In the aftermath of BVS, this returns to relevancy. Whether we like that film or not, it presented a conflicted world that fairly reflects ours and presents how we would act with Superman in our midst.

Heroism has gotten a lot more complicated in recent years, due to a lot of factors:
- overall cynicism, people thinking goodness is a form of superiority
- overall collateral damage causing people to get angry at the heroes who saved their lives
- the classic issue of mercy, compassion and sparing your enemy (it’s always been an issue, but in recent years it's gotten more debatable, eg DOTM)
- the level of sacrifice heroes can make (how much must they and others give up to do what’s right?)
- the blurred lines between freedom and chaos, and order and dictatorship

And in the midst of all these shades of gray, Superman stands as an icon of morality, of someone trying to do the right thing. Unfortunately this presents him to some as a paragon, an ideal we can never hope to achieve.

To be fair, what Superman lacks nowadays is the ability to inspire and bring hope and salvation to people. That is the core of being a hero: he saves people from trouble, regardless of who they are or what repercussions may occur. Superman in BVS got a worldwide tribute in the end, which proves that, despite some serious hostility and fear (

Spoiler

and getting killed

), he came through and won Earth’s admiration and respect in the end; if anything the world is to blame for not having enough trust to start with.

Superman really needs to bring back the hope in people, otherwise he may always be an outsider or anachronism.

 

Outdated or not, as long as Superman is displayed as the sort of symbol of humanity that he is SUPPOSED to be I'm good with him around.

 

Don't care if a journalist cynic declares Superman outdated or not. Ideas embodied by Clark are pretty basic and universal, they don't age and don't get outdated.
They also have nothing with his skin color and upbringing - there's a black version of Superman in DC multiverse, raised by different parents... Who's acting basically the same way as prime Earth Superman. And the character works as well.


Unfotunately Snyder's movie is basically an antithesis of hope,it's dark and gloomy. Bad way to advertise the Big "S".

 

Agreed 100%.

 

LOIS & CLARK Star Dean Cain Says Superman Couldn't Talk About "Truth, Justice, And The American Way" Today

Recently, Fox News spoke to Cain about a number of topics, including a Time Magazine piece which argues that superheroes are basically just cops with capes who operate without accountability.

At this, the actor became enraged, and said: "This whole cancel culture thing that we're living in right now is crazy. It's like an early version of George Orwell's 1984. Up is down, war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. You know, that's news speak, and it's crazy."

"This stuff just all drives me insane," he continued. "I promise you, as Superman, I wouldn't today be allowed to say, 'Truth, justice, and the American Way.'"

True words.

 

Superman wouldn't trip over discussing truth and justice, not in a month of Sundays. As for the American Way, well, that's up to him.

 

My knee jerk reaction is that it’s a mistake to think of Cap or Supes as anachronisms. Both are meant to represent the best of us, and as such the future.

Given their backgrounds, if you wanted to lean on them being anachronisms you’d have Cap and Supes being likely racist super patriots. I don’t say that lightly. I grew up in small town Americana. The idealized view of it we have doesn’t exist in reality. I knew someone who fought in WWII and fought for civil rights in the 50’s. Some of the stuff he said was clearly racist, despite him being one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met.

Supes and Cap transcend that. We can look at them and be amazed that their times and places produced people of such amazing quality and realize that our time, and our place, despite how messed up it is, can still produce people like them too. And if we work at, maybe we will all live up to those incredible ideals.

Anachronisms they are not.

 

That mullet says otherwise.

 

I think all 3 of you guys nail it on the head here.

One thing about the Immigrant allegory that doesn't sit well with me is how people just toss Clark Kent is just a facade Superman, the alien puts on to hide amongst us. That is blatantly false about the character. Clark Kent puts on a costume to become Superman. Superman wasn't raised by the Kents, Clark Kent was. Superman is just all the values that Clark Kent holds personified in a cape. Wouldn't Clark Kent be a human? He is superficially an alien in my eyes as despite coming from a space ship. Clark Kent is more a human than most of his other man, a Superman 

Also, for anyone who thinks Superman is old and needs updating, Go read "Action Comics #775: What's so funny about truth, justice, and the American Way?" and then come argue superman is dated, the issue is centered around that argument.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I'm inclined to think Superman's idea of The American Way would probably be something along these lines...


I don't consider that anachronistic at all. In fact, I'd say that'd make him MORE relevant.

 

Agreed.

 

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