When thinking of an icon that can represent American ideals and beliefs, none is more relatable than the continuously popular comic book character Superman. Throughout the past century, artists have continuously updated the character to match history as it happens, and the character has remained as immortal and interesting as he was upon his creation. Through historical, societal, geographic, technological, and artistic influences, Superman is a fantastic representation of an icon that stands for American ideals of truth, justice, and the American Dream.
The history of Superman’s character is a classic example of the American Dream; however, it had not always been this way. Superman’s origins have been refined, modified, adapted, and ultimately changed beyond recognition throughout the past seventy years, an evolution that all authentic legends must often endure (Steranko). In the finalized origin story, the reader is told that Superman has been sent by his father from the doomed planet Krypton, whose destruction is imminent due to the civil war that is raging on the planet. With little time left, Superman is sent to Earth to live among the Earth, but due to the extraterrestrial powers that he gains from the yellow sun of our galaxy, Superman is inspired to protect the city of Metropolis, and progressively the entire planet, safe from harm. It is through these actions that Superman came to represent truth, justice, and the American way.
Back when he was first created, the tales of Superman were part of a thrilling new method of artistic expression that had not yet been popularized into mainstream media, which was the genre of comic book superheroes. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1939, and its early popularity helped it establish the legitimacy of the superhero genre in comics, and also gained a following for Superman that would only multiply and follow his adventures into a new century. By today’s standards, Joe Shuster’s art is primitive, but what it lacks in sophistication and presentation, it makes up for in raw, energetic imagery (Steranko). Clad in bright blue and red, Superman is no doubt an eye catching character. These bright colors are used to show Superman wearing the colors on the American flag, which is used as a symbolism to show his representation of American beliefs. The simplicity of Superman’s early stories provided an ideal model for style and storytelling, and gave a feeling of humor and adventure to the reader (Shuster).
Throughout his adventures, Superman has become a cultural icon in America. His persistent quest for truth, justice, and the American way represent idea represent ideal American values and inspire Americans to search for these attributes in themselves. The story arc of Superman is also representation of the desire many in society hope to achieve, which is the American Dream. Coming from a foreign land, Superman finds peace protecting his new land from harm, and is come to be respected and admired by millions of Americans, and also finds a purpose in his life. There are some detractors to this story who believe that Superman represents a desire of foreign dominance over America. However, this theory does not carry much weight, since throughout his adventures over the past seventy years, Superman has never shown a desire to have dominance over America, only protecting it.
The adventures of Superman have taken place all over the world, and occasionally, the universe. The majority of his exploits take place in America, since it is the land that Superman is always protecting. However, his frequent battles with arch nemesis Lex Luthor usually concern the destruction of a large portion of the Earth, and Superman is the only one who can protect it. One major Superman series that holds special geographic significance is the highly acclaimed “Red Sun” series. In this bold re-imagination of the Superman origin, it is imagined that instead of landing in the city of Smallville and being taken in by the Kent family, Superman instead landed in Soviet-controlled Russia. In the series, Superman was trained and used by the Russians to protect their country, and put the rest of the world under Soviet control. These tales sent shockwaves through Superman’s history. Superman had never been imagined as anything but an American hero, and showing this great hero as a potential villain won the approval of existing fans while gaining many new followers in the process (Steranko).
Superman’s exploits have been recorded through many various means of technology, and have evolved through different mediums throughout the past seventy years. The original Superman stories were created in the famous “Action Comics” series, which was the destination for many other superheroes that would start their adventures (Siegel). Soon, the high level of popularity for the Superman stories caused the character to gain his own publications of comic books, which continues to this very day. Superman has also been found in many of his own television series, such as “The Adventures of Superman”, “Superman: The Animated Series”, “Lois and Clark”, and, most recently, “Smallville”. The four Superman films have also enjoyed a high level of popularity. The combination of humor, adventure, and a feeling of excitement that courses through [the Superman films] are undoubtedly what contribute to their popularity and praise (Kempanaar). Superman’s adventures in the realm of television and film began back in the 1950s, and have carried over all the way until present day, and has achieved a mainstream presence that solidify him as an American icon.
Tracking Superman’s creation and adventures throughout the past seven decades, it is clear that he has become a true American icon, showcasing all the ideals and beliefs of Americans and what they strive for. His immense popularity shows the overwhelmingly positive response that America has for the character, which stems from his relatability as a citizen who wants to protect and serve the country he loves (Steranko). The character represents beliefs of American freedom, independence, and patriotism, which are all reasons why Superman is a fantastic icon that represents American ideals.
