Comics Superman Renounces U.S Citizenship in Action Comics #900

[Shivsguy616]

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" for all the peaceful law-abiding citizens of the country, not for all the criminals.

Nice try. t:

 

[theMan-Bat]

To quote Yoda, "There is no 'try.'" I've stated a fact.

 

[Shivsguy616]

To quote Yoda, "There is no 'try.'" I've stated a fact.

No, you've assumed that there has never been an innocent person executed by mistake...

 

[theMan-Bat]

No, I haven't assumed that. Please don't put words in my mouth when you criticize me. As I said before, of course America is not flawless. You have gone off the topic of Superman. This a Superman thread on the Superman comics board, not a thread about the American judicial system, incarceration and death penalty.

 

[Shivsguy616]

No, I haven't assumed that. Please don't put words in my mouth when you criticize me. As I said before, of course America is not flawless. You have gone off the topic of Superman. This a Superman thread on the Superman comics board, not a thread about the American judicial system, incarceration and death penalty.

I stated in the original post that it was merely a statement of amusement; I didn't expect anyone to keep bringing the point up. I have no intention of continuing this line of conversation here, since, as you point out, it's off topic. Feel free to post on it again if you must, but I wont be.

 

[theMan-Bat]

Superman affirms his American patriotism in the just released Superman #711 by Joseph Michael Straczynski and Chris Roberson.

 

[Clayface]

The thing is, there's two Americas. America the ideal, and America the nation. Superman is about America the ideal. When people confuse the two and Superman starts representing America the nation, then there's a problem. I'm sorry, call it un-American if you want, go all Fox News on my ass if you see fit, but I don't think Superman should play favorites.

In Superman's early days, he had no problem coming into conflict with aspects of the American Government. It's when WWII started and patriotism shot through the roof, and Superman became a propaganda tool, that the American Way came into his beliefs. The Kents didn't raise him to be a nationalist zombie. They raised him to believe in doing the right thing, and using your abilities to help all people everywhere. Being a good person isn't something America came up with, and to try and claim ownership of such values is kind of crazy to me.

Do I think that renouncing his U.S. Citizenship is a good idea? I appreciate what he's trying to do, but it would be better for him to have citizenship in all the countries of the world than none of them at all. If you ask me. And before anyone starts, he may have gotten world citizenship by the U.N. before, but I really, really doubt that that's still in continuity.

 

[theMan-Bat]

Like it or not, Superman/Clark Kent is obviously patriotic for his home country, America. He was raised in America and chooses to continue to live in America as an adult. Superman has also used his superpowers to help other countries as well, as he does in Superman: Peace on Earth (1999), by Paul Dini and Alex Ross, for example, which is reprinted in The World's Greatest Super-Heroes (2005).

In Superman's contemporary days, he has come into conflict with aspects of the American Government. Superman was at the White House discussing and debating with President Reagan in Legends (1986-1987) by John Ostrander and Len Wein, Superman was completely opposed to Luthor's Presidency (Superman: Lex 2000 (January, 2001) by Jeph Loeb to Superman/Batman #6 (March, 2004) by Jeph Loeb). Superman is not a nationalist zombie. Superman does use his abilities to help people in other countries. Superman never proclaimed that being a good person is something America came up with, and Superman has never tried to claim that only America has ownership of such values.

Superman being granted Citizenship by the United Nations has not been contradicted by any Superman stories. Which means that the United Nations Citizenship apparently is still intact. Even events from as far back as Action Comics #1, happened. In Superman: The Man of Steel #16 (1992) "Crisis at Hand: Hard Knocks", by Louise Simonson, Superman got involved with a domestic abuse case, and it established that the domestic abuse case from Action Comics #1 (1938) "The Coming of Superman", by Jerry Siegel, still happened, as Superman remembers it and a flashback is shown. What's been conformed not in continuity is this David Goyer story in which he has Superman proclaim that he will be renouncing his U.S. Citizenship.

 

[Fantasyartist]

I said it before and I'll say it again- Superman(unlike Captain America/Wonder Woman-he was NEVER intended to be some kind of nationalistic icon). This "Truth, Justice and the American Way" shtick may have had some validity in WW II or the Cold War but these periods are long past us- most thinking heroes( FF-who in their first issue(Nov 1961 when the Cold War was pretty frosty) pledged themselves to use their powers for the good of humanity and not just the good ol' US of A or the Avengers who cannily call themselves "Earth's Mightiest Heroes". Narrow nationalism is SO outdated in the 21st century!

Terry

 

[theMan-Bat]

Superman has intentionally been a patriotic American icon for many decades, it's an iconic part of the character. Superman has used his powers for the good of humanity in other countries, not just America.