how the best men aren't the ones with the most power...
...but the ones who know what it is to have the least.
It's about tyrants, great...
...and small...
...and all too real.
It's about friends...
...allies...
...and lovers.
It's about being able to do anything...
...and deciding to do all you can.
It's about knowing that if you can't save everyone...
...it's no reason not to try.
It's a story that can be said in a thousand words...
...or just eight.
It's a silly story sometimes.
Very silly.
But it's those silly things that make the sad things so strong.
It's about intelligence...
...and how it can be used for happiness...
...or hate.
It's about never giving up.
It's about being willing to sacrifice everything...
...and knowing that people will come through for you.
It's a story about leaders...
...and soldiers...
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...and people just trying to find their way.
It's about having the past catch up to you...
...and the future threaten you...
...but staying focused on what matters.
It's about gods...
...men...
...men who think themselves gods...
...and gods who know they're men.
It's about monsters...
...and machines...
...and criminals.
It's about politics...
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...and religion...
...and science...
...and people.
It's about not just making a good world today...
...but a better one for tomorrow.
It's about fighting impossible odds...
...at titanic scale...
...but still remembering that every bit counts.
It's about enmity...
...and envy...
...and love...
...and hope.
It's a story of two Clevelander Jews...
...making something to last forever.
It's a story of a century...
...and it's here to stay.
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