Superman: Truth & Justice Comments
Here are some posts i found about what Superman should - does – [and should not] - stand for.
This literature search was done in response to three types of recent posts:
1) Calls not to drop the "American way" from Superman's stories - and back-story.
2) Claims that superheroes / movies didn't used to - and should not now - be political.
3) Demand for more ''powers' - so superheroes can always 'win' – or claims that they have too much power.
IMHO, no, no and no...
a) Now *if* "American way" is defined as might always makes right, and imperial hubris is the only path to 'peace', then just don't define the term like that.
b) Superman and Batman, for example, have always been 'political':
Example 1: Superman had a famous comic book back in 1963 where he and President Kennedy promoted physical fitness and healthy eating habits for Americans, especially for young people. The comic book had to be modified after JFK was shot and killed.
In 1963, the Kennedy Administration collaborated with DC Comics and legendary comic book artist Al Plastino (who had been drawing the red-caped, super-strong comic book hero for almost 20 years) to create a Superman story that would inspire the nation to be physically active and eat healthier...
Example 2: Batman doesn't carry a gun or shoot people because that's how his parents died.
c) Superman (see below) can 'win' by using his heart - as well as his fists. IF this means that most humans have similar 'super-powers'', then why not run with this conclusion?
Bonus comment: No, in science fiction, you do not have to be political - make overt claims or show how dystopias might develop. IMHO, if you do, it's better not to "beat people over the head" to try and force them to change - even if it's for their survival in our real world.
The story behind Superman’s fight for tolerance
"I wrote?Superman?for DC Comics for about fifteen years and “Truth, justice and the American way” is my personal Torah.
I’m not sure what writers may have stopped using the phrase, if any, but I use it all the time - still. Around the time I started writing the character another writer used Superman as a character in a different comic book series and referred to his aspiration as “Truth, justice and the Terran way.” I thought that was lame and told both the writer and his editor so. It never caught on and never showed up again. In one of the movies a character referred to “Truth, justice … all that stuff,” which was just as lame.
There aren’t many institutions in contemporary culture that stand up for a significant degree of unabashed sincerity and projection of good intentions without irony. Superman is one of them. I think the self-consciousness of writers is a product of (1) being unclear about the meaning of the terminology and (2) disinclination to feel worthy of the character himself, which is understandable I suppose.
The American way is hardly a chauvinistic sentiment, but rather an aspiration to the principles underlying the country’s founding by a group of flawed, well-meaning, contentious men, and a hope for the evolving nature of what the American nation can become.
That’s the American way.
When I wrote the character, the emblem on his chest was an “S” - as Amy Adams’ Lois reasserts in a recent film - but which was designed by Jonathan Kent from an image that came to him in a dream. This isn’t particularly inconsistent with the latter-day notion that it is actually a Kryptonian symbol of the House of El, which in the Kryptonese language means hope. If the symbol of the House of El is about hope, then so is Superman’s credo: the hope of perfectibility - someday.
Constantly, I urge the people writing Superman these days, as I’m doing here, to embrace truth, justice and the American way - without irony or embarrassment. It’s who the character is..."
There's no problem with Superman being for Truth, Justice and the American Way
Superman Story-line shows that he is more human than some of us
DC Comics: 15 Best Superman Story-lines Of All Time
https://www.cbr.com/superman-clark-kent-best-greatest-dc-comics-storylines-ever/
Not all Superman story-lines have him fighting villains and saving the world. Sometimes, the best Superman stories have him just saving one person. In Superman #701, the Man of Steel shows up to find a girl on a ledge in Philadelphia, threatening to jump.
Superman doesn't grab her and take her to safety against her will. He talks to her, and he lets her talk back. Superman then floats in the sky in front of her, and the two share their stories. He gives her time, and then after hours have passed, he reaches out his hand, and she takes it. This moment was powerful and showed why Superman is the world's greatest hero. Heroism of an entirely different sort.
Superman walks through Philadelphia and helps a man fixing his car. He meets with Lois Lane and tells her to tell Perry White that Clark is running his story. During his stay in Philadelphia, he helps clean a restaurant, defeats a gang of drug dealers, advises a man to go to the doctor to get his heart checked - and convinces a woman not to take her own life.
