Bin Laden DEAD! Would Superman Care?

Bin Laden DEAD! Would Superman Care?

After announcing that he will renounce his American citizenship, would Superman be for, or against us taking out Osama?

Editorial Opinion
By Tenaciousbt - May 02, 2011 05:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

Doesn't look like we will see covers like this anymore.



I guess Superman won’t be celebrating with the American people and military today. While the rest of us “Americans” celebrate the killing of the orchestrator of the 9/11 attacks “Osama Bin Laden” (I know the media has been spelling it “Usama” as of about 2 years ago but I still spell it the old way), I guess Superman will be too busy trying to appeal to everyone else to care. In fact these days he might be scolding us for violating Pakistan’s borders (really?), now that he is an International hero who only sometimes bothers with us pesky Americans [heavy sarcasm]. Talk about bad timing and judgment, in an attempt to make Superman a global hero and cut his exclusive ties to America, the WB and DC decided, as you all well know by now, to have Superman renounce his citizenship in Action comics #900.



I think Al Gough, the co-creator of Smallville, said it best.
"This sounds like a callous marketing ploy by a large entertainment conglomerate to make a classic American character more appealing to a worldwide audience," he opines. "The international box office on most superhero films is equal to, or below the domestic gross (see Spidey, Iron Man, even Dark Knight). Compare that to the grosses of other blockbusters (Harry Potter, Transformers) where the international BO is twice as big as domestic grosses. Btw, the international gross on the last Superman film was $50 million below the domestic. There is nothing 'creative' about this big announcement or additive to the cannon, it’s all about business."

The bottom line is, if you put the cannon aside; Superman is a fictional character created here in American by American citizens. He has been the most profitable franchise for the WB. Which is only true because long before the rest of the world cared about “Superman,” America loved him for being for “Truth, Justice, and the AMERICAN way.” He wasn’t for the “Soviet’s way,” or the “Chinese way,” or for things like “Sharia law,” or all the ethnic cleansing that is very normal in other parts of the world. He wasn’t for a Monarchy (sorry Brits, no disrespect but he wasn’t for that), or totalitarian government. Although he grew up in America Superman made his own choice to be for the American way. Which is the way of liberty and justice for all, and representative government where “We the People” are in control (I know we can have a separate debate about whether that is still actually happening, but I am referring to what Superman was buying into). Superman believed in the “AMERICAN” ideals and fought to uphold them.

I am not writing this to hate on anyone. I simple want to share my personal feeling on this subject at a very poignant time in American today.

Oh, and as a member of the U.S. Air Force. I just want to say. U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.,U.S.A.!!!!!!!
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thecomicdude23
thecomicdude23 - 5/2/2011, 7:40 AM
Yeah I agree with TheGODDAMNSUPERGUY, Superman loved his country, hell he loved the whole world. Superman would want him dead, but we know that all of his friends wouldn't let him do it. He may have beaten him up a little but he will go straight to jail of course.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/2/2011, 9:24 AM
come on now. Superman is against killing...period. He wouldn't even kill Xenomorphs in Batman/Superman vs. Aliens/Predators.

Superman would not have killed Bin Laden, and would not have condoned it either. This is why Superman is lame.
Dynamo
Dynamo - 5/2/2011, 10:03 AM
No, Superman wouldn't want Bin Laden dead. Superman is against killing in general.
luffycapri
luffycapri - 5/2/2011, 10:39 AM
he died a long time ago




Facade
Facade - 5/2/2011, 10:44 AM
Nicely put! Couldn't agree with you more! Btw, thank you for your service to our country and the world!
AC1
AC1 - 5/2/2011, 1:10 PM
I read the first half of this, and couldnt get past all the stupidity in it, so I stopped reading.
Superman renouncing his American citizenship doesn't mean he doesnt know right from wrong now. He'd still think of Osama Bin Laden as the same evil character, maybe even more so, as he wouldnt just be seeing it from US eyes, he'd see it through the eyes of victims across the world.
He'd see the pain that Bin Laden has spread globally, the fear that plagued most of the world while that man was alive, the difficulty of bringing the world back from that kind of fear, and I'm sure even he would be relieved that Bin Laden is dead. Maybe he wouldn't condone killing, and he'd try and find another way, but he'd still see that it would help in the long run.

10 years, 2 wars, 919,967 deaths & $1,188,263,000,000 later, Bin Laden is dead. When will you understand that Superman, The War on Terror, Al-Quaeda... it's all bigger than America, these are things that effect the world, both the fictional world in comics, or the real one we live in.

