Superman threatens to renounce U.S. citizenship

[hassanchop]

ph.news.yahoo.com/superman-threatens-renounce-u-citizenship-110947657.html


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Superman, citizen of the world?

The Man of Steel, in the latest issue of Action Comics which hit newsstands on Wednesday, said he intends to renounce his U.S. citizenship in a speech before the United Nations.

"I'm tired of having my actions construed as instruments of U.S. policy," Superman said in a short story in the issue, Action Comics No. 900 from the Time Warner Inc unit DC Comics.

In the comic, Superman never actually renounces his citizenship, he only talks about his plans to do that.

But conservative commentators reacted with disgust to the new storyline, given that the fictional superhero has long proclaimed he stood for "Truth, Justice and the American way."

In a blog post at The Weekly Standard, senior writer Jonathan Last questioned Superman's beliefs, now that he seems to have rejected the United States.

"Does he believe in British interventionism or Swiss neutrality?" Last wrote. "You see where I'm going with this: If Superman doesn't believe in America, then he doesn't believe in anything."

The new plot twist for Superman comes as the superhero visitor from a distant planet, who was raised by a Kansas farmer and his wife, looks to take on a more global mission for his battle against evil.

"The world's too small. Too connected," Superman said in the comic book.

Superman, who was first introduced in the 1938, has a long association with the United States. But Joe Shuster, the artist who helped create the character with writer Jerry Siegel, was born in Canada.

And critics have described Superman's life story as a metaphor for the immigrant experience, because he is an alien.

DC Comics co-publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio seemed to downplay their landmark superhero character's latest declaration, in a joint statement.

"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," they said.

[Bam Neeley]

Superman has a citizenship? How did he get it? He wasn't born on this planet and I'm not sure whether living in the Fortress of Solitude counts as permanent residence.

[kevservo]

And doesn't he already have citizenship in ALL the nations of the UN?

[willywonka666]

Without getting into politics, this is what things are coming too, I predict. Even though this is a comic book, it is mirroring real life and I expect more of this kinda thing

[kevservo]

Apr 30, 2011 22:20:03 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

Without getting into politics, this is what things are coming too, I predict. Even though this is a comic book, it is mirroring real life and I expect more of this kinda thing

It kind of does make sense from a practical standpoint, but it was established in canon that he already was a citizen of the world.

[willywonka666]

Apr 30, 2011 22:26:46 GMT -5 kevservo said:

Apr 30, 2011 22:20:03 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

Without getting into politics, this is what things are coming too, I predict. Even though this is a comic book, it is mirroring real life and I expect more of this kinda thing

It kind of does make sense from a practical standpoint, but it was established in canon that he already was a citizen of the world.

Just going by the movies alone it wasn't anything I really thought about, like he belonged to America or anything.

It also made me think about the upcoming movie, and the Captain America and G.I. Joe films where they kinda downplayed America to make it more appealing for the foreign box office...

[Predator McBroski]

And this is why Batman should be America's superhero!

[Cavs for Mavs Mafia]

Superman crossed our borders illegally from space. Imagine how many jobs he took from American superheros. Send him back to Krypton.

[frankincleveland]

I have no idea what DC is trying to to accomplish by purposely alienating a lot of traditional fans. It probably won't improve sales, will it?

[Deleted]

I kind of want to know why DC seems to assign their dumbest writers to Superman.

Also, I sort of want to meet and smack that guy with the, "You either stand for the US or for nothing" quote.

[Dub H]

Apr 30, 2011 22:49:08 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I kind of want to know why DC seems to assign their dumbest writers to Superman.

probaly because the fans will buy anything superman do.

[jagilki]

I just don't like (superhero) comics and politics mixing.

Unless that is the main point behind said hero.

[Piccolo]

Apr 30, 2011 22:33:25 GMT -5 Predator McBroski said:

And this is why Batman should be America's superhero!

That is an excellent silver lining!

I don't think this is an anti-US move, frankly. His actions shouldn't be construed as part of American foreign policy (I believe the context of the story is that he goes to stand peacefully with Iranian anti-government protesters and the Iranians declare war on the US because of it). Governments are constrained by rules and diplomacy. Supes isn't, and shouldn't be, so this is how he can protect the people of his homeland from being punished for his acts as an individual.

I mean, I don't even read Superman, and I don't care about comics, but I think this is a tempest in a teapot. If he wants to be an independent arbiter of foreign affairs, he should distance himself from a single nation so as not to damage them or constrain himself.

[Cavs for Mavs Mafia]

This is actually a storyline that get me interested in Superman.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Apr 30, 2011 22:49:08 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I kind of want to know why DC seems to assign their dumbest writers to Superman.

Also, I sort of want to meet and smack that guy with the, "You either stand for the US or for nothing" quote.

"Do you think the S on my chest stands for FRANCE!!!"

[B'Cup x]

Apr 30, 2011 22:06:45 GMT -5 hassanchop said:

In a blog post at The Weekly Standard, senior writer Jonathan Last questioned Superman's beliefs, now that he seems to have rejected the United States.

"Does he believe in British interventionism or Swiss neutrality?" Last wrote. "You see where I'm going with this: If Superman doesn't believe in America, then he doesn't believe in anything."

f*** this guy x

[Ian Austin]

Apr 30, 2011 22:30:51 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

Apr 30, 2011 22:26:46 GMT -5 kevservo said:

It kind of does make sense from a practical standpoint, but it was established in canon that he already was a citizen of the world.

Just going by the movies alone it wasn't anything I really thought about, like he belonged to America or anything.

It also made me think about the upcoming movie, and the Captain America and G.I. Joe films where they kinda downplayed America to make it more appealing for the foreign box office...

The difference is that Captain America IS symbolic of the idea American values. Downplaying that aspect of his character is just another sign that Marvel Studios is no better than Fox in how they treat their characters.

Superman?

He's a worldwide hero. No way should he be at America's beck and call 24/7. The best way to put it is that Batman would (and has recently) be a worldwide hero if he had the abilities Superman had. Someone who can fly and run at super speed really should be dealing with worldwide situations, rather than solely focusing on America.

[kolani]

It's clearly out of continuity, it's a backup story, kryptonite is common enough that snipers have kryptonite bullets, and David Goyer wrote it.

[Deleted]

That seems kind of stupid. Superman's already a citizen of the world, so why would Iran care what he's doing? If they did something about him, couldn't Superman just level their country for stirring up trouble and that be the end of it?

[Sir Woodrow]

Does this mean he's topped walking everywhere?
If so I'll start reading again.