On his way downtown, Superman convinces an old man to visit his doctor for his heart condition. When Superman reaches downtown, he finds a group of cops in a suicide situation.
The girl is Felicity Rose, who had lost her mom and become depressed. Superman flies up to the building she is at and they talk about what she is going through.
Their conversation lasts until nightfall and Superman is able to convince her to keep living and believing in a brighter future. As Felicity is taken to the hospital, a cop asks Superman if he really would have let Felicity commit suicide. Superman simply deflects the question and leaves.?
It's not about a black superman being a victim of racism, rather it uses Superman's alien heritage as a parallel to racism (4.25.2022)
https://cosmicbook.news/ta-nehisi-coates-nerfed-superman-rumors-parallels-of-racism
I again point out that: Kal-el is *not* "white" ! He's not even human. He *looks* like one of us, but he is an orphan in a global sense; the only survivor of an advanced race of beings. He is also *not* that powerful - compared to a possible hyper advanced alien villain.
While Clark Kent could have been a military soldier - or elected Government representative, ?he chose to be a news reporter; he wants everyone to have the facts, and make up their own mind about how to solve our many world problems. Clark would never force humanity to behave like he might want us to.
I also point out that Superman has *always* been the champion of the weak and oppressed... and against bad people in our Government:
From Action Comics # 1 (April 18, 1938):
Superman learns that an innocent woman named Evelyn Curry is to be executed for murder. He captures the real murderess, and delivers her, bound and gagged, to the governor's mansion. He breaks through the door to confront the governor, and convinces him to call off the execution at the last minute.
Clark is given an assignment to go to San Monte, a war-torn South American republic. First, he goes to Washington, D.C., where he spies a slick lobbyist, Alex Greer, trying to convince Senator Barrows to involve the US in a war with Europe. Superman grabs Greer, and demands to know who he's working for...
Was Marvel/DC always SJW? I know it's about social justice, but is it the same context as today's SJWs?
Neil, Theatre and film technician; Answered on Feb 8, 2018
Superman was created by two Jewish guys (Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), and he has been an alien refugee since day one.
Captain America was created by two Jewish guys (Joe Simon and Jack Kirby) in the middle of WWII and the first issue featured Cap punching Hitler in the face. Before America even started fighting in WWII. And Jack Kirby and Joe Simon got death threats after the first issue was released, because of their anti-Hitler stance.
The X-Men were created, again by two Jewish folks (Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) as a metaphor for the civil rights movement, with the prejudice the mutants face paralleling real-world racism. Professor X was based off of MLK, and Magneto was inspired by Malcolm X. Hell, Magneto was a Holocaust survivor, and Stan Lee himself has stated that he never thought of Magneto has a bad guy, just a man who is fed up with the discrimination against "mutants".
The only reason they haven't been called "SJW" in the past is because the term didn't exist. But had that term been around, they absolutely would have been called that. Because they have always checked all the SJW boxes.
But here's the thing, SJW's don't exist. Anybody that accuses anything of being "SJW" is just unhappy about the changing of the status quo. They're taking equal representation as an attack on straight, white, cisgender men, which it's not.
These people who hate SJW's just hate losing their echo chambers. They like ignoring the injustices other groups face. They like hiding their heads in the sand. And they hate anything that challenges that.
But by creating this SJW boogeyman, they get to keep doing what they're doing. They can tell themselves that they're not the problem, the evil SJW's are.
But superhero stories have always been SJW, they've always been political, and they should continue to be. If you can't handle that, then too bad. That's your personal problem, not anybody else's.
Superman: DC Films Reportedly Hasn't Finalized Plans on Ta-Nehisi Coates' Movie Reboot - By?JENNA ANDERSON?- June 8, 2022
"To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,"?Coates told Shadow and Act?in a statement when his film was first announced. "I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America's most iconic mythic hero."
"There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told," Abrams added. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and we're beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity."
"Ta-Nehisi Coates's?Between the World and Me?opened a window and changed the way many of us see the world," Toby Emmerich, former Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, echoed. "We're confident that his take on Superman will give fans a new and exciting way to see the Man of Steel."