GoddamnSuperguy put it nicely, while Superman would have wanted Bin Laden dead, since he does have human thoughts, even dark, potentially evil ones, he doesn't act on them, and THAT is what makes Superman a symbol for hope in the comics, the fact that he CAN potentially be evil, but he CHOOSES to be the most good person possible.
HotLunch
HotLunch - 5/2/2011, 1:42 PM
@ACira couldn't of said it better myself.
Jimdlux
Jimdlux - 5/2/2011, 2:23 PM
Superman has finally died for real for me. DC comics should burn to the ground.
blueballs
blueballs - 5/2/2011, 3:04 PM
Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. – George Bernard Shaw

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. – George Bernard Shaw

You’ll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race. – George Bernard Shaw

Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy. – George Bernard Shaw
blueballs
blueballs - 5/2/2011, 3:11 PM
To me, it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography. – George Santayana

The Athenian democracy suffered much from that narrowness of patriotism which is the ruin of all nations. – H.G. Wells

One of the great attractions of patriotism–it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat, Bully and cheat, what’s more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous. – Aldous Huxley

Many studies have discovered a close link between prejudice and “patriotism” . . . Extreme bigots are almost always super-patriots. – Gordon Allport

It seems like the less a statesman amounts to, the more he loves the flag. – Elbert Hubband

Patriotism varies, from a noble devotion to a moral lunacy. – William Inge

blueballs
blueballs - 5/2/2011, 3:16 PM
The 100 percent American is 99 percent an idiot. – George Bernard Shaw

Treason is in the air around us everywhere. It goes by the name of patriotism. – Thomas Corwin

However for a more positive spin on what should be patriotism:
A patriot is somebody who protects his country from his government. Or better yet: who has the guts to protect his country from its government. – Piotyr Dirk

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. – Thomas Jefferson
Akercocke
Akercocke - 5/2/2011, 4:00 PM
I think he would ask why was he killed without having a trial first. That's the american way. See why he renounced to his american citizenship? Why is George Bush not being prosecuted? His dad made tons of money thanks to his partnerships with the Bin Ladens. Everybody's celebrating while the true responsible is kicking it in Texas.
YourMomNaked
YourMomNaked - 5/2/2011, 4:17 PM
Singer and Goyer's Superman, sadly, would not!

@blueballs...Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do - Benjamin Franklin
ronin21
ronin21 - 5/2/2011, 5:34 PM
@YourMomNaked
You said any fool can criticize but all the people who criticize Superman are fool? Thomas Jefferson who defends the right to dissent is a fool? A majority of americans don't accept Superman is a citizen of the world. They are so arrogant that they don't want to share Superman with the world.
“Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.” (Shakespeare)
blueballs
blueballs - 5/2/2011, 5:35 PM
@yourmom. Lol, good quote I think it applies to us all
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 5/2/2011, 6:17 PM
First off, I would like to say thank your for your service. I would argue that Superman would see Osama Bin laden's death as progress in the fight against terror. The fact that he is no longer an American citezen does not mean he would not see the importance of this victory. You have to remember Superman is a global hero, and that is why he gave up his citezenship. He fights for humanity as a whole, and that is why he has chosen not to be an American citezen, not because he no longer likes America. he was raised here after he landed here by Ma and Pa Kent., and those American values they tought him still remain in him. But again, as a global hero, he is more effective, when not at the beck and call of one nation. Oh and finally, he's a ficticious character. Everyone get over themselves ok?
ALmighty1080
ALmighty1080 - 5/2/2011, 8:09 PM
Superman would put bin laden in the phantom zone, case closed
ALmighty1080
ALmighty1080 - 5/2/2011, 8:12 PM
Superman would put bin laden in the phantom zone, case closed
JayJayCAW
JayJayCAW - 5/2/2011, 9:39 PM
correction to anyone who says that Superman would want Bin Laden dead, he would not want him dead, thats just who Superman is, he values all life no matter who's it is.

Superman would very much so want Bin Laden to be brought to Justice, give the chance I'm sure he would even bring up sending him to the Phantom Zone as "ALmight 1080" said, but would wait for a official wording from some form of Justice policy ;)
Super12
Super12 - 5/2/2011, 11:02 PM
Great article, really well put. It's not like Superman would kill Osama if he had the chance, but he may have wished him dead and would certainly find solace in it. Thanks for your service, and I hope that we can see a rebirth in American Patriotism, one that is soundly justified and that Superman can get behind again.
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 5/3/2011, 5:54 AM
If there really was a Superman he would have found Bin Laden 10 minutes after 9/11, better yet he would have never let the planes hit the towers on that day, even better yet in a world with a real Superman people would be looking to him for hope and inspiration making Osama Bin Ladens voice null and void of support for his cause.

