Editorial: He's back and HE IS AMERICAN!

Editorial: He's back and HE IS AMERICAN!

My thoughts on the whole "He's a U.S citizen, he's not a U.S. citizen fiasco"

Editorial Opinion
By Tenaciousbt - May 06, 2011 12:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Other



Being that Superman is fictitious; I first want to look at this from a factual stand point and not just the mythology of the character.
Superman is American made. He is a “character” made originally for American’s to be the embodiment of American ideals. Now that he is a global icon, and many all over the world have grown to love him, I can see the urge to co-opt him into your country (whom ever feels he is more global now). The simple “non-hateful” truth is that Superman is an American property, and no amount of debate will change that. We Americans don’t want DC changing the core of the character as he is meant to be.
In fiction, yet there is a perfectly logical argument to the fact that Superman would protect the entire world in an impartial way, but he isn’t real and the fact is that he is for the American Way. He’s not for the Chinese way, the British Way, or the Russian Way. He isn’t for Sharia Law or ethnic cleansing. He stands for the American Ideals, and doesn’t waver from that even if Politicians do.
Another thing for all the people here saying "Oh, but did you read the story, he wasn't doing what you think" or something to that effect.

Please try to remember that DC doesn't need to write a story where Superman feels the need (whether seemingly justified or not) to renounce his citizenship. When anyone goes to write any story about anything, they have the freedom to write about whatever they wish. When a writer decides to create a story where Superman renouncing his citizenship, which tells me that they want that and that's what pissed us off. The fact that they needed or felt the need to write that story.

There is no need to write a story where America is the bad guy unless you don’t like America. And since, regardless of cannon, and how it has been warped and changed over the years, Superman is “American made” DC shouldn’t be writing Superman comics where he is (not matter the fictitious reason) renouncing his U.S. Citizenship.

Lastly, hey DC, don’t use Superman to further you political views. Please stop writing Superman in any political material. In case you are incapable of seeing it. We don’t like it. Superman 4 flopped. Sorry liberals, and for those that say, “this comic sold out” I know that, but it was mostly out of morbid curiosity, hopes of having a valuable “controversial issue” and for many to be informed about what they were getting heated over. It didn’t sell out because it was sooo good, or DC would keep churning them out. Period.
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LP4
LP4 - 5/6/2011, 1:10 PM
Ugh I posted pics on your last one and wrote a lot but i aint doing it again, lol. But i agree with everything you wrote.
Tenaciousbt
Tenaciousbt - 5/6/2011, 1:15 PM
Sorry about that LP4 they erased it and said it was because it was "repeat" content. Like that never happens. Anyone who read my article could see though that it was not the same content as the other article related to this matter.
LP4
LP4 - 5/6/2011, 1:21 PM
Haha all good man not your fault. Superman should never be used as a political ploy, I agree with you on that. Also I agree- He is the ULTIMATE IMMIGRANT= America was BUILT by immigrants. Immigrants made America what it is- the irish and chinese with the railroads...even the British Puritans who colonized this country. Superman being the ultimate immigrant if anything makes him more American than all of us combined.

ironpool007
ironpool007 - 5/6/2011, 1:49 PM
I remember in your previous article you saying your a member of the Air Force. I respect America just as much you do and your service to us, but with all due respect, take your jingoism somewhere else.
Tenaciousbt
Tenaciousbt - 5/6/2011, 2:36 PM
ironpool007,

Jingoism, hum? Vocabulary sticker of the day goes to you. LOL

Well, I respect your opinion. I have mine. It takes a special kind of person to serve in the military; the kind that does the walking and not the talking.

I will take you at your word that you "respect" America as much as me, but do you love America? I do. What's wrong with that? Why are liberals so against that kind of speech? I have the right to say and even feel that.

Oh, and if you get to label me with "Jingoism" without knowing me, then I will label you the opposite of Jingoism. So please take your antisocial, misanthropic, traitorous attitude somewhere else. That maybe unfair, but so was your label.
LP4
LP4 - 5/6/2011, 3:52 PM
People need to understand that DC is the one who has shoved the Superman=America thing down our throats during the character's over 70 years of existence!!

Oh and i almost forgot, DC even sells shirts like this-



DC made Superman synonymous with America for 73 years. Making him suddenly renounce his American citizenship IS a big deal.
Tenaciousbt
Tenaciousbt - 5/6/2011, 5:12 PM
@ earzmundo

Correction it's not a book. It's a comic book. There is a colossal difference. A book can have any kind of material you can think of, including mature adult material. Even while comic books are ever more complex and more action packed as time goes by it is still mostly geared towards a younger audience and as such will of course avoid certain material. If they include these mature materials they are listed as “graphic novels” and are only sold to adults. I’m not saying that a political story is graphic, just that your point about it being a book, and suggesting that we need to open our minds to any content in relation to Superman doesn’t follow through logically. Since some topics are purposefully left out; that means it is censored and it is my opinion that politically ideology is best left to other forms of writing can stay out of Superman comic book and movies.
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 5/6/2011, 5:22 PM
@Tenaciousbt: There is nothing wrong with loving this country. I love it as much you do, and I always have through thick and thin. Don't believe me? You should have seen te smile on my face when I heard the Seals got Bin Laden.