In his 2015 book ‘Between the World and Me’ Ta-Nehisi Coates said of 9/11/2001 NYC first responders: “They were not human to me. Black, white, or whatever, they were menaces of nature..."
An open letter to Mr. Ta-Nehisi Coates – posted on May 30, 2021
Dear Mr. Coates,
I want to point out a few facts about Superman.\ I'm NOT telling you anything new, but I am asking you to realize that:
Kal-el is *not* 'white'; He's not even human! He is an orphan in a global sense; the only survivor of an advanced race of beings.
While he has some special abilities, and he could become a dictator or tyrant, he has not - and would never - seek to control humanity.
He likewise could become a public official or military officer - but, again, he did not - and would not - do so.
Instead, he chose as his career to be a news reporter; a journalist who seeks to reveal truth, and affect positive change by educating and informing the public.
It is claimed that Superman's only weakness is Kryptonite. This is not true.
Like any sentient being, Clark Kent craves friendship - but, if humans knew who he really was, he would be hated, feared, outcast - or even blackmailed into helping a want to be dictator.
So, he had to adopt a 'disguise' - *pretending* to be human.
Speaking of which, while Clark was legally adopted, Kal-el is, technically, both "illegal" and an alien.
Given how our Government and the public view such people, today he would likely be deported back to Krypton. Public policy decision here on Earth Are not made rationally, but often reactionarily.
Speaking of bad decisions, did you notice that Krypton exploded as a result of 'climate change'?
Maybe not “manmade” change, but the catastrophe was predicted, and may have been possibly averted:
Kal-el's father, Krypton's top scientist, Jor-el, warned his planet's Government about the impending disaster - but imperial hubris doomed their race to extinction.
I've been advised not to mention the term "climate change" - but, *if* Krypton exploded as a result of natural processes, why was the planet stable for billions of years?
Similarly, if a world war caused it to explode, maybe one adult soldier - not a baby - would have survived.
领英推荐
The people of Krypton were smart, and must have understood that the end was near, but did nothing to stop it...
Even if impossible to prevent, they could have evacuated more of their population to the Earth, as Kal-el was...
Speaking of where Clark Kent landed...
Luckily for him (and for us), Clark 'looks' "white".
Remember the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling? What US City and State was this case about?
Topeka, Kansas… Exactly!
Finally, I've also been warned not to mention the famous "truth, justice and the American way" tag line.
This criticism might be valid *if* Superman imposed our US imperialistic control on the world. But, again, Superman would never do this.
He would - and should - "impose" our goal of a world free from war, poverty and injustice. One where every human is valued, and given an equal opportunity to succeed in life.
Superman wants to - but cannot - fulfill this goal all by himself.
This will require everyone on Earth to work together.
https://www.thewrap.com/superman-catchphrase-changed-truth-justice-better-tomorrow/
I urge you to remember all of this when you write your Superman screenplay.
Again, I have deliberately not mentioned any actual or possible plot points for a new movie in this letter.
Thank you for reading my email.
SUPERMAN Reboot Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates Talks Fan Expectations and Wanting To Make Something Worthy (5/27/2021)
Comic book writer Ta-Nehisi Coates (Black Panther) has opened up on the expectations fans have for his Superman movie, expressing a desire to deliver "something that folks feel is worthy."
https://www.comicbookmovie.com/superman/superman-reboot-writer-ta-nehisi-coates-talks-fan-expectations-and-wanting-to-make-something-worthy-a185171
Superman’s Catchphrase Is No Longer ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’
The Man of Steel now fights for Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow [for everyone]
THIS WAS NOT IN MY LETTER
Possible plot point predicted:
You know that expression: the pen is mightier than the sword?
Well, what if - somehow - Clark Kent, not Superman, was the real hero of the movie?