@CorndogBurglar - It is lame to value life? For you to so easily disregard it is pretty lame.
YourMomNaked
YourMomNaked - 5/3/2011, 6:33 AM
@ronin21...actually it was Ben Franklin who said "any fool." There is a difference in A FOOL and ANY FOOL, but A FOOL wouldn't know the difference ;p DC itself has said he was a US Citizen and NOW they are making him a citizen of the world.

Look under "Status" and then next to "Citizenship" in the following link; it says Superman is AMERICAN. It's not arrogant to claim the truth, but it is ignorant AND arrogant to criticize those for standing up for the truth.

http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Superman_(Clark_Kent)

@blueballs...it applies to some more than others, though :D

"We will never forget!"

andrew13
andrew13 - 5/3/2011, 8:39 AM
Yeah, WB marketing has their heads up their @ss. This is the same marketing department that thought it would be good publicity to send 'very special, limited edition' Green Lantern rings to 100 celebrities/news sites that they refused to make available to GL fans. They can go F*** themselves while some of us go somewhere else to spend our money. Superman comics have been terrible for years anyway. Forget renouncing his American citizenship, Superman should renounce his association with Warner Bros and DC Comics. Which may come sooner than we think if the Siegal/Shuster heirs win their case. Then maybe they can license Superman to a publishing/movie company that can do the character justice, because clearly, the people running DC and WB are NOT up to the job as evidenced by this fiasco, Superman Returns and the godawful Superman Comics being published for over a decade.
johnnymarr
johnnymarr - 5/3/2011, 9:15 AM
I don't think it would have much long-term resonance in relationship to anything Superman does.


Does the killing of Bin Laden somehow make the United States superior to the rest of the world?

I would hope bin Laden's death doesn't translate into new waves of jingoism and xenophobia.

Job well done, yes. But there's a global perspective at play here, too.
YourMomNaked
YourMomNaked - 5/3/2011, 9:50 AM
@andrew13...my feelings exactly! The heirs wouldn't have ANY difficulty selling the rights.

@johnnymarr...terrific 80's band (The Smiths) ;)



I don't think killing Bin Laden is what makes the US superior to the rest of the world...there are numerous reason ;p As for Bin Laden, though, most would agree that other terrorists will rise up to replace him, but Al-Qaeda is less popular and less organized as a result of his death. In the short term, there should be retaliation concerns, but in the long term, they are less effective without him.
deathoncredit
deathoncredit - 5/3/2011, 3:59 PM
@ClarkKent1985...No, that's not what patriotism means. Patriotism is love and pride in one's country. Simple as that. The things that you listed are all noble indeed, but attributing these things to patriotism is flawed in many ways. For one, it implies that America (or any other country) has some sort of monopoly on understanding the difference between right and wrong. Such understanding comes down to the individual, not an entire nation. Additionally, if we as a race (and by "race" I mean humanity as a whole) wish to be virtuous, then it is necessary to break down all barriers of nationality that stand between us. Or maybe we should just take pride in ourselves as Americans and our flawless American history, and look down our noses at the troubles and concerns of everyone who just happened to be born in a different country. After all, we are the superior race, aren't we?
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 5/3/2011, 4:01 PM
@ClarkKent1985 - I think you need to update your Thesaurus

Thesaurus.com - Chivalry
The Definition: valor, gallantry, good manners
Synonyms: courage, courtesy, courtliness, fairness, politeness, valiance

Thesaurus.com - Patriotism
Definition: love of one's country
Synonyms: allegiance, chauvinism, flag-waving, loyalty, nationalism, public spirit

While they can be similar depending on the person, someone who is an extreme patriot could also be blindly obedient regardless of the good and evil spectrum that you speak of.

I think you are talking about the good side of patriotism while blueballs is talking about the bad side, two sides of the same coin again depending on the person.

I love this country and am proud to be an American, however at moments like these when people "celebrate" death, even the death of a monster like Osama Bin Laden, it just feels wrong. Justice was served to him by those Navy Seals, leave it at that. You speak of chivalry and patriotism being one in the same, that is not the case with people in the streets cheering and acting like drunken idiots at someones death, where is your chivalry there? It does nothing but take away from the families and loved ones of those lost on September 11, 2001 who should be able to have their moment of closure, not a party. And quite frankly, Osama Bin Laden celebrated when the towers fell that day knowing that lives were lost...how different are we if we react the same way to his death?

