I just looked at Action Comics 900 and was very pleased in the main story about the Black Ring Power search of Lex Luther and the “Reign of Doomsday” story but was left with mixed feeling about a back up story that was written by David S. Goyer and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda. It was about a trip Superman made to Iran to stop the hostilities there unauthorized by the President of the United States. In the panel below you can see that he ends up telling the President’s man that he was renouncing his US citizenship that “Truth, Justice and the American Way” was not good enough any more. He implied that he saw a greater picture here bigger than America’s view on the world and he wanted the freedom to act on his own.
Why DC Comics editors would OK a story like this I don’t know. Perhaps to draw attention to the political troubles in the middle east. Comments are raging within the media. The New York Post called it a “shocking pronouncement,” and quoted DC Entertainment co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee as stating, “In a short story in Action Comics #900, Superman announces his intention to put a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as always, committed to his adopted home and his roots as a Kansas farm boy from Smallville.”
In a Fox News article on Superman’s proclamation, Angie Meyer is quoted saying, “Besides being riddled with a blatant lack of patriotism, and respect for our country, Superman’s current creators are belittling the United States as a whole. By denouncing his citizenship, Superman becomes an eerie metaphor for the current economic and power status the country holds worldwide.” In contrast, the same piece quotesWired‘s Scott Thill, saying, “Superman has always been bigger than the United States. In an age rife with immigration paranoia, it’s refreshing to see an alien refugee tell the United States that it’s as important to him as any other country on Earth — which, in turn, is as important to Superman as any other planet in the multiverse.”
Superman chooses to renounce his US citizenship, rather than have his deeds be construed as a statement of any one entity’s policies. That how story goes and it sounds logical except when you conceder that in all the writing of Superman stories it was never necessary for him to give up his citizenship. Wow does that mean he will have to get a visa from the US just to be here, I think I get it Superman is bigger that any piece of paper and needed all over the world. But can’t he do that as an American. Many people don’t agree with a lot of things the US does both domestically and internationally and are allowed to do things as an individual not representing the US. He simply could have said to the United Nations that what he did was on his own and the US government was not responsible. And why do something like this when tensions are so high about what is happening in the middle east.
I for one could understand that DC wants to make Superman a hero for the world but printing this story was just poor judgement and should have never been published. I certainly hope DC Comics doesn’t pursue this direction any more and will go back to making good stories about an Icon called Superman. Don’t change a good thing, Superman is the greatest of superheroes because of his heart not his citizenship. The American way is about ideals not the government. The government is for the people and by the people not against the people. Bring back the patriot superhero one that lives by this: all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776.
I like it when comics are used for a just cause to point out a wrong and stir up controversy so people will give dialog to the issue, but this does nothing but hurt the definition of patriotism. Do we abandon our citizenship this easily and not stand for these ideals that many have died for? Superman would not do this so easily, at least the one I grew up with. Hang in there comic faithful I will be coming back for more. 🙂 Walt
Comics are great and sometimes a great place to tackle world problems, I remember how the comic world came together to morn the loss of life on 9-11. But to trash some ones citizenship like this is just wrong. If you don’t believe in the ideals held by most Americans fine but don’t dump it this easily. It is worth more than that. Just shows DC’s disregard for American citizenship.
Letter To DC Editors:
Action Comics #900 back up story by David S. Goyer what are you guys thinking. Superman was a proud American for 899 issues and because of the US government he renounces his citizenship. Can’t he explain himself to the UN as an American and still do what he thinks is right without trashing his citizenship. Does citizenship mean that little to you? You had to OK this “slap in the face” to the American way. He was over in Iran showing the principles of freedom and justice in that he was great and true American no matter that he was born on Krypton. Do we abandon our citizenship this easily and not stand for these ideals that many have died for? Superman would never give up his citizenship so easily. At least not the one I grew up with. Have the President not accept his renouncement and give him the freedom to act as he sees fit as all Americans do. Please make this right.
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