Superman Film Reboot Reportedly Built Around a Black Man of Steel = 2021 post
A new report states that the Superman to headline Warner Bros., Ta-Nehisi Coates and J.J. Abrams' reboot film will be a Black Man of Steel.
https://www.cbr.com/superman-reboot-black-man-of-steel/
Michael B Jordan, Warner Bros Have Discussed Black Superman Pitch = 2019 post
https://www.cbr.com/michael-b-jordan-warner-bros-black-superman-pitch/
Man of Tomorrow: Does Superman Need to Be White? = 2019 post
https://www.cbr.com/should-superman-be-white/
But let's ignore scientific plausibility for now, and instead focus on meaning. Superman is an alien because Superman represents the outsider. He's able to assimilate, to "pass" as part of the majority, but he's a minority. Siegel and Shuster were both children of Jewish immigrants at a time when Jews and other immigrant groups didn't have the social status of "whiteness" in America.
If you wanted to directly capture the original metaphorical power of their vision and translate it to the present day, you don't cast a white actor but someone like Oscar Isaac or Rami Malek, actors of color who can "pass" enough to play white characters (Isaac's critical break-out was playing the Welsh protagonist of Inside Llewyn Davis, Malek got to audition for Han Solo). In this regard, it would be interesting to see Dean Cain revisit his role on Lois & Clark, given that his biological Kryptonian parents on the show were played by Caucasian actors David Warner and Eliza Roberts.
Of course, the black experience in America is wildly different from the experience of other minorities. The first African-Americans were not immigrants, but rather brought to this country by force. A black Superman is a radical change from the "assimilated immigrant" vision of Superman. A black Clark Kent could hide his powers, but he could never hide being part of a minority group. This extreme visibility, this inability to hide his outsider-ness, would be even more dramatic if he's still adopted by a white family in Kansas. It's not the traditional Superman dynamic, but it's potentially a very interesting one.
“Truth, Justice and the American Way” has fallen out of fashion with the franchise in recent decades, but with a black Superman, the seemingly antiquated slogan is given new meaning; it becomes a question, an examination or a debate – about criminal justice, inequality, and so forth. Translating an immigrant allegory to an African-American allegory requires shaking up some details, but this new take on Superman could prove just as inspirational. Whether they present him as Calvin Ellis or call him Clark Kent, if WB decides to make the next Superman black, there's no reason to get angry and plenty of reason to get excited...
THIS WAS also NOT IN MY LETTER:
In his 2015 book ‘Between the World and Me’ Ta-Nehisi Coates said of 9/11/2001 NYC first responders: “They were not human to me. Black, white, or whatever, they were menaces of nature..."
https://blackbooksmatter.com/review-in-between-the-world-and-me-ta-nehisi-coates-delivers-a-searing-dispatch-to-his-son/
By definition - Superman *is* a civilian first responder; Policeman, fire fighter or medic, right?
Will Mr. Coates give up his claim that Superman is inherently bad - to write his movie - or will he have the so-called "man of steel" be depicted as a "villain" ?
In *my* movie, right wing zealots, such as billionaire businessman Lex Luthor – uses his hated of “illegal aliens” – and distain for those in government - who do not always act to preserve and defend the rights of the super-rich – as a motive to “get rid” of Superman – by deporting Kal-el back to Krypton. Lex *would* be okay with Superman staying on earth - IF he worked to impose even more Corporate control over humanity…
His [well established in cannon] hatred of Superman causes Lex to act in support of even more evil - caused by a mysterious "cosmic conspiracy" - a force so powerful that even mega super villain [Lord] Vyndktvx complains to Superman about it:
[Lord] Vyndktvx: “Look, Superman ! I’m just a cog in the machinery; a fly in the ointment; one small pawn on a very big chessboard…
Let me let you in on a little secret… Eons ago, I learned that the REAL cosmic conspiracy is FAR deeper, and much more powerful than I am.
Do not think – even for a minute - that I'm the puppet master, who pulls everyone’s strings…
I'm being used, manipulated, coerced and controlled –-- like everyone else alive in every multi-verse... Even you - here in this restricted, three dimensional ‘reality’ [points around].
Personal free-will is just an illusion... I'm sure that the truth is out there, but don't expect me to know what it is.”
Comments:
Remember that the main individual ‘villain’ in my Superman movie has greater than infinite power!