Does this picture seem wrong to anyone else!?


I could certainly understand something like this at ground zero to remember and honor those lost...


I can only hope people celebrate our men and women in uniform returning home as with as much enthusiasm when that happens...
blueballs
blueballs - 5/3/2011, 6:13 PM
@trapdinsteel Wonderfully said, nobody here has said anything more intelligently, and heart felt than what you've stated. No matter what anyone views of my opinions of patriotism, I truly respect what you've said above.
Now honestly let's get back to why we are all here our love for comics not politics yay!
SteveBosell
SteveBosell - 5/3/2011, 7:10 PM
@Tenaciousbt This topic has been on my mind as of recent and I am glad that you have addressed it here. I find it a cheap marketing ploy to slash Superman's U.S. citizenship. It's a literally spitting-in-the-face-of Superman's creation and heritage. Thank you for your heartfelt article.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/4/2011, 9:45 AM
@ trapdinsteel

hold on dickbrains. I never said i'm disregarding life. but when you're dealing with arguably the most vile person to ever live, someone who is responsible for the deaths of countless people and who is more than willing to continue killing, then i'm sorry, but the guy deserves to die.

in my opinion, its lame to think otherwise.

that is all...
blackcelebration
blackcelebration - 5/4/2011, 3:46 PM
Silly discussion because if there was a Superman around Bin Laden would have been captured alive. Superman has X-Ray Vision and Superhearing, he'd find Bin-Laden (With US intelligence help) in seconds.

Also, if you want to go deep, why not discuss 9/11, oh yeah, if there was a Superman, he'd stop that also, or the London and Madrid bombings. Superman belongs in his own universe.

This is a question best left for Batman. Who doesn't have the power to effect world wide events.
Tenaciousbt
Tenaciousbt - 5/4/2011, 4:47 PM
@ Marxman,

Your welcome! It did come from the heart.

And for all of those that didn't read the whole thing. Below is what this article is all about. I should have put it first.

"The bottom line is, if you put the cannon aside; Superman is a fictional character created here in American by American citizens. He has been the most profitable franchise for the WB. Which is only true because long before the rest of the world cared about “Superman,” America loved him for being for “Truth, Justice, and the AMERICAN way.” He wasn’t for the “Soviet’s way,” or the “Chinese way,” or for things like “Sharia law,” or all the ethnic cleansing that is very normal in other parts of the world. He wasn’t for a Monarchy (sorry Brits, no disrespect but he wasn’t for that), or totalitarian government. Although he grew up in America, Superman made his own choice to be for the American way. Which is the way of liberty and justice for all, and representative government where “We the People” are in control (I know we can have a separate debate about whether that is still actually happening, but I am referring to what Superman was buying into). Superman believed in the “AMERICAN” ideals and fought to uphold them."

That's what this is all about. No matter what the U.S.A. is doing right or wrong or how far we have deviated from the vision of our founders, Superman still believes in those guideing principles and would never renouce America. And let's face it, that's what renounceing your citizenship is all about. It's about renouncing your country. Superman would never do this. If he didn't agree with American policy he would fight the corrupt and speak out. He would fight for America, not renounce it. Period.
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 5/4/2011, 7:09 PM
@Tenaciousbt - Did you even read #900? The main point of him giving up citizenship was so that radical groups would not punish the USA due to his actions abroad...He doesn't want a country and it's people to suffer for his actions...THATS IT. He is not renouncing America he is protecting it from harm.

@CorndogBurglar - The point I was making was that if Superman were real, it changes everything so the main question in this article becomes moot. You can't just interject a fictional character with superpowers in our world without considering the ripple effects. If Superman were real why would he kill or condone killing genius, he has superpowers and could find Bin Laden in two seconds after he did anything. Or like both I and "blackcelebration" said earlier, he would have stopped him on 9/11 and all of the other times that he tried to perpetrate "vile" acts. If Superman were real the world would be a different place in all of the times he would have saved humanity, inspiring others to be good and making people think twice before they considered harming anyone...but I guess that is lame according to you.
Trapdinsteel
Trapdinsteel - 5/6/2011, 6:10 AM
@Tenaciousbt - Just wanted to apologize for getting all fired up with my last post. I don't like to delete things I've said so I will leave it but after thinking about it a little more I just wanted to point out that I think I realize why we were in disagreement. I now see that maybe you are pissed about the people behind the character of Superman making him not an American citizen, while I was pissed that people in general were crapping on Supermans character. It sounds like either way we are both looking out for big blue.

Either way good article that stirred up some nice debate, and thank you for your service my friend!
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