And what does being a liberal have to do with anything. Are you saying that I am anti American because I'm a hard left registered Democrat. Are you saying that I want America to fail? Maybe you think thats why i voted for Barack Obama. Well let me tell you something. I was no fan of George W. Bush, and felt that he made horrible decisions for this country. When I went to vote for Barack Obama, it was in hopes that he would restore some of our dignity, which he is slowly but surely doing.

But let's get back to comics. Superman was created by American in America, and is famous for truth, justice, and the American way. But if you read alot of comics back from that era, most heroes were like that. And as I said in a comment for your last editorial, Superman is an alien who landed in America, and raised by American parents. He still believes in the values they taught him, but he helps people around the world, and being seen as a citezen of the world helps with that. This story was certainly a risky one, and upon hearing that DC was not standing by it, made them like cowards. It also seemed like a slap in the fac to David Goyer, who wrote the story. And your editorial seemed to support not taking creative risks and publish thought prevoking stories. Oh and lets forget, Superman is fictisious.

So perhaps, calling you Jingoistic was too much, and I apologize, because you like any of us have a right to voic your opinion, and you serve us in the military. I'm just more of a quiet patriot.
LP4
LP4 - 5/6/2011, 5:38 PM
@ironpool- Yeah a lot of characters back in the day were used to fight for America. But you gotta admit...Superman was used and kept more in line with being "patriotic American" a lot longer and a lot more than the other characters. Heck...Batman was used in comics back then helping in the war effort during WWII. Same with Wonder Woman. But you notice- Superman is more attached to American patriotism stuff much more than those other two.

It is hard for some to let go of Superman's American-ness because quite frankly...he's been advertised as a hardcore American for sooooo long...it became a PART of him.

Obviously a character like Captain America is the MOST American-oriented. But even as an immigrant...Superman is pretty hardcore American...and always was.

We get that he has the capability to act as a WORLDLY icon and hero...but really his mere image is American. His optimism...his feelings of not wanting to hide behind a mask...even his red/blue suit- all very American. There was one comic i read where Superman was beating up a giant robot, while punching it, Superman even said it himself "Prepare to feel American muscle!" while he was about to punch the robot.

I mean he even called HIMSELF an American.
Tenaciousbt
Tenaciousbt - 5/6/2011, 6:09 PM
@ earzmundo

Once again you are wrong. Novel book writers crossing over to comic books doesn’t make comic books, “books” any more than comic book writers crossing over to novels makes “novels,” comic books. Do you see what I mean? That doesn’t make since. And by adult material, I mean full frontal nudity, graphic sex, the full litany of curse words and the like. These things will never, I repeat NEVER be in a Superman comic book, because they are comic books not graphic novels. There is a difference otherwise why create a separate word to describe them? They are two completely different forms of material.

Once again I want to point out that political stories are not graphic, I just wanted to point out that since clearly comic books are censored to remove story lines that are not allowed by the FCC or are undesirable content that DC decides not to tackle. Then political stories, specifically where Superman, (The most Patriotic hero in the DC universe in my mind) is renouncing his citizenship should have been cut from the comic.
I think DC has come to that conclusion as well. You can call them cowards, but I find name calling childish. It’s a business decision, and we could go back and forth all day calling names. I could say they are motherf*ukers for writing it in the first place but I didn’t and I don’t want to. I would rather state my feelings and let it be known. A lot more just like me did so in a peaceful way that would make Superman proud and it worked. That’s how change and grievances should be resolved. This is a beautiful thing that happened and I am happy if voicing my feeling contributed in any small way to DC retracting that terrible story decision.

ironpool007
ironpool007 - 5/6/2011, 6:30 PM
When a company makes a bold story choice, they should stick by it, not run away from it when it comes under fire.
YourMomNaked
YourMomNaked - 5/6/2011, 7:53 PM
Love it, bro!

Tenaciousbt
Tenaciousbt - 5/7/2011, 11:30 AM
@ Nephillim,

It seems a peaceful protest is exactly what happened in regards to this comic. People, in this case mostly Americans expressed their grievances in a peaceful way and DC responded. What is wrong with that? Isn’t that exactly how we should deal with something we don’t like? (That last question was rhetorical)

The lesson from the comic was learned all to well, and you don’t like it.
DocManhattan
DocManhattan - 5/8/2011, 8:33 PM
You say that you dont want DC using Superman to further their political views, but thats exactly what happens everytime he holds the American flag or is drawn standing in front of the American flag. That was DC furthering a political view, the view that Superman is a reflection off America. That his strength, virtue and moral code are reflections off American society. So it isn't so much that you dont want Superman comics to deal with political issues, you just dont want them to take a political view that you don't agree with.
I think it could have created the opportunity for some great stories and if Superman would have reclaimed his American citizenship after a while then that would be fine. But atleast we would have gotten some interesting stories along the way.
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