To cite just one ability [Lord] Vyndktvx has, since he is a 5th dimensional being, he can “invert” you in either time - or space…
Just as we can turn a sweater inside-out, he can turn us inside out:
In space, this would leave our intestines hanging outside of our body, while [somehow] the entirety of our physical universe was INSIDE of our skin…
In time, he could “invert” our existence - I have no idea what this would ‘look’ like, but it could not be much fun ! You could be "folded backwards", and [somehow] be made to disappear up your own ancestry !
I have bought the whole volume where by Superman battles Vyndktvx however I don't understand it, can someone help me please ?
Superman versus The Cosmic Conspiracy
Long story short, in my movie, newspaper reporter Clark Kent is put in jail for not revealing the source of his story about who and what the cosmic conspiracy really is.
As you can guess, Clark’s source is… Superman!
But wait; it get worse! At the same time, Superman is in hiding. IF found, Superman will be deported back to Krypton.
As you know, Kal-el is both "illegal" AKA undocumented - and an outer space alien. While Clark Kent was legally adopted, times being what they are, and with us humans [partially] controlled by the cosmic conspiracy – like the new owner of The Daily Planet, Lex Luthor – his existing personal hatred amplified by the cosmic power - also wants [and has always wanted] to get rid of the man of steel.
The fact that Krypton itself blew up 27 years ago, so there is no planet to deport Superman back to is not relevant to those who want to control our Planet.
The fact that Superman always follows American [and international] law – even though he could simply refuse to cooperate, means that the cosmic conspiracy will win.
No, the conspiracy is not just one corrupt person!!! It is an evil influence.
That means that, even *if* both Superman and Clark Kent were not in trouble, they – by themselves would not be able to save our civilization.
Since you will ask… The same spacecraft that, in my story, was just used to get Superman’s dog “Krypto” from Krypton to Earth would be reused to ship Kal-el back home.
But, you say, such an advanced “warp drive” interstellar powered ship should instead be used to advance our human to reach the stars.
Well, you have a point.
Will those in my movie figure out that they have been used and manipulated - before it’s too late?
IMHO, Superman is *not* "overpowered". Example: he cares very deeply about humanity - even though, technically speaking, Kal-el is both "illegal" and an alien. Yet he feels that he must help humanity [we are all aliens to *him*] see the light. Example: A lot of people don't care - or love - their neighbor as themselves - even though that's what the old & new Testaments say to always do this.
In fact, times being what they are, Lex Luthor would move to have Kal-el deported back to Krypton. The fact that (a) Krypton blew up 27 years ago, so there's no place to actually send him, and (b) we don't yet have FTL spacecraft to send him back in a timely manner - is irrelevant to men with minds filled with hate for beings not like themselves.
'Superman Legacy' won't rewrite the Superman origin story, but it will highlight his origins.
"He's working. He's a reporter. He's at the Daily Planet. Again, we're coming into a world where superheroes exist and have existed. So, does that mean Batman might be a couple years older than Superman? Yes, it could be."
Here Are the Writers Who Will Shape the DCU Future:
James Gunn has assembled a writers' room to help guide the DCU, so take a look at the backgrounds of the writers, and what to expect for the future.
James Gunn Wants His DC Universe To 'Elevate' Writers Again - And Make Sure Scripts Are Ready Before They Shoot.
James Gunn, Peter Safran Vow to Put Screenwriting First...
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/dc-james-gunn-peter-safran-creative-vision-screenwriting-1235507276/
Comments?
IMHO, i welcome everyone in the DCU supporting their writers.
I also urge support of clever, coherent and compelling stories - ones that follows the cannon's overall mythos;
Example: Since he first appeared in print in 1938, Superman has always been an uplifting figure; Kal-el is an undocumented outer space alien who inspires everyone on Earth to be the best that they can become - especially in the face of adversity and loss.
Example: IMHO, Clark Kent became a news reporter so he could ensure truth, justice and "the America way" = fair application of our laws - and giving everyone an opportunity to excel - no matter who they are, what they believe, or where they came from. Clark would reveal the good and bad in our world - not to "score" points for one political party - Nation - or economic system, but, again, to encourage change for the betterment of human kind.